Combat Controller receives the Silver Star

Last week, Master Sergeant John Grimesey was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery and lifesaving actions in Afghanistan during a 2013 battle in Ghazni province. During the battle, he was concussed and peppered with shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade blast. Then-Senior Airman John Grimesey felt Taliban bullets whiz by as he saw his Green […]

Extortion 17: CrossFit gyms honor fallen Navy SEALs

August 6th, 2011, 40 miles south of Kabul, Afghanistan. The Chinook helicopter callsigned Extortion 17 (“one-seven”) took off into the darkness and accelerated toward a destination less than 20 miles west. Extortion 17 carried 38 men, 15 of them SEALS from Gold Squadron of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, popularly called SEAL Team 6. […]

The American heritage of Iran’s Special Forces

When looking at Iran’s 65th Airborne Special Force Brigade, you might notice a few striking features similar to U.S SOF units. For example, the Iranians’ yellow enlisted chevrons seem a lot like the yellow chevrons on the old Army greens. Additionally, before the Iranian Revolution, their unit insignia looked a lot like the De Oppresso […]