5th Special Forces Group (United States)

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5th Special Forces Group

5th Special Forces Group beret flash
Active 5 July 1942
Country United States of America
Branch United States Army
Part of United States Army Special Operations Command
United States Special Operations Command
Garrison/HQ Fort Campbell
Engagements Vietnam War
Gulf War
Afghanistan (OEF)
Iraq War
Insignia
Background trim

The 5th Special Forces Group is a U.S. Army Special Forces unit that was activated on 21 September 1961 during the Vietnam war[1] by John F. Kennedy when he funded the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center. It was made popular by the movie The Green Berets starring John Wayne.

Contents

[edit] Unit History

Constituted 5 July 1942 in the Army of the United States as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Battalion, Third Regiment, 1st Special Service Force, a combined Canadian-American organization. It was activated four days later on 9 July at Fort William Henry Harrison, Montana. Following World War II, 5th Group was disbanded on 6 January 1945 in France.

5th Group was reconstituted on 15 April 1960, concurrently consolidated with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion (activated 1 September 1943). The consolidated unit was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. Organic elements were constituted on 8 September 1961. 5th Group was reactivated 21 September 1961 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina

On 1 October 2005, the unit was redesignated as the 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Regiment.[2]

[edit] Vietnam War service

During the Vietnam war the 5th Special Forces Group was a new invention. It was first deployed as a battlefield advisory group for the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). By February 1965, it was deployed as a mainstay battle force once the war was in full swing.[3] The group mostly operated behind enemy lines with either other Special Forces groups or South Vietnamese special forces. They were specialized in combating North Vietnamese Army Regular (NVA) forces and their allied Viet Cong and other communist block insurgents, used unconventional warfare, and were some of the last soldiers the United States pulled out of Vietnam.

On March 5, 1971, 5th SFG returned to Fort Bragg.[4] During their time in Vietnam, members of the unit earned 19 Medals of Honor, making it the most prominently decorated unit for its size in that conflict.

[edit] 5th Special Forces group Honors during the Vietnam War

The awards that the men of the 5th Special Forces Group earned in the course of the ten years that were served in Vietnam speak for themselves. Thirteen men received the Medal of Honor (plus nine more when counting MACV-SOG), the nation's highest award for conspicuous gallantry and exceptional heroism under fire:

* Awarded posthumously

In addition men of the Special Forces earned the following number of awards:

The 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, earned the following unit awards in the Vietnam conflict:

United States Army Special Forces campaign participation credits number twelve for the Vietnam conflict and range from 15 March 1962 to 31 December 1970.

References :[5] Vietnam Studies, U.S. Army Special Forces 1961-1971, CMH Publication 90-23, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C. 1989 (First Printed, 1973)

[edit] Unit Moves

The 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) remained at Fort Bragg until 10 June 1988, when the Group colors were cased at a ceremony marking its departure from Fort Bragg. The colors were officially uncased by Maj. Gen. Teddy G. Allen, Commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, Kentucky Col (now MG ret.) Harley C. Davis, Commander of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Dennison on 16 June 1988 at its new home at Fort Campbell, KY.

[edit] Late Cold War

In 1989, through ‘Operation Salam’, demining training camps for Afghans were established at Risalpur and Quetta in Pakistan under UN auspices. From 1989-1995 a total of 17,055 mine clearance personnel were trained at these camps. Part of Operation Salam’s agenda was also to impart mine awareness to Afghan refugees to identify mines and undertake due precautions.

The UNSSM for service with the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan (UNOCHA) was awarded to 5th Group soldiers who participated in this operation.

[edit] Operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm

The 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) added to its rich combat history during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In August 1990 the Group was called upon to conduct theater operations in Southwest Asia in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. During this crisis the Army's First Special Operations Task Force, (ARSOTF), consisting of elements of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) comprising 106 special operations teams performing a myriad of missions that spanned the scope of operations: support to coalition warfare; conducting foreign internal defense missions with Saudi Arabian Land Forces, performing special reconnaissance, border surveillance, direct action, combat search and rescue missions; and advising and assisting a pan-Arab equivalent force larger than six U.S. divisions, as well as conducting civil-military operations training and liaison with the Kuwaitis. The border surveillance mission assigned the 5th Special Forces was among the most vital in providing "ground truth" to the American and Pan Arab Forces. A new chapter in coalition warfare was written while new military relationships were forged which continue their importance today.[6]

General Norman Schwarzkopf described the Special Forces as "the eyes and ears" of the conventional forces and the "glue that held the coalition together."[7]

During the period of 2 Aug 90 - 30 Nov 95, selected members were awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kuwaiti Kuwait Liberation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Valorous Unit Award reference General Orders 14

[edit] Southwest Asia

Selected members of the unit are eligible the wear the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for participating in the following activities between Dec 95 – 18 Mar 03 in SW Asia:

  • Operation Southern Watch
  • Maritime Intercept Operation
  • Operation Vigilant Sentinel
  • Operation Northern Watch
  • Operation Desert Thunder
  • Operation Desert Fox
  • Exercise Intrinsic Action
  • Exercise Iris Gold
  • Operation Desert Spring

[edit] Operation Restore Hope & United Shield

On December 3, 1992, U.N. Security Resolution 794 authorized the U.S. led intervention "to use all necessary means to establish a secure environment for humanitarian relief operations in Somalia as soon as possible."[8] Selected members awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the United Nations Medal.

[edit] Operation Uphold Democracy

U.S. special operations forces played an essential role in establishing security and assuring de facto public administration in rural areas.[9] Selected members of the unit are eligible the wear the Armed Forces Service Medal for participating in the following operations between 1 Apr 95 – 31 Jan 00, Operations: UNMIH, USFORHAITI; USSPTGP-HAITI and/or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the United Nations Medal (Haiti) for the period 16 Sep 94 - 31 Mar 95,for Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY

[edit] Operation Enduring Freedom

By September 13, 2001, the 5th Special Forces Group was order to stand up a forward headquarters to conduct operations in Afghanistan.[10] On October 19, Operational Detachment Alpha 555, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was the first of several 5th Group teams to infiltrate into Afghanistan, and work with the Northern Alliance to bring down the Taliban government.[11]

Major Mark E. Mitchell of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Operation Enduring Freedom was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry in November 2001 at Qala-i-Jang Fortress, Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan.

[edit] Iraq War

During the Iraq war Jessica Lynch, having been captured by insurgents, was rescued by the 5th Special Forces group along with other special forces units from different branches. The 5th SFG assisted in the capture of Saddam Hussein, and are currently involved in the attempt to locate Osama Bin Laden.[citation needed] They are responsible for many captures of terrorist leaders in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

[edit] Subordinate Units

HHC

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion

4th Battalion

Group Support Company

[edit] 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Regiment Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

World War II: *Aleutian Islands; *Naples-Foggia; *Anzio; *Rome-Arno; *Southern France (with arrowhead); *Rhineland

Vietnam: *Advisory; *Defense; *Counteroffensive; *Counteroffensive, Phase II; *Counteroffensive, Phase III; *Tet Counteroffensive; *Counteroffensive, Phase IV; *Counteroffensive, Phase V; *Counteroffensive, Phase VI; *Tet 69/Counteroffensive; *Summer-Fall 1969; *Winter-Spring 1970; *Sanctuary Counteroffensive; *Counteroffensive, Phase VII

Southwest Asia: *Defense of Saudi Arabia; *Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; *Cease-Fire

War on Terrorism: To be determined

Decorations

  • Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for VIETNAM 1966-1968
  • Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for AFGHANISTAN 2001-2002
  • Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ-KUWAIT 1991
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1968
  • Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1964-1969
  • Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1969-1970
  • Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1968-1970

1st Battalion additionally entitled to:

Army Superior Unit Award for 1992-1993

2d Battalion additionally entitled to:

Army Superior Unit Award for 1992-1993

3d Battalion additionally entitled to:

Army Superior Unit Award for 1992-1993[12]The U.S. Army Center of Military History, Force Structure and Unit History Branch

[edit] Past Commanders

COL L. H. Schweiter Sep 1961 - Jul 1962

COL L. E. Wills Jul 1962 - Jul 1963

COL G. C. Morton Sep 1962 - Nov 1963

COL T. Leonard Nov 1963 - Jul 1964

COL H. F. Roye Jul 1964 - Aug 1964

COL J. H. Spears Aug 1964 - Jul 1965

COL W. A. McKean Jul 1965 - Jun 1966

COL F. J. Kelly Jun 1966 - Jun 1967

COL J. F. Ladd Jun 1967 - Jun 1968

COL H. R. Aaron Jun 1968 - Jun 1969

COL R. B. Rheault May 1969 - Jul 1969

COL M. D. Healy Aug 1969 - Mar 1971

COL J. B. Durst Mar 1971 - Jun 1972

COL E. L. Keesling Jun 1972 - Dec 1973

COL A. C. Harris Dec 1973 - Aug 1974

COL R. Maladowitz Aug 1974 - Feb 1976

COL C. L. Stearns Feb 1976 - Jun 1977

COL R. A. Mountel Jun 1977 - Dec 1978

COL G. W. McGovern Dec 1978 - Dec 1980

COL H. E. Bynam Jun 1980 - Dec 1982

COL J. A. Guest Dec 1982 - Jun 1985

COL L. W. Duggan Jun 1985 - Jun 1987

COL H. C. Davis Jun 1987 - Nov 1989

COL J. W. Kraus Nov 1989 - Aug 1991

COL K. R. Bowra Aug 1991 - Aug 1993

COL J. W. Noe Aug 1993 – Aug 1995

COL T. M. Carlin Aug 1995 – Aug 1997

COL D. P. Brownlee Aug 1997 – Jul 1999

COL C. W. Paxton Jul 1999 – Jul 2001

COL J. F. Mulholland Jul 2001 – Jul 2003

COL H. E. Pagan Jul 2003 – Jul 2005

COL K. McDonnell Jul 2005 - Jul 2007

COL C. E. Conner Jul 2007 - Present

[edit] See also

United States Army Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
  2. ^ 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Regiment
  3. ^ 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
  4. ^ 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
  5. ^ Appendix B: U.S. Army Special Forces Honors
  6. ^ 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
  7. ^ United States Army Special Forces Command Airborne
  8. ^ 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
  9. ^ Operation Uphold Democracy
  10. ^ frontline: campaign against terror: on the ground: what are the special forces? | PBS
  11. ^ http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/go0610.pdf
  12. ^ 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Regiment