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Detachment “A” and SOG
The following article was published by Special Operations Association (SOA).
Written by Bob Charest who served eight years in Detachment “A” (1969-1972 and 1973-1978) and one year in SOG Project Sigma, B-56 (1967 – 1968) and CCS.
In 2018, I published a post on the Detachment “A” web site https://detachment-a.org announcing a book written by Detachment “A” member Nick Brokhausen entitled Whispers in the Tall Grass that was published in October 2019, chronicling his time in the top-secret elite unit SOG (Studies and Operations Group).
When I published the post about Nicks’ book, I recalled my time serving in SOG, and that there were other Detachment “A” members that served in both Detachment “A” and SOG.
These two units were unlike any other. The men who served in these units were of the highest caliber in every aspect of a US Army Special Forces Green Beret – intelligence, skills, adaptability, courage, and of the highest character. They also are highly decorated and their accomplishments extraordinary, yet they were never recognized because both units were top-secret units.
SOG and Detachment ”A” are now declassified decades after the units closed.
When I published the post about Nick’s book, I decided to create a special post entitled Who’s Who in Detachment “A”/SOG, to recognize the most elite and heroic Special Forces soldiers who went decades, never being able to share their stories, as a form of recognition for their extraordinary service. The list was short but soon after publishing the Who’s Who in Detachment “A”/SOG, I was surprised when other Detachment “A” members responded to the article informing me that they too served in SOG, so the list grew.
This is just a thumbnail look at these elite units and the extraordinary careers that these two units’ members had experienced operating in these types of units during wartime in Vietnam and during the cold war in Berlin.
SOG Overview
24 January 1964 – 30 April 1972
MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group) referred to as SOG, was the most elite clandestine military unit operating in the Vietnam war. Their mission: To execute an intensified program of harassment, diversion, political pressure, capture of prisoners, physical destruction, acquisition of intelligence, generation of propaganda and diversion of resources, against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.” They conducted top secret missions deep behind enemy lines across Southeast Asia. SOG executed top secret missions which were denied by the government. Missions included intelligence gathering, personnel recovery, reconnaissance, direct action, unusual explosive device deployment and management, psychological warfare, capture of high value targets and conducting ambushes, sabotage, elimination of rogue double agents, assess targets and expertly and on a moment’s notice conducting improvised missions based on conditions presented.
They did not exist.
Detachment “A” Overview
1 September 1956 – 17 December 1984
Detachment “A” was the most elite military unit operating in Europe during the cold war. Their mission: From 1956 to 1984, Detachment “A”, a clandestine unit of about 90 Green Berets based in Berlin Germany, were involved in some of the most sensitive operations of the Cold War. At that time Berlin was part of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), located behind the Iron Curtain. They wore civilian clothes, spoke fluent German and stayed on high alert 24 hours a day. For nearly 30 years during the Cold War, some of America’s most elite soldiers worked in secret. Their missions, always classified, are still largely unknown and absent from the history books.
Missions included stay-behind, guerrilla warfare, unconventional warfare, direct action, counter insurgency, anti-terrorist. The missions evolved over time during the cold war with many more diversified missions.
The six modified “A” teams were heavy in demolitions and scuba, had three demolition men each and no XO. Their skill sets included communications, skiing, mountain climbing, languages, demolitions, scuba, weapons, myriad intelligence work and other specialized skills.
They did not exist.
SOG/Detachment ”A” Intersection
• Top Secret/Classified elite units.
• Unconventional tactics.
• No one knew they existed.
• Carried out the most dangerous missions.
• Suicide missions.
• Demonstrated extraordinary heroism.
• Severely outnumbered by the enemy.
• Operated in small units, force multiplier.
• Highly decorated.
• Clandestine, covert, and black operations.
• Intel gathering and sabotage.
• Acute, diversified multitude of skills.
• No recognition.
SOG brought out of the shadows by John L. Plaster with the publication of SOG: The Secret Wars of America’s Commandos in Vietnam published in 1997.
Detachment”A” brought in from the cold by Robert A. Charest with his “A Thumbnail Look at Detachment(A) Berlin Brigade published in 2012 and his website dedicated to Detachment “A”.
SOG was a combat clandestine unit in Vietnam operating deep behind enemy lines. Detachment”A” was a clandestine cold war unit training and preparing to oppose a Soviet and East German takeover and control of allied forces in Berlin.
WHO’S WHO IN DETACHMENT ”A”/SOG
The following list recognizes and pays tribute to all those Detachment “A” members who also served in the prestigious unit SOG – another unit unrecognized for decades. This list shows the caliber of Special Forces troops that served in Detachment ”A” and SOG yet were unrecognized for decades. For Detachment “A”/SOG folks there was one thing that was unique: unless you served with a SOG member you did not know they served in SOG. Vietnam individual service was almost never discussed. This is not an exhaustive list.
| Hermann Adler | Herman David Halterman | Bill Queen |
| Howard “Zipper” Allen | John Heintel | Jimmy Reeves |
| Ron Braughton Project 404 Laos | Rick Hendricks | Harvey Saal |
| Nick Brokhausen | Lou Herman | Joel Schenkelberger |
| Phillip M. Brown | Ralph Keith | John Silk |
| Bob Charest | Kim Kendle | Gil Turcotte |
| Stu Cranson | Tadeusz M. Kepczyk | Thomas Twomey |
| Ron Davidson | Manfred Kropp | Paul Whitmore |
| Gentry Deck | Bob Kuenstle | James Wilde |
| Emmett “Jessie” Dover | Bob Lees | Sid Williams |
| Bill Durant | Charlie Monson | Robert Willis |
| Warner “Rocky” Farr | James “Dusty” Moore | Robert G. Willis |
| Julius Farago | Georg Moskaluk | Don Wolken |
| Jerry “Paco” Fontana | John O’Keefe | Ivan Woronchuk |
| Paul Foster | Ralph Ormes | Ed Yarbrough |
| Claude L. Greeney | Roderick Patterson | John “Rowdy” Yeats |
| Richard Gross | Bob Picknell |
The direct link to this link to this article can be found on the SOA website
All Detachment “A” members are eligible to become members of SOA. For further information go to: Home – Special Operations Association.
Ron Braughton Interview
John Lee Interview
Sid Williams Interview
Jim Wilde Interview
Detachment “A” Flash
Bruno von Haas received this picture from Becky Closen that she found among Frank Closen’s belongings. Bruno remembered this design very well. There was a group of Det “A” ers, who got together and thought about having their own FLASH for Detachment “A” back in the fall of 1979. Nick Brokhausen designed the FLASH and somehow Frank became the recipient, and this has been in darkness I guess until Becky resurrected it from on old belongings box of Franks. It amazes me on how things seem to phoenix, out of nowhere, and present themselves.
This is now been incorporated to on our Detachment”A” web site’s header and as another artifact of our history.
The Walther MPL: Stamped-Steel Cold War Wonder
Detachment(A) member John Blevins found this article.
Written By Will Dabbs, MD
In the 1970s West Berlin stood 100 miles inside communist-controlled territory, a tragically flawed testament to post-World War II geopolitical acrimony. The Berlin Brigade was a token NATO force billeted in this surrounded, beleaguered city. Their mission was not so much their combat effectiveness as it was what they represented. Attacking the Berlin Brigade was tantamount to attacking the United States. However, chances are things would not have ended well for these isolated grunts had the Cold War suddenly turned hot.
Operating in the shadows in West Berlin was a small contingent of Special Forces soldiers known as Detachment A. Theirs was the archetypal Green Beret mission. Should the balloon go up and Warsaw Pact forces roll over West Berlin like a juggernaut, Detachment A troops would melt into the population to foment a covert underground war. To pull this off, these iron-willed studs had a 10,000-weapon stash of military firearms hidden for distribution to would-be partisans. Thank the Good Lord it never came to pass.
There were never more than about a hundred Special Forces operators assigned to Detachment A. Given the unique nature of their mission they were authorized some comparably unique weapons. One of those unique firearms was the Walther MP submachine gun.
Continue reading full article here
Special Forces Museum at Fort Bragg to Reopen
DETACHMENT “A”/PSSE SPECIAL FORCES BERLIN 2021 GET TOGETHER
2021 Detachment”A”/PSSE Special Forces Berlin Get Together
The 2021 will be held from Thursday 13 May 2021 – Sunday 16 May 2021 (checkout).
Host/POC:/RSVP: Alan “Mac” MacRae
Hotel Information
Hotel Eleganté Conference & Event Center
2886 S Circle Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 576-5900
Click for Hotel web site. You can use it to make your reservations.
If you call to make a reservation our code for the reunion has changed to 2767819 or “SF Berlin” when calling the Hotel for a reservation.
The hotel has agreed to give us the same rates and benefits as what we had set up for the canceled 2020 reunion. Please pay attention to the reservation procedures as there have been some changes.
Hotel Reservation Info
| DAY | DATE | Rate*with Breakfast |
| Thursday | May 13, 2021 | $130.00 |
| Friday | May 14, 2021 | $130.00 |
| Saturday | May 15, 2021 | $130.00 |
| Sunday | May 16, 2021 | Checkout |
The dates for the reunion are 13-16 May 2021
The cost per night for single King or Double Queen occupancy is $130.00 (includes breakfast)
Additional guests (up to 2) will be charged $10 per guest for breakfast
Priority will be given to those who make reservations prior to Tuesday 13 April so please make reservations early to insure your space at the Hotel
Use “SF Berlin” or code 2767819 when making a reservation by phone: (719) 576-5900.
Use either the website or the phone to make a reservation, but NOT both
The rate of $130 per night (including breakfast) will be honored for 3 days prior to and 3 days after the event dates for those who wish to come early or stay late
If you make reservations for certain dates and decide you will leave early without notifying the Hotel at check-in of an earlier than planned departure, there will be a $75 charge added to your bill
We will have a Hospitality Room provided by the Hotel that is capable of holding 60+ people and we will be allowed to have our own adult beverages.
Guestrooms feature Starbucks Coffee, Bath and Body Works toiletries, internet and custom 13.5” Simmons Mattresses with 800 thread count sheets in all guestrooms.
NOTE: Rates does not include taxes, currently 10.25%
We will try to have the same events at the 2021 reunion that we were planning for the 2020 reunion. More info to follow as events are scheduled.
Additional Hotel Information
Three restaurants on property-Rustler’s Country Cafe, Rawhide Sports Bar and The Sweet Tooth featuring Starbucks Coffee and Colorado Creamery Ice Cream.
Complimentary wireless internet service in guest rooms and public space.
COMPLIMENTARY parking spots on site, including 700 reserved spaces for Combat Wounded Veterans.
24 hour complimentary fitness center.
Indoor and outdoor pool and hot tub.
Fitness Trail and Outdoor Sports Court featuring volleyball, tennis, basketball and pickleball with equipment available for check out at the front desk.
Local Attractions
Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain and the
Cog Railway
Garden of the Gods National Park
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
United States Air Force Academy
World War II Aviation Museum
United States Olympic Training Center
Cripple Creek – an old mining town with Casinos and a working gold mine.
Royal Gorge Railway