Logo or best-known symbol of the USSF (U.S. Special Forces ") is undoubtedly his green beret, both so that the group is commonly known under that name, diffusion, in which the writer worked hard Robin Moore, the film of the same name starring the legendary John Wayne and of course, the berets ballad Green, written by Sergeant Barry Sadler while recovering from war wounds in Vietnam.
The idea of \u200b\u200bthe green beret as the official pledge is attributed to Herbert Brucker and Roger Masters of the 10th Pezzele HAFS ("Special Force Group, Airborne), but berets of various colors have already been used by small groups of soldiers from the Colonel Aaron Bank formed the group of the USSF. Bank
died on April 1, 2004 with 101.
was in the late summer of 1952 when the two captains were the idea of \u200b\u200bcarrying a beret for everyday use along with the camouflage uniform, being in charge of buying Pezzele some Green Berets (in the style of the British Commandos) in Canada.
Before the shipment arrived, the 10th HAFS was deployed in Germany, so when berets arrived at Fort Bragg, were members of the 77th HAFS who began to hold, buy more units soon after.
Naturally, the men of the 10th learned of it and ordered a supply of berets to a company in Munich.
Although at that time was illegal, as it was not officially approved their use, (the official pledge was "Ridgeway cap", a version Rigid M 1951 "field cup" used in Korea), two years after the berets began to be used increasingly and publicly, in Bad Tölz and in Ft Bragg.
In late 1954 an attempt was made to legalize the beret. Col. Edson Raff commander "Phychological Warfare Center at Fort Bragg asked permission to do so but never received a reply. Then the last day of 1955 he was responsible for authorizing the beret of Canadian manufacturing for local use as a test to determine their suitability, but nevertheless, General Paul D. Adams banned the following year. The Pentagon thought that it looked like a unit foreign.
Still, the men continued to use it in campaign and exercises, but it would not be used again in an open in Fort Bragg until 1961.
Members of the Virginia National Guard's 16th HAFS during their annual training at Ft Bragg. July 1960.
Meanwhile, in 1954 in Europe, Colonel William Ekman new commander of the 10th HAFS granted approval to the beret for local use and assigned to Captain Brucker purchases that were made in France and berets that were purchased in 1955 . The men of the 10th were able to continue wearing the beret for the rest of the decade of the 50 'no few problems. Likewise, the 1th HAFS could also use the locally beret, as it was approved for use after its founding in 1957.
During the decade of the 50'se made several attempts to approve its use officially, but all were rejected.
Brigadier General. William Yarborough, chief of the Special Warfare Centre from 1960 to 1965, was the key man to finally achieve approval of the use of the beret. The General knew the practical value of the uniform and distinctive insignia for specialized units, as during World War II, official test as Airborne Command, developed the design of jump boots, the parachutist badge, and their own uniforms worn by the paratroopers.
Gen. Chester Clifton Yarborough mate at West Point and then military adviser to President Kennedy, who went through the final approval was obtained from the use of the beret, which was designated as exclusive garment for use of the USSF on 25 September 1961.
When Kennedy visited Fort Bragg in October 1961 to attend the exercises, the men (including General Yarborough), and wore a beret.
The President, who was impressed authorized its use in an official uniform law on 10 December that same year.
In a letter dated 11 April 1962, called the beret as a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage and a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom
"De Opresso freedom"
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