ON THE COVER: During Legion week, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) gathered on September 24, 2025, to unveil the new Vietnam Memorial Wall on Gabriel Field, located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The Memorial includes 798 names of all Special Forces soldiers lost in Vietnam, including 58 SOG MIAs and 40 in-country SF MIAs. This photo, taken during the playing of the Ballad of the Green Berets, includes from left, Mayo Hadden, John S. Meyer, CWO 5 Mitch Taggart, George Sternberg, Marcus Whitt, SOA President Doug Godshall, CWO 5 Carey Hyde, 5th Special Forces Group Commander Col. Kenneth Wainwright Jr. (Photo by Sgt. Cody Williams)
In this issue:
Honoring Our Fallen — The Gabriel Field Vietnam Memorial Unveiling
During Legion Week on September 24, 2025, members of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) gathered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to unveil the new Vietnam Memorial on Gabriel Field.
Green Beret Becomes 21st Florida Lt. Governor
Army 1st Sgt. Jarrid “Jay” Collins, a decorated Army Green Beret combat veteran, has been appointed at the current Lieutenant Governor of Florida.
Save the Date: The 55th & Final Son Tay Raider Reunion
Read the details and plan to attend this event.
Help Honor Our Heroes: Support the Special Forces Monument
SFA Chapter 88 located in Northeast Florida is seeking your help to raise funds for a Special Forces Monument to be located in the Jacksonville National Cemetery.
How Miller reviews this history of the “Green Hornets,” who supported Special Operations in South Vietnam and Cambodia during the Vietnam War.
PROJECT CHECO (Contemporary Historical Evaluation of Combat Operations)
An excerpt from The 20th SOS Green Hornets USAF Vietnam war Volume 1: 20TH SOS GREEN HORNETS in Vietnam by Jim Burns, Ron Winkles, Charles Svoboda, Jason B. Collins
An additional excerpt from The 20th SOS Green Hornets USAF Vietnam war Volume 1: 20TH SOS GREEN HORNETS in Vietnam by Jim Burns, Ron Winkles, Charles Svoboda, Jason B. Collins.
This selection from the book was written by Ssgt Jim Burns, who served with the U.S.A.F., on a UH-IF helicopter as a flight mechanic/gunner with the 20th Helicopter Squadron “Green Hornets”.
Lehr-Regiment Brandenburg z.b.V. 800
This history of the Lehr-Regiment Brandenburg z.b.V. 800 by Col. Haas was published by SOF News on August 22, 2025.
Letter to the Editor: The Boy Scouts of America and the U.S. Army
We received a short note and photo from LTC (ret.) George Williams, illustrating the U.S. Army’s support of the American Boy Scouts.
SFA Chapter 78 September Chapter Meeting
With guest speaker veteran James “Jim” Shorten AKA Wild Carrot—Navy, Army Special Forces (13 months in MACV-SOG), Air Force/CA National Guard, Pararescue (PJ)
From the Archive:
The 46th Special Forces Company: Part I
From the Sentinel of September 2014—the first part of a planned series of articles on the establishment and operations of Company D, 1st Special Forces Group, later the 46th Special Forces Company, written by retired SGM John Martin exclusively for the Sentinel. Some of the topics and operations discussed had not been published before. Many members of Special Forces know little or nothing regarding some of these previously confidential projects.
SFA Chapter 78
1601 Bayside Dr
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
With Guest Speaker,
Norma Shinno Irving Donlon
Author of Soldiers Widow… Soldiers Wife… Soldiers Mother…
Featured in the September 2025 Sentinel
Libations • Raffle • DJ and Dancing
COST: $40.00 per person, same for guests
Special Note: Members of C/1/19 $10 per person.
Please mail your check payable to SFA 78 no later than 12/6/25 to:
Santiago Corp, PO Box 11927, Santa Ana, CA 92711, Attn: Liz Rios
DRESS
Men: SFA Green Blazers, White Shirt with Regimental Tie, Dark or Gray Slacks, or Sport Coat with Tie
Ladies: Cocktail Attire
If you haven’t sent your check in before the December 6th, please email to SFAChapter78@gmail.com so we can have an accurate head count. Please make sure your check arrives on or before the 6th.
QUESTIONS??? Feel free to call or text Aaron Brandenburg (719) 963-3948 or send an email to abrandenburg443@gmail.com.
WHAT’S NEW?
SOGCast 042: Tony Bandiera Jr. SOG Green Beret’s Stories from Across The Fence.
Featured Channel: Jocko Podcast — SOGCast
Featured Playlist: SOGCast
#153 MAC V -SOG Operators Gene Pugh and Travis Mills Part 3
Featured Channel: The Medevac Podcast
Featured Playlist: MACV-SOG
This episode is one of a four-part interview with Gene Pugh and Travis Mills in which they discuss the history of MACV-SOG. Both enlisted in the Army during Vietnam conflict and wanted to be the best they could possibly be. This led them both to joining the Special Forces and serving in the legendary MACV-SOG unit. Gene Pugh recently suggested that this episode, #153 was actually the best starting point chronologically. Follow up by listening to #154, #151, and #152, in that order.
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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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