In this issue:
From the Archive:
The Vietnam Randall
From the July 2014 Sentinel—Jack Williams, a former SF 051B (commo for the young SF) who served in II Corps Vietnam on several border A-Teams including Ben Het, wrote this special article especially for the Sentinel. In his service Jack carried a Randall knife and in the years since he has become a collector and a U.S. expert on Randalls of the Vietnam era and written extensively regarding these custom knives. His article ties the early history of the Airborne, World War II, and Randall knit through the formation of Special Forces and the Vietnam War.
New on YouTube @sfachapter78!
SGM (Retired) Tony Bell
Playlist: Chapter Meeting Presenters
Guest speaker Tony Bell discusses the Special Forces Regiment and what it means to be a Green Beret. He speaks after 32 years of service about how our regiment and the country we serve changes generationally.
ACL Afghan Community Luncheon
Playlist: Of Interest from Ch78 Members
This short video reel tells the story of Donna Miller’s heartwarming visit to the ACL Afghan Community in Mojave! Her winning bid at the MOH Luncheon funded their summer program, and this reel captures her family’s trip to meet the community they supported.
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Seventh-grade student Cale Laning stands in front of the school report/presentation he made on SFA Chapter 78 Member and Spec Ops Legend Major General John K. Singlaub, who passed away in January 2022. Cale is the son of Tom Laning, who recently retired from 5th Special Forces Group (see the links below to his interview on John Stryker Meyer’s SOGCast).
Chapter 78’s award-winning newsletter, the Sentinel, was a key part of young Cale’s presentation. The Sentinels were in fine company in the display, which also included Singlaub’s autobiography, Hazardous Duty. (Photo by Tom Laning)
SOGCast
Untold stories of MAC-V SOG. Vietnam. The Secret War.
Episode 046: Top Secret Tom Reveals Role in Helping Allies Flee Taliban After Afghanistan Collapses.
John Stryker Meyer, call sign—Tilt, interviews “Top Secret” Tom Laning, a member of the SOGCast team, and a now-retired member of the 5th SF Group, who after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 helped Afghan allies escape the tyranny of the Taliban.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other major podcast providers. Video episodes are available on our YouTube channel SOGCast playlist.
New from the author of the Pucker Factor series:
The 20th SOS Green Hornets—USAF Vietnam War
Vietnam War historical researcher Jason Collins, together with the support of veterans of the 20th SOS, has published a first-of-its-kind book about the USAF 20th SOS Green Hornets. The “Green Hornets” were one of the helicopter squadrons that ran missions deep into Cambodia and Laos in support of the U.S. Army’s MACV-SOG soldiers. Along with the stories from the vets are diagrams and documents to add to the readers understanding of the nature of their bravery.
Available in paperback and Kindle.
Click to view or download
print edition (pdf)
ON THE COVER: Hmong women listen to speakers during the annual ceremony at the Hmong and Lao Memorial which honors veterans of the “Secret War” in Laos in Arlington National Cemetery, May 15, 2015, Arlington, VA. The memorial was dedicated in 1997 stands as a tribute to the Hmong, Lao, and other ethnic groups who made up the Secret War effort during the Vietnam War. (US Army)
From the Editor:
This is our second month in a row focusing on the secret war in Laos. In June, we focused on the air war with Lair of the Raven. This month we cover the effects on the ground.
But first, in a rousing tribute, Chapter 78 President Aaron Brandenburg eloquently tells us of a special Memorial Day Ceremony in PiPi Valley. Among other participants were friends of Green Beret Staff Sergeant Robert Pirelli, who was KIA in Iraq in 2007.
Then, Debra Holm reports on Donna Miller’s trip to visit the ACL Afghan Community in Mojave, where she saw ACL-supported refugee housing, and some of what life is like in this budding community of new Americans. Donna was the high bidder at the Medal of Honor charity luncheon for this trip.
Another result of that Medal of Honor Luncheon was a $6,025 check to Sunburst Youth Academy.
In recognition of their invaluable contributions, Vice President James McLanahan personally visited donors and sponsors of the Medal of Honor Luncheon. Their generous support ensured the event’s resounding success.
A section of Turnpike in Pennsylvania was officially named for Johnstown native Captain Harry G. Kramer, a Green Beret, who was the first US Army KIA in the Viet Nam conflict in October of 1957. His only son, LTC (R)) Harry “Hank” Cramer III, who also became a career Green Beret, along with MAJ Jonathan McPherson, the Chaplain from the 1st SFG (A), attended the ceremony.
Seventh grade student Cale Laning did a report on Major General John K. Singlaub using Sentinel articles and Singlaub’s autobiography as reference materials. Cale’s proud dad, Tom Laning, is a recently retired Green Beret.
SFACON 2024, the all-Green Beret Caribbean cruise, awaits you, but time to register is getting short.
Marc Yablonka wrote a gripping and illuminating book, Tears Across the Mekong, about events, largely on the ground, surrounding the Secret War in Laos. I had the fortunate task of reviewing his book. Following the review, Marc also shares an excerpt of the book, which gives you some of the history and personal tales that illustrate the points he made about the struggles of the Laotians in the fight against communism, especially of the 1960s and 70s through to the present.
Please feel free to enjoy the pictures of our May chapter meeting.
Enjoy.
How Miller
Sentinel Editor
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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