04-17-2007, 18:57
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#1
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Special Forces Branch turns 20 years old
Special Forces Branch turns 20 years old
By Spc. Curt Squires
USAJFKSWCS PAO
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Apr. 16, 2007) – Special Forces Soldiers, past and present, assembled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the activation of the Special Forces Branch Thursday, at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum here.
While speaking from behind the same lectern President John F. Kennedy used when he visited Fort Bragg 46 years ago, Maj. Gen. James W. Parker, commanding general, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, shared his feelings about when the branch was activated.
“I remember being out at Fort Lewis when the branch was stood up. There were a lot of us … who were shocked to find a SF Branch being created,” he said. “It has not only helped the SF officer, but it has also helped the professionalism of the entire Special Forces career field, enlisted and warrant officers included.”
Parker reflected upon the original ceremony by reading several news articles that were released in the local newspapers following the activation of the branch 20 years ago.
When Parker finished addressing the past and present SF warriors, an order was given to cut the cake.
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. David Clark, the honorary sergeant major of the Special Forces Regiment and the oldest member of the regiment; and Sgt. David P. Fleury, the youngest member of the regiment, were on hand to cut the cake.
Fleury, who was born one day after Special Forces was activated as a branch, said it was an honor to cut the cake with Clark, and spoke of his ambitions for his career.
“I want to do everything I can to be an asset to my team,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. I have been training for the last couple of years and I am just looking forward to going down range to do some good things.”
Fleury joined the Army under the 18X program that allows new recruits to enlist directly into the Special Forces community. He is now an 18B, a Special Forces weapons sergeant, and recently graduated as the distinguished honor graduate of the Special Forces Qualification Course.
“Today’s SF Soldiers are 100 percent better than they were in my day,” said Clark. “They’re smarter, more lethal on battlefield, technology is better; they know the language and the culture. We are just putting out great kids!”
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Dan is offline
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04-17-2007, 18:57
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#2
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Maj. Gen. James W. Parker, commanding general, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, reflects on his feelings about the original Special Forces Branch activation in 1987. (Photo by Spc. Curtis Squires)
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Dan is offline
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04-17-2007, 18:58
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#3
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Retired Command Sgt. Maj. David Clark, the honorary sergeant major of the Special Forces Regiment, converses with a retired Special Forces Soldier (edited to add CSM Joe D.) at the Special Forces Branch 20th Anniversary Celebration, Thursday. (Photo by Spc. Curtis Squires)
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Dan is offline
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04-17-2007, 18:59
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#4
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Retired Command Sgt. Maj. David Clark, the honorary sergeant major of the Special Forces Regiment, and Sgt. David P. Fleury, Special Forces weapons sergeant, the youngest Soldier in the regiment, cut the cake celebrating 20 years since Special Forces became a branch. (Photo by Spc. Curtis Squires)
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Dan is offline
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04-17-2007, 20:06
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#5
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Quiet Professional
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Congrats!
I guess I am officially a FOG.
I know everyone in those pictures but the kid. 
TR
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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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04-17-2007, 20:08
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#6
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Dan
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. David Clark, the honorary sergeant major of the Special Forces Regiment, converses with a retired Special Forces Soldier (edited to add CSM Joe D.) at the Special Forces Branch 20th Anniversary Celebration, Thursday. (Photo by Spc. Curtis Squires)
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CSM Joe D. never heard of him......
I wish we had a frontal shot of him!
For all you newbies, CSM Joe D. was the SF CSM during Desert Storm and a few years before.
(Was he the first SF command CSM?)
Team Sergeant
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Team Sergeant is offline
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04-17-2007, 20:58
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#7
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by The Reaper
Congrats!
I guess I am officially a FOG.
I know everyone in those pictures but the kid.
TR |
TR,
see CSM Luthy in the background between the kid and Honorary CSM?? still has that frankenstein haircut...
1-0
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one-zero is offline
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04-17-2007, 21:15
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#8
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by one-zero
TR,
see CSM Luthy in the background between the kid and Honorary CSM?? still has that frankenstein haircut...
1-0
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Yep, and COL K as well as Betty.
I think Charlie Black had one of those haircuts as well.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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04-18-2007, 07:09
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#9
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Quiet Professional
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WOW, I too am a FOG, my first SF MOS was 11B3S... one of the early "Tab" and "S" classes - TS, TR, NDD....
Anybody else remember how long it took DA/TRADOC/JFK to come up with 18 series SQT standards?
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In the business of war, there is no invariable stategic advantage (shih) which can be relied upon at all times.
Sun-Tzu, "The Art of Warfare"
Hearing, I forget. Seeing, I remember. Writing (doing), I understand. Chinese Proverb
Too many people are looking for a magic bullet. As always, shot placement is the key. ~TR
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x SF med is offline
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04-18-2007, 07:45
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#10
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I don't believe that today's SF soldier is smarter than those that have gone before. But I believe they are better trained, more knowledgeable about many things, and have much better equipment which makes them more effective and lethal.
Happy B-day, SF Branch!
Jim
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"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." [Samuel Adams]
Jim
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incommin is offline
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04-18-2007, 08:39
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#11
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CSM Dave Clark
CSM Dave Clark was one of the "civilains" on the O&I comm. in 88. Man, is he aging well. Looks just the same. Still jumping freefall I'll bet.
CSM Luthy was the 3/5th CSM around 83/84ish.
Where does the time go?
Pete
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Pete is offline
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04-18-2007, 08:51
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#12
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Asset
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Current AO - Deep South
Posts: 43
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!!!
Damn I am getting old!
But it is nice to be able to see good history unfold...
Happy Birthday SF Branch!
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