31. Secret Military History

1980-0821, SF, Gender, First Female Green Beret:
CPT Kathleen Wilder will be the first woman ever to receive a Green Beret.
CPT Wilder, 29, of New Orleans was notified that GEN Donn A. Starry, commander of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Va., had approved her appeal against the director of the SF School at Fort Bragg who said she had not met standards for serving in the elite corps.
CPT Wilder had who claimed she was the victim of sexual discrimination while attending the SF school.
'What can I say? I'm very, very happy,' she said in a telephone interview from Fort Huachuca, Ariz., where she is taking a military intelligence course. 'I'm very grateful to GEN Starry for his courageous decision.'
Starry's decision was based on information gathered during a four-month investigation by a brigadier general at Fort Bragg assigned to probe charges made by CPT Wilder against instructors and members of the SF school.
CPT Wilder failed a three-week guerrilla warfare field exercise that is part of the grueling training for SF soldiers. She appealed to COL Ola Mize, director of the school, on grounds she was flunked because of sexual prejudice.
Mize rejected her appeal, but recommended she be allowed to take the field exercise again.
In August 1980, a Fayetteville newspaper reported that CPT Wilder, who fought for a year to get into the school, did better on the field test than some of the 50 males who were awarded Green Berets that month. Only three candidates in her 53-member officers' class failed the course.
CPT Wilder said she did not fall out of the physical training a single time, although some male candidates who graduated did.
Women work at the 5th and 7th SF groups at Fort Bragg, but none are SF-qualified.
An Army spokesman at Fort Monroe, Va., said Friday CPT Wilder will be credited with the course but the Army's combat exclusion policy for women will keep her out of combat roles if she is assigned to a SF unit.
'As a graduate and a SF qualified officer, CPT Wilder, if assigned to a SF unit, will be entitled to wear a Green Beret with the full-flash emblem when serving as a SF officer. Since present laws prohibit women from serving in direct combat roles, CPT Wilder would serve in those units supporting SF combat teams,' the spokesman said.
The full flash is the unit's emblem awarded to those who successfully complete the officer and enlisted courses.
2020-0709, Gender, An Army National Guard soldier marked a new milestone in the U.S. military by graduating from the grueling SF Q Course to become the first woman to join the Green Berets.
SOCOM would not identify the soldier but confirmed that she graduated from the 53-week course in a ceremony at Fort Bragg.
There was one woman who previously completed requirements of the SF Course. In 1980, CPT Kate Wilder met requirements to graduate, but was not permitted to do so. Though she finally got her graduation certificate, she never ultimately served in an SF unit, and the Army moved afterward to prevent other women from attending the course.

1981-0526, Drugs, the Crash that Started the US Military’s Unannounced Urinalysis Program.
An EA-6B crashes on the Aircraft Carrier Nimitz killing 14 Sailors who were using drugs on the aft-deck. This was the start of the drug war within the Military.
The jet crashed in the aft deck; a location favored by weed smokers. The sweet aroma floats away where nobody can smell it. The only death, not high on drugs was the pilot. A huge unannounced urinalysis program was introduced soon after this accident. The new rules. If you are a SPC, E4 or below and you fail a piss-test, you get two chances. If you are a SGT E5 or above and you fail a piss test, you had 90-days to clear post. If the SPC or below who comes up hot on the urinalysis works in Aviation, he must reclassify into a non-Aviation, job. This turns out to be a very civilized way of ending drug use in the Military and is a MAJOR change in the Military culture.
These new, military wide, rules were strictly enforced and there were few exceptions. The Army became a more professional force soon after the new unannounced urinalysis, observed penis, observed vagina test a minimum of 5-times per year for every soldier regardless of rank or location. This was the single most important rule in the Army. All the duds were gone within a year.
Prior to the urinalysis program in 1981:
The prevailing US Army attitude on drugs was, “As long as you show up to morning formation, I don’t care what you do on your own hours.” the same for Alcohol, if you did not show up to PT formation drunk…

1981-0615, Military, Jimmy Wants to Save Money.
Former President Jimmy Carter asks President Reagan for special permission to shop at the PX in nearby Ft Benning, GA. Carter is $2,000,000 (6,185,875-2022) in debt after his failed reelection bid. Cater and his wife live in a 1,200 SF house on his peanut farm. He needs the money. Regan approves the request.

1981-0914, Aviation, Army Aviation, OH-58 Pilots are World’s Best.
US Army wins the World Helicopter Championships in Poland. CPT Kee and CW2 Chrest won both the individual and team events. They made us proud. A great day for Army Aviators everywhere.
1983-0615, World Champ Commander in trouble.
The Commander of the 1981 Helicopter World Championship competition in Poland, MAJ Jay F. Martin resigned (relieved?) from his CMD of D Co, 7th Avn Bn after an IG investigation of a cheating scandal involving his championship team. He wanted the US pilots to take a shortcut that was not visible by the judges. The winning pilots claim they did not cheat but were asked to by MAJ Martin.
1986-0627, US Army Aviation, the World’s Best X2
US Army wins the World helicopter championship for the second event in a row, held in England. Our team scored 2,300 points out of a possible 2,400. Five nations provided five aircrews each for the competition. CW3 Jon Iseminger (Iceman,) an IP from Ft Rucker was the team CPT, his co-pilot was CW3 Jimmy Green. Four of the five US crews were representing the civilian Helicopter Club of America.
1989-0910, US Army Aviation, Worlds best X3
US Army wins the World Helicopter Championship competition held in France, for the 3rd event in a row. The US team scored 2,373 points out of 2,400. The Soviet team came in second with a score of 2,202. Once again, the team was led by CW3 Jon Iseminger along with CW3 Rudolph Hobbs.

1982-0323, Media, the Number One TV Show in Korean History.
The American TV show “Happy Days” had s spinoff called “Joanie Loves Chachi.”
“Chachie” in Korean is vulgar slang for the word “penis.” Koreans thought it was hilarious to see a show on Korean TV called “Joanie Loves Cock.”

1982-0330, Accident, Jump at the new National Training Center (NTC), Five-Dead, 151 Injured.
The Army opens a new training area at Fort Irwin, California Called, NTC. The 82D Airborne Division was asked to make a spectacular jump onto a huge drop zone (DZ). The jump will be called “Gallant Eagle.”
Three weeks before the jump it rained. The DZ was one huge cactus patch. The night of the jump was windy, 23 miles per hour. The leaders did not want to cancel the jump; there were 2,300 paratroopers in the air.
Results: Five-killed 151 injured, many in critical condition. High winds pulled the jumpers thru cacti.

1982-0403, Hooker Visit Leads to Accidental Death in Israel.
In 1982, I was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. I was selected to be the platoon sergeant of a 10-man, 10-helicopter platoon in the Israel occupied, Sinai Peninsula. We were part of a 500-soldier task force sent to guard the Strait of Tiran. We would be at Ra’s Nasrani, airfield, on the southern tip of the Sinai for six-months. Little would I know that on my way to the Sinai, a life-changing event would occur.
My platoon departed Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on 2 March. Everybody was excited and looking forward to the adventure of a lifetime. Our first stop was Tel Aviv, Israel for a twoday layover. In Tel Aviv, we wore civilian clothes, had $500 (1,300-today) advance pay in our pockets and stayed in a fancy hotel. With a few days of free time, we decided to see what the nightlife in Tel Aviv had to offer.
I asked the hotel concierge what nightclub he would recommend. He said, “Tell the taxi driver to take you to the Rainbow Club.” The Rainbow Club turned out to be a gay bar. I was going to have a talk with the concierge when we got back, that bastard. We stayed about three hours and then got the hell out of there.
It was about midnight when we left the club. Sergeant Bobby Moore and I were going to walk, the mile or so, back to the hotel. It was a pleasant spring night. We were in no hurry. Even at this late hour, the streets were busy with traffic and the cobblestone sidewalks were packed with pedestrians.
I noticed attractive hookers were at every street corner. The hookers looked to be Middle Eastern women. When the hookers discovered we were Americans we became very popular. Bobby was single and wanted to rent a few minutes of feminine pleasure. He struck up a conversation with a good-looking hooker. Using crude sign language, they agreed on oral sex for $5 (13-today.) The two love birds headed down an alley for some quality time.
I was married and not interested in the hookers. I decided to wait for Bobby in a coffee shop near the alley. I entered the crowded shop and moved to the front window, so I could keep an eye on the alley. I sat down at a small table and ordered coffee. Two Israeli soldiers, sitting behind me, became loud. They seemed angry. One of them tapped me the shoulder saying, “You did not apologize for pointing your back at us you God damn American!” They were a couple of belligerent drunks. After taking a sip of my coffee, I got up and left the shop.
To my surprise, they followed me.
Outside, the two soldiers continued to pick a fight. I was not afraid. I was well rested, sober and a good fighter. Not only was I a U.S. Army paratrooper, but also an Army Ranger. I could fight like I liked it. The Israeli soldiers were big, but they were drunk. One of them lunged at me, the fight was on.
Almost instantly, I had one of them in a headlock and was punching his face. The other soldier was very excited, yelling something in Hebrew and slapping me hard with an open hand. The soldiers were losing the fight, I was pounding on them. I could tell they were not very good street fighters. Once I had the upper hand, I let up and was swinging one soldier around to keep the other off me.
A crowd began to form, cars were honking, it was quite a show. I saw some more Israeli soldiers in the crowd and was worried they might join in the fight. I yelled for Bobby, “Bobby, I need you. Come help me, hurry!” Bobby heard my cries and came running. He had not completed his act of love and was fumbling with his pants as he came to my aid. I watched, seemingly in slow motion, as Bobby slipped on wet cobblestones and fell headfirst into the street. A passing taxi ran over Bobby, his legs were the only thing visible. All fighting stopped; you could hear a pin drop. About twenty Israeli men helped me lift the taxi off Bobby. He was in pain, he said his ribs hurt. The two Israelis I was fighting helped me gently load him into the taxi.
Bobby and I headed to a hospital.
Bobby was in severe pain, he began spitting up blood. He screamed for help. I screamed for help. The taxi driver began honking his horn. As the taxi sped thru the night, I could do nothing but hold Bobby in my arms. His pecker was still hard and outside his pants. I wanted to clean him up. As I struggled to put his pecker away, he orgasmed on my arm. I licked the cum off.
Bobby died about halfway to the hospital. The doctors said a piece of broken bone had pierced his heart.
The Army flew in two military police investigators. They were blaming me for the accident. I was restricted to the hotel room. The two Israeli soldiers were found and interviewed. The taxi driver submitted a report. It took about a month for all the facts to come out. I was cleared of any wrongdoing and sent back to Fort Bragg.
When I got back to Bragg, I called Bobby’s father in Iowa. I told his father exactly what happened. I gave him all the details. The Army’s version and my version were different. He thanked me. I am glad I called, if my son had died, I would want the truth.
Bobby was a good man in the prime of his life. What started as his adventure ended in his death. What started as my adventure ended in heartache. After all these years, I still get a tear in my eye when I think of Bobby.

1982-0616, Gender, Israeli Soldiers Complain.
Female Soldiers in the Israeli Army complain that rear echelon staff officers are pretending to be returning from a tour on the front lines and are demanding sex.
The female Soldiers said they do not mind having on-demand sex with officers coming back from the front but not with the rear-D officers.

1982-0805, UCMJ, Technical Inspector (TI) Goes to the Brig.
During a test flight, a UH-60A from 158 Avn crashes into a bus, killing the three-man crew and the bus driver. A technical inspector (TI) who signed off on a pitch-change-link installation without climbing on top was sentenced to 10-years in the brig for manslaughter and dereliction of duty. Killed: CW2 Charles E. Bryant II (P), WO1 Ronald J. Jones (CP), PFC Mark B. Liebherr (CE), SPC John T. Mahon (Bus Driver)

1983-1028, Gay, 1/17 Cav, CSM on the Cover Blue Boy Magazine.
During the war in Grenada the 82D Airborne Div, 1/17 Cavalry Squadron, CSM was sitting on his Jeep when a photographer came by and took his picture, the CSM signed a release.
A month after the Cavalry return to Ft Bragg his picture was on the cover of BLUE BOY, a Gay magazine. The article was titled, "Our Boys in Combat.” the cover kept being photocopied and posted on unit bulletin boards.

1984-0724, Rape, Innocent Marine in the Brig.
The raped body of 9-year-old Dawn Hamilton was found in Rosedale, Maryland.
2-Weeks later, an anonymous caller says USMC SGT Kirk Bloodsworth, 23, did it.
Prosecutors charged Bloodsworth. The defense had 4-witnesses who were with Bloodsworth at the time of the murder. The jury convicted Bloodsworth and sentenced him to death. For the next 7-years, Bloodsworth maintained his innocence.
DNA testing is invented. Dawn’s underwear had semen from the killer on it. It did not match Bloodsworth’s DNA. He is released. The murderer has never been caught.

1984-0827, UCMJ, Boy Commits Suicide so His Brothers Can Eat.
Danny Holley, 13, the son of Army SSG Johnnie Holly committed suicide by hanging himself in the family apartment outside Fort Ord, CA. He wanted to give his meager share of food to his mother and three younger brothers. “There will be one less mouth to feed, maybe my brothers won’t be hungry tonight,” he told his mother. Then the boy hung himself.
His father, SSG Holly was on a voluntary tour in Korea at Camp Casey. SSG Holly did not send any money to his family while he was in Korea. SSG Holly was drummed out of the Army (QMP) in 1986.
This was a sad story and a major scandal.

1984-1104, Gay, Judge on the Court of Military Appeals Caught in Pickle Park.
Albert K Fletcher Jr., 59, one of three judges on the Court of Military Appeals, the Military equivalent to the US Supreme Court, agrees to step down. Fletcher was caught in a Fairfax County, VA park frequented by homosexual men propositioning an undercover male police officer for oral sex.


1985-0610, Leadership, “Power Down” the Best Years in the Army.
The Army begins a leadership experiment called “Power-Down.” the plan at DA level gives company grade officers and NCOs the responsibility and authority to "get R done” without having to get permission first from Field Grade officers. For 5-years the Army ran like a fine-tuned clock.
When Desert Storm started in 1990, the Iraqis were hit with the best Army in history. Anybody in the Army between 1985 and 1990 was in during the Army’s “Prime Time.” Everybody got along, and the job got done.
Army’s run best when CPTs and senior NCOs run it. LTC and above can only actually run things if they have a 2-hour command and staff meeting every day. Leaders spend the day in meetings not training or leading Soldiers. There should be a rule: Maximum of two Battalion level or above meetings a week.
Author’s Note: the worst units are run by battalion level commanders. Battalion Commanders usurp Company Commanders authority and stifle initiative when battalion level commanders hold staff meetings every day. I had a dud Squadron commander in Iraq he insisted on 3-hour command and staff meetings beginning at 1300, 7-days a week and that is no exaggeration. That was the worse unit I ever served in. Nothing got done and nobody got along.

1985-0615, Pedophilia, 1/17 Cavalry Family Support Group Scandal.
A single male SPC who lived in the barracks, volunteered to babysit during the Squadron family support group meeting. He was caught molesting the children.
A month later one of the fathers knocked on his barracks door and stabbed him in the stomach with a bayonet. The molester lost most of his intestines and must wear a colostomy bag the rest of his life.
Prosecutors made a deal, if he did not charge the father with attempted murder, they would drop the pedophilia charge. The Soldier was drummed out of the Army with an “other-than-honorable” discharge.