The destruction of the Green Beret Club is complete

[Bill Harsey]

Anyone watching? It's on now.

[Renee]

Let me know what you think, Bill. That bit about the memorabilia is disturbing.

[MtnGoat]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

I think it would not have been necessary, but for the fact hardly any SF guys had been there for years.

I have been maybe three times in the past year, more and more, it was a junior PSYOP and CA Club, for a quick drink on the way home (or back to the barracks). Very few customers, almost no SF unless it was a function. We got run out at 1900 one night because they were closing. They used to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, stayed open till the last paying customer left, and recently, they were down to just a few bar menu items after work. I didn't even see any of the jalapeno popcorn they used to be famous for. The fact that the MPs used to stake it out has not helped either.

The real problem was that they moved all of the SF off Smoke Bomb Hill, and the remaining SF no longer patronized it.

They really should have moved the Club to the 3rd, 7th, USASOC, USASFC area, and my understanding is that they tried, but the area they wanted to put it in, had red-cockaded woodpeckers there first.

The sad truth is that the SF soldiers and retirees on Ft Bragg have not patronized it, and the best features of the club went away. MWR runs it, and they did not like to lose money. If this remodel fails, they will probably close it for good.

Sadly, I guess its time has come and gone.

TR

This isn't towards TR, but to evryone, GB or Non-GB. So the club was doing poor and needed a face lift. Hell I remember then face lift of 2004 that SGM Nann did with his crew of SFQC OTs did for the club. So for all of the soldiers in and around the location of the GB, the SF Soldiers and Retirees that had gone or went to the GB Club. If the club was still the GB club and if you seen the TV Show and seen what is looks like now would you have gone or be going to it over going to Charlie Mikes or what ever your local hang out it. I feel another resaon for the demise of teh GB Club was the closing of the post. The fact that Retirees and old timers had to drive onto post, then driven and hang out with fellow Brothers, then drive back off post scared many poeple.

I think a point that Richard brings up is critial. I don't see from a CPTs, to a new MSG to a Senior or flag Officer holding "their" EVENT at the GB club anymore. I was going to hold my retirement party/BBQ or whatever until this happen. I can tell you that members of my ODA still went there to hang out after work, becuase it was our club and we were Green bBerets that cared about our club and not some off post establishment.

Another question, for all the SF people on Bragg that are on here. To all the People working nwo as a Retiree within a SF Unit or Command ever get a Post level, USASFC or USASOC Survey over the renovation of teh GB CLub? I know I never saw one in my Inbox for the USASOC Global or my AKO box. Yet Post conducted a Survey over the renovation for the Club to get the "input" of the Soldiers.

[TrapperFrank]

I viewed the episode of the show and am very conflicted. In this world, the sad reality is no bucks, no Buck Rodgers. I also work in the entertainment industry and can tell you nothing on that type of television show happens by accident. "Reality" television is scripted to the nth degree. What I found most disturbing was the only SOF involvement in the whole program was input from the USASOC PAO. In a show about the renovation of the Green Beret club, we were treated to the views of a REMF LTC, scenes of the 82nd Airborne's Advanced Airborne School students and cadre giving input on changes to be made to the GB Club and Robert Irvine doing PT with a Headquarters section from the 325. For what it is worth, the general public is so divorced from the military that the 82nd Airborne and Special Forces are for the most part, one in the same to them. The Regiment lost an important part of it's history.

[MtnGoat]

Originally Posted by TrapperFrank

I viewed the episode of the show and am very conflicted. In this world, the sad reality is no bucks, no Buck Rodgers. I also work in the entertainment industry and can tell you nothing on that type of television show happens by accident. "Reality" television is scripted to the nth degree. What I found most disturbing was the only SOF involvement in the whole program was input from the USASOC PAO. In a show about the renovation of the Green Beret club, we were treated to the views of a REMF LTC, scenes of the 82nd Airborne's Advanced Airborne School students and cadre giving input on changes to be made to the GB Club and Robert Irvine doing PT with a Headquarters section from the 325. For what it is worth, the general public is so divorced from the military that the 82nd Airborne and Special Forces are for the most part, one in the same to them. The Regiment lost an important part of it's history.

Thanks for the info.. I took this whole event as post didn't want a GB Club anymore. They never sent anything out, I never heard of them coming over to 3rd Grp or even GSB which is close to the GB CLub. So no survey was sent to any SF Units, just to Conventional. I guess someone up at Post level was still pissed over 82nd Losing their Red Beret Club in the 90's. Really piss poor. Also that USASOC PAO needs to be fired if the RUMINT is true of Roxanna not getting word to come down to get any of the SF Memorbililia from the Building. That part is very poor of here and even Post.

[x SF med]

Being allowed to go into the GB Club after graduation, and having one of my instructors buy the first beer...

And then, listening to the stories of the decline of the GBC over time...

[usacivpol]

Gentlemen,

The episode has aired so I am free to post all the photos before/after the transition.

I was told to go photograph the Green Beret club no instruction or preamble just go take photos.
I didn’t know what was going on until I talked to the manager. When she said that all the memorabilia on the wall was to be removed I started photographing everything.

I apologize in advance, I only had an on camera flash with me and the lighting in the club was terrible. I kept as much glare out of the shots as I could.

I am told that USASOC scanned all the photos that were taken down.

The Green Beret Club photos are here.

http://www.paraglideonline.net/colle...html?mode=nogs

The Smoke Bomb Grill photos here.


http://www.paraglideonline.net/colle...html?mode=nogs

[Pete]

The old version looked homey, comfortable - someplace you could relax.

The new version kinda' looks aseptic - and the way they did the Green Beret Club in the corner just screams "Cheesy!" Go over there to sit and it screams "Look at Me" - whether you're GB or not.

Thanks for the pictures.

[PRB]

That's not a 'rebirth' that's an abortion.
Has all of the warmth of a fast food McDonalds....nice, the GB Club part looks like a freakin penalty box.

[Comsmith22]

I used to Go to the "GBC " for Lunch Once a week when I was On the Commo Committee (83-88)...
The Last time ( 04) I was in the "GBC" I got a Rubin and Miller Lite for Lunch while waiting for My old Company commander from B190 (93- 94)... it was a great Joint Back then ...
Now I am going to go to the Place to see what the Mis-Placed Brit has done to our Old Watering Hole...

[Qdini]

Gentlemen:
Correct me if I'm wrong here but I remember the "first" GB Club was located down the street from the original Med Lab. To refresh memories, the original Med Lab was run out of the ruins of the old WWII hospital across the street from the new Womack Army Hospital. I remember enjoying a brew and steak sandwich after patient pen cleanup (1976 time frame). Was this not the first location of the GB Club? If not, does anyone recall this watering hole and it's real name?

Thanks!

[glebo]

Qdini, I remember a "Rucksack Inn", over near that way. I think that may have been it. Or it may have been when it moved to the Smoke Bomb hill area...memories fadin'...

Commsmith22, we were on the 18E committee together?? I was there 87-91...

[Qdini]

Thanks for the memory jog!
It was called the Rucksack Inn.
Orange/White parachute over the bar, lots of HALO photos on the walls. SF guys hanging out. I didn't get to Smoke Bomb Hill very often as a student since you practically had to live at Med Lab to learn what you needed to know. The Rucksack Inn was close and convenient!

My question is: Was the Rucksack Inn the precursor to the Green Beret Club on Smoke Bomb Hill or did they exist at the same time? I know they tore down the Rucksack Inn just prior to them razing the original Med Lab.

Later on, my Team Room (Green Light) was just across the street from the GB Club on Smoke Bomb Hill so spent a lot of time in there. I recall it seemed "new" to me at the time (1980). A few years later it seemed to turn into a "yuppie club" with legs and wannabes hanging out. Not at all the same high class ambiance as the Rucksack Inn where the guy sitting next to you would pop you off your bar stool if you pissed him off.

Yep. I remember titty dancers at the clubs, Happy Hours and fried chicken gizzards. When a pitcher of beer with your team mates over lunch was considered fine and dandy.

[Pete]

The GB Club was originally on Smoke Bomb Hill and moved over to the Hospital area for a few years and then moved back.

The decor was pretty Spartan while in the Hospital area.

Both the GB Club and 82nd Club were Sport Parachute Clubs in the early days. When the GBC moved over to the hospital area we went there a few times but it was more convenient to go over to the 82nd SPC.

The 82nd Sport Parachute Club was at the N/E corner of Yadkin and Reilly Roads back in the pine trees next to a small dirt FLS.

The Rucksack Inn IIRC was the small single story bar on Smoke Bomb Hill down east by (couple building up) the wood church. That was also known as Annex something or other.

[Qdini]

Pete:
Thanks for setting me straight. I do remember the Rucksack Inn near the wooden church, while the GB Club on Smoke Bomb Hill was operating. Very Spartan and I seem to remember the team guys hung out there to avoid the "yuppified" GB Club.
I gather from your post that the club located next to the original Med Lab was in fact, the GB Club for at least a few years....... Now, I'm uncertain to it's actual name.

Thanks to all for keeping this small part of SF history alive.