SFA Chapter 78 August, 2025 Chapter Meeting
Guest Speaker, James “Jim” Shorten AKA Wild Carrot
Veteran—Navy, Army Special Forces (13 months in MACV-SOG), Air Force/CA National Guard, Pararescue (PJ)
As the guest speaker for our September chapter meeting, Jim Shorten shared the amazing story of his life’s journey—a true adventure.
As a boy, he dreamed of living a life of adventure, and he certainly has. He served 20 years in the U.S. military, first volunteering for Vietnam while in the Navy. Inspired by “The Ballad of the Green Beret,” he shifted his goal from becoming a SEAL to joining the Army Special Forces, later volunteering for MACV-SOG.
After leaving active duty, Jim joined the 12th SFG (Reserves), worked in law enforcement, and then trained as an Air Force Pararescue Jumper. He served as a paramedic for the first three Space Shuttle launches and during the Mt. St. Helens eruption.
Even after an injury ended his military career, Jim kept moving—earning a doctorate in radiology and practicing for 20 years. He’s also a dedicated meteorite hunter and has twice returned to Cambodia searching for the Phantom crew his team sought during a 1970 Bright Light mission.
Jim’s boyhood dream of a life filled with adventure? Mission accomplished. But Jim shows no sign of slowing down—and we look forward to hearing more as his story continues to unfold.
His presentation was recorded and will be posted on our YouTube channel. Until then, if you missed the meeting, click here to view an excellent video about Jim Shorten on the JackCarrUSA YouTube channel.
Our Special Meeting Sponsors
The meeting was hosted by the ACL Afghan Community in Mojave, CA. They had invited SFA Chapter 78 to visit as a way of saying thank you for the chapter’s ongoing support—and to show what they’ve accomplished in their neighborhood. Thanks to their hard work, Santiago Estate Mojave is a clean, quiet, and welcoming park.
Several veterans from the community were introduced by Manager Nimo, and a group of cheerful youngsters helped out throughout the event. The women of the community prepared a wonderful lunch of traditional Afghan dishes that everyone enjoyed together.
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