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T I P O F T H E S P E A R 
T i p o f t h e S p e a r 
2
Tech. Sgt. Victoria Meyer 
NCOIC, Command Information 
Master Sgt. Laura LeBeau 
Staff Writer 
Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Lawn 
Staff Photographer 
This is a U.S. Special Operations Command publication. Contents are 
not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. 
Government, Department of Defense or USSOCOM. The content is 
edited, prepared and provided by the USSOCOM Public Affairs Office, 
7701 Tampa Point Blvd., MacDill AFB, Fla., 33621, phone (813) 826- 
4600, DSN 299-4600. An electronic copy can be found at 
www.socom.mil. E-mail the editor via unclassified network at 
public.affairs@socom.mil. The editor of the Tip of the Spear reserves 
the right to edit all copy presented for publication. 
Adm. Eric Olson 
Commander, USSOCOM 
CSM Thomas Smith 
Command Sergeant Major 
Col. Hans Bush
Public Affairs Director 
Mike Bottoms 
Managing Editor 
Front cover: Chief Warrant Officer David Cooper in an AH-6 Little Bird helicopter. Cooper is an AH-6 pilot and the Senior 
Warrant Officer of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). He was awarded the Distinguished Service 
Cross for gallantry in combat during a ceremony July 11, 2008, at Fort Campbell, Ky. 160th SOAR (A) photo. 
Tip of the Spear Tip of the Spear 
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T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
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CJS OT F ab oard USS O hio 
4 
Kernan 4th Fleet commander 
24 
Departments 
Global War on Terrorism 
JSOTF-P USNS Mercy mission ... 8 
Exercise Flash Piston ... 9 
SOF carry on fight in western Afghanistan ... 10 
Afghan commando training ... 12 
NSTU Ramadi weapons training ... 14 
SEALs, Iraqi SWAT build police compound ... 15 
“V ehicle medics” keep convoys rolling ... 16 
U.S. Army Special Operations Command 
160th medic receives John R. Teal Award ... 20 
1st SFG Soldiers presented Silver Stars ... 21 
SF Command welcomes new commander ... 22 
Csrnko takes command of USAJFKSWCS ... 23 
Naval Special Warfare Command 
NSWC change of command ... 25 
Air Force Special Operations Command 
711th SOS drops last “Daisy Cutter” ... 26 
Analyst named as one of 12 Outstanding Airmen ... 28 
Pararescueman earns Pitsenbarger Award ... 29 
20th SOS Airman receives top safety award ... 30 
3rd SOS given citation of honor ... 31 
Air commandos cited for saving SEAL team ... 32 
16th SOS Airman laid to rest after 30 years ... 33 
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command 
Cpl. “Shaggy” ... 36 
Headquarters 
PSD MOUT training ... 37 
USSOCOM Medals to WW II vet, Army doctor ... 38 
JSOU teaches SOF in JLASS wargame ... 40 
SOCSOUTH, SOCEUR changes of command ... 41 
SOF History — Merrill’ s Marauders, Det 101 ... 42 
Fallen heroes ... 43 
Highlights Highlights 
Hejlik turns over MARSOC reins 
34 

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G L O B A L  W A R  O N  T E R R O R I S M — I R A Q 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
4
G L O B A L  W A R  O N  T E R R O R I S M  — K O R E A 
“Attention in the BMC. Clap On.” Maj.  George 
Williams, the lone Marine aboard the USS Ohio, 
announces to the assembled joint staff in the Battle 
Management Center that communications with the 
outside world have been re-established. The Clap On/O ff 
announcement is a harbinger of what will be the center 
of gravity of this exercise.  The Combined Joint Special 
Operations Task Force – Korea, with Army Brig. Gen. 
Simeon Trombitas in command, is aboard the USS Ohio 
to test this new class of Nuclear Powered Guided Missile 
Submarine (SSGN) as the flo ating headquarters of a 
JSOTF, and the participants know the ability to 
communicate with Special Operations Fo rces teams 
behind enemy lines holds the key to success. 
This is the first test of the USS Ohio as the 
headquarters for a JSOTF. After nearly six years work, 
the Ohio has converted from a Ballistic Missile 
Submarine (SSBN) to an SSGN capab le of delivering 
conventional cruise missiles and SOF, and it has 
progressed through several tests as a platf orm for 
clandestinely inserting tactical SOF teams. Joint Chiefs 
of Staff exercises Key Resolve and Foal Eagle are now 
fully underway on the Korean Peninsula, and mor e than 
80 SOF personnel from Special Opera tions Command- 
Korea, Naval Special Warfare Group 3, 1st Special 
Forces Group (Airborne), and the Republic of Korea 
Special Warfare Command are on board to  establish a 
fully manned CJSOTF with tactical SOF teams under its 
direction. 
The SEALs have successfully tested the SSGN as an 
insertion platform for tactical forces and are here to 
enhance their expertise on this ship, but the SOCKOR 
staff is here to test the ability to command and control 
SOF teams operat ing behind enemy lines from a 
submerged submarine in the East  Sea. Air Force Maj. 
Billy Venable, SOCKOR’s communication expert, states 
the central obstacle of this test. “We know the ship can 
receive and transmit data at the appropriate 
classifications, but the real issue is whether or not the 
information will enable a CJSOTF to exercise com mand 
and control of subordinate elements and maintain the 
awareness of the strategic and operation al situations on 
the Korean Peninsula necessary to make so und 
judgments about employing the SOF under its 
command.” 
Trombitas, former commander of SOCKOR and the 
newly formed CJSOTF-K, is optimistic. “I believe we 
can operate in this environment because I  successfully 
operated with less bandwidth as a Special Forces team 
leader in Central  America in the 1980s. We will certainly 
have less bandwidth than we do at our land-b ased 
headquarters, but we must look at our p rocedures to 
determine exactly what information we ne ed to be 
successful.” Furthermore, he recognizes, “We must step 
away from the tactical and look at the oper ational.” 
Army Maj. Leland Brown, CJSOTF-K’s Future 
Operations officer, agrees. “The limit on our b andwidth 
forces us to delegate greater authority to  lower levels of 
command. We would be tempted to get i nvolved in the 
CONOPs and SITREPs of individual teams if we had 
more communications bandwidth.” This delegation of 
authority should sit  well with a Special Forces 
community that prides itself on the discr etion, 
inventiveness and independence of i ts leaders and 
operators when given clear guid ance and missions. 
However, not all opinion is optimisti c. Williams, 
pointing to the BMC’s ar ray of computer stations, says, 
“There is simply not enough space for p lanning and 
briefing at this level of headquarters. ARSO TF [Army 
Special Operations Task Force, a subord inate command 
of the CJSOTF] is manning nearly fi ve times as many 
terminals with exponentially greater plan ning and 
briefing space. What value can we add? ” Nonetheless, he 
is open to possibility of success. “We must give it our 
best effort because it is a valid concept r equiring our full 
commitment to test it as thoroughly as possible.” 
A paradigm shift may be in order to bring this 
concept to fruiti on. Constant communicati ons are 
necessary to make instant decisions, but does a CJSOTF 
need to make instant decisions? P erhaps it is most 
Continued on page 6 

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S P E C I A L  O P E R A T I O N S  F O R C E S 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
5
S P E C I A L  O P E R A T I O N S  F O R C E S 
Army Brig. Gen. Simeon  Trombitas, f ormer commander of Specia l Operations Command- Kor ea, helps pr epare the USS 
Ohio for an e xercise with  the Comb ined Joint  Spec ial Op eratio ns Tas k Force. The CJSOTF, comman ded by Trombit as, 
teste d this new cla ss of Nuclea r Powere d Guided Missile Submarine (SSGN) as the floating hea dquarters of a CJSOTF 
and the ability  to commun icate with  Special Oper ations Forc es team s behind enemy lines. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd 
Class Bar ry Hirayama . 

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T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
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G L O B A L  W A R  O N  T E R R O R I S M  — K O R E A 
effective when issuing periodic 
guidance. Brown says, “We (military 
leaders) always seem to thin k that 
higher headquarters must have a larger 
staff, but that might not be the case. 
With more personnel, we tend to dig 
into what shouldn’t concern us at higher 
levels of command.” Air Force Lt. Col. 
Terrence Popravak, the CJSOTF’s 
director of intelligence, concurs, noting, 
“This technological shift pushes more 
authority down to lower command 
levels and frees us [in the CJSOTF] up 
to focus on analyzing the operational 
picture.” 
Less than 24 hours into the 
exercise, the ship’s commanding officer, 
Navy Capt. Andy Hale, announces the 
Ohio’s control deck sighted an allied P- 
3 (anti-submarine warfare aircraft) 
overhead, and that, while standard 
procedures dictate the ship go deep to 
avoid detection (even by friendly 
forces), he decides to remain at communications depth in 
order to prevent a disruption in communications. Th is 
event sparks immediate discussion of the CJSOTF’s 
ability to effectively operate and maintain 
communications if the Ohio would h ave to dive fr equently 
to avoid detection in a wartime environment. Navy Lt. 
Burt Canfield, the Ohio’s navigator, assures all conce rned 
the ship’s operational guidelines are flexible enough to 
help the CJSOTF achieve its mission. Navy Capt. David 
Hahn, an evaluator from Joint Test and Evaluation and 
past submarine skipper, confirmed the Ohio would face 
extremely little threat from most enemy forces. “T here is 
little [most enemy forces] can do to counter the Ohio, as 
they lack the anti-submarine warfare capability to threaten 
the Ohio at certain depths.” Assured of their safety a nd 
survivability aboard the Ohio, the CJSOTF returns to 
planning the next day’s missions. 
Williams provides another counterpoint to the 
prevailing relief. “So we have established that 
survivability on board is not an issue. However, the same 
is true for a CJSOTF stationed on an island in the Pacifi c 
or in the Continental United States. We have to ask, 
“What do we gain from being afloat with restricted 
communications?” This echoes the sentiment of many 
manning the terminals in the BMC, but Trombitas reminds 
the assembled directors that “this must be the first step in 
a larger evolution; we can’t view this as a complete test in 
and of itself.” This test is designed to evaluate the ability 
to command and control SOF elements ope rating 
clandestinely, not the particular situation in which the 
CJSOTF-K is operating. 
If this test demonstrates successful command and 
control, it will broaden the discussion  to what is the 
optimal use of this platform. Before his as sembled staff, 
Trombitas prompts a new line of  thinking. “Perhaps we 
don’t need to have tactical teams o n board and could 
expand our intelligence and opera tions planning 
capabilities with the space vacated by the tactical teams. 
On the other hand , it is still p ossible to achieve strategic 
objectives from the submarine. We could e mbark with a 
SEAL team in order to conduct strategic re connaissance of 
amphibious landing sites, or we cou ld bring an SF unit on 
board to conduct counter WMD missions or strategic 
reconnaissance on the enemy leadership.”  He provides 
greater specificity with thoughts on how a nd where the 
Ohio could find its first real-world mission.  “This idea has 
some very interesting possibilities. Perhaps  we might find 
it is ideal for short duration, strat egic missions. Colombia 
and the Philippines could be suitable lo cations for the use 
of this platform.” 
By the second day of the exercis e, there is evidence 
the SSGN concept could fulfill its promise. The CJSOTF 
has established cl ear communications with  its 
headquarters, the Combined  Unconventional Warfare Task 
Force, and its subordinate commands. People at e very 
terminal on the BMC floor are sen ding and receiving e- 
mails and chatting through text mes sages with their 
Army Brig. Gen. Simeon Trombitas, for mer commander of Special Operati ons 
Command - Korea, a nd m embers of the Co mbined Jo int Spe cial Operat ions 
Task Force participa te in a v ideo teleconf erence ab oard th e USS Ohio. Photo 
by Petty  Officer 2nd Class Bar ry Hirayama. 
Continued from page 4 

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T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
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counterparts on land. Constant voice calls require too 
much bandwidth, necessitating text-only communication 
on the BMC floor, but Trombitas calls in to the nightly 
teleconferences hosted by Army Gen. Bell, the 
commander of all forces in Korea, during this exerc ise. 
He says, “We are passing more information – voice and 
data – than w e expected.” 
Still, the question looms: Will it be enough? 
Trombitas urges his assembled staff to “look at our 
procedures and determine what information exactly we 
need to be successful.” Army Sgt. 1st Class Christoph er 
Foster, the lead NCO in the intelligence section, suggests 
slimming down the information requirements of t he 
intelligence directorate. “We are used to just searching 
and pulling down wha tever intelligence we need w hen we 
are at our land-based headquarters, but we can’t do that 
here with limited bandwidth. We have to determine what 
intelligence products and references we need to bring 
ahead of time, so we can use our limited bandwidth sol ely 
for targeted requests for informa tion.” In another test of 
the communications capabilities, Trombitas directs his 
staff, without communicating to elements outside the 
Ohio, to spend an afternoon plann ing and analyzing 
missions with the information they have collec ted over 
the past few days. 
The information is sufficient, but the small number of 
staff personnel on board becomes an obstacle in the 
planning process. “We have enough information, but we 
do not have enough personnel with the requisite expertise 
to develop plans of the same quality we produce when 
based at CUWTF, ” said Army Capt. Young Han, lead 
intelligence planner. However, many support Brown’s 
observation that a large headquarters 
contingent is unnecessary at this level 
of command. “We’re providing 
operational guidance, not crafting 
detailed CONOPs. We should leave that 
up to the teams; they are trained to plan 
and execute missions in austere 
environments.” said Han. 
After the test culminates with this 
blitz of planning and the issuance of 
operational guidance to the teams in the 
field, the men of the CJSOTF sit down 
to reflect on their operations over the 
past five days. Two bodies of opinion 
have formed, roughly along 
generational lines: The younger 
generation accustomed to fast, constant 
access to information is uncomfortable 
with the restricted communications and 
inability to monitor events in real-time, 
while the older generation, well-acquainte d with sporadic 
communication and periodic updates, is cer tain the 
JSOTF can operate effectively from a subm arine. 
Trombitas summarizes the discussion, not ing resistance to 
this new concept will come f rom those who have come to 
see instant access to information and the re al-time 
monitoring of tactical operations as requisite s for 
effective command and control. “We have to look at the 
larger operational perspective and we ca n’t be too fo cused 
on tactical maneuvers and the status of individual teams. 
The adoption of t he SSGN as an operational or strategic 
headquarters for a SOF Task Force require s a paradigm 
shift in our thinking about the role o f a headquarters 
element.” 
Furthermore, this platform could have even gre ater 
relevance in future operations in the Paci fic area of 
responsibility. In 2012, wartime operational control of the 
ROK armed forces will transfer from a U.S. commander 
to a Korean commander. Trombitas says, “After OPCON 
transfer, SOCKOR will no longer be col located with our 
Korean counterpart headquarters and could be a mobile 
headquarters. This was a good opportunity t o train on this 
platform because it may become a logical he adquarters 
for SOCKOR after OPCON transfer.” 
This assessment clearly implies fl exibility and 
relevance. However, Trombitas reminds all assembled, 
“We can’t view this as a complete test in and of itself. 
This must be a first step in a larger evolutio n.” SOCKOR 
has confirmed the viability of the SSGN  as a platform for 
a SOF Task Force headquarters, and futur e tests will 
establish this c oncept’s operational domain. 
Members of the Com bined Joint Special Op eratio ns Task Force aboard the 
USS Ohio work in the Ba ttle Manag ement Cente r. The BMC is a comm and and 
control facility des igned to t rack SOF m ission s. Photo  by Petty  Offi cer 2 nd 
Class Barry Hirayama. 

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T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
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G L O B A L  W A R  O N  T E R R O R I S M  — P H I L I P P I N E S 
By Petty Officer 1st Class Katherine Sanchez 
JSOTF-P Public Affairs 
Coordinating the movements of and providing security 
for about 80 Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and 
civilian volunteers every day is no easy task, but when 
USNS Mercy made a port stop in the southern Philippines 
during Pacific Partnership 2008, the men and women 
attached to Joint Special Operations Task Force- 
Philippines, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the 
government of the Republic of the Philippines rolled out 
the red carpet and welcomed the challenge. 
“The USNS Mercy crew was a welcome addition to 
our team in the Philippines,” said Mercy ground element 
commander, Army Maj. Larry Daley. 
“It was a remarkable opportunity for JSOTF-P and 
AFP personnel to work hand-in-hand with people from 
every branch of service and several different countries, on 
such a large scale. In addition, we were able to provide 
vitally needed medical services to many Filipinos 
throughout central Mindanao,” Daley added. 
The JSOTF-P ground liaison element oversaw an 
average of five convoys per day and conducted thorough 
convoy briefs, covering everything from safety and 
security to routes and procedures, prior to each departure. 
In addition to ensuring military personnel and civilian 
volunteers safely reached their destinations and safely 
returned each day, JSOTF-P personnel also supplied 
drinking water, arranged meals, living quarters, laundry 
service and assisted in exchanging foreign currency for 25 
military civil engineers staying off the ship at two different 
campsites. 
In order to successfully complete the mission, the 
ground liaison element worked closely with their AFP 
counterparts and personnel from USNS Mercy to ensure 
open lines of communication and security to and from all 
of the daily Medical Civic Action Projects, Engineering 
Civic Action Projects, Veterinary Civic Action Projects and 
Dental Civic Action Projects. 
“Ultimately it’s a two-pronged goal—we establish 
security and get them to their worksites,” said JSOTF-P 
operations sergeant, Army Sgt. 1st Class Joe Groves. 
“There are a lot of moving parts in between, but generally 
we move whole companies, so we’re used to moving a lot 
of people in different directions,” he added. 
Behind the scenes, planning for USNS Mercy’s arrival 
began months before the ship reached the Phi lippines. One 
facet of the initial planning process included identifying 
the sites for each MEDCAP, ENCAP, VETCAP and 
DENCAP. Each location was carefully selected in advance 
and approved by the Republic of the Philippines. 
JSOTF-P , AFP , RP aid Mercy mission 
JSOTF-P , AFP , RP aid Mercy mission 
The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy winds down in the afternoon dusk after completing the first day of the 
Pacific Partnership 20 08 mission. Mercy serves as an enabling platform through which multinational military, medical t eams 
and nongovernment organizations can coordinate humanitarian efforts. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Logico. 

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T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
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T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
9
The JSOTF-P commander and Mercy’s mission 
commander agreed that teamwork between the ship’s crew, 
the men and women of JSOTF-P, AFP and the Philippine 
government led to the ultimate success of the Mercy 
mission in the southern Philippines. 
“Pacific Partnership was a tremendous success,” said 
Army Col. Bill Coultrup, JSOTF-P commander. “The high 
volume of medical, dental, veterinarian and engineering 
civic action projects completed would not have been 
possible without teamwork. Mercy’s magnificent crew of 
doctors, dentists and engineers worked shoulder-to- 
shoulder with the AFP, JSOTF-P, local government 
officials and NGOs to provide focused humanitarian 
assistance to the people of Mindanao.” 
“JSOTF-P has been instrumental to Pacific 
Partnership’s success in Mindanao,” said Capt. William 
Kearns III, mission commander for Pacific Partnership 
2008. “We were able to strengthen local communities 
through medical care and engineering projects because of 
their teamwork and professionalism.” 
During the USNS Mercy’s port visit in Cotabato, AFP, 
JSOTF-P and USNS Mercy personnel saw and treated 
nearly 11,000 medical patients and more than 2,000 dental 
patients, trained more than 2,000 medical workers and 
students, treated more than 2,000 animals and  completed 
two civic action construction projects in Mindanao. 
By Petty Off icer 1st Class Kat herine Sanchez 
JSOTF-P Public Affair s 
Flash P iston, a Joint Combined Exc hange 
Training program  sponsored by the Joint Special 
Operations Task Force-Phi lippines, allows U.S. 
Special Operations Forc es to share highly 
specialized training with the ir Armed Forces of 
the Philippines coun terparts. 
U.S. SOF, including SEALs, Spec ial Warfare 
Combatant Crewmen, Special Forces Sol diers and 
explosive ordnance disposal  team members, wit h 
approximately 50 personnel from  Philippine 
Naval Special Operat ions Group , conducted the 
June exe rcise that ende d at Phili ppine Naval  Base 
Sangley Point, Republ ic of t he Philippines. 
The 18-day JCET exercise inv olved a full  scope of 
SOF capabilities, including assault t actics and sm all boat 
operations. U.S. SOF m embers t rained the AFP sailors 
in tactical com bat care and me dical and casualty 
evacuations. 
According to a U.S. special boat operator, the 
captain of an 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat, t he 
training bro ught the AFP SOF Sai lors to a higher level 
of operat ing in a boat unit. 
“The goal was to bring them to a point where they 
could successfully carry  out a boa t unit mission w ithout 
any outside assistance,” he said. “By the end of  the 
exercise, it was easy to see the marked improvement s in 
their marit ime capabilities and that they were ready to 
operate as a fully capabl e unit.” 
The AFP SOF Sailors tra ined in a wide range of 
specialized maritime operations and small-b oat unit 
tactics, including the use of  navigational aids,  boat 
handling, marks manship, formation driving, beach 
assaults, mission pla nning and p reparation and sma ll 
boat outbo ard motor m aintenance. 
The final phase of Flash Piston included a field 
exercise, where the Sailors prac ticed assaults on enemy 
targets and held a shooting competition. 
“While the principa l purpose of the exercise wa s to 
help the A FP enhance their capabilities, it also helped us 
(U.S. SOF) meet our trai ning requirements and bu ild on 
the relat ionship we h ave with Philippine navy,” said the 
special boat operator. 
The United States and Philippines often conduct 
training and activities that  include combi ned exercises, 
subject matter expert ex changes, and security assistance 
activities and workshop s, all of whic h strengthen their 
capabilities and alliance. 
U.S., Phil ippines Special Operations 
Forces train together in Flash Piston 
A U.S. Navy SEAL direct s an  AFP Sp ecial Fo rces Sa ilor during  a 
simulated assaul t o n a n enemy targe t. Phot o by Pe tty Off icer 1st 
Class Katherine Sanchez, JSOTF-P Public Affairs. 
U.S., Phil ippines Special Operations 
Forces train together in Flash Piston 

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G L O B A L  W A R  O N  T E R R O R I S M  — I R A Q 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
10 
By Spc. Anna Perry 
CJSOTF-A Public Affairs 
The U.S. Special 
Operations Command has a 
reputation for being 
composed of the most capable 
warriors in the world —men 
and women who have the 
amazing ability to switch 
from being relentless fighters 
to compassionate 
peacekeepers in the blink of 
an eye. If a complex mission 
needs to be accomplished, 
this fighting force will 
accomplish it under any 
circumstances. 
The mission given to a 
Marine Special Operations 
and a Army Special Forces 
team May 28, 2008, was 
no different and was 
subsequently carried out with the same grit and audacity 
that has made Special Operations Forces a legendary 
fighting force. 
A Special Forces team leader who participated in the 
mission agreed to provide insight into the daily lives of the 
Special Operators who are changing the course of history 
by assisting with the development of the Islamic Republic 
of Afghanistan. 
“I love this profession … I have fought in Iraq once 
and Afghanistan twice now, and, yes, I believe it is for a 
good cause,” the team leader said. 
What follows is a description of the events of May 28, 
2008, in western Afghanistan’s Farah province. 
The MARSOF and SF team, partnered with an Afghan 
Commando element, departed a Coalition base on the 
evening of May 28 to reinforce Afghan National Army 
elements who had already spent hours under fire in the 
village of Kanask. 
The Commandos are an elite Afghan unit trained by 
SOF. Despite having existed only one year, the 
Commandos’ reputation for unwavering discipline, 
adherence to the Law of War and unprecedented success 
precede them wherever they go. 
After driving for hours under the cover of darkness, 
the teams received word that an enemy leader was located 
in the town of Shewan. The element diverted to Shewan to 
search the area of the person’s last known location. During 
the operation, a number of insurgents were seen moving to 
advantageous firing positions. Coalition airplanes 
immediately responded with precision air strikes that 
neutralized the enemy positions. 
The teams continued movement to link up with the 
friendly forces and, while enroute, were diverted to clear 
another village. Several more armed militants were killed. 
The team leader said he was particularly impressed 
with the Commandos’ performance throughout the clearing 
operations. 
“I thought we did really well working w ith the 
Commandos, considering the short amount of training time 
leading up to the operation. We will continue to combat 
advise and assist them as we work together t o build a 
country that welcomes freedom and democracy,” he added. 
With the clearing mission complete, the team headed 
back east, not aware of the fight that lay ahead, not 
knowing the decisions and sacrifices that would soon be 
made, but ready for anything nonetheless. 
Special Operations warriors carry on 
fight in western Afghanistan 
A Special Forces Soldier patrols in western Afghanistan. CJSOTF-A courtesy photo. 
Special Operations warriors carry on 
fight in western Afghanistan 

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S P E C I A L  O P E R A T I O N S  F O R C E S 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
11 
“As we came to the village of Shewan, we 
saw women and children leaving by foot and on a 
tractor. We also had our movements slowed down 
by a large truck that kept moving back and forth 
across the road, which was no doubt a stalling 
technique to allow for additional time to set up 
the ambush,” the team leader explained. 
Two rocket-propelled grenades suddenly 
exploded about 50 meters in front of his vehicle, 
followed by the crack of small-arms and 
machine-gun fire. 
“My thoughts at this time were echoed by my 
turret gunner who said, ‘Here we go again,’” said 
the team leader, who had encountered many 
ambushes with the same turret gunner on a 
previous deployment in Afghanistan. 
Due to the heavy enemy presence on both 
sides of the road, the team leader immediately 
issued the order to begin firing at enemy 
locations. 
Suddenly, the vehicle in front of the team 
leader’s was struck by two RPGs, leaving it 
disabled and trapped in the middle of the ambush. 
Under a constant barrage of RPGs and bullets, the 
team leader instructed his driver to push to the 
front of the disabled vehicle, with the intent to 
initiate towing operations. 
“As we moved to the front of the vehicle, I witnessed 
our warrant officer completely expose himself by moving 
over from the troop commander side of the truck to the 
driver’s door to save the driver’s life and stop him from 
burning,” the team leader said. 
The vehicle was burning rapidly and an explosion 
was imminent, making it difficult for the warrant officer 
to get to his wounded comrade. The team leader said he 
believes that in the dust and smoke, the blazing vehicle 
was also bumped by another truck, causing it to slowly 
roll off the road. 
“I was beginning to run after the vehicle to my 
Soldier when I saw three Marines cross the ambush line, 
completely exposing themselves in an attempt to save 
him, but they couldn’t because the vehicle was 
completely engulfed in flames,” said the team leader, who 
then switched gears and began laying suppressive fire for 
the Marines. 
In the vehicle rode a hero 
Sgt. 1st Class David Nunez, a Special Forces senior 
engineer sergeant, died during the engagement. According 
to his team leader, he died the same way he lived —doing 
his best for the ones he loved. This was Nunez’s third 
combat deployment. He leaves behind his parents and two 
young sons. 
The SOF team soon brought the conflict to an end 
using deadly and accurate small-arms fire a nd precision 
air strikes. 
Hours later, after returning to the base, the team 
leader reflected upon the loss of his Soldier while 
watching from his computer as his infant daughter rolled 
over for the first time. 
“What makes me so sad about this is the fact that my 
wife and I had our first child in December, and I can’t 
imagine never hugging or kissing her again … and his 
two little boys will not get to see or kiss Da ddy or ever 
really know him,” the team leader explained. 
“With all that being said, I would trade places in a 
heartbeat to have him here and me dead … as a leader I 
guess that is something you automatically feel because 
every one of your men and their families are expecting 
you to get them home safely,” he added. 
Though they continue to deal with the pain of losing 
a fellow Soldier and friend in combat, the Soldiers and 
Marines of the two teams will honor their fallen brother 
by maintaining their dedication to helping establish a 
secure and stable country for the people of Afghanistan. 
“At the end of the day, I do this for the men on my 
left and my right. Simply stated, you will never find such 
a close-knit group of men who would do anything for 
you and ask for nothing in return,” the team leader said. 
Special Forces Sgt. 1st Class David Nunez was killed in action May 29, 
2008, while battling insurgents in western Afghanistan’s Farah province. 
Courtesy Photo. 

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T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
12 
G L O B A L  W A R  O N  T E R R O R I S M  — A F G H A N I S T A N 
By Spc. Anna Perry 
CJSOTF-A Public Affairs 
The dedication in his eyes is evident as the American 
Special Operator attentively moves up and down the row 
of Afghan Commandos on the firing range. He rewards a 
particularly good shot with an approving tap on the 
helmet. He seems unaware of the sweltering heat or the 
weight on his shoulders from the massive amount of 
equipment he is wearing. His only concern is for the men 
before him and the mission they have accepted. 
Afghanistan’s security and stability rests partially in 
the hands of the Commandos on this range. All are 
committed to honing the skills and capabilities vital to 
their mission. 
This kind of training is repeated daily at Forward 
Operating Base Shindand, where the 4th Commando 
Kandak trains side by side with Americans who act as 
mentors and advisors to the newly activated Commando 
battalion. 
The Afghan warriors graduated from the elite 
Commando school in Kabul May 8. By the end of May, 
they had faced battle in western Afghanistan’s Farah 
province, with Americans assisting and advising. 
Excelling during the battle, the Commandos showed 
the enemy a glimpse of the toughness and resiliency they 
are increasingly known for. The advisors have since spent 
countless hours in Shindand, building upon the skills the 
Commandos already have, as well as exposing them to 
new soldiering skills. 
“We’re assisting them with the basics, which is 
allowing us to create a foundation we can continue to 
build upon,” said a U.S. Special Forces advisor. “We’re 
facilitating their ability to excel in small-unit tactics, and 
we’re familiarizing them with different weapons systems 
and honing their marksmanship skills. We’re building their 
communication skills, teaching them how to clear a room, 
how to react to an improvised explosive device. We’re 
also enhancing their night vision capabilities and getting 
them used to running limited-visibility operations.” 
In addition to perfecting their battlefield skills, the 
Commandos are operating under their own chain of 
command that resembles a U.S. Army Infantry battalion. A 
key element is distinguishing the roles of officers and 
NCOs. This is a relatively new concept to the Afghans. 
“These men are only recently becoming familiar with 
the idea of an NCO. It’s common for them to have an 
officer, just one guy, running the show and trying to do 
everything rather than delegating and passing tasks down 
through the ranks,” the SOF advisor said. “There are 
already many fantastic leaders within the Commando 
ranks, many of them battle-hardened combat veterans who 
SOF train new Afghan Commandos 
A Commando N CO trains c ommandos at a range  near F orward Operatin g Base Shind and in west ern Afghanistan’s Herat 
province. The Commandos are assigned to the elite 4th Commando Kandak and are trained by U.S. Special Operations Forces. 
CJSOTF-A courtesy photo. 
SOF train new Afghan Commandos 

--- Page 13 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
13 
have been in the military for quite a few years. We’re 
simply showing them a different, more efficient way of 
doing business.” 
Recently, as the first two weeks of their training with 
their American advisors came to end, the Commandos’ 
skills were put to the test in a culmination exercise in 
which they were instructed to prepare and carry out an 
emergency action plan involving the destruction of a time- 
sensitive target. 
“The Commandos were given information about a 
fictitious Taliban shurra that was being held at a certain 
grid location,” another USSF advisor said. “We stepped 
back and let them handle the situation without any 
guidance from us in order to see how the skills we covered 
in the first two weeks with them came together. We 
observed how well they conducted the operation, watching 
everything from their movement and communication to 
their cordon of the building and assault on the objective.” 
As expected, the Commandos’ performance during the 
exercise was steadfast and thorough. 
“They did an extremely good job, especially 
considering they weren’t able to rehearse the mission,” the 
advisor said. 
The Commandos have proven to be receptive to the 
insight and knowledge their advisors have to offer. 
“The men are motivated and enthused about being 
here; they want to do the right thing for Afghanistan as a 
whole, make it a place that is free for everyone. A lot of 
these guys are old enough to remember how t hings were 
during the Taliban regime,” said a U.S. Marine Special 
Operations Forces advisor. “They want to do everything 
possible to make sure the people of this country never live 
that kind of horror again.” 
The Commandos’ belief in the mission is evident as 
their extensive training operations are carried out daily. 
“The training is very good. We need this training to 
make Afghanistan a better country for our families and 
neighbors,” one Commando stated. “Never again will the 
Taliban be able to go into our villages and force their 
beliefs upon my people. I am tired of being afraid for my 
life, for the lives of my two sons, my wife. That is why I 
am here – to see these terrorists out of my country once 
and for all.” 
Like any group of men at war together, the 
Commandos and the SOF warriors have developed a level 
of trust and camaraderie that carries on day after day. 
“Many of us have gotten to know these guys on a 
personal level; we’ll sit and talk about our hometowns and 
what we like to do when we’re not deployed, and they’ll 
share their thoughts and feelings about their lives with us,” 
one MARSOF advisor said. “Sometimes I even sit in on 
their Islamic studies as a way to kind of show them I’m 
interested in their culture.” 
Their journey together has just begun, but as the days 
and months pass, the Commandos and their American 
advisors will continue to train and conduct operations 
together until Afghanistan is a liberated and prosperous 
nation with its people living free of fear. 
“I take great pride in knowing that what we’re doing 
here with the Commandos has such a fundamental impact 
on the future of Afghanistan,” the SOF advisor said. 
“These men are only a prestigious few of the Afghan 
military forces, and I know they have what it takes to 
secure this nation.” 
A Commando leads the wa y during the assault of an enemy 
house while conducting a training operation in the Shindand 
District of weste rn Afghanistan’s  Hera t pro vince. Th e 
Commandos are an elite Afghan military unit trained by U.S. 
Special Operations Forces. CJSOTF-A courtesy photo. 

--- Page 14 ---
G L O B A L  W A R  O N  T E R R O R I S M — I R A Q 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
14 
G L O B A L  W A R  O N  T E R R O R I S M  — I R A Q 
By Tech. Sgt. Larry Carpenter Jr.  
SOTF-West Public Affairs 
While on convoy, a member of Naval 
Special Warfare Task Unit Ramadi could 
be called upon to fill nearly  any position 
during a mission. 
For example, if the conv oy is attacked 
and the gunner in the armored vehicle is 
injured, the person next to him has to take 
his place returning fire to el iminate the 
threat. 
With this in mind, the leadership at 
NSWTU Ramadi ensures all per sonnel 
traveling outside the wire will have the 
proper traini ng to use the weap ons 
systems mounted on the vehicles. 
“Through the training we receive, I feel 
comfortable every  member on our team can 
and will fill the gunner’s position if the 
situation arises,” said a P etty Officer 2nd 
Class master at arms. 
Inherent dangers come with the training. The range 
where the Sailors must train is located off  the camp, 
which means while they tr ain, they also mu st take turns 
posting security for possible real-world threats. 
“While on t he range, everyon e has to constantly stay 
aware of thei r surroundings, ” said a Petty Officer 2nd 
Class comba t cameraman. 
During weapons traini ng, servicemembers have the 
opportunity to pass along knowledge g ained from real- 
world experiences from their time in Iraq. This allows 
training to const antly evolve to encompass the current 
situations faci ng the troops. 
“Every day we go out, a nd the troo ps practice the 
skills they’ve lear ned … and they also have the 
opportunity to see and learn new things,” the master at 
arms said. “These f olks are then able t o bring their 
experiences to help improve future trainin g.” 
The members of NSWTU Ramadi receive training on 
the .50-cali ber machine gun  — or the “Ma Deuce,” and 
the M-240B, which fires 7. 62 mm ro unds. At the same 
time, other memb ers of the unit are able to hone their 
skills on the RG-33’s remote weapons system, which also 
fires the .50-caliber round. The R G-33 is Special 
Operations C ommand’s version of the Mine Resistant 
Ambush Protected vehicle. 
“Crew served weapons are the main firepower at our 
disposal while outside the wire,” the master-at-arm s 
explained. “Everyone who goes outside the wire should 
know how to operate all th e weapons systems we use.” 
Qualified personnel on site provide hands-on trai ning, 
to include loading, un loading, firing and immediate and 
remedial actions to rapi dly fix a weapon malfunction. 
“Being able to receive refr esher training on the 
weapons was awesome,” th e combat cameraman said. 
“The more hands-on ti me you get with the weapons, the 
more comforta ble you feel being  able to operate and fix 
problems that arise while in the field.” 
Before any of the traini ng, the range safety officer on 
site provides a safety b riefing to try and minimize anothe r 
risk inherent to l ive fire weapons training. 
“The RSO is the mos t important person on the range 
because he ensures the safety  of all the personnel who are 
there,” the master at arms s aid. 
Every person on han d received in-depth training on 
the weapon before hav ing the opportunity to fire a few 
hundred rounds a t targets scattered about the range. 
Members of NSWTU  Ramadi continually receive 
training on the variou s equipment they cou ld be called 
upon to u se, including the vi tally important weapons 
systems require d to return enemy fire when necessary. 
“It makes me fe el safer k nowing everyone is learning 
the weapons systems that are fr equently in our convoys,” 
the master-at-arms said. “The more training our people 
get, the m ore effectiv e they will be when they have to put 
rounds on target.” 
NSWTU Ramadi weapons training 
A S pecial Operat ions Fo rces Operator loo ks o n as a master-at-arms Sailor 
fires twin 240Bs mounted t o the top of a high mobility, multipurpose wheeled 
vehicle durin g crew se rved we apons train ing h eld b y members of Nav al 
Special Warfare T ask Unit Ramadi, May 31. T he training was held at a rang e 
just outside of Camp Ramadi and included familiarization, loading, unloading 
and clearing procedures, as well as immediate and remedial courses of action 
to take during a weapon malfunction. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Larry Carpenter Jr. 
NSWTU Ramadi weapons training 

--- Page 15 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
15 
By Tech. Sgt. Larry Carpenter Jr. 
SOTF-West Public Affairs 
Over the past 18 months, the Navy SEALs and staff of 
Special Operations Task Force-West in Iraq have shared 
knowledge, techniques and methods of operations with the 
Special Weapons and Tactics team of Ramadi. They are 
helping Ramadi SWAT design an effective, self-sustaining 
police compound that will provide the available means to 
enforce stability and security in the region. 
According to Lt. Mike Clegg, a civil affairs planner 
for SOTF-W, the hope is that the new headquarters, which 
will come under the operational control of Iraq’s Ministry 
of Interior, will become a center of gravity for the region. 
The project will provide a compound where the 
Ramadi SWAT can fully integrate with their new National 
Information and Investigation Agency unit to truly create a 
“find, fix, finish, exploit and analyze capability in the 
Ramadi area,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Song, SOTF-W 
Foreign Internal Defense staff officer. 
“This should provide SWAT with the capability to 
gather information and identify targets and the ability to 
act upon those targets with decisive force,” he explained. 
The Naval Mobile Construction Battalion or more 
familiarly, the “SEABEES,” attached to SOTF-W 
conducted a site survey on a former Coalition forces 
forward operating base in Ramadi to determine the best 
way to convert the dilapidated buildings 
into a SWAT headquarters. The team 
considered the requirements for facility 
retrofits and improvements to determine a 
plan of action for the project based on 
funding and available resources. 
To determine the scope of the work, 
they spent hours examining all the rooms 
in the buildings looking for structural 
deficiencies and estimating the 
requirements for utilities and power 
generation. The team then divided up the 
areas needing attention and prioritized 
them into three categories: mission critical, 
mission essential and mission enhancing. 
Following the assessment, the 
SEABEES set a goal to make the new 
headquarters compound, which will 
incorporate an operations center and an 
intelligence analysis section, operational by 
the end of September 2008. 
“The inspections helped us identify 
deficiencies in order to provide an accurate statement of 
requirements to request funding for repair and retrofit,” 
said SEABEE Chief Petty Officer Rob Keucher. 
According to Keucher, the buildings will need a lot of 
work to become functional for Ramadi SWAT. 
“This project will be quite a challenge for whatever 
local contractor comes to complete the work and get it 
turned around in a timely manner,” said Keucher. 
Currently, Navy SEALs act as combat advisors to 
Ramadi SWAT, which gives the Iraqi’s more opportunities 
to conduct their own operations. The new compound will 
provide this Iraqi SWAT unit with a centralized location to 
operate with maximum capability as well as  house their 
personnel. 
The new compound will be essential for a force that 
began conducting unilateral missions, direct action 
engagements using only minimal intelligence support from 
U.S. forces. 
“They are doing a great job,” said Clegg. “They have 
the ability and expertise to gather their own evidence and 
are in turn able to prosecute terrorists in the Iraqi courts.” 
Those involved in this project believe the new 
compound creates a win-win situation for the Iraqi and 
U.S. forces. The Iraqis will be able to operate on their own 
with less required assistance from U.S. forces, and the 
SEALs will have a competent force partner in the Ramadi 
SWAT to provide regional security to the Iraqi people. 
SEALs, Ramadi SWAT build compound 
Chief Petty Officer Rob Keu cher, a SEABEE with Nava l Special Warfare Task 
Unit Ramadi, takes measurements in the basement of an Iraqi building during 
a site survey. The buildings were returned to the Iraqis in mid-May and will be 
used by the Rama di Spec ial Weapons and Tactics un it as a  headquarters 
building. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Larry Carpenter Jr. 
SEALs, Ramadi SWAT build compound 

--- Page 16 ---
G L O B A L  W A R  O N  T E R R O R I S M  — I R A Q 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
16 
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares 
CJSOTF-AP Public Affairs 
The sides of the Iraqi desert highways or crowded city 
streets are no place for a vehicle to break down. These 
littered arteries can mask a multitude of dangers such as 
improvised explosive devices planted beneath piles of trash 
and snipers hiding in the crevices of previous roadside IED 
sites. 
Army mechanics at Special Operations Task Force - 
Central work 10 to16 hours per day in the desert sun’s heat 
repairing the U.S. military’s battle-scarred vehicles for 
Special Forces Soldiers rolling convoys on the streets of 
southern Iraq. 
Working elbow-deep in grease and in sweat-soaked 
shirts, the Soldiers see the damage caused by extreme 
climate conditions and know the importance of preventative 
maintenance and prompt repairs. 
“We maintain tactical vehicles that are designed to save 
lives. We take that very seriously,” said Pfc. Ben Havens, 
wheeled vehicle mechanic. “The guys who take these 
vehicles outside the wire depend on them to work properly.” 
‘Vehicle Medics’ k eep Sp ecial 
Operations Forces convoys rolling 
This U.S.  Army pri vate fir st cl ass, a Combine d Joint  Special Operations Task F orce-Arabian Peninsula wheeled vehicle 
mechanic, changes an air filter as part of routine maintenance on a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle before it goes 
on convoy. The CJSOTF-AP team of mechanics works ha rd to keep the Special Forces convoy vehicles rolling in t he streets 
and highways of Baghdad. 
‘Vehicle Medics’ k eep Sp ecial 
Operations Forces convoys rolling 

--- Page 17 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
17 
Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Waltman, battalion 
maintenance officer, and his team of Army mechanics, 
multinational contractors and Iraqi civilians realize how they 
do their job can impact the mission. 
“We are just little spokes in the wheel that is the U.S. 
military,” said Waltman. “If one spoke is broken, then the 
wheel starts to wobble.” 
Mechanics accompany their comrades on convoy 
missions. At any point in time, there are multiple convoys 
with different mission objectives rolling around 60,000 
square miles of southern Iraq. The mechanics on convoys 
are strategically placed to either fix vehicles on the side of 
the road or facilitate getting them back to base. 
“Time and time again it has proven to save lives … to 
be able to fix this stuff immediately and not have to wait on 
someone else,” Waltman said. “A breakdown makes you 
susceptible to crowds, ambushes or anything.” 
Spc. Joe Allickson, wheeled vehicle mechanic, is in his 
third tour of duty to Iraq. During his many convoy trips, he’s 
either had his vehicle shot at or he’s seen other vehicles 
struck by roadside IEDs. 
“We have an assortment of 
people with different specialties 
that make up our convoy teams,” 
he said. “I don’t see my job as 
being more important than anyone 
else’s, but if a vehicle can’t roll, 
the convoy doesn’t either.” 
“It’s like being a medic for 
vehicles,” said Allickson, who 
considers himself “pretty good” at 
changing flat tires on the sides of 
the substandard roads. 
“If something goes wrong, I 
have to be able to diagnose it 
quickly and figure out if I can fix 
it immediately or not. I hope I 
never have to do my job on the 
road, but I’m ready nonetheless.” 
Mechanics keep the tactical 
vehicles rolling safely and allow 
members of the convoy teams to 
concentrate on the mission and 
not worry about the vehicles 
breaking down. 
“I never think about the 
truck,” said Spc. Douglas Holley, 
a gunner with the Arkansas 
National Guard. “You are busy 
watching everything around you. 
You get into a flow and never think 
about the vehicle.” 
Waltman said they must keep everything working on a 
vehicle, right down to the air conditioning, or it doesn’t go 
on a mission outside the wire. That’s not an easy task, 
considering extreme weather temperatures, rough terrain and 
sand are constantly taking their toll on vehicles. 
Keeping communication devices functioning properly is 
also key to ensuring a successful mission. The warfighter in 
the operations center needs to have contact with the convoys 
at all times. If there are communications issues stemming 
from the vehicle generators not powering the 
communications systems, then the convoys operate in the 
blind. 
“If we let even the generators go down, we are failing 
the warfighter,” said Sgt. 1st Class Bryon Dinsmore, NCO 
in charge. “We don’t want anyone in a situation that 
would jeopardize mission success and not bring everyone 
home safely.” 
As ‘vehicle medics,’ these mechanics realize the 
importance of maintaining a healthy fleet of tactical vehicles 
because every fellow Soldier’s safe return home from a 
mission depends on it. 
A Combin ed J oint Spe cial Ope rations Task  Force-Arabi an Penin sula wheeled ve hicle 
mechanic changes the oil as part of routine maintenance on a High Mobility Multipurpose 
Wheeled Vehicle before it goes on convoy. The CJSOTF-AP team of mechanics works 
hard to keep the Special Forces convoy vehicles fully mission capable. 

--- Page 18 ---
U . S .  A R M Y  S P E C I A L  O P E R A T I O N S  C O M M A N D 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
18 
By Kim berly L audano 
160th SOAR  (A) Public Affairs 
Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Coope r 
became the firs t Night Stal ker in t he unit’s 
history and the only li ving aviat or to 
receive the Disti nguished Se rvice Cross in 
support of the War on Terrorism durin g a 
ceremony July 11 at Fort Camp bell, Ky. 
“We stand h ere to day in aw e of Mr. Cooper,” sai d 
Adm. Eric T. Olson, c ommander of U.S . Special 
Operations  Command, who pr esented the medal.  “His 
actions read  like adventure ficti on, but they  are real. 
Others live because of his selfless courage.” 
Cooper was the AH-6 Little Bird f light lead fo r a 
mission a gainst a foreign fighte r facilita tor in central 
Iraq No v. 27, 20 06. While moving between waiting 
locations on this mission, his wi ngman was sh ot down 
by enemy fire. The he licopter assault force  immediately 
landed and, along with  the Spec ial Operations g round 
forces onboar d, set  up a sma ll perimeter aro und the 
crashed aircraft. Although the re wer e no seriou s 
injuries, the ai rcraft w as not fl yable. 
After confirm ing there  was no imm ediate threat to 
the assa ult force position, the tw o Black Hawk 
helicopters of the formation, ca rrying the pilots from the 
downed aircr aft, returned to thei r base to get a downed 
aircraft recovery team. 
This left the force of a bout 20 Spe cial Operation s 
Forces at the crash site with one mis sion-capable AH-6 
and two MH-6 helicopters. The crash site was flat desert 
ground, leaving the troo ps nowhe re to find c over wh ile 
defending t he area. 
About 40 minut es foll owing the crash, enemy 
personnel suddenly appeared and  began firing  on their 
position. At this time , Cooper and his co-p ilot were 
Night Stalker receives Distinguished 
Service Cross for combat heroism 
Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Cooper in an AH-6 Little Bird helicopter. Cooper is an AH-6 pilot and the Senior Warrant Officer of 
the 160th S pecial Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). He was awarded the Disting uished Service Cross f or gallantry in 
combat during a ceremony July 11, 2008, at Fort Campbell, Ky. 160th SOAR (A) photo. 
Night Stalker receives Distinguished 
Service Cross for combat heroism 

--- Page 19 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
19 
already starting up thei r engines to get a n aerial view  of 
the situ ation. Up on take off, Cooper’ s aircraft became 
the targe t for enemy fire. Cooper fl ew his helicopter 
directly into the en emy fire , attacking the enemy 
positions and di verting fire  away from the g round 
forces. 
He landed his helicopte r near the cra sh site twice 
during the engagement, wher e his fellow pilots 
downloaded ammu nition and fue l from the cra shed Little 
Bird and transferr ed it to his. The se actions kept 
Cooper ’s aircraft in the fight for  as along as possi ble. 
After a  third  series of ae rial gunner y attacks, the  enemy 
personnel f inally cea sed firing and fled  the area . 
Lt. Gen.  Robert Wagner, commander of U.S. Army 
Special Operations Com mand, des cribed Cooper’s 
actions that d ay as seemingly impos sible. 
“Imagine what would have happened had (Coop er) 
not defied  all odds and heroic ally flown into  a hea vily- 
armed gauntlet  attracting fire  to himself in order to 
divert deadly en emy fire  from hi s teammates and then 
most courageous and her oically, re-arming and refueling 
on-site to cont inue the  fight,” he  said. “Un believable 
courage, bril liant presence of mind, s elfless saving acts 
under the most d emanding c ombat conditions, (h e is) a 
true hero in eve ry sense  of the  word.” 
Olson de scribed Coope r’s actions a s repr esentative 
of all Night Stalkers, a  testament to the unit’s m otto, 
“Night Stalkers Don’t Qui t.” 
“Operating most often as mem bers of an air craft 
joint team, you are t he idea l teamm ates,” he said . “Many 
of your c asualties have be en suff ered after making the 
conscious an d delibera te decision to  fly into a ho t 
landing zon e to save troops on the ground who hav e no 
other hope. To this unit , the loyalty of the ground and 
maritime  forces … is de ep and forever.” 
During closi ng remarks, Coope r credit ed many 
people fo r doing their job and ma king his actions on  the 
battlefie ld possibl e. He thanked t he Soldiers, civilians 
and contractor s of the 160th who got to him on the 
battlefie ld at th e right plac e, at the right time, with th e 
right a mount of ammo and fu el. He  also thanked h is 
family a nd friends for their unwa vering s upport of  his 
career. 
Cooper did not fo rget those Ni ght Stalkers who wer e 
on the battlefield with him, a s he thank ed them fo r 
working tog ether that day. He described the  Little Bir d 
pilots on the groun d and his co-pilot as the real heroes. 
“As those (pilots) were taking out amm unition and 
loading my heli copter with amm unition, loading my 
helicopte r with f uel, they were in absolute plain s ight of 
a determined e nemy who was hell- bent to kill them, ye t 
they did not quit,” C ooper stat ed. “And it is  to them that 
I am lucky enou gh to be standing here to day, that (all of 
us from that  day) are. 
(My co-pilot) did a phe nomenal job that day 
pointing out  targets, worki ng the ra dio and arming and 
de-arming me, ” he continued. “A gain, without him, none 
of this would  be pos sible.” 
Cooper’s co- pilot was previously pre sented th e 
Silver Star;  the four MH-6 pil ots ea rned Bronze Star 
Medals for Valo r for the ir act ions tha t day. 
In the  true q uiet prof essional ma nner the Night 
Stalkers live by, Coope r said he  was humbl ed by 
receiving thi s award. 
“I acc ept it  on behalf of al l Night St alkers, past, 
present and futur e,” he sa id. 
More than 500 people attended the  ceremony, 
including ab out 100 of Coo per’s family me mbers from 
the Cinc innati, Ohio,  area. His younger sister Kar en 
Bishop was among them. 
Before today, she said the fami ly knew a few details 
beyond what Coo per ha d called “a re ally tough  day” 
after the incident occurred. The story  Cooper had 
relayed involved not just  his actions, but tho se of h is 
fellow Nigh t Stalkers and Spec ial Operation s Forces 
who worked together under int ense combat 
circumstances . 
“It is  a reall y special day for our fa mily,” she said . 
“Growing up, Dave wa s alwa ys a lea der. He’s been a 
leader in our family, and obvi ously he ’s a leader with his 
comrades and h is troops. And we’ re just pro ud of him.” 
Adm. Er ic T. Ols on, comman der of  U.S. Special Ope rations 
Command, presents Chief Warrant Officer David Cooper the 
Distinguished S ervice Cr oss dur ing a ceremo ny at Fort 
Campbell, Ky., July 11, 2008. 160th SOAR (A) photo. 

--- Page 20 ---
20 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
U . S .  A R M Y  S P E C I A L  O P E R A T I O N S  C O M M A N D 
By Kimberly Laudano 
160th SOAR (A) Public Affairs 
Sgt. 1st Class Robert Kiely, a medical 
operations NCO with the 160th Special 
Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort 
Campbell, Ky., is the Army’s 2007 John R. Teal 
Award recipient. He was recognized during the 
Association of the United States Army Annual 
Medical Symposium in San Antonio June 12. 
“Sergeant First Class Kiely has managed to 
bring order to chaos during the last several 
years with missions changing on a daily basis in 
multiple theaters of operation,” said Maj. 
Timothy Talbot, the 160th SOAR flight surgeon 
who nominated Kiely for the award. “He is the 
epitome of a medical operations professional, and 
there are a rare few that can match — much less 
exceed — his tremendous talent in this area.” 
The Army Medical Command established this 
award following the first combat loss of a medical officer 
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Capt. John Teal, Jr., 
was killed in action Oct. 23, 2003, while deployed as a 
brigade medical planner in the 4th Infantry Division. This 
award annually recognizes one medical operations or 
support officer and NCO who have made significant 
contributions to the medical community and displayed 
exceptional soldiering. 
Kiely said the heart of this award is representative of all 
the medics in his shop who have been part of a team 
deploying in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi 
Freedom every day since October 2001. He said they 
selflessly accomplish any and all missions, no matter what 
they may have to sacrifice. 
“They have a personal obligation on each mission,” 
said Kiely. “It’s their personal dedication to our guys and 
going on target with the customers to be the guy there 
who’s going to make the right decision for the mission and 
the patient.” 
He said Night Stalker medics are a key asset due to the 
unique and complicated mission the unit is asked to do on a 
nightly basis. 
“They have an understanding of a dynamic process that 
includes knowing the mission, understanding aircraft 
capabilities and managing patient care at a level of 
responsibility that few can assimilate,” Kiely explained. 
According to his award narration, Kiely excels in 
medical planning for garrison, training and combat 
operations. In garrison, he is responsible for providing 
medical support to multiple combat locations around the 
world, supporting five battalion-sized elements with 
Soldiers in continuous combat and training rotations, and 
supporting the Night Stalker Troop Medical Clinic in 
providing medical care to Soldiers and their families. 
While deployed in combat zones during the last year, 
he conducted medical planning for numerous joint task 
force missions. This included many no-notice combat 
missions. During one such mission, Kiely prepared a 
casualty evacuation plan that had to be implemented. He 
served as the primary medic during the evacuation that 
resulted in the rescue of 15 Special Operations Forces 
personnel. 
Talbot said Kiely’s daily actions demonstrate to 
younger medics that, despite often overwhelming 
responsibilities and seemingly insurmountable tasks, they 
can succeed by persevering, applying sound judgment and 
maintaining focus. 
“Sergeant First Class Kiely keeps them going and has 
been doing that over the last several years,” Talbot 
explained. “He somehow manages the impossible on a 
daily basis while still being able to adapt without concern to 
pressing family or medical issues in his subordinates, 
allowing them precious time at home during special 
occasions, despite being undermanned and overtasked.” 
“Our families are incredibly supportive of the demands 
our job places on our time,” Kiely explained. “It’s 
important for our Soldiers to enjoy quality time with their 
families between regular deployments, training support and 
constant operation tempo.” 
160th medic earns John R. Teal Award 160th medic earns John R. Teal Award 
Night Stalker Soldi ers (L eft t o Right) Staf f Sg t. Rich ard Jarre t, Capt. K. 
Scott Mohr, Sgt. 1st Class Pat Donihoo, Staff Sgt. Trevor Kruiger and Sgt. 
1st Class Robert Ki ely. Th is medical tea m wa s at th e forefron t of the 
operation cited in Kiely's award narration. Courtesy photo. 


--- Page 21 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
21 
By Staff Sgt. Andrew Kosterman 
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Public Affairs 
Members of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) 
gathered July 16 for the awarding of Silver Star medals to 
two Soldiers, honoring each for bravery during Operation 
Iraqi Freedom last year. 
Sgt. 1st Class Chad Kite and Staff Sgt. Christopher 
Federmann were presented the medals by Lt. Gen. Robert 
Wagner, commanding general of U.S. Army Special 
Operations Command, and Brig. Gen. Michael Repass, 
commanding general of U.S. Special Forces Command 
(Airborne). 
Kite and Federmann were both awarded the nation’s 
third highest medal for valor for their part in an operation to 
capture a suspected terrorist leader in the city of Ad 
Diwaniyah, Iraq, June 3, 2007. 
Both were part of the primary assault force consisting of 
17 Soldiers – a mixture of U.S., Coalition and Iraqi soldiers. 
A second assault force, consisting of nearly 30 U.S. and 
Coalition soldiers, were staged and waiting in another part of 
the city as the quick reaction force. 
The team quickly moved into the area where the terrorist 
was believed to be and assaulted the target building. As the 
operation unfolded, the team began taking fire from multiple 
directions. 
“As it unfolded, it was chaotic,” said Kite. “We were 
surrounded.” 
Kite and Federmann, along with two other Coalition 
soldiers, moved 100 meters under hostile fire. Kite 
suppressed the enemy while Federmann threw multiple hand 
grenades, neutralizing the enemy threat. They called the 
second assault force forward to their location. 
As a result, enemy fire increased and one Iraqi soldier 
was mortally wounded. 
The now 40-man force of U.S. and Coalition soldiers 
began taking sniper and rocket-propelled grenade fire from a 
nearby building. A Special Forces Soldier launched a 
shoulder-fired missile at the building from which fire was 
originating. However, despite the missile strike, the enemy 
sniper and RPG fire did not stop. A Coalition sniper fired 
from a nearby rooftop at the enemy forces but could not 
eliminate the threat. U.S. fighter jets could not attack the 
building because of the close proximity to civilian homes. 
Kite and Federmann again moved under heavy enemy 
fire to engage the enemy. 
Kite fired at the enemy, enabling Federmann to fire 
multiple high-explosive rounds from his M-79 grenade 
launcher. Federmann then launched a smoke grenade onto the 
rooftop, marking the building for Coalition helicopters to 
place precise machine-gun fire into the building, destroying 
the remaining enemy presence. 
After moving back to the assault force, Kite and 
Federmann recognized insurgent forces had moved again and 
taken positions on the rooftop of a building less than 15 
meters away. The surrounding insurgent forces moved to 
close the distance with the Coalition forces. Realizing the 
deadly threat developing, Kite suppressed the rooftops and 
intersection, while Federmann fired his M-4 carbine and 
threw multiple grenades at both locations, again neutralizing 
the threat. 
At this point, the assault force began regrouping to leave 
the area. So far, the force had sustained two wounded 
soldiers, including a Coalition member shot in the chest who 
continued to fight off the enemy for more than two hours, 
and one Iraqi soldier killed in action. 
The force later was able to pull out of the enemy 
stronghold. Under heavy fire, the assault force withdrew 
from the area returning fire from the sides of their vehicles. 
During withdrawal from the target area, Federmann was 
wounded in the arm from a bullet fragment. 
“Sergeants Kite and Federmann displayed exceptional 
teamwork and uncommon valor over the course of a four- 
hour engagement while outnumbered by enemy insurgents,” 
said Col. Eric Wendt, 1st SFG (A) commander. “Their 
actions define the spirit of the Silver Star.” 
Even though both men were in a 360-degree fight, they 
say the number one priority for them was making sure 
everyone made it home. 
“We disrupted the terrorists on their turf,” Federmann 
explained. “Everyone did what they were supposed to do to 
make it out alive – that’s the best part.” 
1st SFG Soldiers receive Silver Stars 
Sgt. 1st Class Chad Kite and Staff Sgt. Christopher 
Federmann were presented the Silver Star by Lt. Gen. Robert 
Wagner, co mmanding gene ral of U.S. Army Spec ial 
Operations  Comma nd, and Brig . Gen. Mic hael Repass, 
commanding g eneral of U.S. S pecial For ces Command 
(Airborne), July 16. Photo by Sgt. Amanda White. 
1st SFG Soldiers receive Silver Stars 

--- Page 22 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
22 
U . S .  A R M Y  S P E C I A L  O P E R A T I O N S  C O M M A N D 
By USASOC Public Affairs 
The U.S. Army Special Forces Command 
(Airborne) said a bittersweet farewell to its 
commanding general as it welcomed a new 
one during a ceremony on Meadows Field, 
Fort Bragg, N.C., June 17. 
Brig. Gen. Michael Repass took the 
reigns of USASFC(A) from Maj. Gen. 
Thomas Csrnko during the change of 
command. 
Repass, a West Virginia native and a 
graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at 
West Point, has been serving as the deputy 
commander of Special Operations Command 
Europe in Stuttgart, Germany, prior to being 
tapped to lead USASFC(A). 
“I am humbled to be in command of the 
new legends of our regiment,” said Repass, 
whose awards include one Legion of Merit 
and two Bronze Stars Medals. “I look into the 
crowd and see a handful of great Special 
Forces officers, warrants and NCOs with 
whom I have served. Many are easily my 
equal or better, but I happen to be the l ucky 
one standing here.” 
Repass feels he is up to the challenge of 
filling Csrnko’s shoes. 
“I’ve worked with Major General Csrnko 
twice, and it’s an honor to follow in his 
footsteps,” Repass said. “It’s great to see your 
faces, and I’m honored to be your 
commander. I will always endeavor to remember that 
much is expected of me in this command.” 
Lt. Gen. Robert Wagner, commanding general of U.S. 
Army Special Operations Command, hosted the event. 
Wagner noted Repass and Csrnko are “career-proven 
professionals” who are well-equipped to execute their 
respective assignments. 
During his remarks, Wagner said that under Csrnko’s 
watch, the command deployed more than 33,678 Special 
Forces Soldiers on 943 deployments to 93 countries and 37 
states, adding that there has not been a day dur ing his 
tenure when less than 3,500 SF Soldiers were in combat. 
“I stand here today because of the mentors who raised 
me in the Army and the Special Forces community,” 
Csrnko said. “The hardest duty for the past two years was 
officiating at the funerals of our fallen warriors.” 
Csrnko asked the crowd to join him in a moment of 
silence to remember those fallen warriors a nd their 
families. 
“It has been my honor and privilege to command and 
walk within your ranks for the past two years,” Csrnko 
said of the thousands of men he has commanded within the 
SF community. 
Csrnko, a graduate of Indiana University, assumed 
command of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special 
Warfare Center and School June 20. 
“I look forward to the challenges of the Special 
Warfare Center and School,” he said. 
Special Forces Command welcomes 
new commanding general 
Brig. Gen. Michael Repass, incoming U.S. Army Spec ial Forces Command 
commander, passes the USAFC color s signi fying his accept ance o f 
command, during th e change of command ceremon y, June 17, Ft. Bragg , 
N.C. Maj.  Gen. Thomas Csrnko , the ou tgoing command er, handed 
command of USAFC over to Repass, after having held the position for the 
last two years. Photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Schult. 
Special Forces Command welcomes 
new commanding general 

--- Page 23 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
23 
By Cherish  Washington 
USAJFKSWCS Publi c Affairs 
The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy 
Special Warfare Center and School 
welcomed a new commanding general wh ile 
saying farewell to another in a change of 
command ceremony on Meadows F ield at 
Fort Bragg, N.C., June 20. 
Maj. Gen. Thomas Csrnko assumed 
command from Maj. Gen. James Parker 
during the ceremony. 
Lt. Gen. Rob ert Wagner, commanding 
general of U.S. Army Special Operations 
Command, hosted the event. Wagner and 
Parker expressed con fidence in Csrnko’s 
experience, calling him the ideal person to 
command USAJFKSWCS. 
“Tom Csrnko is eminently qualified and 
the exact person to command the center  and 
school,” Wagner said. 
Parker said it was always hard f or him 
to pass on the guidon during a change of 
command ceremony, but today was 
different. 
“It was much easie r this time because I 
knew it was going to exactly the right 
person and exactly the right officer to take 
the Special Warfare Center and School to 
the next level,” Parker said. 
Csrnko was co mmissioned into the Army in 1974 
from Indiana University  of Pennsy lvania with a Bachel or 
of Science degree. He recently relinquished command of 
the U.S. Army Special Fo rces Command (Airborne) June 
17. With more than 30 years of mili tary experience, 
Csrnko will follow in Parker’s footsteps as th e 
USAJFKSWCS comman ding general. 
Among Csrnko’s first words  as commanding general 
of USAJFKSWCS were those of gratitude, honor and 
excitement. 
“It’s an honor to return  to USAJFKSWCS as th e 
commander,” Csrnko said. 
Csrnko said he was grateful  to Wagner for entrusting 
him with the task and thankful to Parker for helping  him 
through the transition. 
“I am very ex cited to be return ing home,” Csrnko 
said. “This will be my t hird tour back in the Special 
Warfare Center and S chool, and I look forward to th e 
challenges before us.” 
Wagner honored Park er and his contributions to the 
command by re capping USAJFKSWCS’s progress under 
Parker’s leadership with a 20- item list of 
accomplishments. 
Parker gave all the  credit to tho se who have 
supported him during t he past four years — the Soldiers 
and civilians of USA JFKSWCS. 
“If there was a Depart ment of Defense award for 
innovation in training and training transformati on, it most 
certainly would ha ve to be awar ded to J im, the Soldiers 
and civilians of SWC S,” Wagner said. 
Parker retired after 38 y ears of m ilitary service later 
that day in a ceremon y at Kenn edy Hall. 
Csrnko ended the cer emony, “God bless this great 
institution, and God bless Am erica. De Oppresso Liber!” 
Csrnko assumes command of USAJFK 
Special Warfare Center and School 
Preparing to enter the field for the change of command is, left to right, Maj. 
Gen. James Parker, outgoing commander of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy 
Special Warfare Center and School, Lt. Gen. Robert Wagner, commander, U.S. 
Army Special Operations Command, and Maj. Gen. Thomas Csrnko, incoming 
commander of USAJFKSWC S. Stan ding beh ind the  grou p of  officers i s 
USAJFKSWCS Command Sgt. Maj. Kurt Lugo. Photo by Gillian Albro. 
Csrnko assumes command of USAJFK 
Special Warfare Center and School 

--- Page 24 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
24 
N A V A L  S P E C I A L  W A R F A R E  C O M M A N D 
By Senior Chie f Petty O fficer Scott Williams 
NSW Public Affairs 
The com mander of N aval Special Warfare 
Command turned over command of 8 ,400 elite Navy 
SEALs, Spec ial Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen 
and supporting staff during a c eremony June 20 at t he 
Naval Amphibious Ba se in Coronado, Calif.  
Rear Adm. Joseph Kernan relinquished command 
to his deputy commander, Rear Adm. Garry Bonelli. 
Kernan had served a t the helm of the  Navy’s S pecial 
Operations Forces since last June . 
Rear Adm. E dward Winters III will ultimately 
assume comm and of NSW la ter this year. He is 
currently assigned as c ommanding genera l, Iraqi 
National Cou nterterrorism Force Transition Team, 
Multi-National Force  Iraq, in Baghdad. 
Kernan is now serving as both comm ander, U.S. 
4th Fleet, and commander, U.S. Nav al Forces So uthern 
Command in Mayport, Fla. U.S. 4th Fleet i s 
responsible for U.S. Navy ships, airc raft and 
submarines operating i n the Caribb ean Sea and Central 
and South Am erica and  the surroundi ng waters. The 
command was originall y operational from  1943-1950 
before it  was disestablished. The Chief of Naval 
Operations announced its re-e stablishment April 24. 
“Fourth fleet, along wi th its trad itional security and 
high seas exercis e roles, is h eaded for the littorals,” 
said Kernan, “and t he sailors will be going feet -dry.” 
Kernan’s selection for co mmand of 4th Fleet was 
lauded by guest speaker Adm. Eric T. Olson, 
commander of U.S. Spe cial Operations Command. “We 
applaud hi s selection  to command a numbered f leet of 
the United States Navy. He’s the first Navy S EAL to 
do so – i n fact h e’s the first SEAL  flag officer to 
command anything out side of the specia l operations 
community.” 
During t he ceremony, Kernan was pre sented with a 
Distingui shed Service Medal for his year of ser vice as 
commander. During his t enure, one of Kernan’s to p 
priorities was to pu t programs and in itiatives in p lace 
to increase the number of SEAL r ecruits in order to 
meet the demanding requirements for  Special 
Operations Forces in the Global War on Terrori sm. He 
and his wife, Jan, also pioneered a compr ehensive 
program focused on h elping NSW families adjust to 
the challenges associated with combat deployments. 
“He has brilliantly an d energetically led this 
force,” Olson said, “ while recruiting and posturing for 
even greater s uccess th e force of tomorrow.” 
After assuming comm and, Bonelli promised to do 
his best to follow  in the footsteps of h is predecessor. 
“My intent during my tenure here in command is very 
straightforward: I will liste n, I wi ll learn, and I will 
lead.” 
Bonelli’s distinguishe d career includes two combat 
tours in Vietnam, com mand of eight Navy Reserve 
units and command o f SEAL Team 5, marking him as 
the only r eservist to ever command an active du ty 
SEAL Team. 
Commander departs for 4th Fleet 
Rear Adm . Joseph Kerna n relin quished co mmand to his 
deputy commander, Rear Adm. Garry Bonelli, June 20, and 
will serve as comm ander, U.S. 4th Fle et, and commander, 
U.S. Naval Forc es Sout hern Comm and in M ayport, Fla . 
Courtesy Photo. 
Editor’s note: Congratulations to the Naval Special Warfare Command’s Publi c Affairs st aff for their 
first place selection in the  2007 Re ar Adm. William  Thompson Awards for Exc ellence in Public 
Affairs for work  suppor ting Lt. Michael  Murphy’s Medal of Honor ceremony. Their public  affairs 
work was also selecte d as “B est of Show” from among all entries s ubmitted. — Bravo Zulu. 

--- Page 25 ---
25 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
By Seaman Blake Midnight 
Naval Special Warfare C enter Public Affairs 
Capt. Stewart Ell iott relieve d Capt. Roger Herbert 
Jr. as c ommandi ng office r of t he Nav al Speci al Warfare 
Center duri ng a chan ge of command  ceremony at the 
Naval Amphibiou s Base, Coron ado, Calif ., Ju ne 10. 
Herbert original ly assum ed command of the NSWC 
from Cap t. Chr istopher Lind say Aug. 11, 2006. 
During h is final address as commanding o fficer o f 
the NSWC, Herber t commented on 
the importance of  his interaction 
with the stude nt body. 
“For th e past two years, I h ave 
tried to instill in my stud ents the 
value o f service to t he ideals of ou r 
nation.  At every opportuni ty, I h ave 
challenged them to t ranscend self- 
interest and to embra ce personal 
sacrifice for a greater  good,” said 
Herbert. 
Herbert’s leaders hip over the 
past two years has been  well 
received b y both his staff and 
students alike. 
Herbert graduated from Basi c 
Underwa ter Demolition /SEAL as a 
member of Class 131 in February 
1985 an d rece ived his fi rst 
assignment to S EAL Deliv ery 
Vehicle Team 2. 
In his  new assignme nt, Herbert 
will oversee U.S. Speci al Operation s 
Command, Washingto n, D.C., 
Liaison Office. 
Regarding Elliott , Herbe rt spok e 
of what a great honor i t is for an 
officer to be in com mand, and that 
this will be Elliott’s fou rth tour as 
commanding of ficer in the Naval 
Special Warfare commun ity. 
“Captain  Elliott is abso lutely the 
right man, in the right place, at the 
right time for this co mmand,” said 
Herbert. 
Elliott gradua ted BUD/s in July 
1985 and recei ved or ders as assistant platoon 
commander to S EAL Team 5, NAB Coronado. 
As part of his first  address to the NSWC, Elliott 
thanked his predecessor for a job  well done. 
“I would like to t hank Captain Herbert for leaving 
me a comm and that i s in the highest state o f operational 
readiness and morale ,” said Elliott. 
For the past two year s Elliott served as command ing 
officer of Naval Special Warfare Unit 2 in  Boblingen, 
Germany. 
Naval Special Warfare Center holds 
change of command ceremony 
Capt. R oger Herb ert J r. giv es his fina l s peech as commandi ng officer of  Naval 
Special Warfare Cen ter during the c hange of command ceremony June 10 at the 
Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, Calif. Photo by Seaman Blake Midnight. 

--- Page 26 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
26 
By Capt. Patrick Nichols 
919th Operations Group 
Duke Field Airmen from the 711th Special 
Operations Squa dron dropped the last operational Bomb 
Live Unit-82 from an MC-130E Combat Talon I July 15 
at the Utah Test and Training Range. 
Nicknamed “Commando Vault” in Vietnam and 
“Daisy Cutter” in Afghanistan, the BLU-82 is a 15,000 - 
pound bomb, and because of its size, the bomb was 
dropped by parachute from the aircraft. 
“We in the Air Fo rce Reserve Command feel 
fortunate to have been chosen to drop t he last operational 
Daisy Cutter,” said Col. Jon Weeks, the 9 19th Special 
Operations Wing vice commander and mission 
commander on the drop. “Our people in the 711th 
Special Operations Squadron dropped several BLU-82s 
during the first few months of Operation  Enduring 
Freedom with significant psychological and tactical 
effect.” 
When originally designed, the BLU-82 wa s the 
largest conventional bomb in existence. It co uld instantly 
clear jungles f or helicopter landing zones in Vietnam. 
Later, the military used the bomb as an antipersonnel 

--- Page 27 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
27 
weapon because of its la rge lethal radius combined with 
the psychological effects of the flash and sound. The 
warhead contains 12,600 pounds of GSX slurry 
(ammonium nitrate, aluminum powder and pol ystyrene). 
A 38-inch fuse extender detonates the bomb, allowing 
maximum destruction at ground level without leaving a 
crater. 
“The power of this weapon is overwhelming,” 
Weeks said. “Even flying the chase p lane at 6,000  feet 
above ground level and approximately three-quarters of 
a mile away from t he bomb’s detonation point, we felt  a 
shock wave that shook the aircraft. As former 
commander of the 711th SOS and a tradit ional reservist, 
I feel espe cially proud to have been pa rt of this historical 
event.” 
The crew determines the accu rate delivery of the 
weapon. The navigator positions the aircra ft and 
calculates ballistic and wind computations. The pilot 
keeps the pla ne on course with precision  instrument 
flying. 
“As far as a ircraft loads go, the delivery of the BLU- 
82 was nothin g unusual,” said Lt. Col. Mi ke Theriot, the 
aircraft comman der and pilot on the mi ssion. “Our 
aircraft routinely  drop loads much larger and heavier.” 

--- Page 28 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
28 
A I R  F O R C E  S P E C I A L  O P E R A T I O N S  C O M M A N D 
By Master Sgt. Buffy Galbraith 
AFSOC Public Affairs 
An Air Force Special Operations Command quiet 
professional has been named one of the service’s top 12 
enlisted members. 
Lt. Gen. Donny Wurster, AFSOC commander, 
announced to a standing-room-only crowd that Senior 
Airman Mary Bullock, an imagery analyst assigned to the 
11th Intelligence Squadron, is an Outstanding Airman of 
the Year. 
“Senior Airman Bullock is an exceptional Airman, and 
it’s no surprise she has risen to the top of the 
competition,” said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Gilbert, 
AFSOC command chief. 
Bullock answered the call for a 179-day deployment 
with two days notice. An avid supporter of Airmen 
Against Drunk Driving and a volunteer at a local animal 
shelter, she routinely volunteers her time on and off base. 
Her willingness to go above and beyond her duties is what 
helped her earn the distinction as AFSOC’s Airman of the 
Year, according to Gilbert. 
“She comes from a part of our command people often 
don’t think of when they think of AFSOC — those who 
work night and day, seven days a week in darkened rooms 
finding, fixing, and, in many cases, 
helping finish our enemies,” said Gilbert. 
Bullock came in on the ground floor 
of a newly formed squadron as the first 
Airman assigned to the 11th IS from 
technical school in September 2006. She 
conducts full-motion video and all-source 
analysis for U.S. Special Operations 
Command and its components, monitors 
targets for activity and personnel of 
interest, and creates intelligence products 
tailored for specific Special Operations 
Forces missions. 
“The team of Airmen on the 11th IS is 
second-to-none, and we work well 
together and support one another,” said 
Bullock. “Best of all, we have leadership 
that constantly presents us with challenges 
that enable us to excel. My personal 
success comes from outstanding 
leadership, a supportive family and, most importantly, 
God.” 
Since its inception in 1956, personal success and 
achievement are aspects this award has used to recognize 
12 outstanding enlisted personnel, as well as superior 
leadership, job performance and community involvement. 
The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, a general 
officer and selected major command chiefs form the 
selection board, and the Air Force Chief of Staff reviews 
the selections. 
“When I first found out I had won, I was totally 
shocked to be selected for such an outstanding award,” 
said Bullock. “It is a huge honor, and I am very proud to 
be representing my unit and the entire Air Force.” 
The 12 Outstanding Airmen are awarded the 
Outstanding Airman ribbon with the bronze service star 
device and wear the Outstanding Airman badge for one 
year. They also serve on the Air Force Enlisted Council 
for one year. The Air Force Association will honor the 12 
Outstanding Airmen at its annual convention in 
Washington. 
“She’s a great Airman with a great story to tell,” said 
Gilbert. “She represents all the outstanding Airmen in our 
command and throughout the Air Force, and we are very 
proud of her.” 
AFSOC  ana lyst named o ne of 12 
Outstanding Airmen of the Year 
AFSOC a nalyst named o ne of 12 
Outstanding Airmen of the Year 
Senior Airma n Mary Bullock, 11th Int elligence Squad ron im agery analyst, 
stands with Lt. Ge n. Donn y Wurster, co mmander o f Ai r Force Sp ecial 
Operations Command, and Chief Master Sgt. Michael Gilbert, AFSOC command 
chief, after Wurster announced Air Force officials selected her as one of the 12 
Outstanding Airmen of the Year. Photo by Senior Airman Emily Moore. 

--- Page 29 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
29 
By Capt. Amy Cooper 
AFSOC Public Affairs 
An Air Force Special Operations Command 
pararescueman has been named the 2008 Air Force Sergeants 
Association Pitsenbarger Award winner for his heroic actions 
during an October 2007 firefight against enemy combatants in 
Afghanistan. 
Tech. Sgt. Davide Keaton, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, 
is personally responsible for saving the lives of five people 
during a shootout against Taliban fighters. 
The five lives he saved, however, were not those of his 
Coalition teammates; they were those of three Afghan 
children and two Afghan women who were used as human 
shields by the enemy. 
The day of this particular mission started out no 
differently than others he experienced during his deployment, 
for which he was the sole pararescueman with an elite Special 
Operations team. 
“We train the way we fight,” Keaton said. “I woke up that 
day with the same mentality. Y ou have to be on top of your 
game or bad things can happen.” 
That training would be put into action when his team was 
attacked with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. 
Once under attack, Keaton risked his own life, moving 
150 meters to reach a victim — a 7-year-old Afghan boy shot 
in the pelvis. 
“When I came up to the first little boy, my heart stopped 
for a second,” said Keaton. “He had a serious gunshot wound 
and had to be taken care of right away.” 
Keaton used his own body to shield the boy from gunfire 
while tending to his wounds and then moved him to cover 30 
meters away. 
After stabilizing the first victim, Keaton again braved the 
barrage of gunfire to find other victims. 
His second patient, an 8-year-old boy, also had multiple 
gunshot wounds. After treating the bleeding and stabilizing 
the boy’s spine, he carried the child to the casualty collection 
point. 
When he got there, his third victim, an 11-year-old girl, 
was there in need of treatment. 
“I’d never been in an operation like this,” Keaton said. “I 
had my hands full. It seemed like the kids were coming one at 
a time.” 
Keaton remained focused despite the young age of his 
patients. 
“Y ou don't think about it,” he said. “Y ou just revert back 
to what you do in training — stabilize them and get them out 
as quick as possible.” 
Running low on supplies, Keaton improvised gauze out 
of clothing to stop his victims’ bleeding. 
After stabilizing his second and third victims, Keaton 
exposed himself to gunfire, not once, but two more times to 
aid two Afghan women, one with a severe abdominal wound 
and near death. 
Keaton and his team were eventually able to load the 
victims on a casualty evacuation helicopter. During the 30- 
minute flight back to base, he continued to administer trauma 
care to the victims. 
To ensure his victims received immediate surgical care 
upon arrival, Keaton made contact with the hospital via the 
aircraft’s communication system, relaying patient history and 
medical conditions. 
Thanks to his efforts, all five patients survived. However, 
Keaton refuses to take full credit for the lives he saved. 
“It’s a team effort,” he said. “I couldn’t have done it by 
myself. As a PJ, I only have two hands. My teammates helped 
out, holding things here and there. 
“There’s no doubt in my mind she would have died 
where she was if we hadn’t been persistent and taken care of 
her,” said Keaton, referring to the woman with a gunshot 
wound in her abdomen. 
For Keaton, the experience was part of what he described 
as the “deployment of a lifetime.” 
“I was extremely busy,” he said. “I was working with 
some of the best guys in the business. Unfortunately, things 
like this happen. Bad guys do bad things.” 
AFSOC  Para rescueman rece ives 
2008 AFSA Pitsenbarger Award 
AFSOC  Para rescueman rece ives 
2008 AFSA Pitsenbarger Award 

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T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
30 
A I R  F O R C E  S P E C I A L  O P E R A T I O N S  C O M M A N D 
By 2nd Lt. Lauren Johnson 
1st SOW Public Affairs 
An Airman from the 20th Special Operations Squadron 
was recently honored with one of the Air Force’s top 
safety awards. 
Lt. Col. Eugene Becker received the Koren Kolligian 
Jr. Trophy for saving the lives of seven crewmembers on 
an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter that crashed Sept. 7, 2007. 
Becker and his crew were on a night tactical training 
mission, hovering over a forest of 90-foot trees, when his 
aircraft suddenly began vibrating. 
“I think the whole crew sensed that something was 
very wrong,” Becker said. “We all knew we didn’t have 
much time to get the aircraft down before it 
catastrophically failed.” 
Thankfully, training kicked in. 
“Everyone immediately started working the emergency 
by doing what their crew position called for,” Becker said. 
Becker executed emergency procedures, made two 
“mayday” calls and assessed the situation. 
The Pave Low was suffering an 
intermediate gear box failure. The helicopter’s 
RPM dropped to 70 to 80 perc ent; too slow to 
keep the aircraft flying. 
The crew had one chance, and little time, 
to bring the MH-53 safely into a small landing 
zone cut out of the trees. 
“It really was a race against the clock,” 
Becker said. 
Becker eased the helicopter over the 
landing zone. Just as he reached his target, the 
aircraft gave out. The Pave Low descended 
quickly toward the ground 150 feet below, 
flung violently to the right, and hit the ground. 
According to the award nomination, a 
landing any more forceful could have been 
fatal. 
On the ground, Becker took accountability 
of his crew and coordinated joint rescue 
efforts. Within minutes, an AC-130H Spooky 
Gunship was over the scene. Civilian 
helicopter crews evacuated injured personnel, 
and civilian and military, medical and police 
forces secured the site and transported 
crewmembers to the hospital. 
“I was one of the first safety personnel on 
the scene of the [MH-53 crash,] and it was 
obvious without Lieutenant Colonel Becker’s 
actions, there would have been fatalities, ” said 
Lt. Col. Daniel Murray, 1st Special Operations Wing 
Safety chief at the time of the crash. “Thankfully, due to 
his exceptional skill and training, all crewmembers were 
able to walk away from the accident.” 
Becker has been in the Air Force 17 years and logged 
4,600 hours flying helicopters, and he said this incident 
was the first significant emergency he has experienced. He 
credits the crew for their professionalism and teamwork. 
“To receive an award recognizing a crew’s ability to 
handle a catastrophic emergency is awesome,” he said. 
In addition to Becker’s Kolligian award, the 1st SOW 
also received honors in several other categories. Air Force 
Safety Plaque flight awards were presented to the 4th 
Special Operations Squadron and 15th Special Operations 
Squadron, and the 1st Special Operations Wing was 
honored with Air Force Safety Plaques for ground and 
explosives, category one. 
“All five awards the wing won show the great 
dedication of our Air Commandos and are further 
validation of the outstanding work 1st SOW personnel are 
doing on a day to day basis,” Murray said. 
Airman receives top safety award Airman receives top safety award 
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Duncan McNabb presents Lt. Col. Eugene 
Becker the Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy during a ceremony at the Pentagon 
June 9. Becker, as signed t o th e 20th Spec ial Operatio ns Squadron at 
Hurlburt Field, Fla ., wa s fly ing an M H-53M Pave Low helicopter on a 
training mission whe n it  su ffered a "cata strophic me chanical failure." 
Becker, with the h elp of his crew, was able t o land t he helicopter safely, 
saving the lives of all aboard. Photo by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski. 

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31 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
By Staff Sgt. Craig Seals 
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs 
The 3rd Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air 
Force Base, N.M., has been selected as the recipient of the 
2008 Air Force Association Citation of Honor. 
The AFA ’s Web site defines the Citation of Honor as 
“the outstanding contribution of an individual or 
organization to the development of aerospace power for the 
betterment of mankind.” 
The 3rd SOS met the criteria through its support of 
Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Flying the 
MQ-1B Predator, 3rd SOS Airmen provide Special 
Operations Forces and higher headquarters with video 
surveillance and close air support in both theaters. 
The squadron’s Predators also provided battle damage 
assessment, produced 1,820 hours of highway surveillance, 
identified and reported IED emplacement teams, and flew 
more than 60 percent of all Predator missions in both 
theaters. 
“We were doing all of this with only 48 percent of our 
allotted manning,” said Lt. Col. Paul Caltagirone, 3rd SOS 
commander. “We were averaging 63 hours per week per 
person and I’m not talking about just the operators. Our 
combat support folks were pulling that, too.” 
With manning at less than 50 percent, the 3rd SOS still 
maintained an aggressive training program with all members 
on full-time flying schedules training more than 200 
personnel. The 3rd SOS’s combat support section also 
accomplished more than 2,000 personnel updates in less than 
30 days. 
In the midst of their heavy support of combat operations, 
3rd SOS Airmen ensured their transition to Cannon with 
zero impact to their operations tempo. 
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recently highlighted 
the necessity of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance 
assets, such as the Predator, to aid in the War on Terrorism. 
Winning this award at the AFA level lends tangible credit to 
the spotlight placed on ISR assets, Caltagirone said. 
“Not only are we being recognized as a squadron, but 
ISR is being recognized as an important asset and for the 
incredible role it plays,” he said. 
The capabilities provided by ISR assets have become an 
important weapon in the Air Force’s arsenal not only to 
commanders, but to the ground operators as well. The 3rd 
SOS has provided overwatch for ground personnel on 393 
raids, enabling the kill or capture of 1,695 insurgents. 
“This is recognition of the critical role this squadron 
plays in the Global War on Terrorism and the 
professionalism and dedication of its members,” Caltagirone 
said. 
The 3rd SOS will receive the award from the AFA ’s 
chairman of the board at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., 
Sept. 15. 
3rd SOS receives Citation of Honor 3rd SOS receives Citation of Honor 
The 3rd Special Operations Squadron received the 2008 Air Force Association Citation of Honor for its support of Operations 
Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom flying  the MQ-1B Pr edator. 3rd SOS Airmen prov ide Specia l Operation s Forces  and 
higher headquarters with video surveillance and close air support in both theaters. Photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson. 

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T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
32 
A I R  F O R C E  S P E C I A L  O P E R A T I O N S  C O M M A N D 
By Amy Oliver 
1st SOW Public Affairs 
Three 4th Special Operations 
Squadron Air Commandos were 
awarded the Distinguished Flying 
Cross Medal June 20 for their h eroic 
achievements during a mission on the 
night of Sept. 12, 2007, in support of 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. 
The Distinguished Flying Cross is 
awarded to any officer or enlisted 
member of the U .S. Armed Forces who 
distinguishes himself or herself in 
combat in support of operations by 
heroism or extraordi nary achievement 
while participating in aerial flight. 
Maj. David Torraca, Capt. Timothy 
Hood and Staff Sgt. J. H. Smith 
received the honor for a high priority 
mission providing cover and 
situational awareness to a Navy SEAL 
team on the ground infiltrating  enemy 
territory. 
While conducting this mission, the gunship crew 
noticed a group of suspicious individuals moving away 
from the village in a nearby field and notified the SEAL 
team about the situation. 
The SEALs sent an eight-person team to  investigate, 
and the insurgents unexpectedly opened fire, wounding 
three of the team  members. Before the Joi nt Tactical Air 
Controller called for fire support, the gun ship crew was 
already preparing to engage the enemy, and within 23 
seconds from receiving the call, rounds were on t he 
ground. 
The gunship provided a protective wall of fire t hat 
allowed the SEALs to move their wounded to the s afety 
of a medical evacuation h elicopter. The firepower 
eventually eliminated the threat, and the gunship crew 
continued the originally tasked mission. 
Lt. j.g. Don Nichols, one of the eight Navy SEALs on 
the ground during that mission, attended Friday’s 
ceremony. 
“Without your guys, our guys would have been 
killed,” Nichols said. “They saved three of my comrades.” 
“For any given night, that crew could have been any 
of the 4th SOS crews,” said Col. Brad Webb, 1st Special 
Operations Wing commander. “It speaks volume s of the 
professionalism of this squadron that it h appened to be 
this crew. They did a fantastic job. This is  business as 
usual for the 4th SOS.” 
This mission was Torraca’s 12th and final 
deployment. He’s now retired. It was Hood’s sixth 
deployment, and it was Smith’s first. 
“It’s missions like this that make this job t hat much 
more rewarding,” said Torraca. 
The following Airmen also received Single Mission 
Air Medals for the same mission: 
Capt. Christopher Splees 
Capt. Michael Engel 
Staff Sgt. Matthew Johnson 
Staff Sgt. Christopher Moore 
Staff Sgt. Terry Parton 
Staff Sgt. Daniel Russell 
Capt. Joshua Casson, Master Sgt. Kevin Stefanovsky 
and Staff Sgt. Matthew Jacobson were als o part of the 
crew and earned the Single Mission Air Medal, but were 
unable to attend the ceremony. 
Air Commandos awarded medals for 
heroism saving Navy SEAL team 
Air Commandos awarded medals for 
heroism saving Navy SEAL team 
Aircrew members f rom the 4th Special Ope rations Squadron stand in form ation 
June 20 before being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Single Mission 
Air Medal for extra ordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an 
AC-130U crew. Photo by Senior Airman Emily Moore. 

--- Page 33 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
33 
By 2nd Lt. Lauren Johnson 
1st SOW Public Affairs 
For 10 years, Capt. Christopher Joyce has carried the 
memory of Senior Master Sgt. James Caniford around his 
wrist. 
Joyce, from the 1st Special Operations Aircraft 
Maintenance Squadron, asked his friends long ago to get 
him a POW/MIA bracelet during a trip to Maxwell-Gunter 
Air Force Base, Ala. In the years that followed, he 
memorized the inscription. 
“I only take it off to go through the metal detector at 
the airport,” Joyce said. “I don’t need to look at it to tell 
you what it says.” 
Joyce didn’t know anything about the bracelet’s 
namesake — no unit of assignment, no information on how 
he went missing — only that he was a fellow Airman who 
had served and paid the ultimate sacrifice. 
More than three decades ago, Caniford was an 
illuminator operator with the 16th Special Operations 
Squadron. 
He was on an armed reconnaissance mission over 
southern Laos in March 1972, when an enemy surface-to- 
air missile struck his AC-130A Spectre gunship, causing it 
to crash in the jungle near the Lao- Vietnamese border. 
Search and rescue efforts were initiated immediately, 
but were halted less than two days later because of heavy 
enemy activity. Caniford and the 13 other crew members 
were listed as Missing in Action. 
Excavations starting in the late 1980s uncovered 
remains, crew equipment and personal effects, 
leading to the positive identification of several 
crew members, but Caniford wasn’t among them. 
That was until May 27, when the Department 
of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office 
announced the identification of four additional 
crew members. An Arlington Cemetery memorial 
service was scheduled, and the request came 
down for the 16th SOS to conduct a flyover. 
The squadron members were anxious to get 
involved. 
“We pushed up our desire to honor one of our 
own,” said Capt. Christopher Warner, a 16th SOS 
pilot. “The [1st Special Operations] Group told us 
they not only wanted us to support, but that it was 
a priority.” 
Eventually, the information filtered to Joyce, 
who was home on leave when he received an e- 
mail revealing, for the first time, the source of his 
bracelet and the plan for the 16th SOS to participate in 
Caniford’s memorial. 
“It caught me at first,” he said. “I couldn't believe it!” 
Joyce wanted to give the bracelet to one of the crew 
members participating in the flyover, but when the 16th 
SOS heard his story, they made other plans. 
“We were more than happy to accommodate flying 
Captain Joyce with us over the ceremony,” said Warner, 
noting that the experience recognizes the dedication of 
POW/MIA bracelet wearers who honor the Airmen they 
represent. 
The two captains and the rest of the Spectre crew made 
the trip to Arlington to pay their respects. 
It wasn’t a typical day at work, but according to 
Warner, the crew treated it with the same dedication and 
intensity they would any mission. 
“This quickly became a ‘no-fail’ mission,” he said. “It 
was all about making sure we were there on time and 
directly overhead to give our absolute best to honor one of 
our own.” 
At the same time, they honored the family. 
Caniford’s father, James Caniford, called the 
experience “totally unbelievable.” 
“I was thinking they’d fly jets over,” he said. “When 
that AC-130 flew over, I just couldn’t believe it. It was a 
very proud moment for me to think they did this for 
Jimmy.” 
“It was rewarding to know the family was down there, 
and we could do this for them,” Joyce said. 
Joyce plans to send his bracelet to Caniford’s family. 
This 10-year chapter of his life has come to an end. 
16th SOS vet laid to rest after 30 years 16th SOS vet laid to rest after 30 years 
An Air Force honor guard folds the American  flag o ver the casket of 
Senior Master Sgt. James Caniford, 16th Special Operations Squadron, 
who was buried May 28 in Arlington National Cemetery. Caniford, who 
was missing in ac tion from t he Vietnam War, was recently identified. 
Photo by Senior Airman Marleah Miller. 

--- Page 34 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
34 
M A R I N E  C O R P S  F O R C E S  S P E C I A L  O P E R A T I O N S  C O M M A N D 
By Sgt. Steven King 
MARSOC Public Affairs 
Throughout the  history of 
armed conflict, warrior leaders 
have understood that change is 
one of the many constants of 
command. The Marines and 
Sailors of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations 
Command confronted this truth as they witnessed the 
reins of lead ership being passed  from then Maj. Gen. 
Dennis Hejlik to Ma j. Gen. Mastin Robeson during a 
change of command cere mony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., 
July 24. He jlik was pro moted to lieutenant general and 
took command of II Marine Expeditionary Force J uly 25. 
The chaplain led th e prayer, the music was 
orchestrated and the unit colors were passed in keeping 
with the tra dition of M arine Corps changes of command. 
The MARSOC warriors kept their military bearing while 
standing in for mation. They could not respond t o the 
warm words of gratitude Hejlik spoke as he thanked them 
for all their hard work and sacrifice over th e last two and 
a half years; however their faces reflected  the admiration 
they felt for the  “Father of MARSOC.” 
“This great nation has asked an awful lot of General 
Dennis Hejlik and his wife, Sandy, over the last few 
years,” said Adm. Eric T. Olson, comman der of U.S. 
Special Operations Command. “When the  decision was 
made by the Sec retary of Defense  to establish MARSOC, 
General Hejlik was identified clearly as t he most 
qualified officer in the Marine Corps to com mand it.” 
During his remarks, Olson elaborated on  the 
challenges Hejlik had to face in order to get the new unit 
up and running. 
“This wasn’t easy. United States Special Op erations 
Command had been established eighteen y ears earlier as a 
joint unified combatant command, but  it was only three 
quarters joint,” said Olson. “We had no history of 
Marines under the operational control of Special 
Operations Command, and had no re cent experience in 
MARSOC's fir st command er hands 
over reins to Maj. Gen. Robeson 
Then Maj. Gen. Dennis Hejlik (right) relinquishes the U.S. Marine C orps Forces, Special Operations Command colors to Maj. 
Gen. Mastin Robeson during a change of command ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 24. Hejlik was promoted to lieutenant 
general and assumed command of II Marine Expeditionary Force, July 25. Photo by Lance Cpl. Richard Blumenstein. 
MARSOC's fir st command er hands 
over reins to Maj. Gen. Robeson 


--- Page 35 ---
35 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
creating a component command. General Hejlik had to 
do a lot of research. He had to work out a mi llion details 
about manpower, facilities, equipment, training, 
procedures and more. But mostly, he had to follow his 
instincts based on a career of leadership in t he Marine 
Corps and a  few years in and around the special 
operations community.” 
On Feb. 24, 2006, MARSOC stood up, dug in and 
prepared for the fight. Under the leadership of Hejlik, 
MARSOC’s warrior ethos and outstanding courage o n 
the battlefield quickly earned the new unit the respect of 
their brothers in USSOCOM. 
“Since the first deployment in  2006, MARSOC 
personnel have been awarded a Bronze Star with Combat 
‘V’ for valor, thirty four Purple Hearts with sev eral more 
pending, three Nav y and Marine Corps Commendation 
Medals with ‘V’ for valor, one hundred thirty seven 
Combat Action Ribbons as a direct result of combat 
operations facing the enemy at close range, along wit h 
forty one official combat action ribbons pending,” said 
Olson. “And it is said MARSOC is not yet ful ly 
operations capable. Well, they sound quite operational to 
me.” 
Hejlik, a former  enlisted Marine who was discharged 
as a sergeant i n 1972 and commissioned through the 
Platoon Leaders Class Program, spoke briefly on wh at 
he felt was the reason  for MARSOC’s growing 
reputation as warrior s. 
“I had, hands down, t he best bunch of colonels, 
sergeants major, master gunnery sergeants and first 
sergeants in the Marine Corps,” said Hejlik. “They have 
done this, I haven’t. I gave them a little bit of advice  and 
they have run with it.” 
Command of MARSOC is now in the hands of Maj. 
Gen. Mastin Robeson. Robeson, a graduate of 
Amphibious Warfare School and Command and Staff 
College, comes to MARSOC with extensive experience 
as a commande r. His command assignments include: 
Rifle and Weapons Platoon Commander, Fox Company, 
2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment; Com manding 
Officer, Marine Detachment afloat (USS John  F. 
Kennedy); Rifle and Weapons Company Commander, 1st 
Battalion, 6th Marines; Commanding Officer, Fleet Anti- 
Terrorism Security Team Company; Commanding 
Officer, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines (Battalion Landing 
Team with 22nd Mar ine Expeditionary Unit); 
Commanding Offic er, 8th Marine Regiment; Assistant 
Division Commander and Commanding General, 2nd 
Marine Division; Commanding General, Combined Joint 
Task Force-Horn of Africa; Commanding General, 3rd 
and 4th Marine Expe ditionary Brigades; Commanding 
General, 3rd Marine Division; and Deputy Commanding 
General of III Marine Expeditionary Force. 
“Mastin and I have known each other since 1976,” 
said Hejlik. “ Since I’ve been an officer, I’v e known him 
longer than any other officer in the Corp s. We were 
second lieutenants together. He was in Fox Company, 
2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, and I was in Golf Company, 
2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, and we’ve be en great friends 
ever since. Sandy and I were talking abou t how I hate to 
give up command , but not this time. I am  thrilled to give 
him this co mmand. They’re going to do a  great job.” 
During the ceremony, Robeson was brief when 
expressing the pride he felt at being the new commander 
of MARSOC. 
“We are blessed to be here. There is not  a job in the 
Marine Corps that I would rather have to day than this 
right here. Nancy and I are privileged to fo llow in your 
footsteps,” Robeson  said to Hejlik. “I’ve w atched you 
with great admiration while you’ve done what you’ve 
done here for the last two and a half years. Y ou have set 
that standard, and I look forward to the oppo rtunity to be 
able to enjoy  what you have set and accomp lished.” 
The Marines and Sailors of MA RSOC stand at a 
significant crossro ad in their history, as th e officer who 
took a handful o f Marines and turned them i nto a force 
of over 2,000 “Silent Warriors” moves on . The 
MARSOC commander has changed, but the mission has 
not. MARSOC’s personnel stand poised a nd ready as 
they now follow the leadership of R obeson and write the 
next chapter of the MARSOC story. 
(From left to r ight) Maj. Gen. Mastin Robeson and Maj. Gen. 
Dennis Hejlik salute during the Marines’ Hymn at the end of 
the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command 
change of command  ceremony at Camp Le jeune, N.C., July 
24. Durin g the ceremony, Hej lik rel inquished command of 
MARSOC to R obeson. Hej lik w as promote d to lieutenant 
general and assume d c ommand of II Marine Expeditionary 
Force, July 25. Photo by Lance Cpl. Richard Blumenstein. 

--- Page 36 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
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M A R I N E  C O R P S  F O R C E S  S P E C I A L  O P E R A T I O N S  C O M M A N D 
Story and photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Benson 
MARSOC Public Affairs 
Marines will hear a variety of names in their daily 
interaction with other Leathernecks. Sometimes, people 
might hear a name they’ve never heard before, whether a 
first or last name, and wonder where it was derived from. 
But there is a name that, unless you know this Marine, 
you’ve never heard before – until now. 
Antonitongmakkourshagaimanyonadewtonggoudyakon- 
licknygokgoumathuckbayomraleig is his full and complete 
given name, but his legal name and rank is Cpl. Antoni 
Shagaimakour, a Marine most people around U.S. Marine 
Corps Forces, Special Operations Command know as Cpl. 
“Shaggy.” 
Shagaimakour, a motor transport operator with Marine 
Special Operations Support Group, MARSOC, has 
overcome hardships and endured the struggles of growing up 
in a place where he and his family’s lives were threatened by 
the reigning government of Sudan. Through his 
determination and will, he has developed into a leader, 
mentor and role model as an NCO in the Marine Corps. 
Shagaimakour was born in 1982 and grew up in the 
village of Wau, Sudan. Even in Shaggy’s early years, 
growing up in Sudan was hard. Because of Arab terrorists, 
there was a blockade outside his village that prohibited 
necessary supplies from reaching the people. 
“I remember looking up in the sky and seeing the 
helicopters, and they would drop food and medical supplies 
for us,” said Shagaimakour. “I ran to my uncles and asked 
them who was giving us these things, and they told me it 
was the U.S. Marines.” 
Shaggy knew then he wanted to be a Marine. He was 
already part of a military family and, as he grew into a man, 
he watched his father become a nine-star general in the 
Sudanese army while simultaneously holding a senator 
position in the city of Rumbek. 
“I was very proud of my father [as I was] growing up,” 
said Shagaimakour. “He didn’t just inspire me, but so many 
others as well.” 
But as the government in Sudan changed, 
Shagaimakour’s important and respected father became a 
target for assassination, along with the rest of his family. In 
1996, Shaggy and his family fled to a refugee camp in Cairo, 
Egypt. According to Shagaimakour, life in the refugee camp 
was difficult during the three years they lived there before 
moving to Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1999. 
Shaggy was excited about coming to America. He said it 
was a fresh start for his family, and he looked forward to the 
freedom and the opportunity for higher education. 
Shaggy got a job as a bagger at a grocery store to help 
support his family when they first arrived in America. 
Despite having moved a great deal, Shagaimakour kept 
school a priority. He attended high school in Sudan, Egypt, 
and Michigan. Shaggy graduated from high school in 
Michigan with an overall grade point average of 3.8, and had 
also worked his way up to manager in the grocery store. 
Shagaimakour joined the Marine Corps in May 2006, 
where his resiliency, motivation and education helped him 
excel. 
“I think that overcoming these obstacles has taught me a 
lot about life and put me a step ahead when I finally joined 
the Marine Corps,” said Shagaimakour. “I like teaching and 
mentoring Marines, and I try to make them grateful for what 
they already have, because I think the Marines give you 
everything you need.” 
Shaggy’s travels served him well in another regard. He 
knows six different dialects of the Arabic language, as well 
as several tribal languages used in Africa. These helped 
Shagaimakour pick up the secondary military occupation of 
interpreter/linguist. 
“I don’t think many of the Marines around him know the 
extent of what he has gone through to be here,” said Cpl. 
Michael Bochenek, a fellow motor transport operator with 
MSOSG , MARSOC. “When you hear about journeys like 
Shaggy’s and how much it meant to him to get where they 
are, it humbles you.” 
“I appreciate this country’s love and care for my 
people,” explained Shagaimakour. “I owe them my life, and 
I am here in the Marine Corps because of that.” 
Marine offers global perspective Marine offers global perspective 
Cpl. Antonitongmakourshagai - 
manyonadewtonggoudyakonlicknygokgoumathuckbayomrale 
ig, or Cpl. “Shaggy,” sits in the turret atop an MK-27 seven- 
ton truck. Cpl. Antoni Shagaimakour, which are his legal 
name and rank, overcame great odds fleeing with his family 
from Sudan, to Egypt, then to America. 

--- Page 37 ---
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T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
U S S O C O M  H E A D Q U A R T E R S 
By Master Sgt. Laura LeBeau 
USSOCOM Public Affairs 
Members of USSOCOM’s Protective Services 
Detachment responsible for protecting the USSOCOM 
commander and his staff recently participated in a weeklong 
Movement Over Urban Terrain exercise at the National 
Guard Training Range at Camp Blanding, Fla. The MOUT 
training, new to PSD members, culminated in a dynamic, 
live-fire exercise designed to enhance communications and 
Close Quarters Combat skills. 
“We were fortunate that guys from ODA 7221 were there 
doing MRAP training at the same time preparing for their 
next rotation,” said Agent Johnnie Graham, PSD supervisor 
and one of the instructors and observers/controllers in the 
training. “We asked the team leader if they could participate 
in the training scenario with us, and they agreed to it.” 
With the members of ODA 7221 from 7th Special Forces 
Group (A) providing the MRAP support, and personnel from 
Camp Blanding’s 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group 
(A) Florida National Guard acting out military and civilian 
roles, the PSD exercise was “a huge success,” according to 
Graham. 
The training focused on a simulated nighttime MOUT 
scenario in which the PSD detail, while traveling with the 
USSOCOM commander and his staff, came under attack. 
During the fighting, they became pinned down in a building 
and suffered two casualties — one, a single leg wound with a 
tourniquet and another with wounds to both legs, bringing the 
PSD team down to two men. The PSD communicated to the 
Joint Special Operations Task Force a request for a Quick 
Reactionary Force and a rooftop extraction using air assets, 
but inclement weather wouldn’t allow it. Instead, a vehicle 
extraction was necessary. 
The QRF, made up of members from ODA 7221, arrived 
at the site with two MRAPs. They set up security, assaulted 
up to the third floor of the building and linked up with the 
PSD detail. Once the link was made, they evacuated 
everyone from the building to the MRAPs and on to a secure 
location. 
The PSD members weren’t aware of all the factors 
inserted into the training scenario, which Graham said made 
the experience even more realistic. “It was a total surprise to 
the PSD the Special Forces ODA was there and an even 
bigger surprise the MRAPs were part of the training,” he 
said. 
Agent Michael Peter, PSD Training Department 
supervisor, who teamed up with Graham as an instructor and 
observer/controller in the exercise, said the processes and 
steps completed in the exercise were valuable in reinforcing 
communications skills and Close Quarters Combat skills. 
“Urban movement is the most dynamic environment you 
can work in,” Peter said. “Instead of talking about and 
teaching how to use a radio, we put together the whole 
picture. Having the ability to think through the entire 
simulated combat scenarios is important because you don’t 
want the first time you do it to be for real.” 
Graham and Peter, who coordinated all the scheduling 
and logistical assets, are hoping to incorporate this type of 
scenario-based training into the existing schedule of driving 
courses, combat shooting courses, continued CQC training 
and medical training. 
“We used the training as a worst case scenario. We 
travel in helos and motorcades all the time, and you have to 
be prepared to move to a secure location in order to protect 
the admiral and his staff,” Graham said. 
PSD MOUT training is ‘huge success’ 
Members of USSOCOM’s Protective Services Detachment practice a Movement Over Urban Terrain exercise at the National Guard 
Training Range at Camp Blanding, Fla. Photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Paolucci. 
PSD MOUT training is ‘huge success’ 

--- Page 38 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
38 
Gunnar So nsteby Col. John Hol comb 

--- Page 39 ---
By Tech. Sgt. Victori a Meyer 
USSOCOM Public Affair s 
Two legendary members of Sp ecial Operation s 
Forces were recently recogni zed for t heir 
contribut ions to S pecial Operat ions. In sepa rate 
ceremonies, Gunnar Sonst eby, a World War II 
resistanc e fighter, and Army Col. John Holcomb, 
commander of the U.S. Army Insti tute of Surgical 
Research, were awarded the USSOC OM Medal.  
The USSOCOM Medal was esta blished in 1994 
to recognize individual s who hav e made sign ificant 
contribut ions to the defe nse of the United St ates 
through Spe cial Operations. Through the years, 
only 50 peo ple have bee n recognized with th e 
medal, including former lead ers of USSOCOM, 
civilian supporters of SOF  and O perators who  laid 
the groundwork for today’ s SOF. 
Gunnar Sons teby 
Known as a hero of the Norw egian Resistance, 
Gunnar Son steby is t he most hi ghly decorated 
member of  the resistan ce. He wa s born in 1918 in 
Rjukan, Norway. 
He was a student when th e Germans invaded 
Norway i n April 1940. After the invasion, he l eft 
school t o join the resistance,  where h e becam e 
known as a mas ter of disguise , using nearly 40 
fictitious ide ntities. As a me mber of the resistance, 
he worked a s a reporter f or an unde rground 
newspaper, served as a  courier between Oslo and 
Stockholm and establi shed a network of safe 
houses and  contacts in Oslo. 
He is cr edited with m any courage ous acts, like 
smuggling the Norwegian cur rency printing plates 
into Stockholm in order to print banknotes, and 
conducting a daring ser ies of sabot age actions 
against i mportant military, industrial, railroad, 
aviation an d fuel targets. 
He is the only N orwegian to be awarded the 
War Cross with three swords,  the highest 
decoration in Norway. 
As stat ed in his citation, “His supe rior abili ties, 
broad military experie nce and dynamic leadership 
have raised the stand ards and inspired future 
generations of Specia l Operat ions Warriors.” 
Adm. Eric T. Olson, c ommander of 
USSOCOM, presented the medal to Sonst eby at the 
historic Holmenkollen Pa rk Hote l outside o f Oslo 
June 18. 
Col. John Holcomb 
From a differ ent generation and fighting a 
different war, Army Col. John Holc omb also has 
had a g reat impact i n the Sp ecial Operations 
community. 
Holcomb is a highly d ecorated surgeon who 
has made great strides in c ombat medicine. 
He start ed his medical career after gradua ting 
from the Univers ity of Arkansas Medical Sch ool in 
1985. Once completi ng his surg ical training in El 
Paso, Texas, he was assign ed to work with  the Joint 
Special Operations Comm and at Fort Bragg, N.C . 
He deployed as the Ranger Task Force surgeon 
in Mogadishu, Som alia. During the Bat tle of 
Mogadishu in Octob er 1993, he  worked nonstop for 
36 hour s perform ing emergency surgeries on the 
critically wounded who ca me into  the field 
hospital. 
After Mogadishu, Holcomb changed his focu s 
to researching and imp roving combat casualty 
support in order to increase surviv al rates. He 
focused his efforts on finding ways to stop or 
minimize blood loss to i ncrease the chance of 
survival in the field. The current field tourniquet is 
one of his many developments. 
Olson presented the  medal to Holcomb at Fort 
Sam Housto n, Texas, July 2 3. 
“Numerous people are  alive today because of 
changes John has made in te chniques and t raining 
in regards to trauma care, ” Olson sai d at the med al 
ceremony. “It is because of John and who he is and 
the kind of energy and pa ssion he  brought  to [his 
work] th at makes it easy to select him for the 
medal,” Olson added . 

--- Page 40 ---
U S S O C O M  H E A D Q U A R T E R S 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
40 
By William Mendel 
JSOU University 
Special Operations and the Joint Special Operations 
University played significant roles in the annual Joint Land, 
Aerospace, and Sea Simulation wargame held April 17 - 
23, 2008, at the Air Force Wargaming Institute, Maxwell 
Air Force Base, Ala. 
This year, JLASS involved a total of 105 Joint 
Professional Military Education students from the services’ 
six senior-level colleges. JLASS students receive a robust 
JPME learning experience while role-playing combatant 
commanders and principal staff officers. During the course 
and the wargame, the students analyze the global 
environment, synthesize a myriad of facts, and create 
coherent plans that are put to the test in a dynamic 
simulation set in the year 2018. 
Students from the National War College played the 
roles of USSOCOM and staff under the direction of Col. 
Jeff Cairns, a U.S. Army Special Forces officer who serves 
as the National Defense University USSOCOM chair. 
JSOU positioned its senior fellow teaching team to 
inject SOF issues and actions into the scenario early in the 
academic year. During the exercise, JSOU’s team provided 
subject matter experts to mentor the students in meeting 
educational objectives and to advise student leaders on the 
best use of SOF capabilities to achieve national and theater 
political-military objectives. Team members Bill Mendel 
and Ken Poole provided faculty support to Cairns and his 
student SOCOM team. Meanwhile, Special Forces Col. 
Matt Croke, retired Navy SEAL Dave Chelsea and retired 
Air Force Special Operator Steve Laushine provided SOF 
instruction, guidance, and advice on employment of SOF to 
the combatant command and Theater Special Operations 
Command student teams. 
Success in JLASS is measured by how well the 
students proffer their concepts in the national security 
arena, win consensus and manage the unified actions of 
both the armed forces and interagency resources. These 
outcomes are especially critical for the SOCOM student 
team because the challenging global situation involved 
Weapons of Mass Destruction, terrorism, irregular war, as 
well as conventional threats. 
SOCOM Influences the Action 
During the exercise, SOCOM’s staff chaired a 
“synchronization conference” with other commands to 
coordinate the direct and indirect actions necessary to 
isolate the terrorism threat by violent extremist 
organizations and to increase friendly freedom of action in 
shaping the environment. In that conference, TSOC 
representatives from PACOM, CENTCOM, NORTHCOM 
and AFRICOM briefed their plans for supporting the DoD 
Global War on Terrorism campaign concept. 
The backgrounds of the student SOCOM staff reflected 
the interagency composition found inside the MacDill Air 
Force Base headquarters. The student team role-playing 
SOCOM consisted of a DoD GS-15 as SOCOM 
commander, a Navy commander as the chief of staff, a civil 
affairs lieutenant colonel as the J3, two Foreign Service 
Officers as assistant J2 and assistant J3, an Army colonel as 
the J4, a CIA General Counsel as the J5, a FEMA program 
specialist as assistant J5, and a special agent-in-charge from 
the FBI who was the J2. This powerful mix of expertise 
helped drive the SOF agenda throughout the exercise. 
Aside from the deployments of the military members of 
the SOCOM team, the two FSOs brought to the game their 
own overseas experiences. Linda Specht was State 
Department representative to the Dutch Provincial 
Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. Karen Malzahn 
served in Afghanistan as State Department political 
representative to two PRTs and Regional Command North 
(Federal Republic of Germany lead). Her responsibilities 
included activities in five provinces. At the conclusion of 
the JLASS exercise, Specht commented that JLASS 
“…was helpful in directly preparing me for my next 
assignment as leader of the Embedded PRT with the 2d 
Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division, based at Camp Paji, 
Iraq. I developed a campaign plan and executed it during 
the exercise.” 
Although JLASS has been conducted annually since 
the mid 1980s when the DoD Reorganization Act raised the 
imperative of JPME, it has been only recently that Special 
Operations and SOF have played a central role in the 
exercise scenario. 
JSOU promotes SOF in JLASS wargame JSOU promotes SOF in JLASS wargame 
U.S. Army Special Forces Col. Jeff Cairns and National Defense 
University USSOCOM ch air teaches during t he Joint  Land, 
Aerospace, and Sea Simulation wargame held at the Air F orce 
Wargaming Institute, Maxwel l Air Force Base,  Ala. JSOU 
courtesy photo. 

--- Page 41 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
41 
Kisner assumes command of SOCEUR 
Maj. Gen.  Frank Kis ner ( left) i s o fficially ha nded command  of th e Spec ial Op erations Command Europe by o ut-going 
commander Rear Adm. William McRaven (right) in a ceremony conducted May 16, 2008, in Stuttgart, Germany. Kisner is the 
first Air Force officer to assume command of SOCEUR, a subordinate unified command of U.S. European Command, exercising 
operational control of theater Army, Navy and Air Force Spec ial Operations Forces. Kisner is responsible for SOF readiness, 
targeting, exerci ses, pl ans, join t an d c ombined t raining, NATO/Partnership  activitie s, and execution of c ounterterrorism, 
peacetime and contingency operations. Photo by Matthew Thomas. 
Pagan takes command of SOCSOUTH 
Adm. James Starvridis, commander of U.S. Southern Command, hands off the  SOCSOUTH unit colors to  Brig. Gen. Hector 
Pagan, incoming commander of Special Operations Command South during the change of command ceremony on Homestead 
ARB, Fla. SOCSOUTH is a subordinate component for s pecial operations under the U.S. Sout hern Command. Pagan will be 
responsible for planning, preparing and, when directed, conducting special operations in support of U.S. Southern Command 
strategies, plans and operations. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Felix Figueroa. 
Kisner assumes command of SOCEUR 
Pagan takes command of SOCSOUTH 

--- Page 42 ---
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
42 
U S S O C O M  H I S T O R Y 
By USSOCOM History Office 
After attacking Pearl Harbor in December 1941, 
Japanese forces conquered much of Southeast Asia. By 
May 1942, Japanese troops had driven the British out of 
Burma and had cut the Burma Road, the main supply line to 
China. Gen. “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell, the China-Burma-India 
Theater Commander, decided Burma must be taken back 
from the Japanese. This mission — the struggle to regain 
Burma — fell in part to a unit created by the Office of 
Strategic Services, code-named Detachment 101. Det. 101 
gathered intelligence and conducted guerrilla warfare in 
Burma. 
To replace the Burma Road, American engineers built a 
new route from Ledo, on the India-Burma border, but 
Japanese control of Myitkyina and the surrounding region 
blocked completion of the road. Enemy aircraft continually 
harassed American transports flying supplies to China. 
Given his limited resources, Stilwell needed help to drive 
the enemy out of the area. At a minimum, he hoped OSS 
Det. 101, commanded by Capt. Carl Eifler, and later Capt. 
John Coughlin, could prevent Japanese use of the airfield 
near Myitkyina. 
By January 1944, Det. 101 provided Stilwell’s 
headquarters with valuable intelligence on Japanese 
activities. Stilwell directed Eifler to expand his contacts 
with the Kachin natives and gather more information. By 
late 1944, the 10th Air Force was acquiring 80 percent of its 
bombing targets from Det 101 reports. In addition, the 
morale of Allied Airmen flying over the northern Burmese 
mountains into China soared as OSS teams and agents 
rescued downed crews and brought them back to friendly 
lines. In all, Det 101 saved about 400 Allied flyers. 
At the Quebec Conference in August 1943, Prime 
Minister Churchill invited Maj. Gen. Orde Wingate to 
discuss “long range penetration operations” behind enemy 
lines. Wingate had already organized a brigade of British, 
Indian, Gurkha and Burmese troops. Operating in small 
groups called “Chindits,” they raided Japanese lines of 
communications in Burma. An intrigued Gen. George 
Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, agreed to form a special 
U.S. commando unit that would operate with the Chindits in 
the coming campaign. 
The men of this new unit, code named Galahad, had 
little information on their destination or mission. Under the 
temporary command of Col. Charles Hunter, three 
battalions, about 3,000 men, arrived in Bombay, India, Oct. 
31, where they trained in long-range penetration tactics, 
weapons, demolitions and physical conditioning. The night 
before Galahad’s maiden battle in February 1944, the unit 
was placed under Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill, hence the name 
“Merrill’s Marauders.” Their opponent was the veteran 
Japanese 18th Division, which had conquered Singapore. 
After nearly three months of combat, the 1,400 
surviving “Merrill’s Marauders” expected a lengthy rest. 
But Stilwell had another mission for them. Accompanied by 
Chinese regiments, members of Det. 101, and some 
Kachins, they were instructed to seize the airfield near 
Myitkyina. 
The Marauders hiked 65 miles over the Kumon Range 
to Myitkyina. Despite many obstacles, the Marauders and 
their allies surprised the defenders of the airfield May 17, 
seized the strip and probed toward Myitkyina itself. Lacking 
a plan to follow up its initial success and reliable 
intelligence on the strength of the Japanese defense, the task 
force failed in its attempts to take the city. Physically 
exhausted, the Marauders desperately needed to be 
replaced, but Stilwell lacked fresh troops and, politically, 
could not afford to remove the Americans from the 
combined battle. By late May, the Marauders lost 75 to 100 
men daily to malaria, dysentery and typhus, and Merrill had 
been evacuated after his second heart attack. Despite these 
setbacks, Allied forces were able to finally take the city of 
Myitkyina from the Japanese Aug. 3. 
For the advance on Myitkyina, Det. 101 provided 
information, guided patrols, shielded American movements, 
cut Japanese lines of communication, ambushed Japanese 
troops, and the Kachins served as flank guards. Following 
this campaign, the Galahad commander wired Det. 101 his 
“thanks to your people for a swell job,” estimating that 
Galahad “could not have succeeded without them.” 
OSS De t-101, Merrill ’s M arauders 
Myitkyina, Burma campaign 
Galahad troops rest along the jungle trail near Mhpum, Burma. 
OSS De t-101, Merrill’s M arauders 
Myitkyina, Burma campaign 


--- Page 43 ---
43 
T i p  o f  t h e  S p e a r 
Editor’s note:  Honored are  SOF who have lost the ir Editor’s n ote: Ho nored are SOF who ha ve los t t heir 
lives since Jun e’s Tip of th e Spea r. lives s ince June’s  Tip of the  Spear.