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THE YOUNGEST GREEN BERET - A true story set in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam 1968-69.
THE YOUNGEST GREEN BERET - A true story set in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam 1968-69.
A true story about real people, espionage, and combat including the "Green Beret Affair" that shocked the nation in 1969. From working with a double agent who betrays his friendship and exposes a top secret cross border operation, Terry McIntosh wrestles with his own doubts and fears while protecting the rights of others to live free. He was selected from the ranks of long range reconnaissance training to serve with Special Forces Detachment A-team 414 in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam 1968-1969. The border camp conducted clandestine operations to observe and engage a growing Viet Cong armed force 15 miles across the line. The top secret mission is exposed after team members are accused of executing the double agent. It is believed that Terry McIntosh is the youngest soldier to serve with the Green Berets on an operational A team and earn the coveted Combat Infantryfman Badge. This is his story about the transition from boy to man in the jungles of Vietnam where he met himself for the first time with a sense of shame and honor.
Co. D, 17th Infantry Airborne (LRRP)
11Oct67-31May68
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
3Aug68-26Jul69
Co A, 75th Rangers (Airborne)
5Sept69-11Mar71
DOD records confirm that Terry McIntosh was assigned to Special Forces with a permanent change of station in 1968. SF recognized his achievements, promoted him to Sergeant, and commended his service with an ARCOM and other awards. His story, along with teammates, are told on various platforms with some variations as one should expect in the fog of war. Research: Bốn mươi hai: Vụ bê bối Biệt kích-The Green beret affair and Double Agent Down: The Green Beret Affair is a team documentary that tells the true story of a covert operation in Vietnam in 1969. https://youtu.be/1gE3g-4K-ng?si=1wdA2HNnOJLMkEnX. A personal video rendention is linked at https://youtu.be/nEkQC591I3A?si=fKdlm2Y5XWMXsIN4.
Run time 3 minutes.
Terry completed Airborne Jump School in 1967 at age 17 and was assigned to the elite 17th Airborne Long Range Recon light infantry force which was capable of conducting Direct Action Operations. McIntosh underwent several months of extensive covert and aerial assault warfare training.
He was trained in light weapons, mortar, radio communications.
Sp/4 Terry McIntosh 1968
From Terry McIntosh
A salute to the brave men I served with who were wounded and/or killed in action in Vietnam
Capt. Louis Geneso
Lt. Col. Martin R. Beck
SFC Margarito Fernandez, Jr.
Diwi Diem, CIDG CO
Kim, CIDG Translator
Lam, CIDG Infantryman
Papa San, Civilian Assist
4 CIDG Soldiers Names Unknown
A Message to
Dick Reardon
Hal Castle
Michael Schafernocker
"We were ready to extract you. We wanted to come for you.
God’s peace be upon you." 28Apr69
Wounded In Action
Lt. Col. Wesly Herrlein
SSG Frank Midlil
Sami, Translator
plus 12 indigenous soldiers
Submit comments or inquiries to: terrymcintosh2001@yahoo.com
"The only thing worse than an impostor is someone who impugns the honorable service of a military veteran without just cause."
5th SPECIAL FORCES GROUP AIRBORNE
Det. A-414
Mekong Delta, South Vietnam
Due to heavy US casualties, Terry was assigned to the Green Berets in 1968 Vietnam. He served 6 months on A-Team 414 in the Mekong Delta 1969.
The Groups' motto
"De Oppresso Liber"
(To Liberate the Oppressed.)
He commanded or participated in 22 combat missions to include Search & Destroy, Ambush, Airboat, and Air Assault Missions. He served along with Col. Robert Rheault's espionage team at the time of the execution of a double agent (Who killed Thai Khac Chuyen) . He ran missions with the double agent before his execution.
The incident sparked Daniel Ellsberg's compilation and eventual release of the Pentagon Papers.
See also "Project Gamma."
An official Army history of the Green Berets published after the Vietnam War does not mention Project GAMMA or Detachment B57. Although the Pentagon has declassified much material about Green Beret cross border operations inside Laos and Cambodia, nothing on Project Gamma has been made available.
Campaigns: Counter Offensive Tet 69,
Counter Offensives 4,5, 6, Summer and Fall Campaign 69.
Terry elected to leave Special Forces after Vietnam and served with the 75th Rangers.
AWARDS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE AMERICAN WAR LIBRARY
Decorations:
Awarded to an infantryman or Special Forces soldier for being personally present, and under hostile fire, whilst serving in assigned, primary infantry or special forces duty in a unit actively engaging the enemy in ground combat.
Awarded to soldiers who receive the proper parachute training and accomplish the required number of jumps.
Vietnam Paratrooper Wings: Awarded for Excellence in Aerial Assault Readiness and completing the required number of jumps.
German Army Parachutist Badge: Awarded for completion of required jumps. * Undocumented
Army Commendation Medal; Awarded for heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.
Expert Badge (Rifle); The highest degree of marksmanship upon completion of a weapons qualification course. Sharpshooter and Marksman follow in order of accomplishment.
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry; Awarded for deeds of valor or heroic conduct while fighting an enemy force.
VSM w/4 Bronze Service Stars; Awarded for participation in combat or service with a unit directly supporting a military operation or participating in combat in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, or Vietnam.
Civil Actions Honor Medal: Awarded for participation in local police actions to suppress civil unrest in certain areas of South Vietnam.
RVCM w/device 60, Two Overseas Service Bars, AGCM, MUC, & NDSM.
5th Group Unit Awards include The Presidential Unit Citation; Presidential Unit Citation Un-Named; 5th SF
Despite being one of the smallest units engaged in the Vietnam conflict, the Group colors fly twenty campaign streamers, and its soldiers are among the most highly decorated in the history of our nation.
COMPANY A, 75th INFANTRY RANGERS AIRBORNE
Assistant Patrol Leader, Fort Benning, GA, Ft. Hood, Texas
The 75th Ranger Unit was designated to spearhead Project MASSTER, a top secret operational training campaign that would have required Terry to extend his time in service, and he opted not to extend time in service. He was reassigned on 11March71 to Co D, 16th Engineer Battalion,1st Armored Division, Ft. Hood, Texas. It served as a vehicle to discharge two months later.
Discharged 21May71 to USAR
Honorable Discharge 1Apr73
Sergeant Terry McIntosh post Vietnam 1969
Arms Qualifications
Rifle (Expert)
Pistol "Quick Kill" Sharpshooter
81mm Mortar Sharpshooter
Bayonet Marksman
Grenade Marksman
All claims regarding military service and awards by any veteran can be and should be verified through the Freedom of Information Act and agencies who do the proper research. The American War Library is one such organization that verifies or refutes claims of service and awards.
Vietnam in-Country Duty Stations:
C Team, Can Tho, Radio Operator
B -41 Moc Hoa, Radio OP, Airboat Patrol, Search & Destroy
A-414 Thanh Tri, a stone's throw from Cambodian border, Kien Tuong Province, Front Line Defense, Counterinsurgency aimed at NVA Units based in Cambodia. Duties included Ambush, Search & Destroy, Coding & Decoding Situation Reports.
Tour of duty included short term assignment to Nui Coto, a fortified Viet Cong stronghold in the 7 Mountains area at end of "The Blood Road," also known as Ho Chi Minh Trail. Terry became ill and was medivac to 29th Evac hospital in Can Tho. Diagnosed "Fever of Unknown Origin." Returned to duty at A-414 upon recovery.
UNOFFICIAL MARK OF DISTINCTIVE SERVICE:
Terry McIntosh is one of the youngest men, if not the actual youngest, to ever serve on a Special Forces A-Team and engage an armed enemy in combat as a "Green Beret." Military Records verify that he was permanently assigned to Special Forces at age 18 and at the height of the Vietnam War because of his military skills. The median age of Special Forces soldiers was about 30 to 35 years old. The Group had suffered high causality rate Tet68, and temporarily dropped the age requirement to 18 in order to fill much needed positions. In spite of the age drop, SF only recruited those qualified in a critical Military Occupational Skill and those who met physical and mental requirements. The assignment demanded skill, determination, and ability in keeping with SF standards. He was accepted by his team members without question. After all, they were all getting shot at regardless of age, and it was during a time when a soldier was judged by his actions more than anything else.
Terry earned his Combat Infantryman Badge at age 19 during a Search & Destroy mission. Lt. Col. Wesley Herrlein was OIC with air support, and ten enemy soldiers were killed in action. Terry’s citation of combat was submitted, and orders for the award were cut Feb 23, 1969. Terry served on Det. A-414 in Thanh Tri, a rifle shot from the Cambodian border from Feb69-July69 and spent 170 days on the A-Team.
Terry's service was in the old Army and before the SF Tab was issued to qualified soldiers. Before creation of the Tab, Special Forces status was indicated by wearing a full-size unit flash on the Green Beret. At the time of its creation in 1983, the Special Forces Tab was retroactively awarded to any Army soldiers previously Special Forces qualified. In addition, as set forth in Army regulations, veterans of certain categories of former wartime service are also eligible for retroactive awards of the tab. This includes personnel captain and below awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge while serving at least 120 days wartime service between 1955 and 1975 in a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha (A-Team).
Terry met the wartime criteria outlined above. His assignment to SF was PCS (Permanent Change of Station) with full size unit flash, which indicates that he was an official part of the Group by all current standards 1968. Based on those facts, it is likely that he is the youngest man in Special Forces history to serve on an A team and engage the enemy in ground combat. He is certainly one of the youngest men to wear the Green Beret.
This particular distinction does not merit an award, but it is a footnote in history. If it can be validated that a younger man earned a Combat Infantryman Badge while serving with Special Forces on an A team, this claim will be deleted.
Submit comments or inquiries to: terrymcintosh2001@yahoo.com
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