American Airborne In Operation Torch

Plus or minus 80 years ago, the 509th PIR was the first American unit authorized to wear a Beret for their headgear (maroon). After the war, the practice was discontinued for many years. When President Kennedy authorized the Green Beret for Special Forces (1961/62), Airborne units began campaigning for the right to wear a beret. Tradition still hold today with Airborne troops wearing the maroon beret (authorized in 1973).

1SG Russell Scott - They sure did! . . .

1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR) - Correct . . .

I took the OCS exam at BCT and was accepted for OCS. When I'd been at infantry AIT for four weeks, our CO called OCS guys into his office and told us that if we didn't have a 4-year degree, OCS was out. He then told the college ops that if they didn't want to go, the army would cut there commitment from three years to two and give them the stateside assignment of their choice after AIT. About half took him up on the offer. He explained that with the Vietnam War winding down, there was going to be a RIF in the '70s and that they were starting by cutting accessions.

It was good for me that happened. If I had gone to OCS then (1) I probably wouldn't have made it or (2) if I did, I'd have been RIF'ed in '74. By '78 I was a secondary zone select for E-7 with nearly five years in grade as an E-6 and they had reduced the college requirement for OCS to two years. I had completed 69 semester hours via CLEP and night school and met the requirement. Moreover, OCS had been cut from 26 weeks to 14. Grads went to the Officer Basic Course as LTs just like ROTC and USMA officers.

Getting cut back in April of '70 was the best thing that could have happened to me. . . .

Thanks for your story and glad you made it through the Army ok. i was one of 8 that was picked to be drafted by the marines in Dallas had my ticket to San Diego in June 69 and right before we were to leave for Love Field airport the MP's brought two men in that had been skipping Reserve meeting and were putting them back on active duty. i was one of the two chosen to switch to the Army. I would have probably wound up Infantry on the DMZ as many were getting killed at the time in 69. i would have never got the job i had because the Marines don't have one like I I did at the time in Korea either Land major Communications Centers were operated by the Army and AF navy i think maybe there was Navy one in Hawaii. They kept calling me mate LOL when we communicated with each other and not sure about Japan. I had three years of College 89 hours 90 to finish JR year which is why I was drafted for being behind. I guess I was a behind for being behind but if on time i would have graduated in 70 not married and would have been in your boat then LOl. At least my time no one was shooting at me. in Korea and I have said this before and I am not sure anyone believes me but berceuse I was the only one with the highest clearance the government has in all of the Seoul area and even south of there I was continually warned i was a prime kidnap candidate. I would have just as well been shot and killed as to be kidnapped by the North Korean's. The job was voluntary as all jobs in my level of Communications were. My job in Leavenworth they would only allow one to work three months and then get time off on another duty. Anyway thanks for your post your early service is interesting.