ON THE COVER: SFA Chapter 78 was privileged to have U.S. Army LTC (Ret.) Henry “Dick” Thompson, Ph.D. as keynote speaker at their April 19, 2026, Valor Luncheon at the On The Greens Catering & Conference Center at the Navy Golf Course in Cypress, California. Click here to read about this event. (Photo by Kristin Fiduccia)
In this issue:
SFA Chapter 78 March 2026 Chapter Meeting
Guest Speakers: Will Walker, Onebrief, Head of Federal Growth, Onebrief and Joseph Ivanov, Onebrief, Head of Growth for Special Operations Forces, and a member of the The Normandy Institute team
Chapter 78 member Ham Salley, rose to Chapter president James McLanahan’s challenge to member to present Chapter 78 coins and the word about the SFA to local veterans groups.
Chapter 78 Hosts Third Annual Valor Luncheon Fundraiser
From a powerful Vietnam-era keynote to lively auctions and standout moments, Chapter 78’s Valor Luncheon delivered a fun, high-energy day of camaraderie, purpose, and generosity.
300th SPECIAL FORCES Operational Detachment (SFOD)-USAR
From Fayetteville roots to Cold War readiness, the untold story of the 300th SFOD reveals how a handful of WWII veterans built the Army Reserve’s first Special Forces unit—setting the standard for “Anything, Anyplace, Anytime, Anyhow.”
Calling All USAR/ARNG Special Forces Veterans!
Share your stories, photos, and memories to help bring USAR and ARNG Special Forces history to life.
How Miller reviews, a sweeping, 50-years-later reassessment of the Vietnam War which blends firsthand accounts and new revelations to challenge long-held narratives and expose the forces that shaped the conflict.
Two perspectives revisit the 1963 Buddhist crisis and the fall of Ngo Dinh Diem, shedding new light on the decisions, chaos, and consequences that reshaped the war. (PDF)
Time is running out. Sign up to attend SFACon 2026 in Fort Walton Beach/Emerald Coast, Florida, on 7-12 June 2026.
WHAT’S NEW?
SOGCast 049: Did God Speak to a Bloodied “Dynamite” in a Firefight?
Featured Channel: Jocko Podcast — SOGCast
Featured Playlist: SOGCast
Host John Stryker Meyer (“Tilt”) interviews Dick “Dynamite” Thompson.
NOT LIKE THE MOVIES – MACV SOG’s insane missions
Featured Channel: Savage Game Design
Featured Playlist: MACV-SOG
John Stryker Meyer, Lynne M Black Jr. and Henry “Dick” Thompson served together as team leaders in MACV SOG’s recon company, based at Command and Control North (CCN) at FOB1 (Phu Bai) and FOB4 (Da Nang) during 1968-1970. In 2024, Team Savage brought them together for the first time since 1969, while filming a documentary about MACV SOG, in partnership with the Special Operations Association.
At the end of the weekend’s filming, they sat out under the stars, around a crackling fire at Lynne’s home, where they talked about the insane missions of their war, their reactions after coming home, and how they feel after living a life beyond the steaming jungles of Laos. This video is dedicated to all the men of SOG, the Vietnamese volunteers, the Kingbees, and all the aviation units who supported them on their missions.
“Những thế hệ anh hùng – Di sản Tháng Tư” Children of Heroes – The Legacy of April
Featured Channel: Vietlondon@Music
Featured Playlist: Vietnam
This lyric video is a tribute to the memories, sacrifices, and enduring spirit connected to April 30, 1975. Through music and words, we remember a generation shaped by loss, resilience, and hope — those who stood, those who fled, and those who carried their homeland in their hearts across oceans and time.
“Children of Heroes” honors the voices that were never fully heard, the stories passed down through families, and the quiet strength that lives on today. Dedicated to all who were affected — and to the generations who continue to remember.
Episode 27: The Normandy French Resistance Monument
Featured Channel: The Commander’s Voice
Featured Playlist: Of Interest from CH78 Members
The Commander’s Voice podcasts are related to military history by the historian for the All Airborne Signal Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Association. In this episode, retired SF officer Joey Ivanov (one of our guest speakers at our March 2026 chapter meeting), WW2 battlefield tour leader George Luz Jr, and sculptor Stephen Spears discuss efforts to complete a memorial to the French Resistance in time for a dedication in June 2021.
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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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