This USASOC Update covers the Detachment “A” stone laying ceremony that took place on 30 January 2014, at the USASOC Memorial Plaza. The stone laying ceremony was held in order to commemorate the valorous achievements of Detachment “A”.
Category Archives: History
Special Forces Association Convention 2022 Detachment-A MSG (Ret) Charest
Special Forces Association Convention 2022 (SFACON 2022)
The Special Forces Association Convention 2022 (SFACON 2022) celebrated the 70th anniversary of Army Special Forces (SF). The distinguished visitor committee (seminar team) selected topics to highlight SF’s tactical, operational, and strategic activities. SFACON 2022’s symposia took place at the Antlers Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs between September 21-24, 2022.
SFACON 2022’s De Oppresso Liber Symposium Series included nine seminars: The Original Mike Force (Vietnam 1965 / Operational-Tactical vignette), Task Force Dagger (Afghanistan 2001 / Operational vignette), Task Force Viking (N. Iraq 2003 / Operational vignette), El Salvador (1980s / Strategic vignette), Shok Valley (Afghanistan 2008 / Tactical vignette), FOB Ghazni (Afghanistan 2013 / Tactical vignette), The Originals Panel (1952-53 Strategic vignette), Det-A / SF Berlin (1956-1990 Strategic vignette), and 1st SF Command (current day).
Topic: Det-A / SF Berlin (ca 1956-1984 / 1984-1990)
Date of presentation: September 24, 2022 from 0900-1015 MT via Zoom
Presenter: MSG (Ret) Robert Charest. He served two tours with Det-A and hosts the Det-A website.
Click here to read Bob’s Distinguished Member of the Regiment (DMOR) citation
Summary: In 1990, the Special Forces cased its final unit colors in Berlin, bringing to close 34 years of clandestine Cold War activities. Former Det-A veteran MSG (Ret) Robert Charest reviews the various phases of this one-of-a-kind unit with a truly elegant mission. He describes the Berlin based 39th Special Forces Detachment Alpha – Berlin, aka Det-A’s 1956-early 1970s Unconventional Warfare design, the addition of its Counterterrorism mission, and the 1984 transition to the 410th SF Physical Security Support Element – Berlin, aka PSSE-B. LTC (Ret) Mitch Utterback joins the session to describe PSSE-B.
Here is a video tribute to some of the original Detachment “A” members.
This is a link to the PDF for SFACON 2022 De Oppresso Liber Symposium Series Summary, 31 OCT 2022
Assignment: Kabul, Afghanistan 2003-2004
Former Detachment “A” member Georg Moskaluk created and produced this video while on assignment in Afghanistan.
Georg Moskaluk, was a former Detachment “A” member having served in Berlin. He also served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 10th Special Forces Group (A). Additionally, Georg served in the 5th Special Forces Group (A), 6th Special Forces Group (A), and MACV SOG.
This video production contains material in whole from audio and video materials supplied by (GMVP) Georg Moskaluk Video Production, and is protected by copyright and trademark laws. No material (including but not limited to the text, images, audio and/or video) can be reproduced for profit.
Non-profit duplication and exhibition is permitted. Modification of this video production or use of the materials for any other purpose is a violation of GMVP, and other sources’ copyright, trademark and other proprietary rights.
MG James Guest Presents Silver Star to MSG Robert Charest 55 Years Later
Special Forces Association Chapter 363, hosted a speaking engagement at the Poinsett Club in Greenville SC on 19 July 2022. Guest Speakers were Major General Jim Guest and MSG Bob Charest. Chapter President Todd Carpenter officiated the event.
A special honor was bestowed on Bob Charest, former member of Detachment “A” and MACV/SOG, as he was presented the Silver Star by Major General James Guest, 55 years after his actions in September of 1967.
Fox Carolina’s Anna Arinda covered the event. Here is a link to the story.
Jeff Raker Speech Part II
This is Part II of the speech Jeff Raker, former SGM of Detachment “A”, gave at the Detachment “A” get together on 17 September 2016.
Ode on Detachment “A”
Pete Kelley German Training Certificates
An example of some of our German counterparts that we worked and trained with. These are from Pete Kelley.
Jeff Raker Speech Part I
Former CSM of Detachment “A” Jeff Raker gave a powerful speech at the Detachment “A” get together on 17 September 2016. Here is Part I.
A Clandestine Cold War Military Unit Steps Into the Light
Author: Drew Brooks, Fayetteville Observer
Dressed in civilian clothes with long hair, the men looked like any other on the streets of East Berlin.
Their German accents didn’t give away their true identities as American Special Forces soldiers, part of a clandestine military unit operating during the Cold War.
Berlin, a divided city located 100 miles behind the Iron Curtain, was a focal point in the tensions that developed between NATO forces and the Soviet Union after World War II.
Detachment “A” Colors
Originally, Detachment “A” was not permitted have their own colors due to the classified nature of the unit. However, some Detachment ”A” members persisted and eventually were granted the authority to issue colors.
CSM Terry Swofford was the last CSM of Detachment”A”, when it closed its doors 1984. He packed the flag and it remained with him ever since and no one saw it for a long time. He informed Bob Charest that he took possession of the flag. After CSM Swofford passed away, it was missing in action. We knew it was passed along informally but did not where it ended up.
During the course of the Detachment ”A” Memorial Stone project and dedication ceremony General Shachnow stated to Bob Charest who was a member of the project that he wanted to retire the colors at the ceremony. Bob knew this was an essential artifact for the ceremony and immediately initiated a search request to all the Detachment”A” members to locate and secure the missing flag.
SGM Thomas Twomey and LTC Eugene Piasecki simultaneously found the flag at the SFA Chapter 1-18 Team House. Bob Charest contacted MG Sidney Shachnow and informed him where the flag was located and requested that he personally secure the flag. MG Shachnow retrieved the flag and secured it until the day of the Detachment ”A” Memorial Stone Dedication Ceremony that took place on 30 January 2014.
During the ceremony, MG Sidney Shachnow and Bob Charest presented the Detachment ”A” flag to LTG Charles Cleveland at the Detachment”A” Memorial Stone dedication. LTG Cleveland announced that the Detachment”A” flag would have a permanent home at USASOC HQ where it now resides.
The week after the ceremony, the flag was officially cased by Eugene Piasecki and SGM George Bequer.