Applicants for membership in the Special Forces Association must provide supporting documentation to prove eligibility. The documentation provided should leave no doubt as to the applicant’s eligibility to avoid delays in processing. Applications received without documentation will be returned as incomplete.

For Decade and General Members: Supporting documents must accompany all applications submitted which provide undeniable proof of Special Forces qualification. Examples of documents include the DD-214, Graduation Certificate from SFQC/SFOC, orders assigning a SF MOS, and SF Tab orders. Form 20, ERB, or ORB demonstrating assignment history is recommended for Decade member applicants. More than one document substantiating qualification is recommended. Simply being assigned to a Special Forces coded position does not denote SF qualification. In some rare instances from the Vietnam era, proof of qualification may be difficult to obtain. The SFA can assist potential applicants in submitting for the awarding of a Special Forces Tab which will prove eligibility. The Special Forces Proponency office at Ft. Bragg reviews historical documents and documents provided by applicants to determines if personnel are eligible for awarding of the SF Tab based on AR 600-8-22 which states:

The SF Tab may be awarded retroactively to all personnel who performed the following wartime service.

1. From 1942 through 1973. Served with a Special Forces unit during wartime and were either unable to or not required to attend a formal program of instruction but were awarded SQI “S”, “3?, or “5G” by competent authority.
2. Prior to 1954. The SF Tab may be awarded prior to 1955 for at least 120 consecutive days in one of the following organizations:
a.  1st Special Service Force, August 1942 to December 1944.
b.  OSS Detachment 101, April 1942 to September 1945.
c.  OSS Jedburgh Detachments, May 1944 to May 1945.
d.  OSS Operational Groups, May 1944 to May 1945.
e.  OSS Maritime Unit, April 1942 to September 1945.
f.  6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit (Alamo Scouts), February 1944 to September 1945.
g.  8240th Army Unit, June 1950 to July 1953.
3. From 1954 through 1975. Any company grade officer or enlisted member awarded the CIB or CMB while serving for at least 120 consecutive days in one of the following type organizations:
a.  SF Operational Detachment-A (A–Team).
b.  Mobile Strike Force.
c.  SF Reconnaissance Team.
d.  SF Special Project Unit.

For Associate Members: Applicants for Associate Membership must have served for at least two years with an SF unit, served in a combat zone with SF for at least six months, or have contributed in a unique and definable way if the time periods are not met. Supporting documents must accompany all applications submitted demonstrating the assignment of the applicant and his significant contribution to the SF mission. Examples of assignment proof include the Form 20, ERB, ORB, or assignment orders to a Special Forces Unit or operation in direct support of Special Forces Operations. Additionally, the applicant must submit two letters of recommendation from SF/SFA members who have first hand knowledge of the applicant’s significant contribution.

(1 July 2014 – 30 June 2016)

The Board of Officers for the Special Forces Association are elected by the Active Membership of the Association every two years.

Many of the Special Forces Soldiers memorialized here were members of this chapter, some were not, but were connected to us by service or by Home of Record and are buried here.

January
1/19 Chapter Meeting (Portland)

February
2/16 Chapter Meeting (Salem)

March
3/16 Chapter Meeting (Portland)

April
4/1 Chapter Scholarship Application D/L
4/10 Frederick Award Presentation (OSU/WOU ROTC)
4/20 Chapter Meeting (Salem)

May
5/10 Ft Kennedy Fundraiser @ Stadiums Sport Bar
5/16 Frederick Award Presentation (U of O/SOU ROTC)
5/18 Chapter Annual Meeting (Portland)

June
6/15 Chapter Meeting (Salem)

July
7/19 – 7/20 Chapter Picnic (Astoria)

August
8/13 – 8/18 National Conference and Annual Meeting
8/17 Chapter Meeting (Salem)
8/25 Fort Kennedy Cruise In & Motorcycle ride

September
9/21 Chapter Meeting (Portland)

October
10/19 Chapter Meeting (Salem)

November
11/16 Chapter Meeting (Portland)

December
12/7 Annual Dining-out Dinner and Dance (Salem)
12/9 – 9/13 Menton Days (JBLM and Tacoma)

Chapter 47 membership is diverse, with members who have served in every conflict in the last half century.

BRADLY T. AIMONE D-6282

GEORGE J. ALLEN D-7038

JOSEPH A. AMICARELLA D-3693

IRA H. ANDERSON JR A-930

MICHAEL C. ASH M-14111

ANDREW J. BAKKER M-13442

BYRON R. BARNETT A-935

BOB BEISNER M-9382

BRIAN J. BOQUIST D-6056

JEROME E. BOWDLE D-3694

JOHN W. BOYCE D-3839

JOE N BRENISER M-9557

DAVID L BROCK M-8046

WELDON T. BURTON M-13670

JOHN R. BUTLER M-13671

CLIFFORD D. CANUCCI D-9059

MATTHEW S. CAREY M-13033

ROGER L CHERRY D-3553

PATRICK J. CHRISTIAN D-9071

JON C. COMINI M-1650

PETER S. CORNACCHIA M-13902

WILLIAM M. CUNNINGHAM M-5359

THOMAS A. DAVIES M-13982

IVAN D DAVIS D-1854

JAMES M DAY D-6648

MARC DE PASQUALE M-13082

IAN T. DEELEY M-1038

DANNY DEITZ D-3842

GARY M. DOUGLAS A-1012

PAUL F. DRUSE D-8935

RANDALL A. ESPINOSA A-3956

KEITH M. EVEY M-14055

GARY S. FADDEN A-913

MICHAEL FARRELL D-3781

DONALD A. FEAKIN D-3811

M. STEVEN FISHMAN D-4587

MICHAEL L. FOSS D-8642

PAUL L. FOSTER D-4952

PETER C. FOWLER M-7976

ARDEN JAY GAGE JR D-8831

CHARLES F. GLIDDEN M-11076

WILLIAM E GRITZBAUGH M-7809

FRANK M. GRONBERG M-13567

DAVID G. HANCOCK D-2534

ROBERT L. HAWLEY, JR M-9675

JAMES J HEFFELFINGER A-2279

PAUL L HENDERSON D-3960

FLOYD E HOLCOM D-6010

ALAN J. HORTON M-5461

ALAN D. JOHNSON M-8421

RUSSELL S. JONES D-8549

ROBERT E. KAUFFMAN D-3691

JAMES L. KETROW A-4055

DENNIS E. KLEIN D-3695

JESS H. KNOWLAND A-932

RAYMOND E. KNOX D-2940

DONNIE G LEDFORD M-7462

DAVID P. LEHRFELD M-13986

BENJAMIN L. LONG M-369

STEVEN M. LUCAS M-14110

SIDNEY K. MACKEN D-8537

JOHN D. MACPHAIL A-2654

JOSEPH MARZUCCO M-9180

DOUGLAS J. MCGILLIVRAY M-5972

JOHN M. MCINNIS D-3959

FREDERICK B. MCKENZIE M-2775

JAMES C MCNAMARA M-4831

AARON J. MCNELLY M-12376

DENNIS C. McVEY M-13381

OSCAR MEDRANO D-2094

GREGORY A MEILING D-2261

KEVIN C. MILLER M-5362

JAMES W. MITCHEM M-9104

MICHAEL J. MONTGOMERY M-13686

MICHAEL A. PARKER M-13538

MICHAEL J. PECK D-9047

LARRY J. POUND M-4629

JERALD M. POWELL D-5752

GLENN F. PREMER M-12163

GENE L. RAPPE M-13580

MICHAEL T RHODE M-8680

GEORGE L.M. RUPP D-3774

LARRY D SCHIED D-3958

JOEL F. SCOTT M-14109

ROBERT A. SHAW M-14116

JOHN A. SKALOS M-4022

ROGERS C. SMITH D-6280

JOHN STEINBAUGH D-8910

MONTIE D STEPHENS D-3942

STEPHEN P. SUMMERS D-3791

FRANK J TONEY JR D-5426

ANTHONY L. TYCER A-966

JOSEPH F. VERING D-7569

DUANE D. VINCENT A-4381

WILLIAM M WALDRON M-8486

STEPHEN J. WALKER D-4721

KENNETH R. WALTON A-1178

CHARLES M. WARD M-13997

BRUCE E. WATSON M-13983

STUART WEBER M-9031

GENE C. WILLIAMS M-13981

HONORATO YACAPIN M-10218

PAUL D. ZAHARKO M-1701

MICHAEL A. ZAVOSKY M-5589

JANIS I. ZUMENTS M-91

News

Chapter 47 has successfully lobbied the Oregon DMV to issue a Special Forces Veteran motor vehicle license plate. Unfortunately, the State of Oregon hasn’t yet permitted any veteran’s motorcycle plate, but we’ll keep working for it.

The Oregon SF Veterans plate is available only to veterans who can verify their status as veterans, and as SF Tab holders, (or “Q” course graduates) on a DD214 or its equivalent.

The license plate features a Special Forces Shoulder patch with Special Forces tab.


The license plate is available from any Oregon DMV office with a new or renewal license application, your qualifying DD214, and about two a week processing delay.

Events

November 15, 2014 : Chapter 47 lunch and general meeting

1300 hrs
Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grill
515 SW Carolina St.,
Portland, OR 97239

January 17, 2015 : Chapter 47 lunch and general meeting

1300 hrs
Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grill
515 SW Carolina St.,
Portland, OR 97239

March 21, 2015 : Chapter 47 lunch and general meeting

1300 hrs
Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grill
515 SW Carolina St.,
Portland, OR 97239

May 16, 2015 : Chapter 47 lunch and general meeting

1300 hrs
Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grill
515 SW Carolina St.,
Portland, OR 97239

June 4–10, 2015 : Special Forces Association Annual
Conference and Convention

Red Lion Inn on the Columbia River
Portland, OR

Below is the Members Only SFA Merchandise Order Form. To pay by credit card, you must call Cliff Newman at: 910-485-5433
or you can pay by check and mail to:

Special Forces Association
PO Box 41436
Fayetteville, NC 28309-1436

Merchandise Order Form

You may also order other SFA products at the official SFA Store

Special Forces Association Membership is an opportunity for camaraderie and commerce with the few of us who have “lived a life of danger” and who have come out the other side.

As an Association member you’ll receive a quarterly edition of the “DROP”, the journal of the Special Forces Association and access to the annual Convention (the 2015 edition of which will be in Portland Oregon).

As a member of chapter 47, you’ll be on our chapter email distribution, and eligible for our chapter linked-In group. Chapter members are involved in many events and initiatives in Oregon and Washington, and can connect you to the networks that extend out from our core of chapter members.


Apply Now

A Brief History of How the Special Forces Association was Formed

[As told by COL (Ret) Sully de Fontaine; Distinguished Member of the Regiment (DMOR)]

In May 1964, I came back from the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) with my A Team and was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group S-2 shop at Fort Bragg, NC. After a week, I was called by the Group Commander, COL Roye, old OSS Soldier and a friend. He assigned me as the commander of Detachment C – Delta, on a temporary status, until a field grader could be made available. So as a Captain, I then took command of Team Delta and my SGM was Gregory Mateo. I had old SF types in the team such as Montgomery, Seyer, Yosich, and many others. With these NCOs around, I had no trouble running the C Unit.

At the end of May, SGM Mateo and a group of NCOs came into my office and presented me with the idea to form an organization for Special Forces members. I agreed with them; after all, organizations were in place for Airborne, OSS, etc. I showed them the monthly newsletter that I had just received from the British, French, and Belgian SAS. SGM Mateo and MSGT Montgomery took the lead and I joined them in presenting the idea to COL Roye. The COL was all for it and told us to go to the 18th Abn Corps for final approval.

When we got together to discuss how to run the organization, many ideas surfaced. They were all NCOs and insisted that ten years in SF assignments should be the base for membership. Other qualifications were presented and accepted: OSS; 8240th Army Unit; Operation White Star. Discussion was
also made about what we would call each other. I proposed that we call each other by rank (British influence). I never forgot the reaction to that! Mateo just said, “NO WAY!” There were about 20 of us there at that meeting.

Now I want to say, if credit has to be given to any one individual for the formation of this organization, it should go first of all to “Doc” Montgomery. He succeeded in getting the first By Laws written and accepted by the 18th Abn Corps.

At our second meeting, about 40 of us got together. The name “Decade” was introduced and accepted. We were to be known as the “US Special Forces Decade Club”. (Again, British influence… “Special Forces Club”, London, UK). Discussion went into what numbers should be given to individuals. Here came my surprise when Doc Montgomery came to me and asked me what number I wanted. I said “#7”. He said, “You got it”. To my amazement, they all lined up after me. Mateo #8, Montgomery #9, and so on. One of the reasons that I chose #7 was that I thought that some officers senior to me and qualified for Decade should have the low numbers. I remember presenting a list to Montgomery of who I thought should have the #1 to #6: Herbe Brucker; John Striegel; Pete Walkonski; Louis Conein; Sam Amoto.

Here are some of the names that I remember from the first two meetings, which took place in the day room of Detachment C Delta: Mateo; Montgomery; Seyer; Yosich; Linchoten; Xaiden; Licon; Vukovich; Nolte; Shevchenko; Manuel; Hoskins; Bizaillon; Borkowski; Dean; Fafek; Ruddy; Davis; Grant; Mancuso; Duffield; England; Waugh. Sorry if I missed some. They were all NCOs and none of them took a number below #7.

“if credit has to be given to one individual for the formation of the organization, it should go first to ‘Doc’ Montgomery”

If I recall correctly, Major “Crafty” Croft arrived and took over the C Team in July 1964 and I took over B-41 and prepared for deployment to RVN. At a third meeting of the organization, I was asked to be the President. I had to decline, since I had just received orders to the 7th SF on a classified mission. Mateo told me that he would keep the ball rolling. But I must say that after that meeting, I lost track of the organization.

In August 1964, I received an “SF Decade Association” certificate dated August 15, 1964, signed by Daniel Weddington, Secretary. I wondered who had changed the name and who the President was. But I felt that the organization was moving ahead, since they were issuing certificates.

After my TDY, I came back to 5th SF, took command of my B Team, and deployed to RVN. Now in the middle of 1965, I heard through the rumor mill that because all of the original members had rotated, the Association was not doing well. That is when I asked Herbe Bruckere to become involved. Herbe was an old friend who after years in the RVN AID program, was ready to go back to Bragg and retire. I explained to Herbe the reason for the Association and told him that he was more than qualified to join. (He was in the OSS from 1943 to 1945; 10th SF from 1952 to 1957’ UW Department from 1957 to 1960; and White Star from 1960 to 1962.) Since Herbe was making his home in Fayetteville, I thought that a steady presence would be the major factor for future success. Herbe told me that he would look into it and keep me posted in the future.

And that is when the Association, for all practical purposes, started to be a viable organization. Herbe and his wife Lilo started a monthly newsletter and put all their efforts to the benefit of the Decade Association. Lilo single handedly typed all the letters and mailed them to the members, at least until 1972. I remember the newsletter of February 1972, because Herbe congratulated me on the birth of my son.

I feel that we do owe a lot to the late Herbe and his wife Lilo. They put their talent and their perseverance into starting the Drop, which is now a revered publication. Herbe started the BBC section based on the WWII communication system that the British Broadcasting Corporation established to communicate with the underground in occupied countries. It later became the “Bugged Bami Bi” beer can for RVN sake.