ON THE COVER: In November 1966, while assigned to Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), then Captain Clyde J. Sincere Jr. was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He retired as a Major at the end of his 21-year career, enlisting in the U.S. Army at 17, first serving with airborne units before volunteering to become one of the original members of the newly formed U.S. Army Special Forces—earning his place among the first “Green Berets.” This issue honors MAJ Sincere, who passed away on March 17, 2025. (Photo courtesy Ray Oden)
In this issue:
The SOA Foundation’s Agent Orange Legacy Project Seeks Your Participation in Phase Two Surveys
“Doc” Padget” asks for participation in a follow-up survey on Agent Orange and its effects on us and our families. This survey is a follow-up to the first survey reported on in the January 2025 Sentinel.
Information about the upcoming SFACON in Las Vegas. Scheduled to be held concurrently with SOAR for the first time ever.
American Legion Post 283 Becomes Ground Zero for Recovery After Palisades Fire
Retired Green Beret LTC Jim Cragg turned innovation and determination into action—saving homes during a wildfire and transforming his American Legion post into a lifeline for his community.
In Memory of Major Clyde Joseph Sincere, Jr.
SFA Chapter 78 pays tribute to one of the few remaining SF “Originals,” Clyde Sincere, who passed away on March 17, 2025.
In John Shaver III’s master’s thesis, Office of the Strategic Services: Operational Groups in France During World War II, from July to October 1944, he describes the OSS Operation Groups (OGs) and gives accounts of six of the first teams deployed. We present his chapter which discusses Percy Red, the first inserted into WWII France.
Ernie Pyle, The Soldier’s Journalist—Bringing It All Home
Originally published in the Summer 1995 issue of the National Amvet magazine, author Marc Yablonka tells the story of the beloved WWII Scripps-Howard Syndicate war correspondent Ernie Pyle.
Marc Yablonka tells the story of the 4-4-2, a segregated unit of Nisei (Japanese American) soldiers, the most highly decorated WWII unit for its size and strength and the story behind it.
From the Archive:
Cambodian Incursion, 1970 — Part One
From the Sentinel of May 2021—marking the 55th anniversary, in part one of a three-part series, How Miller tells the story of one of the signature accomplishments of his A-Team between September ’69 and August ’70. It grew from a simple telling of his experience as a participant to an investigation of all SF participation in the Cambodian Invasion authorized by President Nixon. The subsequent installments will follow in June and July.
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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.
I knew Clyde we sat at same table in C/Springs 7th get to get together.