U.S. Army Special Operations

ICONS

Summary

The USASOC History Office has developed the following working definition to guide its identification of select Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) personnel who have distinguished themselves during their careers. For the purpose of this document, an ARSOF Icon is defined as:

“ARSOF persons whose long-term contributions warrant special recognition. Whether through their continuous valorous actions or their making of key contributions in the capability-building areas of doctrine, organization, training, manpower, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLP-F), these individuals have excelled and stand out amongst their peers.”

The actions and influence of these individuals over time transcend any single combat action or achievement. Overall, their steadfast promotion of institutional advancements within their chosen field of special operations have resulted in a lasting legacy of excellence. Their unselfish devotion to duty allowed them to leave their particular unit or branch fundamentally better than they found it. Simply put, their actions have served as a positive example to their fellow soldiers. Their contributions deserve a special place of prominence in the proud historical narrative of Army Special Operations. As new candidates for icon status are identified, the icon, with accompanying justification, will be forwarded to the USASOC command group for concurrence. Once approved, the new icon will be added to this page.

SPECIAL FORCES
Sergeant Major Tyrone Adderly

SGM Tyrone Adderly

Special Forces Vietnam,
Son Tay Raider, SF ‘Q’ Course Instructor

LTC Leif Bangsboll

LTC Leif Bangsboll

OSS, SF instructor, 77th SFG, 10th SFG

COL Aaron Bank

COL Aaron Bank

Commander, 10th Special Forces Group

COL Charles Alvin Beckwith

COL Charles Beckwith

Creator/Commander,
SFOD-Delta

BG Donald Dunwoody Blackburn

BG Donald Blackburn

Philippine Guerrilla Commander, 77th Special Forces Group, Operation Ivory Coast (Son-Tay Raid)

MG Robert T. Frederick

MG Robert Frederick

Commanding General, First Special Service Force

COL Charles H. Fry

COL Charles Fry

SCUBA/MFF pioneer, Latin American Specialist, Special Operations Command-South Commander

CSM Galen Kittleson

CSM Galen Kittleson

Alamo Scouts, Special Forces, Cabanatuan Raid, Son Tay Raid

CSM Richard C. Lamb

CSM Richard Lamb

Ranger, Special Forces, Panama, Somalia, Haiti, Iraq, Horn of Africa

Major Richard J. Meadows

MAJ Richard Meadows

Early SF, MACV-SOG,
SFOD-Delta

COL James N. Rowe

COL James Rowe

SF POW, Proponent of
SERE Training

MG Sidney Shachnow

MG Sidney Shachnow

Commanding General, SF Command and JFK Special Warfare Center & School

Colonel Jack T. Shannon

COL Jack Shannon

OSS, First Executive Officer of the 10th SFG, First Commanding Officer of the 77th SFG, KCAC, Psywar, 1SFG

MG John K. Singlaub

MG John Singlaub

OSS, Ranger, JACK, CCRAK, MACV-SOG

LTC Mayo S. Stuntz

LTC Mayo S. Stuntz

Supply Officer for Alamo Scouts Training Center

SGM Ernest K. Tabata

SGM Ernest K. Tabata

Special Forces WHITE STAR, Vietnam, SF Engineer Instructor

COL Jay D. Vanderpool

COL Jay Vanderpool

Operative, Philippine Regional Section (PRS), Philippine Guerrilla Leader, Commander of North Korean Guerrilla Command, Rotary Wing Aviation Armed Combat Innovator

BG Russell W. Volckmann

BG Russell Volckmann

Philippine Guerrilla Leader and Special Forces Visionary

LTG Samuel V. Wilson

LTG Samuel Wilson

OSS, Merrill’s Marauders, Special Warfare Center, 6th Special Forces Group

LTG William P. Yarborough

LTG William Yarborough

Commanding General, Special Warfare Center Commandant, Special Warfare School

RANGERS
BG William O. Darby

BG William Darby

WWII Ranger Commander and Pioneer

COL Charles N. Hunter

COL Charles Hunter

De facto field Commander of Merrill’s Marauders

BG John Hugh McGee

BG John McGee

(1908-1991)

MG Frank D. Merrill

MG Frank Merrill

Commander, 5307th Composite Unit

LTC Henry A. Mucci

LTC Henry Mucci

6th Ranger Battalion

COL Ralph Puckett, Jr.

COL Ralph Puckett

Eighth U.S. Army Ranger Company, 10th Special Forces Group, Honorary Colonel of the Ranger Regiment, Medal of Honor Recipient

MG James Rudder

MG James Rudder

Commander, 2nd Ranger Battalion

COL Arthur D. Simons

COL Arthur Simons

6th Ranger Bn., Ranger Training Center, WHITE STAR, Son Tay Raid

MG John G. Van Houten

MG John Van Houten

(1904-1974)

PSYOP
Major Raymond P. Ambrozak

MAJ Raymond Ambrozak

1st Psywar Battalion, USABVAPAC, 6th PSYOP Battalion, MACV Senior District Advisor

Colonel Heber Blankenhorn

COL Heber Blankenhorn

WWI and WWII Psywar Pioneer

COL Jeffrey B. Jones

COL Jeffrey Jones

8th PSYOP Battalion,
4th PSYOP Group, National Security Council

BG Charles H. Karlstad

BG Charles Karlstad

Ranger Training Center, Psywar Center Commander

MG Robert A. McClure

MG Robert McClure

Army Chief of Psychological Warfare

CIVIL AFFAIRS
MG John Henry Hilldring

MG John Henry Hilldring

Director, Civil Affairs Division

COL Irwin L. Hunt

COL Irwin Hunt

Officer in Charge, Civil Affairs, American Forces, Germany

COL Charles R. Munske

COL Charles Munske

Military Government/Civil Affairs WWII and Korea

BG Crawford F. Sams

BG Crawford Sams

Civil Affairs Occupation of Japan, Commander United Nations Public Health & Welfare Detachment

BG Cornelius Wickersham

BG Cornelius Wickersham

Commandant, School of Military Government,
Civil Affairs in Europe

ARSOF AVIATION
GEN Bryan D. Brown

GEN Bryan Brown

Commanding General, USASOC and USSOCOM

CW5 David F. Cooper

CW5 David Cooper

Command Chief Warrant Officer, 160th SOAR,
U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command

LTG Dell L. Dailey

LTG Dell Dailey

75th Ranger Regiment,
160th SOAR, JSOC, USASOC

ARSOF SUPPORT
MG James D. Bryan

MG James Bryan

Commander,
112th Signal Battalion

COL (Ret.) Louis G. Mason

COL Louis Mason

5th Special Forces Group,
1st SOCOM, 13th/528th Support Battalion