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The
Story Behind the Green Beret
The green beret was originally
designated in 1953 by Special Forces Major Herbert Brucker,
a veteran of the OSS. Later that year, 1st Lt. Roger Pezelle
adopted it as the unofficial head-gear for his A-Team,
Operational Detachment FA-32. They wore it whenever they went to
the field for prolonged exercises. Soon it spread throughout all
of Special
Forces, although the Army refused to authorize its
official use.
Finally, in 1961, President
Kennedy planned to visit Fort Bragg. He sent word to the
Special Warfare Center commander, Brigadier General William
P. Yarborough, for all Special Forces soldiers to wear their
berets for the event. President Kennedy felt that since they had
a special mission, Special Forces should have something to set
them apart from the rest. Even before the presidential request,
however, the Department of Army had acquiesced and teletyped a
message to the Center authorizing the beret as a part of the
Special Forces uniform.
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When President
Kennedy came to Fort Bragg October 12, 1961, General
Yarborough wore his green beret to greet the
Commander-in-Chief. The president remarked,
"Those are
nice. How do you like the green beret?"
General Yarborough
replied: "They're fine, sir. We've wanted them a
long time." |
A message from President Kennedy
to General Yarborough later that day stated, "My
congratulations to you personally for your part in the
presentation today ... The challenge of this old but new form of
operations is a real one and I know that you and the members of
your command will carry on for us and the free world in a manner
which is both worthy and inspiring. I am sure that the green
beret will be a mark of distinction in the trying times
ahead."
In an April 11, 1962, White House
memorandum for the United States Army, President Kennedy showed
his continued support for the Special Forces, calling the green
beret
"The Green
Beret"
"a symbol
of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the
fight for freedom."
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DISCLAIMER
- PLEASE READ |
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| This page is an
unofficial document and does not represent information
endorsed by the United States Government, the United
States Special Operations Command or the United States
Army Special Operations Command. However, most
information is derived from those sources and has been
checked for accuracy. For comments, questions, and
suggestions, please go to the Communications
Center. |
Copyright � 1998-2002 - Stenhammar Viking - All Rights Reserved.
Gunnery Network - SOF
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