FNG Intro.
 

Good Day to All.

First, I would like to commened you on a very fine site.

Before I throw out my motive for joining your site, here is a little backgroung on myself:

My name is Mark McDermott but everyone calls me McD. I served in the 2nd Ranger Battalion from 76-79 and graduated Ranger School class 3-78. I had the priveledge of serving with some of your brotherhood. Some I knew very well and others by name and reputation. Not to drop names but Cpt (at the Time) Robert Howard A Co. Commander and againg in Mnt. Phase of Ranger school, SSG Patrick Hurley, Randy Shugart and others. One of my good friends is currently SGM of an NG SF company.

My true purpose here is to try and track down a friend that I have lost contact with. He was working in DOD and I lost him just after 9/11. I don't want to give to much info. out in the open for obvious reasons as I don't know if he is "Working" now or not. I'm looking to hook back up with him. I guess my hope is that after serving 15 years in SF maybe someone here would know him or how I might track him down. I will provide his Info. if I know it will not be out for public view.

Thank you.
McD

Welcome.

You should PM an ADMIN. I suggest that you do not post any of his personal info or send any info to any member unless they are an Admin or have the title "Quiet Professional" under their username. Our Admins are (The Reaper, Team Sergeant, AMbush Master, Jack Moroney, Dan, or NousDefionsDoc) and are ALL vetted QP's as well, with access to possibly help you if they decide to do it.

Whether or not a response will be given is not guaranteed. In the past, the ADMINS have been very clear that SF vetting will not take place on this board for the obvious reasons you stated in your post. Locating old buds is a slightly different topic so you may get some help- maybe not. Good luck and again, welcome to the site.

Send me a PM.


Team Sergeant

Welcome to the Board.

PM Inbound.


D9 I just saw that you were on here. Keep up the good work. McD

C 2/75 76-79
 

You guys didn't do a DA Training mission on an airfield in early 77 did you? Ya' know, jump in and take the airfield, grab some hostages or sensitive equipment and then get out?

Pete

Pete
I remember a couple of missions that meet the general description you made. Not really sure of the dates though. One that stands out : didn't jump, used Coastguard Buoy tender to luanch rafts from. Insert on coast of WA, assault and hostage snatch on old WWII airfield. Hostage was some Senator (actual) from somewhere. Bitched about being gagged and cuffed. Go figure! :)

Throw a couple details my way to shake my memory. I hate getting old! :mad:

1977
 

Entebbe was the summer of 1976. The military was swinging into anti-highjacking mode. 18th Corps pulled an EDRE early in the second week of December 1977. A big chunk of 3/5th was put in isolation for a DA training mission. We were to jump on an airfield (North Field in SC), take out the OPFOR and grab some folks and sensitive equipment.

We did the mission but it's a real loooong story. Just say it was one of the strangest training OPs I've ever done in SF, a battalion (-) DA mission.

Anyway, one of the Corps evaluators, our ex company commander, told us after it was over that a ranger battalion had done the mission earlier in the year. Great planning but Corps was not too happy with the ground action.

We were glad the 82nd and Rangers kept the mission as we all sure would have hated to do that again.

Pete

As you know at that time there was a major push to have some hostage rescue/ hijacking resources in the DOD. I believe Col. Beckwith (at the time) was still getting --- organized so there was still no real dedicated resource within the Army (at least that is how it was explained to me). Taking and holding airfield had historically been a Ranger type mission but usually it was done with maximum shock and firepower. Throwing in hostages makes that type of mission much more complicated. We actually did a Entebbe type mission as well as a jump onto the airfield a few times. Very difficult as typical airfield are very large and getting everyone onto their objectives is sometimes difficult since the AF doesn't always dump you exactly where you want to be. :eek: But as you know you have to start somewhere with traing for new missions. I figure all that early worked helped someone at sometime in the furure.