TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) John K. Singlaub
July 10, 1921 – January 29, 2022
Chapter 78 would like to take this opportunity to remember and honor their fellow chapter member, a true Army Special Operations trailblazer and legendary special operator, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) John “Jack” Singlaub, a decorated veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, who died on January 29, 2022 at 100 years old.
Singlaub was born in Independence, CA, a small town at the base of the mighty Sierra Nevada mountains. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. In January 1943, with the United States entering WWII, he joined the U.S. Army, beginning his career commissioned as a U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant.
“Maj. Gen. Singlaub was the epitome of a Special Forces officer, with the ability to transition through time to different missions, to different places, and basically build what we have today,” said Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, commander of U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
SINGLAUB AND THE OSS
Singlaub, center, and his Jedburgh team prior to secretly parachuting into occupied France to organize resistance against the Germans.
One of the original soldiers of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in WWII, Singlaub served in special operations JEDBURGH team JAMES. The OSS was a special operations and intelligence organization, a direct precursor of the Green Berets and the CIA. Team JAMES conducted clandestine missions with partisan forces behind German lines in occupied France. As part of the team, he made his first combat jump into German occupied France on 11 August 1944 to arm and direct the French resistance.
To read more about this phase of Singlaub’s career, read Jim Morris’ “SINGLAUB: The Jedburgh Mission,” which appeared in the August 2020 issue of the Sentinel.
WWII iN THE PACIFIC THEATER
Major Singlaub (right) turning his back on a Japanese lieutenant with whom he refused to negotiate, demanding to see the colonel in charge of 10,000 Japanese marines holding Hainan Island.
Following the successful completion of his mission in France, he volunteered in December 1944 for reassignment in Asia to continue OSS operations. After training, he served in the Pacific theater of operations, landing in China where he trained and led Chinese Guerilla forces against the Imperial Japanese army. In 1945, shortly before the Japanese surrender, he led a parachute rescue mission into an enemy Prisoner of War Camp on Hainan Island. This resulted in the release of 400 Allied POWs.
The story of this operation appeared in the September 2020 issue of the Sentinel. Read Jim Morris’ “SINGLAUB — Parachuting Into Prison: Special Ops In China.”
Singlaub was one of the few Special Operations Branch personnel selected by the Strategic Services Unit to remain in the Pacific, continuing to report about the ongoing Chinese civil war.
Singlaub served as Chief of a U.S. Military Liaison Mission to Mukden, Manchuria, for three years immediately following WWII.
SERVICE IN KOREA
MG John Singlaub as a major with the JACK during the Korean War (USASOC).
The now Major Singlaub was again off to war in Korea. From 1951-52, Singlaub served as the deputy commander and chief of staff of the Joint Advisory Commission, Korea (JACK). JACK was the clandestine services field mission formed by the CIA.
Results against the North Koreans and Chinese were poor initially, but Singlaub encouraged persistence in spite of their failures.
“The very presence of guerrilla units behind the lines, regardless of how long they lasted, disrupted their lines of communication and harassed the North Korean military,” he said. “Agents had to be inserted if tactical intelligence was to be collected. And, we [CIA] still had the covert E&E mission.”
After his tour with JACK, Singlaub commanded a conventional infantry battalion in Korea, where he was awarded the Silver Star.
NOTE: A memorial dedicated to MG Singlaub and the late Colonel William E. Weber was dedicated on April 11, 2024 by Eighth Army Korea, along with Korea-US Alliance Foundation, KDVA and United Nations Peace Memorial Hall, for their selfless service and contributions to the ROK-US Alliance. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won lauded the veterans who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War, stating that they “gave us the seed of liberal democracy.” The event was held in in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-US alliance.
CHIEF SOG
SOG Team Recon Team (RT) Idaho, from left, Interpreter Hiep with shades, Chau, Tuan with M-79, John Stryker Meyer, Sau, Cau, Son, Doug “The Frenchman” LeTourneau, Hung, and Lynne M. “Blackjack” Black, Jr. in April 1969 in front of CCN mess hall and club. (Photo courtesy John S. Meyer)
The Military Assistance Command Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), established in 1964, conducted covert and highly classified cross-border operations in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and North Vietnam. Singlaub was appointed Chief SOG in 1966.
“During the eight-year secret war, there were five OICs (officers-in-charge) for MACV-SOG, dubbed Chief SOG. Jack served as Chief SOG from 1966 until early August 1968, replaced by Col. Stephen Cavanaugh. As Chief SOG Jack fought the bureaucracy to get close air support for SOG teams. He fought with the State Dept. to have our teams better armed in Cambodia in the early days of the operation,” John Stryker Meyer, told Sandboxx News in an interview on January 29, 2022.
SKYHOOK AND MG SINGLAUB
MG Singlaub ready for pickup. (Photo courtesy of Stray Goose International)
In early 1967, as Chief SOG, MG Singlaub wanted to implement the use of the Fulton Recovery System, otherwise known as Skyhook. He saw it as an option to extract key agents, downed pilots, or even small recon teams. He felt the Air Force squadron commander in charge was dragging his feet, so after that colonel declined to be the first to be picked up, he told him,
“That’s ok, because I’ll be the first person to be picked up live. I wouldn’t ask any men under my command to do something dangerous that I myself wasn’t willing to do first…
Read about the “STARS Surface to Air Recovery System” and “February 1967: Skyhook and MG Singlaub” about Singlaub’s experience in the April 2019 edition of the Sentinel.
FT. RUCKER FLIGHT SCHOOL, 1971
Helicopters of many types were ubiquitous during the Vietnam War. (National Archives)
MG(Ret) Singlaub attended flight school at Fort Rucker as a 55-year-old Brigadier General. Helicopter use in Special Forces operations was increasing, so he felt he needed a better understanding of their use and employment.
MG (Ret.) Singlaub served as the Chief of Staff, United Nations Command, United States Forces, Korea, and the Eighth U.S. Army in Seoul, Korea, while also serving as the U.N. Command Senior Military Member of the Military Armistice Commission at Panmunjom.
In addition to his wartime command positions, MG(Ret) Singlaub played a significant role in the creation of the Ranger Training Center at Fort Benning, Georgia. He helped establish the Modern Army Selected Systems Test, Evaluation and Review activity at Fort Hood, Texas. He was responsible for training and combat-readiness of the Army Reserve and Army National Guard Units in a ten-state area. He also served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Drug and Alcohol Abuse..
THE LEADER
Left to right, Doug "The Frenchman" LeTourneau, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John "Jack" K. Singlaub and John Stryker Meyer at Singlaub's home in April 2017. (Photo courtesy John S. Meyer).
MG (Ret) John Singlaub was the rare leader who earns both the respect and the love of their men. Many times over he demonstrated how he truly cared about them and their well-being.
“As Chief SOG, Jack fought the bureaucracy to get close air support for SOG teams. He fought with the State Dept. to have our teams better armed in Cambodia in the early days of the operation,” John Stryker Meyer, a SOG veteran and ex-Green Beret, told Sandboxx News during the Jan 29 interview.
And that dedication and care extended to his interactions with his men throughout his life.
““He always cared deeply about the men who served under him. For example, Doug ‘the Frenchman’ LeTourneau and I had lunch with Jack, his wife Joan and Debra, Joan’s daughter. Joan told Jack that Doug was battling Stage 4 bone marrow cancer and was having some issues with the VA at the time. Jack pulled out his cell phone, dialed a rare-cancer doctor in Houston who specialized in that cancer. The doctor took Jack’s call and following Jack’s request, he examined Doug 4 times and monitored his condition until he died from heat exposure-related causes July 26, 2019,” Meyer told Sandboxx News during on Jan 29.
DECORATIONS AND AWARDS
MG (Ret.) John Singlaub presents the inaugural award named after himself to CWO2 George A. Valdez, a Team Sergeant with 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). (Photo Credit: Sgt. Kyle Fisch, USASOC Public Affairs)
Over the General’s 35-year military career, he was awarded 45 military decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Silver Star Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Soldier’s Medal, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, and he was awarded combat decorations from six foreign governments.
MG (Ret) Singlaub retired in April of 1978. In retirement, he received many awards including induction into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame in 2006 and he was made a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment in 2007. In 2011, Singlaub received the prestigious SOCOM Bull Simons Award for his exceptional service in special operations.
In 2016, the Army established the Maj. Gen. John K. Singlaub/Jedburgh Award to recognize exceptional members of the Army commando community.
IN CLOSING
A celebration of life was held on February 5, 2022, in Franklin, TN, the town which John and his wife have called home. The SF community were present that day in honor of MG (ret.) Singlaub. Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, U.S. Army Special Operations Command commanding general, and the command team visited with Joan Singlaub, widow of retired Maj. Gen. Singlaub, and rendered their respect over the weekend.
Jack Singlaub loved this nation and was the embodiment of Special Forces — Spirited, Heroic and Selfless. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. RIP, De Oppresso Liber.
So honored to have been a guest in his home past 3 yrs prior to his death listening to his stories! A true legend will be greatly missed. Thanks for the memories General Singlaub! RIP Sir????
[…] key to MACV-SOG’s success. Singlaub, who died in 2022 at 100, was Chief SOG from 1966 to 196816. He received 45 military awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal and the Purple […]