Colt Terry, Green Beret

Introduction

Introduction T        who performed extraordinary deeds. Colt Terry enlisted in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II, a time when no more wars could be imagined. He rose from private to master sergeant and, after nearly two years in Korea, including one tour behind enemy lines, received a field commission to second lieutenant. This rarely bestowed honor instilled in Colt an undying loyalty to the noncommissioned officers who were later under his command. He never forgot his roots, even after advancing throughout his career to the permanent rank of lieutenant colonel. Colt received two Bronze Stars for bravery, two combat infantry badges, and a Purple Heart. His story includes examples of how, in war, some men die while others live, without reason or rationale. For this man, however, the reason why he was so many times spared did have a rationale—to save him for one incredible defining moment. For his bravest deed, in the author’s opinion, he received no medal, but then many brave deeds and brave men go unrecognized in every war. Other books written about the U.S. Army’s Special Forces tell the story of war from the perspectives of commanders and emphasize units, positions, tactics, and strategies. This book offers the perspective of a fighter who, even as an officer, fought side by side with his friends and fellow soldiers. It portrays a loyal comrade who saved many men from certain death and who was saved from certain death by others. Colt’s story is the story of many soldiers, both those who lived and those who died, the latter often unnecessarily and almost always undeservedly. Colt Terry was one of the most highly trained soldiers in the U.S. Army. He learned, and then taught, ambushing, underwater demolition, sabotage, silent killing, and much more. Many of his students became Special Forces instructors. From his training methods to his example in battle, Colt was in- fluential in setting the standards of this elite corps. He mastered German and Czech and trained insurgents for secret airdrops into Czechoslovakia, Ger-   many, Korea, Vietnam, and Cambodia. He hunted, and was hunted by, Chinese , North Korean, North Vietnamese, and Viet Cong soldiers, and he killed many of them. His story is also the story of all Green Berets and how their unending spirit and vast daring have served our country since the inception of the th Special Forces Group (Airborne) on June , .1 The original group consisted of triple volunteers—men who volunteered to join the army, volunteered to be paratroopers, and then volunteered to join Special Forces. Most of them also volunteered for duty in Vietnam, many for more than one tour. The jaunty hat, the green beret, that would set Special Forces apart from other units at that time would be adopted later. Special Forces train to be self-sufficient, to function alone in hostile territory and yet, equally, to work together like blood brothers. They are the first to volunteer for the most dangerous assignments. At the same time, they are caring. As career soldiers, they care deeply about the army. Under fire they care about their comrades more than they care about themselves. Even in the midst of battle, they care about innocent people and even animals caught up in the action. Above all, they care about their fallen colleagues and go to great extremes to avoid leaving their wounded or dead behind on the field of battle. Not all men can repeatedly cheat death in combat before crossing the threshold themselves. Some heroes live to tell their children about their war experiences, but many heroes die and must rely on others to speak their praises. This book is dedicated to those who gave their lives so that others could live, those who never had the chance to tell their stories. ...