Memorial Stone Dedication Request

 
 
 
August 2nd, 1999

SUBJECT: Request for Permission to place a Memorial Stone in the U.S. Special Operations  Forces (ARSOF) .


Commanding General,
ATTN: DCSPER-AOPE,
United States Army Special Operations Command,
Fort Bragg, North Carolina 28307-5200


1. References: HQ, USASOC Memorandum of Instruction for Placement of Memorial Stones in the Army Special Operations Forces Memorial Plaza, dated 2 July 1997.
 
2. The Special Forces Association submits its formal request to place a stone honoring the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) in the ARSOF Memorial; Plaza.
 
3. Per reference, paragraph 4, sub-paragraph c., the following information is submitted:
    
    a. Branch of service/organization:
        
        (1) The 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) was, and is an organic component of the 1st Special Forces (Regiment). The 1st Special Forces Group was officially activated on 24 June 1957 at Camp Drake, Japan with the transfer of 14th SFOD (8251st ASU) from Fort Shafter, Hawaii, and the 12th SFOD (8231st ASU) from Camp Drake, Japan. Both Units were en route to Okinawa at that time. Group activation ceremonies were conducted 14 July 1957 at Fort Buckner, Okinawa.
        
        (2) The 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) was deactivated on 28 June 1974 with the exception of a single team, US Army Special Forces Detachment Korea.
        
        (3) The 1st Special Forces Group (airborne) was reactivated at Fort Bragg on 15 March 1984 with the formation of Company A, 1st Battalion. This Battalion was deployed to Tori Station, Okinawa during the spring, and summer of 1984.
        
        (4) The activation of the remainder of 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) (Hqs Co, 2nd & 3rd Bns, Svc Co, Sig Co, and 1st MI Co) officially commenced on 4 March 1984 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
   
     b. Unit history:
        
        (1) The period 1957 - 1960 was a time of intensive training for 1st Special Forces Group. A large contingent of Republic of Korea Special Forces troops were trained in Okinawa, while mobile training teams were sent to Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Vietnam, and the Philippines With the advent of the 1960Ős, 1st Special Forces Group's activities increasingly focused on operations in the Republic of Vietnam, and Laos. The first training mission to South Vietnam took place in 1957. This mission was to train Vietnamese Rangers near Nha Trang. Commitment of 1st Special Forces Group teams to South Vietnam increased steadily thereafter, with numerous Detachments deploying from Okinawa on extended TDY missions to train and lead units of the Special Forces (LLDB), Rangers, and Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG). 1st Special Forces Group established a forward headquarters in South Vietnam, which was withdrawn in November 1962 and replaced by "US Army Special Forces Vietnam (Provisional)".   In October 1964 USASFV(P) was replaced by 5th Special Forces Group, which was deployed from Fort Bragg, Even after the arrival of 5th Group, however, 1st Special Forces Group continued to dispatch teams to South Vietnam, maintaining at  least six ODA's in-country at all times to participate in Studies and Observation Group (SOG) reconnaissance missions. These missions frequently involved cross-border operations into neighboring Laos. In addition to sending teams to Vietnam, 1st Special Forces Group was also committed to sending teams to Laos to support "White Star". The Group also maintained a resident team in the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of China (Taiwan).
        
        (2) Operations in Vietnam and Laos were only one aspect of 1st Special Forces Group activities. The Group simultaneously carried out security assistance, and civic action missions throughout Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. Much of the early civic action were directed to Thailand, and carried out in conjunction with military training missions. The Group's commitment grew to such a scale that in 1967, Company D was detached, and permanently stationed in country, and later redesignated 46th Special Forces Company. Among its accomplishments was the training of the Royal Thai Regiment (eventually a division), which deployed to Vietnam.
        
        (3) Increased experience in supporting civic action and relief operations resulted in establishment of Disaster Assistance and Relief Teams (DART). These Teams operated successfully in the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Marshall Islands, and even in the outer Islands of the Ryukyu chain. The greatest successes of the program occurred during the 1971 Pakistan floods, and the 1972 floods and famine in the Philippines. Teams from the 1st Special Forces Group were literally lifesavers during both disasters.
          
    c. Outstanding Achievements:
        
        (1) The 1st Special Forces Group was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its action in the Philippines during the flood and famine in 1972
        
        (2) When the Group was inactivated in 1974 it was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation with streamer embroidered "PACIFIC AREA".
        
        (3) Between 1957, and 1972, 1st Special Forces Group soldiers were awarded eight (8) Distinguished Service Crosses, forty four (44) Silver Stars, two hundred, and forty four (244) Bronze Stars for Valor, four hundred, and ninety nine (499) Air Medals, five hundred, and fifty four (554) Combat Infantry Badges, and eighty eight (88) Combat Medical Badges, These honors were earned at a heavy price. Forty soldiers of the 1st Special Forces were killed in Vietnam and Laos, two remain missing, and two hundred and ninety three (293) were awarded the Purple Heart.
        
        (4) The first Special Forces soldier to die in Vietnam, CPT Harry G Cramer, 21 Oct 1957, and the last Special Forces soldier to die in Vietnam, SGT Fred C Mick, 12 Oct 1972, were both members of 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne).
    
    d. Connection with ARSOF: I think the history of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) pretty well outlines the connection with ARSOF. In the early days of the Vietnam War, Teams that were deployed to Vietnam were under the operational control of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and later the teams came under the control of Studies and Observation Group (SOG). And certainly the deployments to Laos to support "White Star" would be considered Special Operations.
    
    e. Recommended dates for placement ceremony: The former members of 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), many whom are members of the Special Forces Association are awaiting USASOC tentative approval before recommending a date for placement. A design for the memorial stone is currently being developed in accordance with the specifications given by USASOC. It is also anticipated that space in the ARSOF Memorial Plaza is becoming critical, and that alternative locations for placement might be recommended. One of the alternate sites recommended was the JFK Plaza, now under remodeling. The JFK Plaza would be an acceptable location for the placement of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Memorial Stone,
Fraternally:


Harold "Jake" Jacobson
President


cc:    MG Kenneth Bowra, CG, USAJFKSWC
          Larry Trapp
          SFA Hqs
 
 
 
Harold "Jake" Jacobason provided this Letter for publication on the lst SF Gp Vets Web Site
 
 

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