Guest Page
Gerry Peddle, Brigadier General (Retired)
Brigadier General Gerry Peddle (Retired) and his lovely wife, Elsie, hails from Ottawa, Canada. BG Peddle held the post of Chaplin General of the Canadian Armed Forces. He is a member of the Canadian Airborne Forces Association (CAFA) which is part of the Airborne Regiment Association, Canada (ARAC). I believe this is much like our own National Special Forces Association with it’s many chapters.
Saturday afternoon, BG Peddle offered us his personal thoughts on why the relationship between Canada and the United States was moving more to the center. He recalled traveling to Fort Bragg, NC for an exercise a week early just so they could learn about the American jump equipment and jump techniques. They found out the extra week was not needed because the equipment and techniques from both countries were the same. And so it went. There is much commonality between the Canadian and American military. Throughout the 20th century the two countries acted almost as one. The two thousand mile border between the two countries was virtually unguarded. It was only in the last couple of decades that the two countries moved further apart. The government moved towards the left and the gap between us widened. Then, in the last election, a more conservative government in Canada took power and each side is now making concerted efforts to move back together. BG Peddle believes this will happen. We are too much alike for it not to happen.
Saturday afternoon, BG Peddle offered us his personal thoughts on why the relationship between Canada and the United States was moving more to the center. He recalled traveling to Fort Bragg, NC for an exercise a week early just so they could learn about the American jump equipment and jump techniques. They found out the extra week was not needed because the equipment and techniques from both countries were the same. And so it went. There is much commonality between the Canadian and American military. Throughout the 20th century the two countries acted almost as one. The two thousand mile border between the two countries was virtually unguarded. It was only in the last couple of decades that the two countries moved further apart. The government moved towards the left and the gap between us widened. Then, in the last election, a more conservative government in Canada took power and each side is now making concerted efforts to move back together. BG Peddle believes this will happen. We are too much alike for it not to happen.
Billy Waugh, Command Sergeant Major (Retired)
The synopsis on the front and back cover of “Hunting the Jackal” says it all. No other nine words could have given the reader a more clear picture of what and who Billy Waugh is. “Billy Waugh is a Special Forces and CIA legend...”. His career as soldier and CIA operative span more than fifty years. He spent seven and a half years in the jungles of Viet Nam as member of Special Forces. Many of the years were with SOG. He retired as Command Sergeant Major, I understand that promotion came a day before he retired, and then went to work for the CIA. He has traveled to more than sixty countries and at the age of 72, he was in Afghanistan as part of a team to organize an army to fight the Taliban after 9/11.
Billy was a guest at our meeting. He, and his lovely wife of only a couple of years, Lynn, were invited by Bennie to give us a briefing on the modern-day Special Forces troop. Billy’s presentation was outstanding to say the least. The Special Forces soldier of today bears little resemblance to the SF trooper of yesteryear.
The SF soldier today has radios with GPS capabilities. The weapons are equipped with infrared lens that pick up the heat of a body, rifle or vehicle. There is the Predator unmanned aircraft flying at thirty thousand feet searching for anything that walked or talked. The small, compact laser device can zero in on a target 5-8
kilometers away and beam the coordinates to an American jet fighter. The bomb under it’s wing is targeted to that laser beam and released. In a few moments the target is no more.
Training is intense and long. Team leaders are captains but will not be assigned to SF for at least four years. They must undergo jump training and Ranger training to even qualify for SF. Their tour of duty is three years. When they make major, they’re gone. I have not done justice, in this short space, to what Billy presented. Nor have I done justice, in this short space, as to the contributions Billy has made to the defense of our country.
If you haven’t read his book, “Hunting the Jackal”, I would suggest you order it. If you have never been in the audience when Billy gives one of his “SF Briefings”, I would suggest if you ever get the chance, attend it. You can read more about Billy and order the book if you wish, at his web site: www.billywaugh.net.
Billy was a guest at our meeting. He, and his lovely wife of only a couple of years, Lynn, were invited by Bennie to give us a briefing on the modern-day Special Forces troop. Billy’s presentation was outstanding to say the least. The Special Forces soldier of today bears little resemblance to the SF trooper of yesteryear.
The SF soldier today has radios with GPS capabilities. The weapons are equipped with infrared lens that pick up the heat of a body, rifle or vehicle. There is the Predator unmanned aircraft flying at thirty thousand feet searching for anything that walked or talked. The small, compact laser device can zero in on a target 5-8
kilometers away and beam the coordinates to an American jet fighter. The bomb under it’s wing is targeted to that laser beam and released. In a few moments the target is no more.
Training is intense and long. Team leaders are captains but will not be assigned to SF for at least four years. They must undergo jump training and Ranger training to even qualify for SF. Their tour of duty is three years. When they make major, they’re gone. I have not done justice, in this short space, to what Billy presented. Nor have I done justice, in this short space, as to the contributions Billy has made to the defense of our country.
If you haven’t read his book, “Hunting the Jackal”, I would suggest you order it. If you have never been in the audience when Billy gives one of his “SF Briefings”, I would suggest if you ever get the chance, attend it. You can read more about Billy and order the book if you wish, at his web site: www.billywaugh.net.
Barbara Birchim
Special Forces Captain Jim Birchim went missing in Viet Nam in 1968. His wife, Barbara Birchim, has spent over 35 years searching for him. She haunted the halls of Congress and the jungles of Viet Nam trying to find even the smallest piece of information or data on her husband.
Billy Waugh has suggested Barbara Birchim contact Mrs. Bush to see if the First Lady could be enlisted in helping Barbara find out what happened to her husband. Her book “Is Anybody Listening?” illustrates her frustrations at the roadblocks created by our government. If you’re interested in learning more about Barbara’s fight to find her husband you can view her web page at: http://www.is-anybody-listening.com/.
Judy Hines, you may remember, created three cross-stitched items to be raffled off at the Jun-06 National Convention. Barbara had the winning number for the second cross-stitch but was not present at the convention to receive it. Judy knew Barbara was going to be at our October meeting in Americus so she presented it to her at this time.
Actually, the awards were presented at our Bar-B-Que and you can see Barbara admiring Judy's handiwork. But I also wanted a photo of Judy presenting Barbara with the fruits of her winning ticket.
Billy Waugh has suggested Barbara Birchim contact Mrs. Bush to see if the First Lady could be enlisted in helping Barbara find out what happened to her husband. Her book “Is Anybody Listening?” illustrates her frustrations at the roadblocks created by our government. If you’re interested in learning more about Barbara’s fight to find her husband you can view her web page at: http://www.is-anybody-listening.com/.
Judy Hines, you may remember, created three cross-stitched items to be raffled off at the Jun-06 National Convention. Barbara had the winning number for the second cross-stitch but was not present at the convention to receive it. Judy knew Barbara was going to be at our October meeting in Americus so she presented it to her at this time.
Actually, the awards were presented at our Bar-B-Que and you can see Barbara admiring Judy's handiwork. But I also wanted a photo of Judy presenting Barbara with the fruits of her winning ticket.