Memorial Day

Full of fear, ever clear.
I'll be here, fighting forever.
Curious, venomous,
You'll find me climbing to heaven
Never mind, turn back time.
You'll be fine - I will get left behind
--Unknown Soldier, Breaking Benjamin
______________

Here is a photo of Ranger's Training Unit from SFOC 3-70, JFK Special Warfare Center, Ft. Bragg. In those days, one was either coming from or going to Vietnam, and our group was no different.

Front center, kneeling: Major Suomuly (Inf.)

Front row, left to right:

Unknown (psyops?); 2LT Rob Valentine (Inf.); 2LT James (Jay) Goolsby (Inf.); 2 LT Frank F. Pruitt; 2 LT Larry Smith; 1 LT James M. Hruska (Inf.); Maj. Joe Vittoria (UK).

Rear, left to right: 2LT Robert G. Hepler (Inf.); Cmdr. Bill Robinson, USN SEAL team; 2 LT P. E. Harkness (Inf.); 2 LT Tommy L. Scott (Inf.); 1 LT Bob Arheit (12th SF Group, Inf.).

Robinson, Suomuly and Vittoria were seasoned, combat-experienced officers attending the course as required by their specific branches. All the 2 LT's were recently commissioned through OCS, except Valentine and Hruska.

Suomuly went to 10th SF Group. Valentine to 8th Group, enroute to 46th SF Company (Thailand). He was a friend, and died in 1998.

Arheit returned to his reserve assignment in Ohio. Vittoria served as allied liaison officer at Ft. Bragg. Pruitt went to 5th Group as a Signal Officer. Robinson returned to the Atlantic SEAL team as Commander.

The rest of us were assigned 5th SF Group, to the best of my knowledge. Goolsby was KIA several months later, while serving with MACVSOG.

This photo proves my memory that all were exceptional men exuding self-confidence and capability. This phot was taken just before we jumped into the "Gobbler Woods" exercise, which culminated our training.

The equipment hanging from our bodies is not the sum total that we carried into the exercise. Ranger wonders why we even carried sleeping bags since we never seemed to use them. One of the many old Special Forces mottos was, "Travel light -- freeze at night." We did both, and within weeks most of us were in 100+ degree environs.

Presented as a little slice in a day in the life of a few soldiers 39 years ago. Ranger was proud to train and serve with these men.

For those who no longer answer roll call, Ranger salutes your memory.