20th ANNIVERSARY of SF INFILTRATION
On 19 OCT 2021, members of Chapter 19 rendezvoused at Liberty Science Museum just outside of Jersey City, NJ. Once grouped we moved to the marina where the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit took us across the Hudson River to downtown Manhattan (Ground Zero).
Once there we were then escorted by Port Authority Police to the America’s Response Monument. We linked up with elements of SFA Chapter 66. Our mission was to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Special Forces being inserted into Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 attacks (Task Force Dagger).
We conducted a brief ceremony, laying two wreaths, a few words, and the playing of “Ballad of the Green Berets.” Coincidentally, a veterans march was in the vicinity and were drawn in along with many other people. There appeared to be more than 300 folks there before we ended this short observance.
The SFA personnel then advanced to O’Hara’s Irish Pub for lunch. This public house was suggested by the PA Cops and is well known for feeding those first responders and clean up crews post 9/11. We were not disappointed.
When the time was right, a phone call was made and the NJSP boat picked us up and took us back. The Troopers took us back the long way to show us the sights and a bit of history of the harbor, monuments and surroundings.
We of Chapter XIX, thank the New Jersey State Police and the Port Authority Police, (including the SWAT Teams), who could not have been more gracious and accommodating.
20 ANNIVERSARY OF SF INFILTRATION INTO AFGHANISTAN
We come together today, in this brief pertinent ceremony, to acknowledge and honor our Special Operations Brothers, who on this day, 19 October 2001, 20 years ago took the first military action against those responsible for the 9/11 attacks. This will be the beginning of what will be known as Task Force Dagger.
With CIA assets on the ground to meet them, two Operational A Detachments from the 5th Special Forces Group (The Legion), supported by US Air Force Combat Controllers, transported into country by elements of the 160th SOAR, (Special Operations Aviation Regiment aka The Night Stalkers), were infiltrated into Afghanistan.
ODA 595 was inserted in the north to link up with the Northern Alliance Forces of General Abdul Rashid Dostum.
This A-Team would become known as the Horse Soldiers represented by the statue before us.
The successful results of this mission proved to be a textbook unconventional warfare mission by US Army Special Forces. The link up with an indigenous force in hostile territory serving as force multipliers against a superior number of enemy.
ODA 574 was sent south to Kandahar to establish connection with the forces of Hamid Karzai, (future president of a freed Afghanistan).
This was followed in the coming weeks by multiple A-teams in various parts of the country. Ultimately about 100 Special Forces soldiers would be responsible for the overthrow of the Taliban and pushing most of Al-Qaeda out of Afghanistan. This would pave the way for friendly forces.
For the past 20 years this country has not been attacked successfully by any enemy forces from overseas.
Despite recent events, we honor these Americans who went into the unknown in very small numbers to do the best for us displaying courage, patriotism and fortitude. They are the epitome of the motto on our Chapter Coin, “Spirit of the Brotherhood.”
De Oppresso Liber
RECOIL, Chapter XIX, 19 OCT 21
Certificates of Appreciation For the 20th ANNIVERSARY of SF INFILTRATION
At the January, 2022 Chapter Meeting, Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to New Jersey State Police Marine Bureau and the Port Authority of NY&NJ Police, World Trade Center Command. Back in October, 2021, the Port Authority hosted Chapters 19 and 66 at the ceremony conducted at the America’s Response Monument, observing the 20th anniversary of Special Forces insertion into Afghanistan. The New Jersey State Police Marine Unit transported Chapter 19 across the Hudson to ground zero, returned us back to Liberty State Park while giving us a custom sight seeing tour of the Hudson and Harbors. Receiving the certificates on behalf of their organizations was SSgt Jonathan Fritz of the NJ State Police and Deputy Superintendent of Police for the Port Authority of NY&NJ.
At the February, 2022 Chapter Meeting, a third Certificate of Appreciation was awarded to Francis G. Hernandez for his excellent photography and devoting much of his time documenting the event at the America’s Response Monument.
