Photography by John Michael

Risks and Costs

“There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” – John Fitzgerald Kennedy

A President is Laid to Rest

Eternal Flame at President Kennedy's Grave

25 NOV 1963 -  The world was focused on Washington DC and Arlington National Cemetery, for the United States of America was paying final honors to it’s fallen President.

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From the "Watchmen" speech…

- John F. Kennedy


The speech was never delivered as the “Watchman” was assasinated on 22 NOV 1963 on his way to the “walls”.

A Rare Coincidence… Dual Missions…

The day began with that “perfect” final honors I wrote about earlier at Arlington National Cemetery. The day for the soldiers of the 3d Infantry Regiment – The Old Guard – – began earlier their day with a regimen of physical training, then at 1000, the preparations for the two missions at 1500 in Arlington National Cemetery for MG Alvin C Welling, US Army (Ret) and RADML Chauncey F. Hoffman US Navy (Ret).

I found one section of the Presidential Salute Battery at a location between the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and President John F. Kennedy’s grave. The other section was on the other side of the hill to the North. The rain poured down as the soldiers waited for the commo call to begin their mission, and off in the distance, one could hear the other battery section firing the salutes for the Admiral.

It was minutes later that the soldiers around me got into formation and we saw the procession to the South of us for General Welling. When the commo call came through the guns fired. The photo you see above is the first round in that mission.

Despite all the rain and cold, both sections executed their missions with precision & perfection.

“Guns go long…”

45 Years Ago – Losing JFK – Part 2

At 1:00 p.m., CST, after all heart activity had ceased and after a priest administered the last rites, the President was pronounced dead. We were dismissed from school and over the next few days, the citizens of the United States and the world were in shock that this occurred.

The sadness that enveloped the free world was monumental at the loss of this patriot and hero of WW II who saved his crew of PT109 and ended up as Commander-in-Chief.

45 Years Ago – Losing JFK – Part 1

It was today, the 22nd of NOVEMBER 1963 the event that shocked the United States and the world. I recall vividly while sitting in a classroom, the “voice from above” (we never knew who was on the intercom) announced that the President had been shot in Dallas…

NEW EBAY LISTINGS

Happy Birthday US ARMY GREEN BERETS!

The origins of the US Army Special Forces came from the First Special Service Force – A WW II combined United States – Canadian unit and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). It was the initial efforts of Major General Robert A. McClure that brought about special warfare within the US Army and the Special Forces in the early 1950s.

Those early SF troops surreptitiously wore the green beret as a way of distinguishing themselves from the rest of the Army.

In the early 1960s, then Brigadier General William P. Yarborough had the future vision of the role of the Special Forces in winning the war. Much as he tried to work with the chain of command to make it happen, he couldn’t get “THE BRASS” to move in that direction. His classmate from West Point, Major General Chester V. Clifton just so happened to be President Kennedy’s military aide. The two Generals orchestrated a visit on this day 12 OCT 1961 to Fort Bragg, NC – the home of the 82d Airborn Division. The real mission was to see the Special Forces in action.

The men provided President Kennedy a demonstration of their tactics. And during the review, they all wore their GREEN BERETS. The President was much impressed by this display and when he asked BG Yarborough how the men liked their green berets, the General responded that they liked them very much. It was that day with words most remembered that President Kennedy acknowledged that the US Army Special Forces were Special and authorized the wearing of the green berets.

The composite below highlights the historic meeting (47 years ago today!) and includes the autographed copy of the collage that President Kennedy sent to LTG Yarborough.

A print of the above composite including the autographed collage that hung in LTG Yarborough’s office for over 30 years is available for purchase.

400 PLUS Pieces of snail mail

It was a bit overwhelming when the pages and pages of labels came out of the printer as I prepared to alert the members of the Washington DC Special Forces Association that it was time for them to get in their Christmas Card Orders, along with informing them that I had turned the collage commemorating the President John F. Kennedy meeting of then BG Wm P. Yarborough into cards. If you remember, this collage sent by the President has been nestled away for over 40 yrs and is now part of the Special Forces Association collection.

A portion of the profits made from the sale of those cards will be donated back to the US Army Special Forces Association.

SFA notecard Personalization offer was also included. We’ ll see how full the Post Office Box is in a few days since the mailing went out today.

Major Milestone in US Army Special Forces History

A History Flashback —

It was 46 years ago today that an historic event occurred on Ft. Bragg, NC — President John F. Kennedy and then BG William P. Yarborough met while the President was reviewing the US Army Special Forces. Arranged through the cooperation of General Yarborough’s West Point classmate, then MG Chester V. Clifton, Jr., who was the military aide to the President, the meeting had several signifcant outcomes. The photo to the left is an image of the autographed collage that JFK sent to General Yarborough after the meeting. The collage hung in the general’s home office for over 30 years.

A significant part of US Army military history, for it was that day, JFK recognized the importance of the Special Forces and funding was secured to continue the mission to make them a crucial part of the US Army. Now some 50 years later, the US Army Special Forces are the elite … the best of the best!

It was also the day that the Special Forces were all in their green berets a distinction that the President himself authorized as part of their official uniform, since they are really Special!

Before the collage was donated to hang in a museum, John Michael was allowed to scan the original to carry out his mission of “Preserving the memories, so others will remember…” From that high resolution image, to commemorate this event, John Michael has created a selection of notecards, greeting cards, photo cards — or even reprints of the collage. The story about the event and it’s significance is printed on the back of the cards. The text appears in an image to the right.

A portion of the profits from the sale of these items is donated to the Special Forces Association.