green berets and their role in essays

green berets and their role in essays The Green Berets and Their Role in Vietnam The United Staes Army Special Forces is perhaps the most well-known, respected and feared divison of the U.S. military. More commonly, known as the Green Berets, referring to their distincive headgear, the Special Forces represent the upper echelon of military training and commitment. The Green Berets rose in popularity during the Vietnam War, where they fought bravely, especially during the infamous Tet Offensive. The Green Berets are mentioned briefly in Tim O Briens The Things They Carried, in his short story Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong. Although mentioned briefly, the Green Berets are central figures in the story and are accurately portrayed with an aire of mystery and menace surrounding them. The history of the United States Army Special Forces is a relatively short one. The creation of the forces can be traced back to World War II. The 1st Special Service Force of World War II is considered the antecedent of the present day U.S. Army Special Forces. In 1942, great britain introduced a plan concieved by an English civilian named Geoffrey N. Pike. The plan, nicknamed PLOUGH, was to attack and destroy hydroelectric plants in Norway that the Germans depended on for mining ore. The special forces were formed as an elite group that was trained for combat in irregular conditions, as well as in the use of the new equipment (a tracked vehicle known as the Weasel designed by American manufacturers) needed for the mission. The men were trained in demolitions, rock-climbing, amphibious assault, skiing, and were given airborne instruction as well. This new unit became a separate branch of the service, and fought with remarkable success. After their intial mission in Norway, the unit carried out battles in North Africa, Italy, and Southern France bravely and fircely gaining the nickname "The Devil's Brigade" (CMH 4). The force was inactivated in southern France n...