Why the Green Beret wears a green beret.

[Chucko]

I ran across this article and thought was interesting, at least to me.

This is why the Green Berets wear a green beret

By Christian Lowe
Apr. 21, 3:58 PM
It’s well known that in the American military, the green beret is the exclusive headdress of soldiers qualified as Army Special Forces. The only way to don one of these distinctive berets is to complete the arduous “Q Course” and be awarded a Special Forces tab.
In fact, Army Special Forces soldiers are often called “Green Berets” based on that specific Army green “Shade 297” cap.
But how America’s premier unconventional warfare force got that iconic headwear is as much a testament to the force’s tenacity as it is a tribute to the founding soldiers who challenged at Big Army’s authority.
The beret is said to be somewhat derived from America’s ties to the British Commandos of World War II, who wore a green beret as their standard-issue headdress beginning in 1941.

Vietnam-era 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldiers participate in 5th SFG(A)’s flash changeover ceremony at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, March 23, 2016. During the ceremony, 5th SFG(A) reinstated the Vietnam-era beret flash, adding a diagonal yellow stripe with three red stripes to the existing black and white background. The stripes pay homage to the Group’s history in the Vietnam War and its crucible under fire.
So it’s not surprising that according to the official history of the Army Special Forces Association, America’s green beret was first designed by SF major and OSS veteran Herbert Brucker about two years after the unit was formed, likely due to the close work between the OSS — the predecessor to the Special Forces — and Royal British Commandos during the war.
The beret was later adopted by 1st Lt. Roger Pezelle and worn by his Operational Detachment Alpha team with the 10th Special Forces Group based in Germany.
The SF troopers were reportedly not authorized to wear the berets, but being unconventional warriors, they basically gave Big Army the middle finger and wore them anyway.
“The berets were only worn in the field during exercises,” according to retired SF Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Lupyak. “The Army would not allow the wearing of berets in garrison.”
But that all changed in the early 1960s, when then-President John F. Kennedy adopted the Special Forces as America’s answer to the guerrilla wars that marked the first decades of the Cold War. Before a visit to Fort Bragg in 1961, Kennedy reportedly ordered then Special Warfare School commander Brig. Gen. William P. Yarborough to outfit his soldiers with the distinctive caps, arguing these unconventional warriors deserved headgear that set them apart from the rest of the Army.
In a twist of irony, just weeks before Kennedy’s visit, the Army officially adopted the green beret for Special Forces soldiers.
Kennedy was said to have asked Yarborough whether he liked the new berets, with the SF general telling him, “They’re fine, sir. We’ve wanted them for a long time.”
Later, Kennedy sent Yarborough a message thanking him for the visit to Bragg and remarking, “The challenge of this old but new form of operations is a real one, and I know that you and the members of your command will carry on for us and the free world in a manner which is both worthy and inspiring. I am sure that the Green Beret will be a mark of distinction in the trying times ahead.”
The bond between the late president and the Special Forces community are so strong that on Nov. 25, 1963, as Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, a Special Forces sergeant major placed his green beret on the grave of the fallen president. Silently, steadily 42 other Special Forces Soldiers laid their berets alongside, the Army says.
Since then, the SF lays a wreath at Kennedy’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery on the anniversary of his death.

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Chucko

I ran across this article and thought was interesting, at least to me.

This is why the Green Berets wear a green beret

By Christian Lowe
Apr. 21, 3:58 PM
It’s well known that in the American military, the green beret is the exclusive headdress of soldiers qualified as Army Special Forces. The only way to don one of these distinctive berets is to complete the arduous “Q Course” and be awarded a Special Forces tab.
In fact, Army Special Forces soldiers are often called “Green Berets” based on that specific Army green “Shade 297” cap.
But how America’s premier unconventional warfare force got that iconic headwear is as much a testament to the force’s tenacity as it is a tribute to the founding soldiers who challenged at Big Army’s authority.
The beret is said to be somewhat derived from America’s ties to the British Commandos of World War II, who wore a green beret as their standard-issue headdress beginning in 1941.

Vietnam-era 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldiers participate in 5th SFG(A)’s flash changeover ceremony at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, March 23, 2016. During the ceremony, 5th SFG(A) reinstated the Vietnam-era beret flash, adding a diagonal yellow stripe with three red stripes to the existing black and white background. The stripes pay homage to the Group’s history in the Vietnam War and its crucible under fire.
So it’s not surprising that according to the official history of the Army Special Forces Association, America’s green beret was first designed by SF major and OSS veteran Herbert Brucker about two years after the unit was formed, likely due to the close work between the OSS — the predecessor to the Special Forces — and Royal British Commandos during the war.
The beret was later adopted by 1st Lt. Roger Pezelle and worn by his Operational Detachment Alpha team with the 10th Special Forces Group based in Germany.
The SF troopers were reportedly not authorized to wear the berets, but being unconventional warriors, they basically gave Big Army the middle finger and wore them anyway.
“The berets were only worn in the field during exercises,” according to retired SF Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Lupyak. “The Army would not allow the wearing of berets in garrison.”
But that all changed in the early 1960s, when then-President John F. Kennedy adopted the Special Forces as America’s answer to the guerrilla wars that marked the first decades of the Cold War. Before a visit to Fort Bragg in 1961, Kennedy reportedly ordered then Special Warfare School commander Brig. Gen. William P. Yarborough to outfit his soldiers with the distinctive caps, arguing these unconventional warriors deserved headgear that set them apart from the rest of the Army.
In a twist of irony, just weeks before Kennedy’s visit, the Army officially adopted the green beret for Special Forces soldiers.
Kennedy was said to have asked Yarborough whether he liked the new berets, with the SF general telling him, “They’re fine, sir. We’ve wanted them for a long time.”
Later, Kennedy sent Yarborough a message thanking him for the visit to Bragg and remarking, “The challenge of this old but new form of operations is a real one, and I know that you and the members of your command will carry on for us and the free world in a manner which is both worthy and inspiring. I am sure that the Green Beret will be a mark of distinction in the trying times ahead.”
The bond between the late president and the Special Forces community are so strong that on Nov. 25, 1963, as Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, a Special Forces sergeant major placed his green beret on the grave of the fallen president. Silently, steadily 42 other Special Forces Soldiers laid their berets alongside, the Army says.
Since then, the SF lays a wreath at Kennedy’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery on the anniversary of his death.

Chucko, when you cite a "story" on this website you post a link with it.


By Christian Lowe

Careful, Christian is not the sharpest crayon in the box........... I've had "words" with him over some of his Special Operations "stories".

[Chucko]

http://www.wearethemighty.com/articl...-a-green-beret

Either I had a computer glitch or maybe I just got ahead of myself Team Sergeant. I never heard of the author but heard of most of the facts at one time or another. I just swelled up with pride there for a minute or two

[Sinister]

Of course the Army's official description of the stripes when they went away was it was an amalgum of 1st and 7th Group flash colors.

It was said the reason the command (at the time) wanted the stripes dropped was because RVN lost.

[Guymullins]

The story of the Green Beret stretches a little further. As the article above states, the origin of the Green Beret probably stems from its use by the Royal Marine Commando's . The name, Commandos came from South Africa where the Kommando units of the Boers gave the British Army a very hard time during the Anglo Boer War. The Kommando was a mounted, self-contained highly mobile unit made up of men from the same town and district. Often these units numbered grandfathers, fathers and sons in the same small force. These small flying columns wreaked havoc with the large unwieldy British Army columns and they habitually raided these British battalions, inflicting demoralising damage upon them while using them as re-supply sources for both rations as well as arms and ammunition.
Winston Churchill, a war correspondent at the time, was so impressed with the enemies Kommando tactics that when he became Prime Minister during WW2, he proposed using the Anglicised name, Commando as the new British Special forces regiment.
Even today, the Royal Marine Commando's marching tune is Sarie Marais, an Afrikaans folk song still very popular in South Africa.

[Scimitar]

Thanks for the great history lesson Guy.
I never knew.

S

[1stindoor]

Of course what is not mentioned is just as important...why the SF guy does not wear his Green Beret....it messes up his hair.

[Team Sergeant]

“The berets were only worn in the field during exercises,” according to retired SF Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Lupyak. “The Army would not allow the wearing of berets in garrison.”



In 20 years I don't think I've ever worn a beret in the field........, 82nd or SF.

[rsdengler]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

In 20 years I don't think I've ever worn a beret in the field........, 82nd or SF.

Ha...That's because it would "mess up" your perfect "Doo". LOL

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

“The berets were only worn in the field during exercises,” according to retired SF Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Lupyak. “The Army would not allow the wearing of berets in garrison.”



In 20 years I don't think I've ever worn a beret in the field........, 82nd or SF.

That's because you're not an old fart from the 50's.

[bubba]

I think the biggest takeaway I get from the whole story is the easiest way to get an SF guy to do something is tell him he can't do it. The GB is not very effective head-gear for field or garrison. If it were written today, the "ballad of the tan ball cap" would piss off the same folks that ensure compliance with wearing the GB... a hat worn to piss off people who wanted SF guys to wear an OD ball cap...

[Gruntastic11]

Originally Posted by 1stindoor

Of course what is not mentioned is just as important...why the SF guy does not wear his Green Beret....it messes up his hair.

I always thought the hair thing was always about Navy SEALs. Or is it just books and movies...I've lost track.

*Merging back into my lane.*