ON THE COVER: California Military Department’s Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 19th SF Group pose for a group photo during training at Camp Roberts, CA, Nov. 3, 2023. C Company, 1-19th Special Forces Group operates within the California Army National Guard as a small, tight-knit team of highly trained guerrilla warfare experts. (This image has been censored to protect the identity of the individuals pictured) (Courtesy photo from U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Ronnell Coaster)
In this issue:
The SOA Foundation’s Agent Orange Legacy Project
John “Doc” Padget, SOG veteran, shares a report about research on Agent Orange effects on SF veterans, conducted by the Special Operations Association (SOA) Foundation.
2024 Hall of Heroes: Sergeant Major Robert ‘Spider’ Parks
Sgt. Major Robert “Spider” Parks is the latest veteran posthumously inducted into the Madison County Hall of Heroes.
Sentinel editor How Miller reviews Frank Sobchak’s scholarly and insightful book, Training for Victory, which analyzes and encapsulates the history of SF in 5 critical missions (El Salvador, Columbia, The Philippines, Iraq, and Afghanistan).
Frank Sobchak shares an excerpt from Chapter 4 from his book Training for Victory which discusses his findings related to the Iraqi Special Operations Forces, 2003–2011.
SFACON 2024 Convention Photos and Videos
Missed the 2024 SFA Convention, but would love to see some of the photos shared from the event and watch some of the videos? Click the link above to visit a page with links to event photos and videos for the entire event!
Greg Walker, retired Green Beret, frequent Sentinel contributor, author, and more, shares details of a recon mission just before the Son Tay raid that has yet to be seen in the official accounts.
From the Archive:
By Jim Morris, “Get Ready” originally appeared in the January 2020 Sentinel. Jim tell the story of a man on his deathbed, reminiscing about his past as a Vietnam War Paratrooper.
WHAT’S NEW?
SOGCast 027: Lynne M. Black Jr., 10,000 NVA Soldiers Tried to Kill His 9-Man SOG Recon Team
Featured Channel: Jocko Podcast
Featured Playlist: SOGCast
SOGCast 028: Lynne M. Black Jr. Pt 2 — Perfected C-4 POW Knockout Explosive Ambush on Himself First!
Featured Channel: Jocko Podcast — SOGCast
Featured Playlist: SOGCast
John Stryker Meyer, call sign—Tilt, interviews in two parts Lynne M. Black Jr. The SOGCast playlist on our channel is based on Tilt’s interviews hosted on the JOCKO Podcast. These interviews are separate from his SOGCast podcasts, which are available on major podcast providers.
Subscribe to @sfachapter78 on YouTube!
Be sure to select “All Notifications” to keep up with our new content. Watch and share the videos on our channel and stay tuned—new videos are on the way!
SOGCast
Untold stories of MAC-V SOG. Vietnam. The Secret War.
Podcast Episode 52: Alfonso “RT” Rivero, Crew Chief w/ Storied Air Force 20th Special Operations Squadron, Supporting SOG Missions.
John Stryker Meyer, call sign—Tilt, interviews Alfonso “RT” Rivero, who served three years as Crew Chief with storied Air Force 20th Special Operations Squadron supporting SOG missions.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other major podcast providers. Video episodes are available on our YouTube channel SOGCast playlist.
SENTINEL Awards
- Awarded best Special Forces Association Monthly Newsletter at SFA National Convention June 2011 and 2014
- Awarded Golden Quill at SFA National Convention June 2015 and June 2016
- Best Newsletter Award for 2017 from Special Forces Association National Board of Directors at the International Convention in Fayetteville, NC
- Special Forces Association (SFA) Cross Arrow Award for Excellence, 2018, First Award Presented by SFA in this category
- The War Reporters Award, Presented by Alex Quade – (War Reporter and Film Producer) for Chapter 78 Sentinel’s Commitment documenting Special Forces History, July 2018
- The Golden Arrows for Excellence in Newsletters 2019 awarded by SFA National
- The Golden Arrows for Excellence in Newsletters 2020 awarded by SFA National
The Sentinel is published monthly by Special Forces Association Chapter 78, Southern California — art direction and design by Debra Holm, Dinwiddie Holm Graphics. The views, opinions and articles printed in this issue do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Army or the United States Special Operations Command, the Special Forces Association, or Special Forces Association Chapter 78. Please address any comments to the editor at sfachapter78@gmail.com.
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