SOAR 2023

The SOA Celebrates 47 Years

By Greg Walker (ret)
USA Special Forces

This year’s SOAR in Las Vegas was one of the best so far. Attendance was strong at the Orleans Hotel and Casino, the traditional location for SOAR. The Orleans went all out to ensure everyone was comfortable, events were well serviced by the staff, and off-site events went off without a hitch.

The SOA Riders held a BBQ off-site, honoring founder Larry Trimble (far right, RT ASP, CCN).

This year’s silent raffle organized by John Vislosky was our most successful to date. Items donated for the raffle included donations from Smith & Wesson, and beautifully handcrafted SOG custom knives from knifemakers Alan Blade and Greg Covington. According to Vislosky this year’s interest in the raffle resulted in the most SOA scholarship income raised in his memory.

SOA member Randy Ford, at right, won a beautiful SOG-inspired recon knife at the silent raffle. Raffle organizer John Vislosky, left, went all out this year to engage donations from Smith & Wesson and craftsmen like Mr. Blade and bladesmith Greg Covington. The latter sold out all those SOG recon knives and their variations he’d handmade for SOAR 47.

Of the in-house events presented this year “Ghost Warriors of El Salvador,” a tribute to the contributions of SOG veterans to the 10-year civil war in that Central American country, was very well attended and received. Dedicated to the memory of Robert “Spider” Parks (RT Idaho), whose dedication to searching for and recovering still missing SOG soldiers in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia is the cornerstone of the SOA. Parks’ family was in attendance and appropriately honored as well.

Allen Jackson, son of former POW Jimmy Jackson, attended this year. He and his spouse were promoting his dad’s new book, Forest of Darkness. Jimmy, who recently passed away, served as an SF medic in Vietnam. He was captured and held prisoner along with then-captain Nick Rowe. Jackson would later play an important role at Fort Bragg in the medical arena, to include assisting C-Company (Ranger) and legendary martial artist Mike Echanis in his H2H program at Bragg and Little Creek, Virginia.

Alongside fellow writer and Air Force Son Tay Raider John Gargus. The now-known pre-raid recon of Son Tay by a hand-selected CCN team led by One-Zero Dale Dehnke is being included in John's update to his book about the raid. Although the team's report did not confirm, it did suggest there was a good chance the POWs, or at least part of them, were still at the camp.

NOW and THEN—“Bru” Taylor (RTs North Carolina and Digger, CCN) above at SOAR and at right in Vietnam. Bru, considered by his peers to have been one of the best recon men in the business, was a favorite at SOAR. Taylor recently gave an in-depth interview on his experiences that is well worth watching/listening to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgZPO6G5Hlg

The banquet this year was superb. Tenured members received their milestone SOA pins and special awards were presented to outstanding SOA members to include Ms. Bonnie Cooper, the hardest working gal in the Special Operations Association.

The SOA banquet is the highlight of SOAR. This year’s tribute to our fallen comrades was especially moving—https://vimeo.com/863336958.

The hardest working woman in the SOA—Ms. Bonnie Cooper. “Thank you, Bonnie!”

An early bird shoot was held off-site and was great fun for all who participated. Other events included the traditional SOA prayer breakfast, the CCS breakfast, our annual POW MIA Report, and Doc Padgett’s 2023 Health and Welfare assessment. The hospitality room was a big hit and a wonderful opportunity to locate old friends and make new ones.

Kudos to the SOA Leadership team for a job well done!

To see more pictures of SOAR this year and the events themselves simply click here.

The SOA sends a special thank you to SFA Chapter 78 for its active support of SOAR this year. Especially to the staff at the Sentinel who provided space in successive issues to promote SOAR.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR — An author and Special Forces historian, Greg Walker served with the 10th, 7th, and 19th Special Forces Groups (ABN). He retired in 2005. He is a Life member of the Special Operations and Special Forces Associations.

Today, Mr. Walker lives and writes from his home in Sisters, Oregon, along with his service pup, Tommy.

Greg Walker and his service pup, Tommy