On 31 Mar 1955, 3rd Army, USCONARC activated the 300th Special Forces Operational Detachment (FD) in North Carolina.
The 300th SFOD(FD) was the first Reserve Component Special Forces unit and the third Special Forces unit in the US Army.
The 300th SFOD(FD) considered themselves as part of the 77th SFG(A).
The 300th SFOD(FD) was organized under TO&E 33-510R, dated 26 April 1955. The TO&E was based off the WW2 experience of the OSS in Europe and Asia the and FM 31-20 US Army Special Forces Group (Airborne), dated August 1955 .
The Team FD, led by a COL, had 24 men-6 Officers and 18 Enlisted.
COL William McArthur, a WW2 vet, would be named the Commander of this new unit.
On 1 June 1959, 3rd Army, USCONARC activated Special Forces unit, in Florida, the 322nd Special Forces Operational Detachment(FD).
The 322nd SFOD (FD) was organized under TO&E 33-510R, dated 26 April 1955. The TO&E was based off the WW2 experience of the OSS in Europe and Asia the and FM 31-20 US Army Special Forces Group (Airborne).
The Team FD, was led by a COL, had 24 men-6 Officers and 18 Enlisted.
The Team FA, was led by a CPT, had 15 men-2 Officers and 13 Enlisted.
COL Henry Wolfs, a WW2 OSS vet, would be named the Commander of this new unit.
On 1 Apr 1961, 3rd Army, USCONARC activated the 13th SFG(A) with HQ located in Florida, with sub-detachments found in Florida, North Carolina, and Alabama.
The 13th SFG(A) was organized under TO&E 33-105D, dated 21 Mar 60. This new TO&E brought the Special Forces units in line with the US Army unit organizations and terminology.
15 April 1960, the entire SF establishment was formally brought under the Army’s new Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS). This paper scheme initially provided for a maximum of 24 SF Groups, initially all in the Active Component (AC). Even with continued presidential backing, it seemed clear the AC could not support that many Special Forces units. So, on 14 December 1960, 7 Groups (2nd, 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 17th, 24th) were reallocated from AC to USAR.
Commander: COL Henry Wolfs
A co CDR: MAJ John R Robinson
B co CDR: MAJ Fred B Deem
In early 1966 the 11th SFG(A) and 12th SFG(A) absorbed the units from USAR Special Forces Groups that were deactivated under United States Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's plan for reorganizing the US military Reserve Components.
Starting in 1964, Sec Def McNamara wanted to save the Defense budget by, eliminating obsolete, under- strength and redundant units in the Reserve Component (RC). This would free up funds to support modernization and increase the capabilites of the RC units.
The Department of Defense in September 1965, created the Selected Reserve Force (SRF) was a 150,000-man priority readiness pool of National Guard and Reserve units-that were maintained at a high readiness level.
The SRF units allowed the deployment of Active-duty units to Vietnam, where the SRF was be used for any contigency events.
The 13th SF(A) was designated to be deactivated.
All the 13th SFG(A) units were realigned with the 11th SFG(A), Headquartered in Staten Island, New York.
11th SFG(A) CDR: COL Joseph McCrane
E Co CDR:
F Co CDR:
13th SFG(A)-NC Gallery:
B Co, 13th SFG(A) CDR MAJ Fred Deem and
Active-Duty Adviser LT Robert Disney
Army Reservist, Nov 1963
CPT Doug Horne, B Co 13thSFG(A)
The Charlotte Observer, 4 June 1962
19 July – 23 Aug 1958, the USAR Special Forces units conducted the first Group-level exercise on Ft Bragg, NC and Camp Mackall, NC
With the 300th SFOD (FD) in command the 301st (FC) Boise, ID the 302nd (FC) Chicago, IL and the 303rd (FC) Kearny, NJ all attended Annual Training at Ft Bragg. Over 600 reservists in 30 FA(ODAs) took part in training, under the supervision of the 77th SFG(A).
The Patterson Morning call
Patterson, NJ
7 Aug 1958
Times News
Twin Falls, ID
7 Aug 1958
Red Springs Citizen
Red Springs, NC
7 Aug 1958
300th SFOD(FD) Exercise
Chicago Tribune
Chicago, Ill
21 July 1958
13th SFG(A) Volunteers for Active-Duty:
During the Vietnam War, according to one unofficial source, hundreds of ARNG/USAR Special Forces Soldiers volunteered for Active-Duty and served in Vietnam.
The CPT Horne, while serving in 13th SFG(A), he volunteered to return to Active-Duty. In 1963, CPT Horne was given command of Detachment A-21, 5th SFG. CPT Horne and his team would deploy Vietnam in 1963 serving at Hiep Hoa Special Forces Camp.
A veteran of the Korean War, LT Oglesby joined the USAR Special Forces in Florida and was assigned to 322nd SFOD, 1959-1961. LT Ogllesby volunteered for active-duty, while hw was serving with 13th SFG(A). CPT Oglesby served as an Adviser to the ARVN and later with 23rd/Americal Div in Vietnam
COL Douglas Horne
COL Virgil Oglesby
The following people, contributed to, the 13th SFG(A) project:
COL William S. MacArthur Jr. , US Army Pilot, Astronaut, son of COL William S MacArthur Commander for 300th SFOD(FD)
SGT Roger Goetsch, 82nd ABN, 300th SFOD(FD)
Jerry Goetsch, son of SGT Roger Goetsch
Cydney Horne, Daughter of COL Doug Horne, who served in the 301st SFOD(FC), 300th SFOD(FD), 13th SFG(A), 5th SFG(A), and 46th Special Forces Co(A)
Kym Horne, Daughter of COL Doug Horne, who served in the 301st SFOD(FC), 300th SFOD(FD), 13th SFG(A), 5th SFG(A), and 46th Special Forces Co(A)
CPT Carrol “Poke” Runyon, 77th SFG(A) and 13th SFG(A)
SFC Mike Strand, 11th SFG(A) and 19th SFG(A), the son of SFC Ellis Strand, 13th SFG(A) and 11th SFG(A)
Project Notes:
1. This is phase 1, of a 2-phase plan, that will cover activation in 1959 to deactivation in 1966
a. Phase 1: Beginning until 1962, with launch date - end of May 2026
b. Phase 2: Major reorg of USAR/ARNG SF 1966ish (down to 4 groups) until 1970-TBD
2. I am looking for the following from 300th, 321st, 322nd, and, 323rd SFODs and 13th SFG(A):
a. Photos-preferably with story-dates
b. Stories-that need to be told/remembered
c. Documents, unit newsletters, orders, rosters....etc.
d. Names-stories of Volunteers for Vietnam
e. Detachment numbers and locations
i. 300th SFOD(FD)
a). Confirm 304th SFOD (AA) in Lumberton, NC
ii. 322nd SFOD(FD)
iii.323rd SFOD(FD)
vi. 321st SFOD(FB)
v. 13th SFG(A)