ON THE COVER: This issue honors a pioneer of Special Forces, Colonel William C. “Clint” Norman, who will celebrate his 100th birthday on February 23, 2026. A highly decorated and respected combat leader, Colonel Norman retired after 30 years of continuous service, with decorations that include two Silver Stars, the Purple Heart, three Legions of Merit, and numerous other awards and decorations. Jack Damron and Teri Ross, a daughter of COL Norman, have teamed up to write the article honoring him, which you can read in this issue, beginning on page 3. (Cover artwork by Debra Holm)
In this issue:
SAVE THE DATE—Don’t miss this years’ SFA Valor Luncheon!
SFA Chapter 78 will host its 3rd annual Valor Luncheon in April 2026, with guest speaker Henry “Dick” Thompson.
Help Honor Our Heroes: Support the Special Forces Monument
SFA Chapter 88 needs your help! They reached 58% of their goal to raise $18K in early December to raise funds for the Special Forces Monument to be located in the Jacksonville National Cemetery, located in Northeast Florida. They still need to raise additional funds to complete the project by their deadline!
Colonel W.C. “Clint” Norman (Ret.)—Remembering Our Brotherhood
Pictured on our cover, LTC (Ret.) Clint Norman celebrates his 100th birthday on February 23. In this tribute by SFA Chapter 55’s Jack Damron and Clint’s daughter, Teri Ross, Norman’s extraordinary Special Forces career is honored—from his command of B-52 in Vietnam and a daring battlefield rescue to his role in planning the now-legendary Son Tay raid to free American POWs. Happy 100th birthday, Clint!
How Miller reviews LTC (Ret.) Mark Grdovic’s recently released book which provides an exciting and knowledgeable account of the U.S. Army Special Forces’ remarkable efforts in Kurdistan, which contributed to the success of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
In this gripping excerpt from Those Who Face Death, Mark Grdovic recounts the opening days of Operation Viking Hammer during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Through vivid firsthand detail, he brings readers inside the uneasy calm before battle, the partnership between U.S. Special Forces and Kurdish Peshmerga, and the brutal fighting to dismantle Ansar al-Islam—an operation that reshaped the northern front and freed Kurdish forces to confront Saddam’s army.
A Legend Before His Time: “Chargin’ Charlie” Beckwith
Seen through the experiences of Irv Jacobs and Ben Rapaport, this article offers a human look at “Chargin’ Charlie” Beckwith—his leadership style, his drive, and his lasting impact on Special Operations, including the co-founding of Delta Force and the reforms that followed Operation Eagle Claw.
SFA Chapter 78 November 2025 Chapter Meeting
Guest speaker James Stejskal spoke on the topic of his book Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the U.S. Army’s Elite, 1956-1990, the 39th Special Forces Detachment A, a clandestine Green Beret unit based in West Berlin from 1956-1984.
From the Archive:
From the February 2020 Sentinel—as the Vietnam War reached its deadliest year, a new and terrifying threat emerged in the secret war. In this powerful narrative, author and Chapter 78 member John Stryker Meyer draws on his own SOG experience to recount the arrival of NVA sapper teams and the New Year’s Day attack that forever changed MACV-SOG operations across the fence in Laos.
Detachment (A) Berlin Special Forces 1956-1984: A Thumbnail Look at Detachment (A) Berlin Brigade
From the November 2021 Sentinel—this article complements insights shared by fellow Det-A member James Stejskal, who recently addressed the chapter at our November meeting. Exploring the little-known Special Forces Detachment (A), or Det-A, a covert unit operating in Cold War Berlin. Det-A teammate Bob Charest has worked to preserve the unit’s history—often at risk of disappearing due to the nature of clandestine service.
Scroll down to learn about the Det-A Berlin YouTube channel and/or visit Bob Charest’s excellent website for more about Det-A, www.detachment-a.org.
Textbook Special Ops: The Son Tay Raid
By Colonel John Gargus
With Cliff Westbrook
The former Commander of the USSOCOM, Admiral William McRaven, said this about this book:
“John Gargus and Cliff Westbrook have written a masterpiece. Incredibly well researched, brilliantly presented, this book should be the standard for all students of special ops!”
What else can we say after such a glowing endorsement? Stay tuned— there will be more to come about this book in the next issue of the Sentinel.
Textbook Special Ops: The Son Tay Raid is not available in bookstores, but can be ordered online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Thriftbooks, and Better World Books.
You may also order this book from John Gargus directly at Gartalon70@gmail.com.
WHAT’S NEW?
Featured Channel
From 1956 to 1984, Detachment “A”, Berlin Brigade, a clandestine unit of about 90 Green Berets based in Berlin Germany, were involved in some of the most sensitive operations of the Cold War. At that time Berlin was part of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), located behind the Iron Curtain. They wore civilian clothes, spoke fluent German and stayed on high alert 24 hours a day. For nearly 30 years during the Cold War, some of America’s most elite soldiers worked in secret. Their missions, always classified, are still largely unknown and absent from the history books.
Featured Episode: Detachment “A” Member Peter Kelley Speech Version 2
Featuring former Detachment “A” Berlin Brigade member Peter Kelley, guest speaker at the Detachment “A” Berlin Brigade Get Together, 12–15 September 2024. Kelly served in Detachment “A” from 1975 to 1979; an incredibly significant and consequential period in Detachment “A” Berlin Brigade’s History/Legacy 1956-1984. He served as a Team Leader and later S3, primarily under COL Stan Olchovik’s Command and with his good fellow native German friend, CSM Jeff Raker.
An earlier version of this presentation was posted earlier, but Version 2 contains dozens of additional personal photos from Pete’s career and personal life.
Peter takes us through his experiences growing up in Germany, his passage to America, his entry into the US Army Special Forces, and his career, including Detachment “A” for which he states, “I was born for that job.”
20th SOS Green Hornet Capt Charles Merriott – GUNSHIP – USAF Vietnam
SPEC OPS PART 1
Featured Channel: MACV SOG ~ Interviews with Warriors
Featured Playlist: Vietnam
In the November 2025 Sentinel, we featured stories from The 20th SOS Green Hornets USAF Vietnam War Volume 1 by Jim Burns, Ron Winkles, Charles Svoboda, and Jason B. Collins. In this episode of MACV SOG ~ Interviews with Warriors, Jason Collins interviews Captain Charles Merriott, a 20th SOS Green Hornet Huey pilot, who recounts a remarkable transition from fixed-wing aircraft to combat helicopters in Vietnam. This captivating interview details training, intense combat missions, and the unique camaraderie within this elite unit.
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SENTINEL Awards
- Awarded best Special Forces Association Monthly Newsletter at SFA National Convention June 2011 and 2014
- Awarded Golden Quill at SFA National Convention June 2015 and June 2016
- Best Newsletter Award for 2017 from Special Forces Association National Board of Directors at the International Convention in Fayetteville, NC
- Special Forces Association (SFA) Cross Arrow Award for Excellence, 2018, First Award Presented by SFA in this category
- The War Reporters Award, Presented by Alex Quade – (War Reporter and Film Producer) for Chapter 78 Sentinel’s Commitment documenting Special Forces History, July 2018
- The Golden Arrows for Excellence in Newsletters 2019 awarded by SFA National
- The Golden Arrows for Excellence in Newsletters 2020 awarded by SFA National
The Sentinel is published monthly by Special Forces Association Chapter 78, Southern California — art direction and design by Debra Holm, Dinwiddie Holm Graphics. The views, opinions and articles printed in this issue do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Army or the United States Special Operations Command, the Special Forces Association, or Special Forces Association Chapter 78. Please address any comments to the editor at sfachapter78@gmail.com.
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