The power to unite people from diverse backgrounds has long been recognized as a strength of our Republic. In fact, one of our founding principles is found in the oft repeated, but seldom understood Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum, meaning literally “Out of Many, One.” This phrase signifies how people from the thirteen disparate colonies came together to form one nation, regardless of differences in their individual backgrounds, circumstances, or means. People from all walks of life banding together as a cohesive force has long been a cornerstone of the American way of life, and holds true in Army Special Operations Forces throughout history.
World War II was a pivotal event in American history, and a formative period for what is now called ARSOF. National mobilization for total war gave rise to a larger and more powerful U.S. Army than had ever existed before. With unprecedented manpower and resources, the Army created new units with expanded capabilities to meet operational requirements. These included units manned, trained, and equipped to conduct unconventional warfare, commando raids, psychological warfare, and military government. Key to the success of these highly specialized organizations were men and women from various ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds. For example, recent European emigrants served in Psywar and the Office of Strategic Services; Asian-Americans served in Ranger legacy units, the Military Intelligence Service, and the OSS; Native Americans and persons of many ethnic backgrounds served in the Alamo Scouts; and Filipinos and their American counterparts conducted a long-term guerrilla warfare campaign against the Japanese.
… within the Army Special Operations community she is most remembered for her WWII service. As a civilian in the Morale Operations (MO) Branch of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), McIntosh was one of the first females to conduct Psychological Operations overseas.
Source: Setting the ‘Rising Sun’: The WWII service of Psywarrior Elizabeth McIntosh
In the late-1940s and early-1950s, the U.S. was on the cusp of the Civil Rights Movement, the concerted effort against racial segregation. Signs of change were evidenced by President Harry S. Truman integrating the armed forces in July 1948. Meanwhile, internationally, Communism was expanding at an alarming rate. Just five years after World War II ended, conflict erupted on the Korean peninsula. The U.S., in concert with the United Nations, intervened as part of its commitment to prevent the spread of Communism. During the conflict, the Army revitalized its special operations capabilities. The Korean War witnessed the heroism of the all African-American 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne)—a vestige of the segregated Army—and various nationalities and ethnicities joining Special Forces, Psywar, and Civil Affairs/Military Government units.
USASOC’s very own Ernest K. Tabata, Special Forces/
For more on SGM Tabata, visit his ARSOF Icon page.
Against the backdrop of the Cold War, the U.S. remained committed to defending its allies against Communist aggression by intervening in Vietnam. Despite great internal division and discord within the U.S. regarding the war and civil rights, Americans from all backgrounds served their country loyally in the Army, and in ARSOF. This is evidenced by the valor and sacrifice of Special Forces Medal of Honor recipients, including Hispanic-Americans SSG Roy P. Benavidez and SFC Jose Rodela, foreign-born SSG Laszlo Rabel, and African-Americans SFC Eugene Ashley, Jr., SFC William M. Bryant, and SSG Melvin Morris.
On 6 and 7 February 1968, Sergeant Ashley was the Senior Special Forces Advisor of a hastily organized assault force whose mission was to rescue entrapped United States Special Forces Advisors at Camp Lang Vei. During the initial attack on the Special Forces camp by North Vietnamese Army forces, Sergeant Ashley supported the camp with high explosive and illumination mortar rounds.
When communications were lost with the main camp, he assumed the additional responsibility of directing airstrikes and artillery support. Sergeant Ashley organized and equipped a small assault force composed of local friendly personnel.
During the ensuing battle, Sergeant Ashley led a total of five vigorous assaults against the enemy, continuously exposing himself to a voluminous hail of enemy grenades, machinegun and automatic weapons fire. Throughout these assaults, he was plagued by numerous boobytrapped satchel charges in all bunkers on his avenue of approach.
Sergeant First Class William M. Bryant, assigned to Company A, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, distinguished himself on 24 March 1969 while serving as Commanding Officer of Civilian Irregular Defense Group Company 321, 2d Battalion, 3rd Mobile Strike Force Command, during combat operations in Long Khanh Province, Republic of Vietnam.
The battalion came under heavy fire and became surrounded by the elements of three enemy regiments. Sergeant Bryant displayed extraordinary heroism throughout the succeeding 3 hours of incessant attack as he moved throughout the company position heedless of the intense hostile fire while establishing and improving the defensive perimeter, directing fire during critical phases of the battle, distributing ammunition, assisting the wounded, and providing the leadership and inspirational example of courage to his men.
When a helicopter drop of ammunition was made to resupply the beleaguered force, Sergeant Bryant with complete disregard for his own safety ran through the heavy enemy fire to retrieve the scattered ammunition boxes and distributed needed ammunition to his men.
Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Commander of a Strike Force drawn from Company D, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, during combat operations against an armed enemy in the vicinity of Chi Lang, Republic of Vietnam on September 17, 1969.
On that afternoon, Staff Sergeant Morris’ affiliated companies encountered an extensive enemy mine field and were subsequently engaged by a hostile force.
Staff Sergeant Morris learned by radio that a fellow team commander had been killed near an enemy bunker and he immediately reorganized his men into an effective assault posture before advancing forward and splitting off with two men to recover the team commander’s body.
Staff Sergeant Lazlo Rabel, United States Army, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as leader of Team Delta, 74th Infantry Detachment (Long Range Patrol), 173d Airborne Brigade, in Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam on 13 November 1968.
At 1000 hours on this date, Team Delta was in a defensive perimeter conducting reconnaissance of enemy trail networks when a member of the team detected enemy movement to the front.
As Sergeant Rabel and a comrade prepared to clear the area, he heard an incoming grenade as it landed in the midst of the team’s perimeter.
Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the company commander, Detachment B-36, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam on September 1, 1969.
That afternoon, Sergeant First Class Rodela’s battalion came under an intense barrage of mortar, rocket and machine gun fire. Ignoring the withering enemy fire, Sergeant Rodela immediately began placing his men into defensive positions to prevent the enemy from overrunning the entire battalion.
Repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire, Sergeant First Class Rodela moved from position to position, providing suppressing fire and assisting wounded, and was himself wounded in the back and head by a B-40 rocket while recovering a wounded comrade.
Special Forces Vietnam, Son Tay Raider, SF ‘Q’ Course Instructor
After World War II, the U.S. and its allies were engaged in a decades-long Cold War against the Communist Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, and their satellites. While direct conflict between the two superpowers was averted, the Cold War was characterized by proxy wars, and the ever-present threat of nuclear annihilation. Comprised of an assorted mix of soldiers, ARSOF prepared for large-scale conflict while executing specialized missions around the world. These ranged from naturalized citizens serving in psywar units in West Germany, to Hispanic-American SF soldiers aiding South American allies in the fight against Communism.
“If it hadn’t been for the U.S. Army, it would have been the French Foreign Legion. I learned to love freedom and democracy later, but at that time, my primary motivation was to be a soldier again.”
- Peter V. Astalos, WWII Eastern Front veteran
Operation EAGLE CLAW, Special Operations Pilot
Chief Warrant Officer Five Fred Arooji is a native of Abadan, Iran. During his distinguished military career, CW5 Arooji earned the respect and admiration of subordinates, peers, and leaders alike. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1974 and attended Basic Training at San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Advanced Individual Training at Lowery Air Force Base, Colorado, as an Electrical Optical Sensors Technician, and was assigned to Kadena Air Base, Japan, Osan Air Base, Korea, and Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. He was selected to participate in Operation EAGLE CLAW in 1980, the effort to rescue American hostages held in Iran. Despite mission failure, Arooji performed admirably during the operation. In July 1982, CW5 Arooji did an inter-service transfer to the Army as a Rotary Wing Aviator.
In 1983 CW5 Arooji began a long special operations aviation career, during which he served as Mission Pilot, Test Project Officer, Instrument Flight Examiner, Standardization Instructor Pilot, and Instructor Pilot.
Commanding General, SF Command and JFK Special Warfare Center & School
The devastating terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 led the U.S. into a protracted war against violent extremist organizations. As they had since World War II, men and women of all ethnic, racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds volunteered to defend America after 9/11. Inclusivity in ARSOF was evidenced by the enlistment of immigrants-turned-citizens via the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) program, and women serving in Cultural Support Teams (CSTs), to support Special Forces and Ranger missions in Afghanistan.
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CAT-812 in Haiti: Rescue in Jérémie
To facilitate its mission, CAT 812 gained an interpreter. Private First Class (PFC) Anastasia Anse*, a soldier in the 528th Sustainment Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, at Fort Bragg, NC, explained that USASOC had placed a call for Haitian Creole speakers to all its units. Because of her Haitian mother, Anse spoke Haitian Creole (as well as French and Spanish) and had lived there as a child. She volunteered.
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