HOO-AH: Special Forces honors fallen on Memorial Day

The U.S. Army Special Forces Command, together with the Special Forces Association, honored the memories of fallen comrades by holding the 40th Annual Special Forces Memorial Day Ceremony here today.

The ceremony was a time for members of the Special Forces Regiment to remember their fallen brethren, retired and active duty, past and present.

Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Csrnko, USASFC(A) commanding general, hosted the event, which was held on Meadows Field.

“I am honored to be with you today, on a day so rich,” Csrnko said. “With me, our nation’s flag flies at half-staff to express our profound gratitude for the acts of brave patriots, who gave the full measure, so that we might live free to place flowers on their graves and speak words of eulogy.”

It was those actions on which Memorial Day was original founded.

In 1867, a group of Confederate women visited a cemetery in Columbus, Miss., to decorate the graves of those sons and fathers who died serving the Confederacy. What the women also found in the cemetery were the unkempt and forgotten graves of many Union Soldiers. The women could not bring themselves to ignore the graves, so they carefully decorated them, until there was nothing which could distinguish them from the graves of the Confederate Soldiers.

A reporter from the New York Tribune witnessed the acts and soon the story spread across the country. It inspired Gen. John Logan, the head of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Union’s veteran organization, to designate May 30, 1868 be a day to decorate the graves of fallen Soldiers. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was formally established in 1882 as a day of remembrance for those who have died in national service.

However, many Americans today do not fully understand the meaning of Memorial Day, Csrnko said.

“This is a sacred day for all war veterans,” said retired Sgt. Maj. Gary Betterton, national president of the Special Forces Association. “None of us have to be reminded why we celebrate this day. What about the general public, and more important, future generations? The day has simply become another day off from work. Perhaps another reminder is due.”
This reminder and the act of relaying the message of sacrifice is the duty of every veteran, Betterton said.

“Far too often the nation as a whole takes for granted the freedoms all Americans enjoy,” he said. “This is a national debt that can only repaid by honoring the nation’s dead.”

Without remembrance, future generations of Americans may not know their heritage and history.

“We would do well to heed the words of Abraham Lincoln, who said, ‘Any nation who does not honor its heroes will not long endure,’” Csrnko said. “Well, we do remember. We remember that Soldiers serve, and some die, to preserve our bedrock freedoms. Among them are the freedom of association, of speech, participation in governance, the freedom of worship and the freedom to pursue happiness.”

Remembering the sacrifices of those lost in battle and speaking kind words of them are important, but Csrnko wonders if that is enough.

“In our hearts we know we can’t fully discharge our solemn obligation to these men and women with mere words or gestures,” he said. “They did not die for words or wreathes alone. They died so that in freedom, our nation might endure. It is therefore fitting this Memorial Day that we return our thoughts to the renewal of our own dedication to the cause of freedom. It is a personal matter for us to renew our commitment, our involvement in a freedom that our dead have purchased at such a dear price.”

More than 83 Special Forces Soldiers have lost their lives since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began. Many more have been injured, and thousands are continually serving in harm’s way every day.

“Right now as I speak to you, young heroes are risking their lives somewhere out there,” Csrnko said. “They do this for us. They do this for their country. They do this, because like millions before them, they accepted the defense of freedom in a very personal matter not to be left solely to others. They were stirred from within by a desire to make a difference, and in doing so they became the strength of our nation.”

Memorial Day is not only a day for remembering those heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, but also for remembering those who endure the hardships of war far from home, he said.

“So let us pay tribute today to those heroes who gave their full and final measure,” he said. “Let us make a personal commitment to do two things before the arrival of summer. Visit the gravesites of our fallen Soldiers and give thanks. Also, let us reach over and shake the hand of a living hero, whether it is someone in uniform waiting in line at the grocery checkout, or a veteran standing on a parade route saluting Old Glory as she passes by. Tell them you understand the depths of their commitment. Tell them you honor their service. Tell them simply, thanks. In this way we will continually renew the spirit of involvement reflected in the kind and good acts of those southern ladies in 1867.”

A color guard from the 7th SFG(A) posts the colors before the 40th Annual Special Forces Memorial Day Ceremony held on Memorial Plaza May 26.

Army Staff Sgt. Terry Cullers sounds a bell as each
fallen soldier’s name is read Monday during the
Special Forces Memorial Day ceremony on Fort Bragg.

Retired Sgt. Maj. Gary Betterton, national president of the Special Forces Association, and Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Csrnko, USASFC(A) commanding general, place a wreath at the base of the Special Forces statue, Bronze Bruce. The wreath-laying was part of the 40th Annual Special Forces Memorial Day Ceremony held on Memorial Plaza May 26.

Hoo-ah: Wyrick Robbins appointed counsel to the Special Forces Association

Wyrick Robbins has been appointed counsel to the Special Forces Association (SFA), a non-profit fraternal organization for current and former U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers. Established in 1964, SFA is based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, with 84 chapters located around the world, promoting the interests of Special Forces and the families of soldiers killed in action.

Attorneys W. David Mannheim, Joshua J. Otto and Steven D. Simpson had been providing pro bono support to SFA prior to formal engagement of the firm. Wyrick Robbins is an entrepreneurial law firm with a focus on growth oriented businesses. For more information on the firm, go to www.wyrick.com or call (919)781-4000.

HOO-AH: These 4 men are selfless, inspirational leaders

These 4 men are selfless, inspirational leaders

Margaret O'Connor

I grew up going to Catholic schools and being surrounded by a pretty religious family.

I remember my grandmother praying to St. Christopher before my family would make the long drive from Massachusetts back home to Maryland.

She told me he was the patron saint of travelers and that praying to him would ensure our safe journey home.

Once, I lost a necklace that my great aunt had given me. When I called her to tell her how sorry I was, she told me to say a prayer to St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost items.

My great aunt said, “Pray, then go retrace your steps, you will find the necklace.”

I prayed with all my might, mostly because I did not want to disappoint my great aunt. To my surprise, I found the necklace. Was it the saint answering my prayers or was it a young girl actually opening her eyes for the first time and looking in all the right places? Maybe it was a little of both.

I have been waxing nostalgic about saints lately because of a presentation ceremony I attended on Fort Bragg last week. I watched as four Special Forces soldiers were awarded the Order of the St.Philip of Neri award. it is an honor presented annually by the command on behalf of the Special Forces Association to deserving Special Forces soldiers. These soldiers embody the characteristics of a selfless and superb teacher and inspirational leader, as demonstrated by the patron saint of Special Forces, St. Philip of Neri.

Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Csrnko, commanding general of U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), and Mel Smith, executive director of the Special Forces Association’s national chapter, were the presenters for the ceremony. They presented the St. Philip of Neri Bronze award, which is given to active-duty and National Guard soldiers who have contributed in a significant way to the Army Special Forces regiment.

The four soldiers receiving the award were Command Sgt. Maj. Donald A. White of 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Command Sgt. Maj. Mario G. Vigil, formerly of 5th Group and now Special Forces Command’s top noncommissioned officer, Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Zets of 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and last year’s recipient and my husband, Master Sgt. Brendan W. O’Connor of 7th Group.

All four of these men have shown dedication to duty and exceptionally meritorious conduct and achievements throughout their many years of service to their country. It was I, and the other members of the audience, who were honored and humbled to be in the presence of men who have dedicated their lives to serving their country. All of these men had at least 23 years of service in the Army, some had 30. It should be a reminder to us all that selfless sacrifice and devotion to duty are traits that we should attempt to emulate and always be thankful for.

It is written that St. Philip of Neri made himself available to everyone at any hour to guide his followers. Philip believed humility is the most important virtue, and he strived to achieve it in himself and others. It seems clear why there could be no other patron saint for Special Forces. Special Forces soldiers are, after all, the “quiet professionals.” They are forever professional and always humble. Thanks to all who serve us so proudly. Peace to all.

Margaret O’Connor can receive messages at military@fayobserver.com or 486-3585.

Hoo-ah: Sufficient Calibers

Sufficient Calibers

Retired Army Green Beret Smokey Taylor was court martialed this weekend, and came away feeling good about it. Taylor, at age 80 the oldest member of Chapter XXXIII of the Special Forces Association, was on mock trial by his peers under the charge of "Failing to use a weapon of sufficient caliber" in the shooting of an intruder at his home in Knoxville, Tennesee, in December.

The entire affair, of course, was very much tongue in cheek. Taylor had been awakened in the early morning hours of Dec. 17, 2007, when an intruder broke into his home. He investigated the noises with one of his many weapons in hand. When the intruder threatened him with a knife, Taylor warned him, then brought his .22 caliber pistol to bear and shot him right between the eyes.

"That boy had the hardest head I’ve ever seen," Taylor said after his trial. "The bullet bounced right off." The impact knocked the would be thief down momentarily. He crawled out of the room then got up and ran out the door and down the street. Knoxville police apprehended him a few blocks away and he now awaits trial in the Knox County jail.

The charges against Taylor were considered to be serious. He is a retired Special Forces Weapons Sergeant with extensive combat experience during the wars in Korea and Vietnam. "Charges were brought against him under the premise that he should have saved the county and taxpayers the expense of a trial," said Chapter XXXIII President Bill Long of Asheville. "He could have used a .45 or .38. The .22 just wasn’t big enough to get the job done."

Taylor’s defense attorney, another retired Weapons Sergeant, disagreed. He said Taylor had done the right thing in choosing to arm himself with a .22 caliber handgun. "If he’d used a .45 or something like that the round would have gone right through the perp, the wall, the neighbor’s wall and possibly injured some innocent child asleep in its bed," he said. "I believe the evidence shows that Smokey Taylor exercised excellent judgment in his choice of weapons. He did nothing wrong, and clearly remains to this day an excellent weapons man."

Counsel for the defense then floated a theory as to why the bullet bounced off the perp’s forehead. "He was victimized by old ammunition," he said, "just as he was in Korea and again in Vietnam, when his units were issued ammo left over from World War II."

Taylor said nothing in his own defense, choosing instead to allow his peers to debate the matter. After the trial he said the ammunition was indeed old and added the new information that the perp had soiled his pants as he crawled out of the house. "I would have had an even worse mess to clean up if it had gone through his forehead," Taylor said. "It was good for both of us that it didn’t."

Following testimony from both sides, Taylor was acquitted of the charges and was given a round of applause. Meanwhile, back in Knox County, the word is out: Don’t go messing with Smokey Taylor. He just bought a whole bunch of fresh ammo.