Headquarters, USASOC: Honoring ARSOF History, Legacy, and Sacrifice

USASOC Memorial Wall

VIDEO: USASOC Memorial Day Ceremony, May 2023

The USASOC Memorial Wall at Fort Liberty, NC, pays tribute to all of the command’s fallen warriors who died in the performance of their duties in designated combat zones since April 1952. It displays their names in chronological order of their deaths by conflict or category, from the Korean War through the present day. As of Memorial Day 2024, there are 1,247 names on the USASOC Memorial Wall, with 382 of them having given their lives since 11 September 2001.

Criteria for Inclusion: Individuals assigned to USASOC (or to the Psychological Warfare Center and School or its successor commands) that are killed or have died of wounds received in action (KIA/DWRIA) as a direct result of one of the following:

Any action against an enemy of the U.S.
Any action with an opposing armed force while in a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the U.S. are or have been engaged.
Service with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the U.S. is not a belligerent party.
Military action outside the territory of the U.S. as part of a peacekeeping/peace enforcing operation.
An international terrorist attack against the U.S. or a foreign nation friendly to the U.S.
While participating in a named operation, or killed during a terrorist bombing in CONUS; or while supporting another U.S. government agency, activity, or element in CONUS in an official capacity.

For our online memorial, visit ARSOF Fallen

Introduction
Memorial Wall
Eagle Rising Statue
Stones in the USASOC Memorial Plaza
Special Forces Soldier Statue
MAJ Richard J. Meadows Statue
Eagle and Stars Display
Major General Robert A. McClure Building
First Special Service Force Display
Interactive Memorial Display
Medal of Honor HQ Panels
ARSOF Icons HQ Panels
ARSOF Heritage Auditorium Display

Eagle Rising Statue

Dedicated on 27 May 2010 as part of the new USASOC Memorial Wall, the ‘Eagle Rising’ statue was recast by world-renowned artist and sculptor Lorenzo Ghiglieri using the smelted fallen warrior nameplates from the former USASOC Memorial Wall. It bears the USASOC insignia to represent ARSOF’s ties to its legacy, as well as the association of all USASOC fallen warriors, regardless of Military Occupational Specialty, to Army Special Operations.

Stones in the USASOC Memorial Plaza

The Memorial Plaza outside of USASOC, dedicated on 9 December 1994, contains stones honoring past and current Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) units and operations. The stones are uniformly carved from Georgia granite. Donated to the command and accepted by the Secretary of the Army, the stones reflect what the sponsoring associations deemed relevant to the ARSOF legacy, therefore accounting for the variation in content and appear-ance. The thirty-six current stones represent units, operations, and associations from WWII to the present. It is a living memorial that allows new stones to be added.

Click on the article icon to learm more about the ARSOF units and operations.
NSC = No Specific Conflict

C Co, 1st BN, 10th SFG - 1990-2020 — **C Co, 1st BN, 10th SFG** - 1990-2020

Guerrilla Command - Korean War — **Guerrilla Command** - Korean War

Special Operations Association - NSC — **Special Operations Association** - NSC

Mike Force - Vietnam War — **Mike Force** - Vietnam War

1st Special Forces Group - NSC — **1st Special Forces Group** - NSC

MARS Task Force - WWII — **MARS Task Force** - WWII

3rd Special Forces Group - 1963-Present — **3rd Special Forces Group** - 1963-Present

Task Force DAGGER - OEF — **Task Force DAGGER** - OEF

OSS Detachment 101 - WWII — **OSS Detachment 101** - WWII

Alamo Scouts - WWII — **Alamo Scouts** - WWII

WWII Ranger Battalions - WWII — **WWII Ranger Battalions** - WWII

Merrill’s Marauders - WWII — **Merrill’s Marauders** - WWII

Special Forces Association - NSC — **Special Forces Association** - NSC

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment - 1981-Present — **160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment** - 1981-Present

OSS Maritime Unit - WWII — **OSS Maritime Unit** - WWII

Son Tay Raider Association - Vietnam War — **Son Tay Raider Association** - Vietnam War

Special Forces Panama - 1962-1999 — **Special Forces Panama** - 1962-1999

Civil Affairs Companies - Vietnam War — **Civil Affairs Companies** - Vietnam War

Detachment A, Berlin Brigade - Cold War — **Detachment A, Berlin Brigade** - Cold War

US Army Special Operations Support Command - NSC — **US Army Special Operations Support Command** - NSC

410th Special Forces Detachment - Cold War — **410th Special Forces Detachment** - Cold War

5th Special Forces Group - 1961-Present — **5th Special Forces Group** - 1961-Present

GHQ Raiders, 1st Raider Company - Korean War — **GHQ Raiders, 1st Raider Company** - Korean War

Task Force VIKING - OIF — **Task Force VIKING** - OIF

First Special Service Force - WWII — **First Special Service Force** - WWII

OSS Operational Groups - WWII — **OSS Operational Groups** - WWII

US Army Civil Affairs - NSC — **US Army Civil Affairs** - NSC

75th Ranger Regiment Association - NSC — **75th Ranger Regiment Association** - NSC

OSS Jedburghs - WWII — **OSS Jedburghs** - WWII

Ranger Infantry Companies (Airborne) - Korean War — **Ranger Infantry Companies (Airborne)** - Korean War

75th Ranger Regiment - 1986-Present — **75th Ranger Regiment** - 1986-Present

Psychological Operations - NSC — **Psychological Operations** - NSC

10th Special Forces Group - 1952-Present — **10th Special Forces Group** - 1952-Present

B-52 Project Delta - Vietnam War — **B-52 Project Delta** - Vietnam War

281st Assault Helicopter Company - Vietnam War — **281st Assault Helicopter Company** - Vietnam War

Special Forces Soldier Statue

The idea to create a monument honoring the service, sacrifice, and heroism of Special Forces soldiers originated during the height of the Vietnam War. A Special Warfare Committee was formed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In early 1968, a commission to sculpt a statue of a Special Forces soldier was awarded to Donald H. De Lue of Leonardo, New Jersey. Cast in Viareggio, Italy, using golden bronze, the statue was initially located on Ardennes Street across from present-day Kennedy Hall. It was originally dedicated at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Institute for Military Assistance on 26 November 1969. Twenty-five years later, the statue (affectionately known as ‘Bronze Bruce’) was moved to its current location outside of the USASOC Headquarters building, and re-dedicated on 9 December 1994.

Learn more: The Special Forces Soldier

MAJ Richard J. Meadows Statue

Designed by Larry Ludkte, the statue honoring Major (MAJ) Richard J. ‘Dick’ Meadows was donated to USASOC in 1997 by H. Ross Perot, a prominent businessman, former presidential candidate, and longstanding SOF supporter. Enlisting in the Army in 1947, Meadows served in the Korean War with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team before joining U.S. Army Special Forces in 1953. In addition to serving with the British Special Air Service, he was a member of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) and received a battlefield commission. Later, Meadows was the BLUE BOY Team Leader sent to rescue American POWs from the Son Tay prison camp in 1970, and he helped to develop new ARSOF capabilities and structure after the Vietnam War. After retirement in 1977, he supported the attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran in 1980. Following his death in 1995, Meadows was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizen’s Medal for Distinguished Service. MAJ Meadows remains highly regarded for his professionalism and dedication during a remarkable career in Army Special Operations.

Learn more: MAJ Meadows Icon page

Introduction
Memorial Wall
Eagle Rising Statue
Stones in the USASOC Memorial Plaza
Special Forces Soldier Statue
MAJ Richard J. Meadows Statue
Eagle and Stars Display
Major General Robert A. McClure Building
First Special Service Force Display
Interactive Memorial Display
Medal of Honor HQ Panels
ARSOF Icons HQ Panels
ARSOF Heritage Auditorium Display

Eagle and Stars Display

Inside the USASOC headquarters building is the Eagle and Stars Display. Sculpted by world-renowned artist and sculptor Lorenzo Ghiglieri, the Eagle, the symbolic guardian of American freedom, represents heroism and the indomitable spirit of U.S. Army Special Operations Forces. The stars behind the Eagle represent the sacrifice of America’s SOF warriors. Each one represents a SOF soldier who gave his or her life in service to the nation since 1952. The number of stars is equal to the number of soldiers’ names on the USASOC Memorial Wall. Together, the Eagle and Stars symbolize the service and sacrifice necessary to defend the great freedom enjoyed by Americans in the United States.

For our online memorial, visit ARSOF Fallen

MG Robert A. McClure Building

Born on 4 March 1897, Major General (MG) Robert A. McClure was commissioned as a Regular Army Infantry Officer in 1917. When the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, McClure was the Assistant Military Attaché in London. The following year, he became Chief of the Information and Censorship Section, Allied Force Headquarters (HQ), supporting Mediterranean Theater operations. In 1944, he assumed command of the Psychological Warfare (Psywar) Division, Supreme HQ, Allied Expeditionary Force (PWD/SHAEF) until the war’s end.

During the Korean War, Brigadier General (BG) McClure, as the Chief of Psywar for the Army, established the Psywar Center at Fort Bragg, NC. He promoted the activation of the 10th Special Forces Group, the first Army unit organized for Unconventional Warfare.

In 1953, McClure became Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Iran. He retired as a Major General in 1956 and passed away on 1 January 1957.

On 19 January 2001, the USASOC HQ building was dedicated in his honor, and in 2010, the ‘Father of U.S. Army Special Warfare’ was inducted into the U.S. Special Operations Command Commando Hall of Honor.

Learn more about MG Robert A. McClure

Introduction
Memorial Wall
Eagle Rising Statue
Stones in the USASOC Memorial Plaza
Stones in the USASOC Memorial Plaza
Special Forces Soldier Statue
Eagle and Stars Display
Major General Robert A. McClure Building
First Special Service Force Display
Interactive Memorial Display
Medal of Honor HQ Panels
ARSOF Icons HQ Panels
ARSOF Heritage Auditorium Display

First Special Service Force Display

On the first floor of the USASOC headquarters building is a display case honoring the lineage unit of all U.S. Army Special Forces, the combined U.S.-Canadian First Special Service Force (FSSF). Supported by historical context, several FSSF-unique items highlight the rich legacy of this esteemed World War II unit. These include the distinctive V-42 knife (as represented in the USASOC Shoulder Sleeve Insignia), and the actual Congressional Gold Medal awarded to FSSF in 2015.

Learn more about the FSSF

USASOC Interactive
Memorial Display

In May 2017, the Interactive Memorial Display opened inside the lobby of the USASOC head-quarters building. This 41-foot-high, 12-foot-wide, multi-screen memorial exhibit honors the sacrifice of ARSOF’s fallen warriors since 11 September 2001. Complementing the USASOC Memorial Wall and the Eagle and Stars display, this monumental Interactive Memorial Display provides photos and brief biographies of each fallen warrior. The individuals honored in the display exactly match the names in the post-9/11 portions of the USASOC Memorial Wall. However, unlike traditional static memorials, visitors can search this exhibit database by name, date, operation, location, or unit. As of Memorial Day 2024, there are 382 ARSOF warriors featured in the display. These individuals represent all branches, units, and Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) in USASOC, showcasing the versatility, bravery, and sacrifice of ARSOF soldiers.

For our online memorial, visit ARSOF Fallen

Examples of the display's search functionality — Examples of the display’s search functionality

Medal of Honor Panels

Ten ARSOF Medal of Honor (MOH) recipients from World War II to the Global War on Terror are honored in the Heritage Auditorium in the USASOC headquarters building. These include the only ARSOF MOH recipient from WWII, 1LT Jack L. Knight, MARS Task Force, who earned the medal for his valorous actions in Burma on 2 February 1945. Each panel contains a photo, and a summary of that soldier’s background and MOH action.

Learn more: ARSOF Medal of Honor

Download panels as PDFs

ARSOF Icon Panels

USASOC further honors its leaders and soldiers by highlighting several ‘icons’ throughout the headquarters building. Spanning several decades and multiple conflicts, these individuals built, transformed, and improved ARSOF to make it the most effective, lethal formation in the world today. Each panel contains photos with captions, and a summary of their careers and contributions to ARSOF.

Visit ARSOF Icons

ARSOF Heritage Auditorium Display

The words “lineage” and “legacy” are both important to the identity, morale, and esprit de corps of Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) units and soldiers. They signify a connection to the past and recall the heroic deeds of previous generations. However, there is a difference between each term. “Lineage” describes an official connection between specific TOE Army units, as recognized by the Department of the Army and managed by the U.S. Army Center of Military History.

In contrast, “legacy” is an unofficial term which conveys a unit’ connection, regardless of whether they were TOE units or even Army units at all. Units often identify with other organizations for their real or perceived impact on later development, capabilities, identity, and/or esprit de corps. For example, one key legacy element for modern SOF is the World War II Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a joint intelligence and unconventional warfare service that was independent of the Army. While the OSS cannot be in the official lineage of any Army unit, its veterans and wartime lessons have long been credited with contributing to ARSOF training, capabilities, and culture in the post-WWII era.

The panels in the Heritage Auditorium pay tribute to some past organizations which, though not in the official lineage of modern ARSOF units, nonetheless contributed to SOF’s rich legacy throughout the centuries. Together, these organizations demonstrate that the heritage of ARSOF far exceeds the strict limitations of official Army lineages.

United Nations Partisan Forces, Korea (UNPFK)