WHAT AN ANNIVERSARY!
It is the sixtieth anniversary of the “official” green beret! Mind you, not of the Special Forces, because everyone knows that they began on 19 June 1952. And the soldiers began wearing the green beret in 1954. So what we are talking about is that historic meeting between President John F. Kennedy and General William P. Yarborough held some sixty years ago on 12 October 1961 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The backchannel meeting was arranged by General Chester V. Clifton, who was Kennedy’s military aide, and General Yarborough (known to many as “General Y”). The outcome of that historic meeting designated the green beret as the only presidential authorized headgear in the United States military, but more importantly, secured the funding to evolve the Special Forces into the formidable “tip of the spear” that they have become.
President John F. Kennedy meets General William P. Yarborough as General Chester V. Clifton looks on
To Be a U.S. Army Green Beret
Paperback – July 28, 2005
About the book:
The Green Berets’ motto is “Liberate the Oppressed,” and it takes extremely capable and highly trained individuals to carry out their operations in the world’s most dangerous and unforgiving locales. They operate behind enemy lines, sometimes for months at a time, are trained to work in all climates and cultures, and have a “no surrender” will of spirit if ever taken prisoner. This book provides an insider’s view of what it takes to become a member of the Army’s Special Forces, the elite Green Berets. It describes the skills they learn and equipment and tactics used to engage in unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, direct action, special reconnaissance, anti-terrorism missions, information operations, and counter-proliferation.
A Statue in Commemoration
Standing in front of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School is a statue commissioned by Ross Perot who had a strong appreciation of the Special Forces since a team of retired operators led by retired United States Army Special Forces Colonel Arthur D. “Bull” Simons rescued his employees from Iran in 1979.
“A symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom.” -President Kennedy on the Green Berets, April 11, 1962
After an impressive capabilities demonstration by General Yarborough and his “Green Berets,” the Commander in Chief sent a message to the General which read in part:
The challenge of this old but new form of operations is a real one and I know that you and the members of your Command will carry on for us and the free world in a manner which is both worthy and inspiring. I am sure that the Green Beret will be a mark of distinction in the trying times ahead.
Soon after, the president authorized the “Green Beret” as the official headgear for all US Army Special Forces and these Unconventional Warriors were thereafter and ever known as “The Green Berets.”
The president further showed his unfailing support for Special Forces in publishing an official White House Memorandum to the US Army dated April 11, 1962, which stated in part that “The Green Beret is again becoming a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom.”
A Few Fitting Remembrances
It was 30 September 2005, General Yarborough was honored by those he led over the years with a bust that was unveiled at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The life-sized bronze bust was crafted by sculptor Zenos Frudakis John Michael was one of the only photographers at the event and captured the image on this page. Later that day he spent a few hours with the General at his home.
It was the second visit to General Yarborough’s home when John Michael spotted a collage hanging on the wall in the general’s office. A commemoration of the meeting with JFK autographed by the President! It’s a key artifact in Special Forces history…
Own a Piece of Special Forces History
John Michael got permission to scan the collage which hung for decades out of sight… he has since created a greeting card and a notecard for sale. Fill in the form below to contact John Michael or more information