On 27 Mar 1959, USAPAC activated the 329th Special Forces Operational Detachment(FD) in Honolulu, HI
The 329th 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.
MAJ Herbert Avedon, would be named the Commander of this new unit.
Lt Avedon served in the 1st Ranger BN in the Italian campaign 1943-1944. 1944 he joined the OSS and served with Det 101 in Burma. CPT Avedon was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and served with the USAR 306th Broadcast and Leaflet Group (Psyops). 1958 MAJ Avedon was assigned to command the 329th SFOD (Provisional) in Hawaii
LTC Herbert Avedon
329th SFOD-FD Gallery:
329th SFOD-FD, going to Okinawa for training
Honolulu Star, 13 Aug 1960
329th SFOD-FD, Active-Duty Adviser
Honolulu Star 27 Sep 1960
SGM Julian Haleamau
From Honolulu, Hawaii Julian Haleamau joined the US Army in 1945 and served with the 11th ABN. SGT Haleamau served with 5th RCT during the Korean War. MSG Haleamau served as Active-duty adviser with the 329th SFOD in 1959-1960.
On 1961, USAPAC activated the 24th SFG(A) in Honolulu, HI
The 24th 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. On 14 December 1960, 7 Groups (2nd, 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 17th, 24th) were reallocated from AC to USAR were reallocated from AC to USAR
24th SFG(A) Commander: MAJ Robert Kimura
LTC Robert Kimura
Technician Grade 3 (T-3) Robert Kimura served in the Pacific Theater of Operations from 1943-1945. T-3 Kimura served in the battle of Okinawa with the US Army 10th Corps. Lt Kimura was recalled to active-duty during the Korean War, and served as an Infantry officer. MAJ Kimura was the first commander of the 24th SFG(A).
24th SFG(A) Gallery:
24th SFG(A), SFC David Kaohelaulii jr, recieves SP5 James Gabriel Memorial Trophy
24th SFG(A)
24th SFG(A)
SP5 James Gabriel
From Honolulu Hawaii, James Gabriel enlisted in the US Army was the first Special Forces soldier and the first Hawaiian to be killed in the Vietnam War.
Gabriel, 24, a specialist 5, and Sgt. Wayne Marchand were executed by Viet Cong sympathizers on 8 April 1962, during a training mission in a remote village seven miles from Da Nang.
SSG Martin Inocelda
From Waipahu, Hawaii PFC Inocelda served with the 5th RCT during the Korean War. SSG Inocelda served with the 24th SFG(A).
MSG Louis F Kalahui
From Honolulu, Hawaii, Louis Kalahui enlisted in the US Army in 1948. MSG Kalahui served with the 187th RCT (ABN) in the Korean War. Louis Kalahui worked as an inspector for the US Customs Service in Hawaii.
In early 1966 the 40th Special Forces Detachment was activated from the deactivated 24th SFG(A). The 40th SF Det was composed of a B-team and 3 ODAs
Starting in 1964, Sec Def McNamara wanted to reorganize the US Army Reserve Component (RC), eliminating obsolete, under- strength and redundant units. The surplus funds reallocated to support the modernization and increase the capabilites of the RC units.
The Department of Defense in September 1965, created the Selected Reserve Force (SRF). The 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.
40th SF Det CDR: LTC Robert Kimura
40th SF Det SGM: MSG Louis Kalahui
MSG Earl Kalani
CPL Earl Kalani from Waihapu, Hawaii served with the 5th RCT during the Korean War. SFC Kalani served with the 77th SFG(A) and deployed with the 14th SFOD-FD to Hawaii. SFC Kalani deployed in 1957 on the first SF mission to Vietnam. MSG Kalani served three more tours in RVN. MSG Kalnia was critically wounded when he shielded his captain’s body from an assassination attempt by a VC in 1967. In 1968 MSG Kalani was assigned as an Active-Duty Adviser to the 40th SF Det. MSG Kalani never fully recovered from the injury, despite several surgeries, and died of his wounds in 1974.
LT Bolan served in the Korean war with the 3rd Infantry Division. Upon CPT Bolan's return to Fort Bragg from Korea at the end of 1954, he became SF qualified and joined the 77th SFG until transferring to the 1st SFG in Okinawa in 1958. During his three-year assignment, he completed a deployment to Vietnam. In 1966 he was assigned to the 5th SFG in Vietnam. Jim arrived on the island of Oahu, Hawaii in June 1969, he was assigned to Headquarters (HQ), United States Army Reserve (USAR) Advisor Group (Gp) 40th Special Forces Detachment.
LTC James Bolan
40th SF Detachment Gallery:
40th Special Forces Det, Exercise Coral Sands II
Army Digest, Dec 1967
Army Magazine
24th SFG(A) Volunteers for Active Duty
During the Vietnam war, according to an unofficial source, several hundred ARNG and USAR Special Forces soldiers volunteered to serve in Vietnam.
COL William Olds
SGT William Olds, served with the 24th SFG(A). In 1965, then LT Olds served in Vietnam with the 173rd. He played in the movie “The Green Berets” as an NVA officer.
The following people, contributed to, the 24th SFG(A) project:
LTC Hank Kramer, son of CPT Harry Kramer , 77th SFG(A), 14th SFOD(FD) and 1st SFG(A)
Project Notes:
This is phase 1, of a 3- phase plan, that will cover activation in 1959 to deactivation in 1974 and beyond.
a. Phase 1: Beginning until 1959 - end of May 2026
b. Phase 2: Major reorg of USAR/ARNG SF 1966 (down to 4 groups) until 1971-TBD
c. Phase 3 : Deactivation -TBD
2. I am looking for the following from the 329th SFOD,24th SFG(A) and 40th SF Det:
a. Photos-preferably with story-dates
b. Stories-that need to be told/remembered
c. Documents, orders, recruiting flyers/posters...etc.
d. Names-stories of Volunteers for Vietnam
e. Detachment numbers and locations
i. 329th SFOD(FD)
ii. 24th SFG(A)
iii. 40th SF Det