John Michael and the General ??
John Michael and the General
It was a surprise trip, or should I say it was a last-minute notice “we’re going to Fayetteville … TOMORROW!” I, John Michael, must admit that I am a “travel bug”. With visits to 49 of the 50 United States on the scoreboard, I look forward to the adventure of going somewhere even though I’ve been there several times or a brand new location. Fayetteville, North Carolina is the home of Fort Bragg and what I was soon to discover, the Airborne and Special Operations Museum.
Fort Bragg
This historic post is home to the – 82d Airborne Division – the All Americans and the XVIII Airborne Corps and the US Army’s Special Forces AND the US Army’s Golden Knights. What began as a field artillery camp during World War I, has evolved into a post full of history and military specialties. With Pope Army Airfield adjacent to the post, it provides the capability to launch the 82d Airborne Division to wherever they may be needed.
Destination – Airborne Special Operations Museum
During the ride to Fayetteville, I was informed that our original destination would be the museum considered by many as the cathedral to the Airborne and Special Operations of the United States Army. The reason was there would be an event honoring his father… LTG (R) William P. Yarborough The event was an unveiling of a bust of the general. My mind began to fill with a flurry of questions as the reason for the trip was revealed. I was to take photographs of the event at the museum.
HOWEVER…
Why was his father being honored with a bust? what had his father done to deserve such an honor? … the questions continued to pour from my lips. It was then that the secret of why I was told little about this general was explained. Mentions of the Initial Test platoon, the jump boots, the jump uniform, THE Parachutist’s badges, the Kennedy visit authorizing the Green Beret, and now a knife called the Yarborough Knife… Just some of the many things that LTG Yarborough contributed during his 37 years of active duty in the US Army!
Paratrooper!:
The Saga of U.S. Army
and Marine Parachute
and Glider Combat Troops
During World War II
by Gerard M. Devlin (Author), William P. Yarborough (Foreword)
ABOUT THE BOOK:
All about Paratroopers during the last World War! Shocking truths and stories of Legends, Heroes, Men of Valor! Those who made the ultimate sacrifice!
The Unveiling of the Bust at the Museum
The event was well attended showing the admiration that people had for the General. He at the age of 93, was at home still recuperating from a recent surgery. The museum was quite full of both active duty and retired soldiers coming to witness the unveiling. the Yarborough – Bank Auditorium was filled to capacity. Of special note was the presence of the sculptor, Zenos Frudakis After sharing with those in attendance the method he used to create the bust, he unveiled the bust. Onboard was also the Fayetteville Observer and the results were the photos and story below (the photo on the top left has John Michael in the background)
On to the General’s Home
It was a great event and afterward, I was invited to dinner at the General’s home in Southern Pines, NC. It gave me the opportunity to meet and spend some quality time with someone who has over his life become a legend. I had spent some time with General Yarborough when it occurred to me that I had brought along with me a portable photo printer. After retrieving it and plugging it in, I began printing out photos from the day’s event. The general watched the printer making its noise putting ink on paper and asked what was the device? … I announced to him that it was a portable photo printer. To which he replied “MAGIC!!!”
I continued to print and hand the photos to General Yarborough he briefly looked at them and set each one down on a pile… UNTIL I handed him a photo of the recently unveiled bust. He gazed at it for a while and then posed the question ” Who’s this?” … I replied to him “That’s you general.”
His immediate response was: “THAT WILL SCARE CHILDREN!”
Impact on Special Forces
Yes, the visible sign of General Yarborough’s impact on the Special Forces is the Green Beret. Another more significant factor is the visit in 1961 secured the funding to help evolve the Special Forces into the strong element of the US Army that they are today. Several more groups were organized to be able to respond to military needs as they arose. For it was initially only the 10th group that had a distinctive unit insignia (DUI) of the Trojan horse the Special Forces regimental crest (DUI) also came from the creative work of General William P. Yarborough. His legacy from World War II already included the design of the Parachute Infantry Regiment DUIs and the parachutist badges … the flash behind the badges was also his contribution.
The Yarborough Knife
Today’s graduates of the Special Forces Qualification Course each receive a fighting knife fittingly called the Yarborough Knife in recognition of his contributions to the command. General Bryan D. Brown, Commanding General of United States Special Operations Command, noted, “He worked diligently to increase the professional and academic standards of the JFK School, resulting in the development of courses that are still relevant today. His foresight was instrumental in the success of today’s special operations soldiers.
The serial numbered Yarborough Knife that is awarded to each graduate of the Special Forces Qualification Course.
OMAHA STEAKS
YUMMY … STEAKS~!
Operatives, Spies, and Saboteurs:
The Unknown Story of the Men and Women of
World War II’s OSS
BUY THE BOOK
Images of America – Fort Myer is a pictorial chronicle of the first one hundred years of history containing over two hundred photographs, maps, and images. Beginning in the 1860s and carrying through the 1960s it provides a view
of what was over time.
An autographed copy of the book can be purchased at