Jim Wilde
Bob Olson
Tom Twomey
David Scoville
As well as all of our Detachment “A” members.
These four ‘original members’ remind us of the origins of Detachment “A” and its long 28-year history and legacy, which cannot be taken for granted nor forgotten. Its existence is and was unprecedented in the Regiment.
Jim Wilde
Bob Olson
Tom Twomey (Left Back Row)
David Scoville (Right Front Row)
John Lee, former Detachment “A” member has recently been ordained as Reverend John Lee.
On June 22, 2011, John asked for and received an Ordained Ministers Affiliation with the Universal Life Church. He did this for the purpose of officiating a wedding ceremony.
Since then, he has performed wedding ceremonies upon request and at the same time studied the doctrines of many different religions. He has had more than a couple of near-death experiences. After his last MRI, he went back and reread the introduction to his forthcoming biography entitled In Search of the Light.
After some time and reflection, he asked for and was granted an Ordination by the Universal Life Church – one that has no traditional doctrine. They simply believe in that which is right, that each individual has the privilege and responsibility to determine what is right for him, as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others.
He is now applying for admission to a number of seminaries and universities to pursue a Doctorate of Theology.
What: The 6th Battalion/2nd SWTG is creating a heritage room dedicated to those who served in Berlin which will be named after our own former Detachment(A) CSM Jeff Raker tentatively to be named:
The 6th Battalion “CSM Jeffery H. Raker” Heritage Room
When: The preliminary schedule for the dedication of the “CSM Jeff Raker Heritage Room” is set for May 22, 2024 which is a Wednesday on Fort Liberty/Bragg.
The Heritage Room to be named after Detachment(A) member Jeff Raker; is a well-deserved honor to one of the most respected Sergeant Majors to have ever existed in Special Forces.
For those of us serving in Detachment(A) in the late-70s, we remember well the dark time in Detachment(A) when the Deputy Brigade Commander relieved our commander in front of our morning formation inside of the Detachment(A) building. He then proceeded to order us to wear uniforms, get haircuts, and placed a big Detachment(A) airborne sign outside of building. He replaced the CO and XO with individuals that had no Special Forces experience, but novice airborne qualified who were available within the Berlin Brigade.
During this dark period in Detachment(A) history we lost all our Safe Houses and everything we all did to achieve our mission. Instead, we became the training cadre for the 6th Infantry – EIB training, Scout Swimming etc. Detachment(A) had no real Seargeant Major to fight for us at the time.
Then along came SGM Jef Raker. Bottom line: he immediately assessed the situation, saw the problems, and took over working with the Berlin Command SGM himself and Terry Swafford, gave briefings to the new Berlin Brigade Commander, and overnight we were back in civilian clothes doing our real mission. He restored our unit.
After this ordeal, SGM Jeff Raker’s efforts made Detachment(A) history up to Eagle Claw along with Colonel Stanley Olchovik.
The 6th Battalion/2nd SWTG have requested attendance by former unit members (i.e. those who served in Berlin) in order to break the site in correctly.
Robert P. Olson served in Detachment “A” Berlin from April 1958 to September 1959. Bob Olson is one of the “Original” members. This is a narrative and some of Bob’s recollections of his time serving in Detachment “A”.
After attending Brown for two years, Bob decided to join Special Forces. He spent a year and a half in basic and Special Forces training where he acquired a myriad of skills including demolitions and parachuting. From there he went to Bad Töltz Germany. Bob had spent approximately three days at Bad Töltz and was sent off to Berlin – to this day Bob says, “I don’t know why.”
Bob arrived at Detachment “A” (DET-A) in the spring of 1958. It was not DET-A then, it was The Security Platoon, DET-A became their name later that year.
Things were vastly different back then. Dwight D. Eisenhower was President, and Nikita S. Khrushchev was Premier of the Soviet Union. The Third World War and the threat of nuclear war was something everyone talked about and took very seriously.
School kids were trained to hide under their desks or “duck and cover“ which was a Federal Civil Defense Initiative instructing children how to react during a nuclear attack.
Berlin was broken into four quarters, the US, the French, the English and East Berlin. Khrushchev had announced that since the allies were way behind the Iron Curtain, that they should get out promptly or be thrown out.At that time, the odds were heavily stacked against the US. The US had about 30 tanks in Berlin and the Russians had about 3,000.
With Berlin city divided into four sections – American, British, French, and Soviet, the Brits had sent a Commando Unit, the French Foreign Legion Paratroopers and then there was the US equivalent – DETA comprised of approximately 53 or 54 Special Forces Green Berets. There were approximately four “A” teams (later two more teams were added). All were paratroopers. Each team was assigned to a sector. Bob was assigned to the French sector.
Detachment “A” was set up specifically to delay a Russian attack across Western Europe that may have sparked the Third World War.
The unit was established contrary to the Potsdam Agreement which divided Berlin after WWII as were the other units.
In the event of World War III, and with overwhelming numbers of Soviet forces expected to surge into Western Berlin, DET-A’s main mission was to conduct sabotage operations against strategic infrastructure such as railroad lines, and other vital targets, by blending into the city, creating havoc behind enemy lines, assisting and/or leading guerilla fighters behind enemy lines, and at all costs buy the allies as much time as possible to allow them to raise a counter-offensive.
For example, blowing up the railroad lines surrounding Berlin so the Russians would have difficulty moving troops and equipment toward Western Europe. Russian troops would have to be supplied through the rail network that ran through Berlin. DET-A would have to blow up that entire network and then run for a submarine that they were assured was waiting for them. The submarine was six to seven hundred miles away in the Baltic Sea. There were no formalized escape plans, you were basically on your own to make it to the pickup point.
There was little chance that anyone associated with DET-A would have survived such an attack, for most, it would become a ‘suicide mission’. The secondary mission was to train other troops, i.e., Brits etc. in Escape & Evade – if a war began. Its everyday mission included: training allied troops, reconnaissance, and where possible, driving the Russians to distraction.
The demographics of this group were unique. Of the fifty plus of DET-A probably half were foreign born. Many of them were recruited under the Lodge Act of 1950.
The group consisted of American WWII veterans who had had stormed Normandy Beaches and fought across Europe, many who fought in Korea, ex Nazi soldiers (who fought against them) ex-French Foreign Legion paratroopers who had survived Diene Bien Fieu by lying underwater in a swamp breathing through reeds, at least one Gypsy and at least one middle class kid from Westchester.
Until they were needed to activate and carry out their main mission, they trained and did other various activities. For example, they would build “topos” – Topographical maps – of these areas on ping pong tables and visit them occasionally. They would attend classes including German language, Morse Code, and demolitions.
Training was varied, everybody taught something. For Bob it was math – mathematical formulas to be applied to demolitions applications. Bob recalls SF history of which he remembers only that the concept for an SF team was born in the Balkans during WW2, when a guerilla leader named “King Kong” needed weapons, radios and people who could operate them, doctors to help with basic things (like birthing babies) and demolitionist or like Bob who in addition to teaching math taught about how to blow bridges although they wouldn’t let him try.
They jumped into Bad Tölz about every three months and spent anywhere from one to four weeks training.
Their winter exercise was rigorous and involved ‘extreme’ skiing in the Alps and other ongoing Special Forces-related training.
One problem in Berlin was that there was no way of knowing who anyone was. There was a bar called The Boyar thought to be Russian on the KuDamn, with fabulous vodka, Champaign, music and caviar. Bob remembers standing at the bar one night talking to an extremely well-dressed man who was obviously Russian (he may have swept out the embassy or been the head of the KGB, for all Bob knew). They drank a lot and swore brotherhood, forever. Then Bob pointed out that tomorrow we might be blowing each other’s heads off. He said,” yes, but that will be tomorrow – have another Vodka.”
Another time Bob was having trouble sleeping on the train, so he stepped out to see the sun rise. There was a guard, he was probably in East German uniform, but Bob remembers him clearly as Russian some 60 years later. He took out a Camel and then in a rare moment of soldierly brotherhood said –“ Papirosa” he said, “maybe a Lucky Strike”. They had used up their mutual language capability, so they smoked in silence. Bob warns “If anyone ever offers you a Papirosa, don’t take it – international peace is not worth it”.
One image that brings back Berlin the most for Bob is the Tower and wire. Back then there was no wall, rather a maze of fences, barbed wire, and towers. Bob spent more nights than he wanted to sleeping under one of those towers – nobody got shot, at least not them.
Many of the women Bob knew or interacted with was in somebody’s pay, most were probably being paid by both sides. Bob noted the promise of sexual paradise with Black Headed Criss on a night she knew they were parachuting into the mountains.
A friend once showed Bob a menu from Christmas dinner for their barracks (which they shared with an administrative group) they ate there. It had the names of all the people who attended. Then, they attended but their names were not on the menu, apparently, they did not exist.
Bob recalls having Crepe Suzettes for breakfast and introduced a friend of his to snails; The best food in town was at the French Foreign Legion Officers Club. Someone asked Bob if he had ever jumped out of an airplane. He told them about 30 or 40 times – they were very impressed because they only counted combat jumps.
Some of Bob’s fellow team members were involved with a highly sensitive operation which involved ‘The Wolf’ the head of the East German Intelligence. Though it did not come to fruition, it was a very intense time and one example of the dangers of their mission, and what they were up against.
Leonard R. “Pappy” Barnett – (1958-1960).”with an 8th grade education taught me everything worth knowing about life.”
Harry E. Brown (1956-1961) – Bob spoke with Harry many years later when he was a lawyer in California. ” A really good guy”. Bob recalls attending Harry’s Morse Code class during his time in DET-A which proved to be a challenge, and “Harry was insistent that I learn.” Harry was also a ski instructor, and combat helicopter pilot.
Kenney Crabtree (1958-1960). Ken left a little ahead of Bob to get a job on some railroad – Bob predicted he would last 3 months (he lasted 2). He was an E5 at the time, made Lieutenant Colonel and was killed on 15 April 1984 along with an American embassy official, by a terrorist bomb in Southwest Africa.
Dunlap, Henry – “Big Dunlap, who was I remember was formerly a Florida state policeman.”
Laurice Dunlap (1956-1960, 1962-1965) –“ Lil Dunlap, as opposed to big Dunlap, whom I last saw at the 1999 conference. I remember little Dan lab explaining to me that it is possible to sharpen a knife on a piece of cardboard.”
Gerhard E. Frick (1958-1960) – “Only outspoken Nazi among us”.
Roland Goodman (1958-1960) – It is believed he went on to the CIA.
Roland R. Graves (1958)
Michael E. Ladue – Served in Detachment “A” during the time of the Cold War. Later, Mike was deployed with Air America Airlines in Southeast Asia, the U.S. Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency, all in this same area.
Maj Roman Piernick was their commander – (1958-1961). Bob only remembers that he announced in front of the German cooks that they would have new native clothes, and then raised hell when it was discovered that the Russians found out about it. “Enough said.” He also decided Bob was promising so he promoted him to Sergeant. Someone discovered that his MOS of 51613 meant that he had to be a Specialist, she he wore Sergeant stripes for a couple of months.
Max Randleman – Team Sergeant (1956-1959) – Bob states that “Max Randleman was probably the best soldier I ever met, and I had a lot to choose from. Kind, intelligent and brave. Max won the soldiers medal while we were in Berlin for pulling somebody out of a burning building. He was from WWII, a MSG and the leader of Team 1 – Bob having served on Team 4. Max was highly decorated and added the soldier’s medal to his collection while Bob was there. Mike Ladue just missed one.”
Thaddeus R. Pluta (1958-1960) – “On one jump Pigpen Pluto’s chute roman candled and Mike caught him – they talked briefly, Pigpen opened his reserve and Mike let him go, thereby missing a Soldiers Medal. Pigpen was our radio operator. Pigpen was undamaged.”
Daniel E. Sandy (1959) Team Sergeant.
Wilbur R. Stanbridge Team Leader (1958-1960) – “was our team leader he was a fine man.”
Robert R. Smith (1958-1960) “Railroad Smith”.
Johnnie L. Smith (1958-1960)
Donald E Thompson (1958-1960 ) “Lonesome Tom”.
“The men who served in Detachment “A” got no special recognition or compensation. Someone (who was a Classist said that we were the Spartans at the Bridge, all we could do was hold things up a little) but the Athenians stayed home with their wives.”
Bob and the other ‘Original’ members of Detachment “A” capture the very essence of the Special Forces legacy and character; those members who knew absolutely what could happen and served despite the most certain deadly consequences should they be activated.
Bob served as a ‘quiet professional’ and for over 60 years was unable to speak about his service in Detachment ‘A”. He is one of the ‘Originals’ and , one of the select few who served in this highly historical unit – Detachment “A”.
Here is a link to an article about Bob published by his local newspaper.
Detachment “A” Get Together
This function is dedicated to the history of Detachment “A” Berlin, 1956-1984, and as a special tribute to some of the original members of Detachment “A”: Chuck James, Bob Olson, Albert Slugocki, Tom Twomey Jim Wilde, and other original members.
Thursday 12 September – 15 September (checkout) 2024
Greenville, SC
Contact Host/POC Detachment “A” for full information
Dedicated to the history of Detachment “A” Berlin
Detachment “A” member Tom Twomey had the only website information back in the 1980s. He was an original organizer of the Detachment “A” functions which coincided with the Fayetteville NC Special Forces reunions.
Tom was no longer able to maintain his web site, it was to be inactivated. He asked Bob Charest if he would take over and create a website for Detachment “A”. It was a weekend, when Tom’s website was deactivated.
Bob realized that this spark was about to be extinguished forever, so he decided to take on this responsibility and created a new website, that very weekend in order to keep the history of Detachment(A) exposed. It was basic, but it was a start.
It was also at a time when Bob realized that Detachment (A)’s history was fading away into the historical dust bin, that he started an effort to bring Detachment(A) in from the cold. With this most important goal at stake, and with the knowledge of how important this unit and its members were to the Special Forces history he began an endeavor that took years of hard work and dedication to accomplish the one goal in his mind: to bring Detachment(A) in from the cold; to finally bring about the recognition that was so richly deserved to the Detachment(A) unit and its members. He could not let this unit fade away.
Bob Charest, an eight-year veteran of Detachment(A) 1969-1972 and 1973-1978, launched this endeavor as an independent look into the Military History of Detachment(A), 39th Special Forces, Berlin 1956-1984.
He began by organizing Detachment(A) functions – Detachment”A” members were scattered all over the world. They started out very small but grew each year and have become very successful.
He then created a new Detachment(A) web site and domain, dedicated exclusively to Detachment(A). In conjunction with this, he wrote and published the article “A Thumbnail Look at Detachment(A) Berlin Brigade in January 2012. Then things just took off. He continued organizing and hosting Detachment(A) functions with increased numbers and success.
The Thumbnail Look at Detachment(A) Berlin Brigade was circulating for some time, and the Special Forces Association(SFA) got hold of it and published the article on their website Home – Special Forces Association in the 2013 Winter edition of the Drop Magazine.
Bob also worked with the SFA and was able to obtain a section dedicated to Detachment(A) in the Drop Magazine.
The Detachment(A) functions continued to grow with members getting together to share stories about serving in Detachment(A). These functions were gatherings of the Detachment”A” folks, and the format and motto was simple: come as you are, pay as you go, BYOB and no agendas, no frills, and no politics. Jeff Raker told him never change this format.
Bob organized several projects to continue to bring Detachment(A) in from the cold which were all team efforts including representation of Det-A in the JFK Museum, collecting Det-A artifacts, and managing the project that brought Jimmy Spoo’s Memorial Stone idea to fruition.
Bob made the Memorial Stone project a team effort which allowed all Detachment(A) members to contribute to the Memorial Stone, which they generously did. He coordinated with SFA to manage the contributions. The project was fast and furious, collecting all the money that was needed and then some. All monies over the necessary funds were donated to the Green Beret Foundation.
He also worked with USASOC and General Shachnow on ceremony activities including speakers, guests, press and many other ceremony details. He also ensured that special recognition was attributed to Major Hermann Adler who was unable to attend.
The Detachment (A) Memorial Stone Dedication Ceremony was hosted by LTG Charles Cleveland, Commanding General for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) on 30 January 2014.
The Memorial Stone ceremony was covered by the local copy press and was also televised. It was a major success and a real team effort.
Bob then continued his efforts and wrote another article for the VFW Magazine entitled: “In the Eye of the Cold War Hurricane, Detachment A Berlin Brigade” which was published in the November/December 2014 issue.
It was at one of the Detachment(A) functions that James “Styk” Stejskal indicated that he would like to write a book about Berlin Special Forces.
In the meantime, to keep the momentum going with the goal to bring Detachment(A) in from the cold, Bob worked with WeAreTheMighty.com and published the article: This top secret Green Beret unit quietly won the Cold War. The article was published on 1 February 2015.
Another article was then published by WeAreTheMighty.com which featured Detachment(A): The 6 most-secret units in military history which was published on 14 June 2015 followed up with a video The 6 most-secret units in military history
Bob also worked with two highly established authors and writers who wanted to write books about Detachment(A). These two projects were put on hold because fellow Detachment(A) member James Stejskal’s book was still in progress and Bob did not want to interfere with his efforts until his book was published.
Bob continued his efforts and worked with SOFREP’s reporter Jack Murphy from SOFREP.com who published a short article about Detachment(A) entitled: Detachment A: the Cold War Sabotage Experts of Special Forces published on 27 April 2016.
Jack was a guest at the September 2016 Det-A function. He interviewed Detachment(A) members for a follow-up article which was published on SOFREP.com in a 4-part series dated from 07 February 2017 – 10 February 2017:
Detachment A: Clandestine Special Forces Missions from Berlin to Iran
Part 1: Detachment A: Clandestine Special Forces missions in post Hitler’s Berlin published 6 Feb 2017
Parr 2: Detachment A: Green Berets play cat and mouse with communist agents published 7 February 2017
Part 3: Detachment A: counter-terrorism and Operation Eagle Claw published 8 February 2017
Part 4: Detachment A: Final missions, the wall comes down, and the end of an era published 10 February 2017
Jack conducted in depth interviews with Det(A) members and the articles he published were outstanding. Jack has been instrumental in bringing to light Det(A)’s legacy to the public with his professional writings.
The full article is entitled: Detachment A: Clandestine Special Forces Missions from Berlin to Iran
All of these articles are posted on the Detachment(A) website.
Jim’s book entitled Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army’s Elite, 1956–1990 was published 17 February 2017.
Our function in Fayetteville NC in memory of Jeffrey Raker in June of 2017 featured a Detachment(A) formation at the Memorial Stone. This was probably the last formal formation of Detachment(A).
There was work performed for a project towards a biography of Detachment(A). Barry Duplantis and Chase Millsap collaborated on this project. There were interviews conducted at the function. The two teams of biographers as well as the military professionals worked together on this project. These efforts resulted in videos of some of our Detachment”A” members which are published on the Detachment(A) website. Barry Duplantis conducted video interviews with Detachment”A” members and Barry Duplantis along with Chase Millsap generated the Detachment”A” Intro video 1956-1984.
Next, Bob unexpectedly found out that many Detachment”A” members also served in the SOG unit so he published the Who’s Who in Detachment”A”/SOG on 7 Feb 2018.
WeAreTheMighty.com published another series of articles about Detachment”A”:
“The top-secret plan to cripple Berlin during a Soviet invasion“ authored by Logan Nye and published on 14 August 2018.
“Top-tier special operators of the Cold War worry about modern ‘soft skills’ “ authored by Logan Nye and published an article on 29 August 2018.
“A secret Cold War unit was the basis for today’s special operations” authored by Blake Stilwell and published an article dated 23 August 2018.
On 19 May 2019 after much work and review, Jack finalized his Detachment”A” publication entitled: Unredacted: Special Forces Detachment A—Cold War espionage and counterterrorism from Berlin to Iran.
The Who’s Who In Detachment”A”/SOG list was followed up with an article Bob Charest wrote on 5 Apr 2021 entitled Det-A and SOG which was published by SOA in their 1 May 2021 Newsletter.
Many of the articles have been updated over the years as well. Thanks to all the gifted contributors who worked with Bob to provide exceptional articles and other media-related information about Detachment”A”.
For many years, and at many functions, Jeff Raker has spoken about Bob Charest bringing Detachment-A in from the cold. At the September 2016 function, he honored Bob Charest by recognizing all the projects and efforts Bob has done for Detachment-A. He presented a thank you card signed by the Detachment(A) members and here is what he said:
“I am not modest in what I’m going to say right now. One reason we are all here; one reason Det-A, after all those years Detachment-A got put on the map. One reason there’s a marker at headquarters, with Detachment-A on it, is because one individual, he did have some help, but one individual went all out and made sure we didn’t die. That individual is here, and because of that individual, we are all here. And Bob if you will be so kind and stand up – with this card that we all signed thanking you for keeping us together, thanks Bob.”
For Bob, this was the ultimate honor, one he will never forget, from Detachment(A) members and from one of the best Special Forces soldiers he has ever served with, and a very special friend.
Another Special Forces legend Major General James Guest also recognized Bob’s efforts with this message when recognizing a new chapter being formed in the Upstate South Carolina.
It is great that Upstate South Carolina will have a Special Forces Chapter to preserve the legacy of the Special Forces and the Special Forces Soldiers. They prove the truth of the old adage that out of a 100 soldiers, 80 are just there, 10 insure the mission is done, 1 leads the 10 in doing it. I believe that the SF are all in the ranks of the 10 who will get the job done regardless of what it takes. Bob Charest represents the 1. He rescued the Legacy of the Berlin Detachment from the dustbin of forgotten history and added it to a place in the Legacy of Special Forces to its rightful place of Honor in the Special Forces Regiment.
The SF Soldiers will keep the Legacy always. MG Jim Guest
This goes without saying that coming from MG Jim Guest, a very special honor.
There are now countless articles and videos about Detachment”A”. Detachment”A”, its rich legacy within the Special Forces community, is now in the history books and it all started with one man, Bob Charest who saw the legacy of Detachment”A” fading away; its history forgotten; Bob set in motion the recording of the Detachment”A” history and legacy. He has worked tirelessly: organizing and hosting Detachment”A” gatherings, establishing a history related Detachment”A” website, the inaugural overview article entitled A Thumbnail Look at Detachment(A) Berlin Brigade in January 2012 and engaging and coordination with numerous organizations, individuals and projects to get the Detachment”A” history and legacy recorded.
Written by: Carl Gregory, Veteran United States Army
𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, I’ve been fortunate to have five great friends who profoundly influenced who I am today. As we approach Veterans Day weekend, I want to pay special tribute to one of them, my warrior friend 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐤!
His name embodies valor and dedication, epitomizing the resilience and bravery of those who have served in the United States military’s most challenging and covert units. Born in 1942 in Arlington, Massachusetts, Silk’s remarkable journey started with his ROTC days at Pennsylvania Military College and unfolded into a distinguished military career that spanned more than two decades.
His time in Vietnam as a Special Forces RECON 1-1 and 1-0, particularly the twenty-five highly classified, deniable, cross-border missions into Cambodia with MACVSOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group) Project SIGMA, marked a significant chapter in his life. MACVSOG was a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit that conducted covert unconventional warfare operations before and during the Vietnam War. Established in 1964, it carried out cross-border operations in Laos and Cambodia, along with maritime operations against North Vietnam. The personnel serving in MACVSOG, like Silk, were engaged in highly dangerous and secretive missions, involving deep reconnaissance, direct action, sabotage, and gathering intelligence behind enemy lines.
In the face of overwhelming odds, with an extraordinary casualty rate exceeding one hundred percent, where over half of its members were either killed or went missing in action, MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group) demonstrated exceptional courage and commitment. Remarkably, every member of this unit had volunteered, bearing the scars of battle and sustaining injuries, sometimes multiple times, throughout their service. Their sacrifice and bravery are a testament to their unwavering dedication to their mission and country. In recognition of these remarkable sacrifices and their steadfast dedication to duty, MACV-SOG and the individual members were deservedly honored with the Presidential Unit Citation (equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross individually) at a ceremony held at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, on April 4, 2001.
Following his valorous service in Vietnam, Silk continued to exemplify the exceptional skills and bravery synonymous with the Special Forces, during his tenure with Detachment A in Berlin, Germany. Detachment A was a covert unit of 90 Special Forces soldiers, known for their involvement in some of the most classified and sensitive missions of the Cold War. The unit, which existed from 1956 to 1984, specialized in unconventional warfare, sabotage, intelligence, guerrilla operations, anti-terrorism, sniper, and SWAT operations, often working closely with the Central Intelligence Agency and other U.S. intelligence agencies. Silk’s role in such a unit underscores his extraordinary capabilities and the trust placed in him for missions of critical importance.
His military accolades, reflecting his exceptional service, include the Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and numerous others. These honors not only signify his bravery and skill but also his dedication to his country and fellow soldiers. Sergeant Major Silk also holds a reserve commission as an Army Captain.
Silk’s life post-military has been equally remarkable, serving in law enforcement and as a skilled gunsmith, carrying the same spirit of service and expertise into his civilian life.
In addition to his extraordinary military and post-military career, John P. Silk’s impact extends into the realm of personal relationships and mentorship, illustrating the depth of his character and his commitment to nurturing the potential in others.
Our friendship, spanning over four decades, has been a testament to his unwavering loyalty and steadfastness. Silk, embodying the true spirit of a Green Beret, has always been more than a friend; he has been a mentor and a guide. His impact is profoundly evident in his influence on my daughter, Destiny Dawn Gregory. As she embarked on her journey to excel in the Vernon High School Army JROTC and her aspiration to join a US Military Service Academy, Silk has been an instrumental figure, sharing his wisdom, experience, and encouragement.
Just as he trained and guided our allies with skill and dedication during his time as a Green Beret, Silk applied the same level of commitment to mentoring me when I served under him in the 101st Airborne Division and for the past two years in the twilight of his life mentoring my daughter Destiny Dawn Gregory. He has truly been an inspiration and a guiding light, among several, behind her success, quietly working behind the scenes, and instilling in her the values of discipline, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. His mentorship has been an important factor in shaping her into a young leader to become the Battalion Commander of her high school Army JROTC battalion in the incredibly short period of just 1 1/2 years, ready to face challenges with the same bravery and determination he has shown throughout his life as she reached for the stars for the last two year to obtain a congressional nomination and to be accepted into one of our nations prestigious military academies.
Destiny made a deliberate and thoughtful decision to not include SGM Silk’s academy recommendation letter in her applications. He is currently too unwell to navigate the complex submission process. However, the wisdom and guidance she received from him transcend the value of a written endorsement. The lessons imparted by SGM Silk are more than mere words on paper; they are lifelong treasures that will serve her well throughout her life. See the letter in the photos.
This aspect of Silk’s life – his role as a mentor and friend – is as commendable as his decorated military career. It reflects his belief in the power of passing on knowledge and fostering growth in the next generation, ensuring that the legacy of commitment and service continues.
This tribute to SGM John P. Silk is more than just a recounting of his service; it’s a celebration of the spirit of a warrior who represents the best of American values – courage, commitment, and unwavering dedication to duty. His legacy is not just in the medals and commendations but in the lives he touched, the missions he accomplished, and the indomitable spirit he embodies.
Presidential Unit Citation (Individual Award Equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Cross)
Silver Star
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal (1st OLC)
Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal (1st OLC)
Good Conduct Medal (8th Award)
Army Occupation Medal (Berlin)
National Defense Service Ribbon
Vietnam Service Ribbon (6 Campaign Stars)
Humanitarian Service Medal
NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 5)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (Thailand)
Vietnam Campaign Ribbon (With Year Device)
Combat infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Military Freefall Parachutist Badge (HAL0)
Scuba Divers Badge
Special Operations Divers Badge
Air Assault Badge
Expert Marksmanship Badge (M-1) (M-14) (M-16) (45 Ato)
Thai Parachute Badge/with Fourragere
Vietnamese Parachute Badge
German Parachute Badge
Special Forces Tab
Overseas Service Bars (4)
Service Stripes (24 years service)
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
1960-1962 Cadet, United States Army ROTC, Pennsylvania Military College, Chester Pennsylvania MAR-APR 1962 Basic Combat Training, Fort Dix, New Jersey MAY-JUNE 1962 Advanced Individual Training, Fort Gordon, Georgia JULY- AUG 1962 Jump School, Fort Benning, Georgia 1962-1963 Rifleman, Bravo Company, 327th Infantry Battle Group. 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky 1963-1964 Student, Special Forces Training Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 1964-1965 Light Weapons Leader, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 1965-1966 Heavy Weapons Leader, Detachment B-31, Phoug Vinh, Vietnam 1966-1967 Light Weapons Leader, 46th Special Forces Company Thailand 1967-1968 RECON Team Leader, B-56 Project SIGMA, Vietnam 1968-1973 Team Sergeant, HALO Detachment, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Devens, Massachusetts 1973-1976 Heavy Weapons Leader, Detachment A, Berlin Brigade, Germany 1976-1977 Operations Sergeant, Scuba Detachment, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, Fort Devens, Massachusetts 1977-1979 First Sergeant, Headquarters Company, United States Army Garrison, Fort Devens, Massachusetts 1979-1980 Chief Enlisted Advisor, United States Army Readiness Mobilization Region Nine, Presidio of San Francisco, CA 1981-1982 First Sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky 1982-1983 Chief Instructor, Headquarters. 1st United States Army ROTC Region, Fort Bragg. North Carolina 1983-1986 Administration Sergeant Major, Headquarters Company. United States Army Garrison, Fort McPherson, Georgia February 28, 1986 Retired from active duty
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY HBADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES ARMY VIETNAM APO San Francisco 96375 AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR GENERAL NUMBER ORDERS 5712 1. T0 320. The following AWARD is announced. STAFF SERGEANT United States SILK, JOHN P RA1 1403904 Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, APO 96240 Awarded: Silver Star Date action: 9 July 1968 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Staff Sergeant Silk distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 July 1968 as an assistant patrol leader on a reconnaissance patrol. Moving through dense jungle, the patrol encountered a well-camouflaged and fortified enemy base camp. Entering the camp, they came under a fusillade of automatic weapons fire from an enemy force of unknown size, killing two allied soldiers and wounding two more. Disregarding his safety, Sergeant Silk exposed himself to the withering hail of automatic weapons fire to crawl fifty meters to administer first aid to the seriously injured soldiers. After moving the wounded to a covered position, he organized the remnants of his lead element and established a base of fire which enabled the remainder of the patrol to withdraw. Sergeant Silk then remained in an exposed position to direct artillery and helicopter gunship fire on enemy targets, His actions allowed the patrol to reorganize and assault the enemy emplacements. Encountering heavy resistance, the patrol withdrew to a secured landing zone. Again braving intense enemy fire, Sergeant Silk and three allied soldiers covered the withdrawal, thereby enabling the patrol to be safely extracted. Staff Sergeant Silk's gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Editor’s Note by Bob Charest
I first met John (Slick) Silk in 1967 in Vietnam, B-56 Project Sigma, where we both served from 1967-1968.
We then both served together on the same team, Team 1, in Detachment “A” Berlin Germany in 1973 – 1976. Later, we again met at Fort Devens, MA in 1978 -1981 where we both eventually retired. We both remain close friends and keep in touch today.
The following photo was taken by John Silk.
Back Row L-R: Kevin Monahan, Bob Charest, Richard Lahue,
Ralph Ormes, Willy Headon, Ron Bruce
Front Row L-R: John Silk, Ernie Kirk, Frank Midell,
Lee Dickerson, Paul Piusz, Spanky Airhart
This is Part III of the speech Jeff Raker, former SGM of Detachment “A”, gave at the Detachment “A” get together on 17 September 2016.
The speech overs lots of territory.
Click here to see Part I of the speech
Click here to see Part II of the speech
In 1961 Robert “Bob” Charest, volunteered for Special Forces. He completed Airborne School in April of 1962, immediately followed by the completion of Commo School and SF Branch Training in December of 1962.
Right after training, he was sent to the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Okinawa. Sent TDY on a six-month Mobile Training Advisory mission in Vietnam in July of 1963, he was assigned to A432 stationed in Boun Beng of II Corps. The team was responsible for off-island training with the Jari Montagnards. During this period in Vietnam he received 3 Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star with “V” for valor.
Robert Charest transferred to the 10th SFG(A) in Bad Toelz
Germany, serving with B Company ODA-19 from 1964 through 1967.
In 1967, he was chosen to lead a top-secret mission to Libya. He made two solo trips into Libya to coordinate with the US Embassy. After his two excursions into Libya he was given the green light to take a small team with him back to Libya disguised as Civilian
Communications Contractors dressed in civilian clothing. For the next 6 weeks they covered all of the Libyan Army Bases from Tripoli to Benghazi. While there, he was approached by two Libyan Officials one of which was the Libyan Army Chief of Staff, who informed him of an underground movement within the military that called themselves “The Black Boots; movement, and underground effort within the military to overthrow King Idris, King of Libya. The rebellion was led by a young man, named Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi. After the officials then asked Charest to become a paid informant, to spy on the underground movement, he and his team aborted the mission and returned to Stuttgart. Although Charest briefed the higher headquarters in Stuttgart of the plot, nothing was done.
In 1967, Charest began his second tour in Vietnam with B-56 Project (SIGMA) Military Assistance Command Vietnam – Studies and Operations Group (MACVSOG). During that year he was wounded for the fourth time. His actions were submitted for the award of the Silver Star while on a Hatchet Team. He was written up for a Silver Star and told it would be delivered to his next duty station, but it never arrived and he never received it. Thirty years later, Charest finally received the award, although it had been downgraded to a Bronze Star with “V” device. Efforts continued to have the award reviewed and upgraded, and in July of 2021, he was finally awarded his Silver Star.
Completing this tour in Vietnam, he attended German language training at DLIWC California. As he was also fluent in Russian, he was assigned to Detachment(A) Berlin, serving on Team One Scuba Team he was assigned to 1969-1972. Returning to Southeast Asia, he was assigned to A Company, 46th SF CO in Thailand on ODA-33. On July 2, 1973, Charest was awarded the Soldiers Medal for actions taken while involved in movement of ammunition from Camp Nam Pung Dam to Nam Phone Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. Then, Sergeant Charest’s vehicle, which was loaded with ammunition, caught fire in the village of Ban Sa Amphoe Yang Tolat, Thailand. With complete disregard for this own safety, Charest immediately acted to prevent the fire from spreading to the structures in the village and causing injury to innocent villagers. In spite of the extreme heat, exploding ammunition and shrapnel, he drove the burning vehicle and reversed it approximately 200 meters out of the village. Through his heroic and unselfish actions, Charest preventing extensive property damage and injury to Thai nationals.
When 46th SF Company closed, Charest returned to Detachment(A) Berlin, Germany, remaining in station for five years form 1973-1978.
In late 1978, returning stateside and retiring in 1981 from the 10th SFG(A) in Fort Devens, Massachusetts, Robert Charest took a job with Vinnell Corporation in Saudi Arabia; however a grenade accident from a panicked Saudi National Guard trooper in 1981 and evacuation back stateside ended his tour.
Attending the University of New Hampshire, he received his Bachelor’s degree.
In 1985, Bob received a phone call from CSM Jeff Raker who was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. He informed him about positions for former SF-qualified personnel to work at SWCS. Bob parachuted in for his interview curtesy of CSM George Moskaluk 10th Special Forces, Fort Devens MA. Bob was interviewed an accepted on the spot as Senior Instructor/Advisor with the Commo Committee at the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS). He worked for SWCS as a GS-9 SeniorInstructor/Advisor for the next 17 months.
This job was followed by one with FEMA/MERS first as a Senior Operations Officer, then and a GM-13 Security Manager.
Robert Charest, although fully retired in 1992, has remained active in the Special Forces community. He served as President Chapter 72, Merrimack NH for five years and led the effort to establish a substantial memorial dedicated to the 10th Special Forces Group at the Boscowan Veterans Cemetery consisting of an original 10th Special Forces flagpole and memorial stone.
Bob was an independent organizer for gatherings for local Green Beret functions starting 2005 and in 2008 transformed into Detachment”A” functions. He now hosts annual Detachment(A) reunion gatherings which attracts a large number of former members of Detachment(A) from all over the world; developed a Detachment(A) web site, established Detachment(A) SFA Drop input and keeps Detachment(A) members informed about Detachment(A) related news.
He served on the Veterans of Special Forces (VSF) board of officers as Director/Treasurer.
He served as Project Manager for the establishment of a Detachment(A) exhibit at the JFK museum. Many Detachment(A) artifacts were collected and catalogued.
He served as Project Manager for the Detachment(A) memorial stone project.
Charest was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Regiment on 5 April 2012, his birthday.
JULY-56-MAY-31-81, Rank: E-8
Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army’s Elite, 1956-1990
Published 17 February 2017
The massive armies of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies posed a huge threat to the nations of Western Europe. U.S. military planners decided they needed a plan to slow the juggernaut they expected when and if a war began. The plan was Special Forces Berlin.
Their mission should hostilities commence was to wreak havoc behind enemy lines, and buy time for vastly outnumbered NATO forces to conduct a breakout from the city. In reality it was an ambitious and extremely dangerous mission, even suicidal. Highly trained and fluent in German, each man was allocated a specific area. They were skilled in clandestine operations, sabotage, and intelligence tradecraft, and able to act as independent operators, blending into the local population and working unseen in a city awash with spies looking for information on their every move.
Special Forces Berlin was a one of a kind unit that had no parallel. It left a legacy of a new type of soldier expert in unconventional warfare, one that was sought after for missions such as the attempted rescue of American hostages from Tehran in 1979. With the U.S. government officially acknowledging their existence in 2014, their incredible story can now be told.
This USASOC Update covers the Detachment “A” stone laying ceremony that took place on 30 January 2014, at the USASOC Memorial Plaza. The stone laying ceremony was held in order to commemorate the valorous achievements of Detachment “A”.
