From the Editor:

At press time, we are mourning the loss of our dear, longtime chapter member Mike Keele. Next month, we will tell you more about how he touched and supported us all.

Lew Chapman, my former A325 Duc Hue teammate, has put into words, drawn from his own experience, what many of us were thinking when we heard that Col. Paris Davis Medal of Honor paperwork had been “lost” twice. Neither Lew, as a black man, nor I, as a white man, observed racism while serving in SF. If a man was wearing a green beret with a flash on it, that was all I needed to know about his character. We didn’t use derogatory terms for the Vietnamese (occasional VC and NVA excepted), Cambodians, or Montagnards. They were our comrades in arms, and many of us are alive because they protected us.

This is literally your last call to register for SFACON 2023, held in the last full week of May in Indianapolis. Quite a lineup of presenters will appear, including keynote speaker Scott Mann, author of the play Last Out, the book Operation Pineapple Express, and much more. Plenty of activities and camaraderie awaits you.

When our president, Greg Horton, said he was planning to read Break in the Chain, he was the logical choice to review the book by Bob Baker. The Easter offensive was one glaring example, among many he presents, of how dearly bought intel was not always seen in the right light and was wasted, to disastrous effect. Bob offers solutions, but August of 2021 shows those lessons still have not been fully learned.

It’s titled Regimental First Formation, and it’s a celebration of transformation, from struggling to become one of the finest soldiers on the planet to one who will be tasked with keeping us and democracy safe in the world. Two days after their last informal get-together at the barbecue, co-sponsored by Chapters 78 and 1-18, these men intensely swear to do what it takes to complete their assigned missions and “Don their Berets”. John Stryker Meyer once again represented Chapter 78.

The Wall That Heals, spreading the message and presence of “The Wall” far and wide throughout the country, is an instrument of healing, both for those whose friends and relatives participated in the Vietnam War, and the nation as a whole. Rick Carter and I went to observe and help in the assembly process on a muddy field in San Luis Obispo, CA. It was a treasured experience for both of us.

Greg Walker tells in detail how one of SF’s greatest skills was put to effective use during Operation Iraqi Freedom, forming bonds of trust with those who were initially resistant. The results of that were a zero-percent occurrence of blue-on-blue incidents. Greg had a ringside seat, helping to put the SOFID program together and successfully execute it. It was part of the continuing growth in acceptance by ground commanders of what SOF can bring to the table.

Along with losing our own member Mike Keele, we have also lost the legendary Billie Waugh and his one-time CO within a week. Jim Morris brings us a little flavor of what made Billy so special.

We close with pictures of our members at the March chapter meeting.

How Miller
Sentinel Editor