OSS, Special Forces warrior, diplomat Samuel Wilson dies at 93

OSS, Special Forces warrior, diplomat Samuel Wilson dies at 93

The Special Operations community lost a giant last week as Samuel V. Wilson passed away at the age of 93. Wilson rose from the rank of private in World War II to Lieutenant General at his retirement and served the Special Operations Forces both in and out of uniform. He was a member of the […]

OSS, Special Forces Warrior, Diplomat Samuel Wilson Dies at 93

OSS, Special Forces Warrior, Diplomat Samuel Wilson Dies at 93

The Special Operations community lost a giant last week as Samuel V. Wilson passed away at the age of 93. Wilson rose from the rank of private in World War II to Lieutenant General at his retirement and served the Special Operations Forces both in and out of uniform. He was a member of the […]

Ongoing selection in Delta: Until Death do us Part (Part 3)

Ongoing selection in Delta: Until Death do us Part (Part 3)

Read Part Two here “Hey geo, wait up a sec; got a question for you…” “Afternoon Sergeant Major; send it!” “Which foreign languages are you rated in, French and what else?” “French, German, Spanish, Chinese…” “Ok… ok… hold on… how about you just send me an email with a list when you get a chance today.” […]

Ongoing selection in Delta: A mosaic of ambiguity (Part 2)

Ongoing selection in Delta: A mosaic of ambiguity (Part 2)

(You can read part I here) I sank back deep in my seat as our flight lifted off for Seattle. I caught myself off and on reaching just below my lapel to feel the slight bulge of money sewn into my shirt hem. Was that a sign of nerves, I wondered? I mean, no matter […]

Ongoing selection in Delta: The first thing you know (Part I)

Ongoing selection in Delta: The first thing you know (Part I)

(Dedicated to Recon6) Riiiingggg… riiiingggg… riiiingggg… (this is a sound that phones made in the day, back before we could we could select Poison by Bell Biv Devoe as a ring tone) Jesus H. Christ, it’s only 0230… and oh-no, there can be only one good reason my home phone is ringing at this hour. […]

Remembering Bull Simons, A True Legend in the Special Forces Community

Remembering Bull Simons, A True Legend in the Special Forces Community

On May 21, 1979, Special Forces had one its true legends take from it prematurely. Arthur “Bull” Simons died at the age of 60 and was buried in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida. He was one of the best SF commanders to have ever served but never made it to General Officer rank because he lacked […]

The ‘Little Bird’ stays in the fight! US Army SpecOps plans to keep the MH-6

The ‘Little Bird’ stays in the fight! US Army SpecOps plans to keep the MH-6

The US Army plans to keep the famed MH-6 ‘Little Bird’ helicopter in service until “Future Vertical Lift aircraft” become available.  The light helicopters are used for special operations in the US Army and rose to fame in the movie Blackhawk down where it was used to support operators who were trapped in the city […]

Operation Eagle Claw, Disaster At Desert One Brings Changes to Special Operations

Operation Eagle Claw, Disaster At Desert One Brings Changes to Special Operations

The images were stark and startling after the debacle at Desert One in Iran on April 24, 1980, 37 years ago today. An incinerated C-130 aircraft and six RH-53 helicopters left with bodies burned and strewn about spoke of the failure of the United States to rescue the 52 diplomats and Embassy personnel held in […]

That ‘crazy fat kid’ in North Korea is at it again

That ‘crazy fat kid’ in North Korea is at it again

The “crazy fat kid” as Senator John McCain calls him is at it again in North Korea.  The escalation in tensions on the Korean Peninsula comes right on the heels of the annual Foal Eagle exercise.  The exercise has been held once a year since the 1960’s and in part involves US and South Korean Special […]