Bruce/re:50th

[JerryS]

Did you get a slice of the Special Forces 50th birthday cake? I'm guessing it was green, and in the shape of a beret. There couldn't be many guys who have a lower membership number than you.

Seems I recall another guy on this board who was a green beret....Bob Turlington, or something like that. Anyway, congrats on being an alumnus of a pretty exclusive club, and thanks for doing it.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Was that the 50th birthday for the SF Association? SF itself is about 60; formed at Bragg just after the Korean War. Yea, my number is pretty low, 2200 or so as I recall. But, the association never sends out dues renewal notices & every 3 or 4 years, my membership lapses. This is one of those years!

I think Bob is from WV; I know I've chatted on YT w/ a former SF guy from there.

I still can't believe they actually paid me to jump out of airplanes, shoot guns & blow stuff up!

 

[JerryS]

According to CBS Evening News yesterday was the acknowledged birthday of your club, the day Kennedy came to Bragg and officially sanctioned the wearing of the green beret (already non-standard wear for some time, apparently.) His action also conferred some legitimacy (and panache) upon the group, previously regarded as a bunch of ....(fill-in adjectives, good and bad) black sheep.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

I missed the story. I'll see if I can find it on their website.

Yea, when JFK came to Bragg in 1961, the CG of the Special Warfare Center (Yarborough) showed up for the briefing wearing a beret. Nobody jerks a general around for his choice of headgear!

JFK was the patron saint of SF. He was responsible for the funding increase that got us to eight active duty SF groups in the 60's.

The story goes (and it's probably just that....a story) that we got the nickname "snake eaters" when JFK was being briefed at the Gabriel Demo Area (known to us troops as 'Disneyland') When he got to the snake pit (w/ live rattlesnakes) a young SP4 was holding one in his hand & explained to JFK how part of SF survival training included killing & eating snakes. JFK allegedly asked how the snake would be killed if you didn't have a knife......and the soldier said "Like this" and bit the snakes head off.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Found it. Link below.

Well done.
CBS News story SF

 

[Jerry Archer]

Hello Bruce, have 8N (1952) & 9N (1940), both restored, org colors. This Forum has helped me a lot in the past. When I saw Ft.Bragg, it brought back a lot of memories. I was at Bragg in 1962/63, but was a Legg (Did not jump), in a Chemical Co. God bless.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

If you haven't been back since 63, you won't recognize the place. I was on post about 10 years ago; all the old WWII buildings on what we all called Smoke Bomb Hill are all gone. Our "new" (in 1968) barracks & company area just down the road from the Division were still there, as was the Special Warfare Center building, but that was about it.

 

[Jerry Archer]

I was housed in wooden barracks, got cold in winter times.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Remember the 'butt cans' (#10 cans painted red) nailed to the support beams in the barracks? They had one inch of water in them. Well, in Feb, 1968 at Fort Gordon GA, (infantry AIT, D/8/3) a case of spinal meningitis caused the Army to have us put up 'sneeze sheets' (a shelter half on each bunk) and open the windows 6 inches top & bottom. It got so cold in the barracks two nights in a row that the water in the butt cans froze.

 

[JerryS]

I went through basic at Polk in July/August of 1966. Our hot was the other side of your cold.

 

[Jerry Archer]

Bruce, I remembered the butt cans, but no ice at the bottom. God Bless (1952 8N & 1940 9N)