Trafford Publishing: Top Secret Missions

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Top Secret Missions

by John E. Malone

290 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-1014; ISBN 1-4120-0644-9; US$24.50, C$28.00, EUR20.00, £14.00

Military history of the elite 400th US Army Security Agency Special Operations Detachment Airborne assigned to support the 1st Special Forces Group (Abn) on Okinawa is chronicled in this book.

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About the Book

PROLOGUE

    A total of two hundred and eight American soldiers served with the 400th USASA SOD (Abn) between 1962 and 1975. The US Army Security Agency assigned the men of this unit both Top Secret classified and covert missions. Their operations were conducted under surreptitious conditions for security reasons. All of the 400th ASA SOD members were three time volunteers: first of all, they volunteered for their U.S. Army assignments; secondly, each had to volunteer and successfully complete the US Army Airborne Training School; and thirdly, each had to volunteer to serve with the new ASA Special Operations Detachments. A majority of the enlisted men selected for assignment to the 400th ASA SOD were from the top five percent of all U.S. Army enlisted soldiers. Also, each man had to pass a comprehensive personal security clearance investigation conducted by government agents prior to attending any of the classified ASA training programs.

    The members were physically conditioned from preparing and completing the arduous airborne training and the physical testing required of all special operations units each year. The first Commanding Officer of the 400th ASA SOD (Abn) unit was 1LT Lewis "DEAN" Kirk. One of his first actions was to initiate a tough training program for the first two-dozen 400th SOD troops assigned to the new unit. He started with long forced marches with full rucksacks in the hot and muggy Okinawa spring and summer months up in the northern training area. The unit performed morning runs of up to three miles too. He encouraged his soldiers to participate in a variety of specialized training programs such as the following: the 1st Special Forces Group (Abn) SCUBA course; the Cold Weather and Ski Training Course up in Hokkaido, Japan; the Jump Master training course; the advanced HALO parachute course; difficult infiltration and extraction training from an USN submarine; extensive weapons training with a variety of American and foreign weapons; and serving as Cadre for the 1st SFGA Airborne Course on Okinawa.

    Extensive participation in volunteer academic training was also encouraged for all of the enlisted troops. Some examples are cross training as Special Forces radio operations specialist; training in various foreign languages such as French and Vietnamese; enrollment in the Special Forces Qualification Training Program; and classified ASA extension courses (off-duty) were taken to enhance their professional military knowledge, skill and efficiency. Their participation in these extensive training programs assisted the enlisted soldiers of the 400th ASA SOD (Abn) in getting promoted ahead of many of their peers. This was especially true in the enlisted ranks up to Staff Sergeant E-6 rank.

    So these extraordinary soldiers progressed to rate among the most highly trained and proficient enlisted men not only in the U.S. Army, but soldiers in foreign armies. One pertinent fact that stands out about the 400th SOD soldiers is over seventy of the one hundred eighty-eight enlisted troops served with two or more of the four ASA Special Operations Detachments during their careers. Another impressive fact is the large number (over 60 per cent) of 400th ASA SOD soldiers who served six years or more on active duty. Many of these 400th soldiers transferred to the regular Special Forces Groups after their ASA SOD tours were completed. Some took assignments with other airborne units like the 101st Airborne Division and 173rd Airborne Brigade and served in Viet Nam with those units. These enlisted soldiers were proud American warriors and served their country with distinction and honor. A review of their Meritorious Service Profiles included in this book will demonstrate their exemplary service to America. The ASA SOD units suffered only five Killed-in-Action (KIA) deaths from the many hundreds who served in Viet Nam during 1963 through 1975.

    This book was written to preserve the Legacy of these unique and brave soldiers and to identify their many contributions during the Viet Nam era. A total of 107 out of the 208 membership served America in Viet Nam during the war. Their impressive collection of quality Service Awards and Badges demonstrates the exceptional performance of duties and accomplishments of assigned missions by this group of US Army soldiers.

400th USASA SOD (Abn) THEME QUOTE: "Here is to us, there are damn few like us, and they won't forget us."

About the Author

Johnnie E. Malone joined the US Army on 1 August 1958. He served a tour in Germany with the 279th ASA Detachment. After being discharged, he joined the 3rd Force Recon Company, USMCR in Mobile, Alabama. When he learned about the new USASA Special Operations Detachments being established, he reenlisted for the Far East and Vietnam service. He later served with Company B, 1st Special Forces Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Abn), ARNG for several years. His decorations include: Combat Infantryman Badge, US Army Parachutist Wings, Special Forces Tab, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnamese Parachutist Wings, Republic of China, Taiwan Jump Wings and SCUBA badge.

After completing both a BSBA and an Accounting degree, Johnnie went to work with the Department of Defense as a GS civil servant. He retired with 37 years of Federal Service in November 2002. Johnnie and his wife Carmen returned home to Mississippi. He is currently completing his second novel entitled "Yakuza Mama San".

Excerpts

CHAPTER 2 - HISTORY OF THE 400TH ARMY SECURITY AGENCY SPECIAL OPERATIONS DETACHMENT (AIRBORNE)

    In September 1961, 1LT Louis "Dean" Kirk was reassigned from the US Army Security Agency Field Station, Hakata, Japan to activate the 1st Operations Detachment, 80th Special Operations Unit. The unit was later redesignated as the 10th Radio Research Unit (RRU). Under the command of 1LT Louis "DEAN" Kirk, the unit was later redesignated as the 400th USASA Special Operations Detachment (Abn), Okinawa, in support of 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). The initial 1st Operations Detachment was the first of four detachments designated to support the existing four Special Forces Groups. One detachment was established in Bad Tolz, Germany, with the 10th Special Forces Group (Abn), with the remaining two detachments with the 3rd and 7th Special Forces Groups (Abn) at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Initially, the four ASA SODs were subordinate to a so-called Battalion Headquarters located at Vint Hill Farms Station, Virginia. The Battalion Headquarters didn*t last long as it represented another layer that neither the 1st SFGA nor the ASA Pacific Command liked mucking in their business. The unit was temporarily redesignated 10th RRU (unclassified) and 400th USASA SOD (classified for a while). The 1st Special Forces Group had been designated the proponent headquarters for Special Action Force, Asia, answering only to Deputy Chief of Staff, Special Warfare, US Forces Hawaii. One major concern of the Special Forces Group in dealing with the SODs was the levels of Security Clearances our members were carrying. There was no authority to deploy people with our high level of clearances anywhere off the Island of Okinawa. Also, there were severe objections from the National Security Agency (US) and National Security Agency Pacific in regards to sending our SOD soldiers into high-risk areas.

    The unit commanding officer, 1LT Kirk answered to not only to the Commander, 1st Special Forces Group; but, also to the US Army Security Agency, Pacific, at Camp Zama, Japan. He activated the unit officially on 21 September 1961. 1LT Kirk visited Colonel Godding, Chief ASA Pacific and received authority to recruit personnel from existing ASA units in the Pacific. The first two dozen troops came to the 400th SOD from the 12th, 14th, and 3rd ASA Field Stations. The main rule established was each troop had to volunteer and complete the Airborne Training School (Jump School) run by the 1st Special Forces Group (Abn) to remain assigned to the 400th SOD. Some of the new members did not make it through Jump School and were reassigned to other ASA units in the area. The first officer recruited came from the 12th Field Station. 1LT. Jerome T. Hardiman completed the Jump School. However, he broke a leg on a jump shortly thereafter that resulted in his Medical Evacuation from Okinawa, and later a medical retirement as a Major, from the Army. He later completed Law School and has practiced in the Washington D.C. area since that time.

    While waiting for the new troops to arrive, 1LT. Kirk requested authority from ASA PAC and Commanding Officer, 1st SFGA to participate in a deployment to Thailand as a member of a special team to support the 7th Regimental Combat Team in Chaing Mai. He went for 90 days as the XO/Intelligence Officer of an A-Team that was specifically there to determine the degree of cross-border operations from Burma and Laos into Thailand in the area of the Golden Triangle. Since 1LT. Kirk was prefix 3 qualified (Special Forces Qualification code in MOS) due to being an enlisted SSG in the 10th Special Forces Group (Abn) in Germany. This was prior to his attending OCS and becoming an Officer. He was authorized by the Commanding Officer of the 1st Special Forces Airborne, to participate in the deployment as a Green Beret. When he returned to Okinawa, he could not wear the Green Beret as the policy was at that time you had to be assigned to the 1st SFGA as a member to wear the beret.

    Two new groups of soldiers were assigned to the 400th during mid 1962. The unit had two groups of new men attend the 1st SFGA Airborne courses. The unit began to receive the vehicular mounted equipment at this time and got it ready to go on deployments. While they were still restricted to the Island of Okinawa, the unit deployed to the north end of the island and used the newly established training area there. This training area was fairly remote and provided an excellent area to exercise within our capabilities. The unit ended up with more wheeled vehicles and trailers than they had people at this time.

    In early 1963, the unit began to receive assignees from the two detachments at Ft. Bragg, NC. SFC Shorter, SGT Elmore and SP5 Schultz were the first three enlisted members to arrive and 1LT. Bob Clay was the first officer assigned from stateside. They came in with prefix/suffix 3 qualifications, and presented the 1st SFGA with a dilemma concerning the wearing of Green Berets by qualified soldiers. The 1st SFGA relented and authorized all 400th members with 3 qualifications to wear the Green Beret for two reasons: (1) the 400th SOD started receiving highly qualified 3 prefix/suffix soldiers and (2) many of our new members had attended and completed the Special Forces Radio Operator course. These 400th SOD members volunteered to deploy with Special Forces Group A-Teams to Vietnam as radio operators. That pleased Colonel Garrett, CO, 1st SFGA as the group was seriously short of radio operators. The 400th unit also showed well on the annual IG, CMMI, and Command Inspections that the unit went through during 1963 with only one deficiency.

    When ASA Pacific and NSA learned that the 400th had SCI cleared and indoctrinated personnel in SF teams in Vietnam, they had a bad case of heartburn. 1LT. Kirk was forced to recall one of our troops. But, the unit had its foot in the door. 1LT. Kirk was ordered to Japan to brief the Chief of Staff Designee, US Army, General H. K. Johnson on the problem of security clearances and lack of authority to deploy troops to a combat zone. Three things happened about this time. The CO, 400th was informed that NSA Pacific was looking for personnel to conduct site surveys in South East Asia. So he volunteered the 400th SOD. Secondly, the 1st SFGA was looking for intelligence support for an exercise on Taiwan. So, 1LT. Kirk sent a team under SFC R. Shorter to participate in these joint training exercises. The SOD team received praise from the 1st SFGA for their excellent performance. 1LT Kirk was also promoted to Captain at that time. CPT. Kirk then took a 22-man team of 400th members and initiated a site survey of Chaing Mai, Thailand, and later took the team to do site surveys at Phu Bai, Vietnam.

    In the interim, General Johnson had arranged to increase the strength ceiling in Vietnam by 24 SCI cleared spaces and we were allowed to deploy with our equipment with a mission involving conducting operations at a number of Special Forces camps in January 1964. The primary purpose was to determine if the VC/NVA were being actively supported by 3rd nation personnel (namely Chinese). The first deployment was not a great success, but we gained valuable experience for all of our SOD troops. The team returned in June/July 1964. CPT Kirk departed the 400th for Ft. Bragg to command of the 313th ASA Battalion at the end of August 1965. He had performed in an exemplary manner and displayed extraordinary leadership skills in establishing this new and unique 400th ASA SOD (Abn) organization. Due to his management skills and organizational abilities, the unit was formed and staffed with outstanding members. He developed an arduous training program and prepared all 400th members for deployments into hostile areas. He turned the command over to CPT William D. Fritts who came to the unit from the 313th ASA Battalion at Ft. Bragg. CPT Fritts took over and continued the established highly effective training programs and the physical training program.

    The 400th ASA SOD (Abn) performed a total of two deployments to Thailand and seven deployments to Vietnam. In addition, there were four missions to Taiwan for Joint Training Exercises named Aumnii and four missions to Korea for Duk Soo Ri Field Training Exercises (FTXs). A total of three deployments were made by 400th ASA SOD enlisted to the Cold Weather and Ski Training Group with the 1st Special Forces Group to Hokkaido, Japan. Enlisted members of the 400th ASA SOD (Abn) also participated in Joint Civil Affairs Team to Manomi Dieto Island, Japan. This island is about 250 miles southwest of Okinawa and has a population of approximately 200 inhabitants. This island was formally a penal colony prior to 1900. The 400th also sent two enlisted members to Thailand to be observers and scorers for a Special Forces training exercise in 1965. The 400th also had one deployment to the Philippines for site surveys in 1963.

    In 1974, upon the deactivation of the 1st Special Forces Group (Abn), the 400th was redeployed from Okinawa to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina to support the 5th SFG (A). The official end of the US ASA SODs as United States Army Security Agency units came with the deactivation of HQs, USASA and conversion to Combat Electronic Warfare intelligence (CEWI) organizations in December 1976. The SODs continued to carry the ASASOD unit designation into early 1980s when they were redesignated as Military Intelligence Companies.

Catalogue Information