The commander held back the sole man who was fighting to run out into withering enemy fire to rescue a mortally wounded comrade. "He is gone!" shouted the commander, "I can't spare you!" He shouted. But the soldier broke loose and went anyway, exposing himself to a deadly crossfire. He came back across the line with his dead comrade, and mortal wounds to himself. "What is the … [Read more...] about Remembering Delta Force Legend Major Thomas Greer
George E. Hand IV Articles
Geo Hand: Enlisted vs Officers in Delta Force – A Double Standard?
Rank Has Its Privileges The privilege of commissioned rank in the military is undoubtedly undisputed. Privilege to the extent of a double standard can be undeniably recognized, the Unit's status notwithstanding. I'm one to recognize and take note of an instance of that very occurrence and recount it to an interested audience because I'm a recounter of events… or at the very … [Read more...] about Geo Hand: Enlisted vs Officers in Delta Force – A Double Standard?
A Delta Force Operator’s Thoughts on the Evolution and Value of Assault Gear
Why I Left Big Army I left the regular straight-leg army infantry and came to Delta for one simple reason: the elbow flashlight that I was required to clip to the right shoulder of my Load Bearing Equipment (LBE) harness. That flashlight was the bane of my very existence: it mocked me, thumbed its nose at me, disrespected me at every juncture. I became born anew into a world … [Read more...] about A Delta Force Operator’s Thoughts on the Evolution and Value of Assault Gear
Former Delta Force Operator Explains How ‘The Unit’ Clears a Room
The Essence of Close Quarters Battle: Courage and Simplicity Close Quarters Battle (CQB), or Close Quarters Combat (CQC), is to the effect of about 75% (maybe higher) testicles and then 25% technique. I don’t like to overcomplicate things, especially CQB, one of the most absolutely horrifying things a human may ever do. It is the very nature of the degree of difficulty … [Read more...] about Former Delta Force Operator Explains How ‘The Unit’ Clears a Room
Delta Force Over Fort Bragg: Cloudy Skies and Corn Fields
(You can read part I here) -- Circling The Drop Zone We circled Sainte Mère Église Drop Zone (DZ) several times over a near “solid” cloud layer that forded no view of the ground below. In the day it was forbidden by doctrine to put jumpers out if there was no visual identification of the DZ below. Our Jumpmaster elected to land and wait on the ground for improved … [Read more...] about Delta Force Over Fort Bragg: Cloudy Skies and Corn Fields
Meet Cos: A Delta Force Living Legend
Rhymes With "Most" "Cos" was the nickname I gave to my brother, Mark Stephens. It was the second syllable of the Spanish version of his first name, Mar-COS. He must have liked it because I heard him explaining the second-syllable-to-the-Spanish-version-of-his-name equation on more than one occasion. That told me that to him; it was worth the work of having to explain the … [Read more...] about Meet Cos: A Delta Force Living Legend
Former Delta Force Operator on Cellphone Security: Who’s Spying on You and Why?
Orwellian Spies at Work You may have heard remarks akin to the notion that “spies” are listening in on your phone conversations. They’re activating the camera on your smartphone and taking pictures. By cracky, they are even turning on your microphone and listening to all the ambient sounds and conversations around you… And worst of all, the spies are tracking every place you … [Read more...] about Former Delta Force Operator on Cellphone Security: Who’s Spying on You and Why?
Geo Hand: Honoring The Founding of Delta Force
In memory of General Eldon Bargewell November 19, 1977, marked the beginning of an era of new national defense capability — the inception of the Tier-One national asset, the Delta Force. This year marks the 47th anniversary of the creation of the Unit by the United States Army’s Colonel Charles Alvin “Chargin’ Charlie” Beckwith. Based on the world events of his day, Colonel … [Read more...] about Geo Hand: Honoring The Founding of Delta Force
Geo Hand’s Delta Force Tales – Green Beret Medics
The following unpleasant situation happened to brother Geo a few years ago, after he had abdominal surgery and before he had a total knee replacement. This is how a Delta guy handles post-op complications. If this happens to you, I would suggest going back to your doctor. - GDM Unyielding Wounds and Unwavering Worries Over six months have passed since my abdominal surgery to … [Read more...] about Geo Hand’s Delta Force Tales – Green Beret Medics
Delta Force Doesn’t Do Extractions from Brothels…Until We Do
Meet The Kids Upstairs It came to be on a particular weekend that we had ourselves a minor rescue and recovery operation of American military personnel on our hands. It seemed the kids upstairs, as we called them, missed their bedtime and needed someone to find them and tuck them back in. Our safe house outside of Capajebo was three stories high. We occupied the bottom and … [Read more...] about Delta Force Doesn’t Do Extractions from Brothels…Until We Do
Geo Hand: The Night Delta Force Went After the Leader of the Taliban
“If God is for us, then who can be against us?” - Quote from both sides in any conflict Their course finally brought them into favorable tailwinds. Though they were able to throttle back a little, Chief had them still press strongly above cruising speed to bank a little extra time on the objective if needed -- a simple but brilliant call on Greg's part. The gunships flew … [Read more...] about Geo Hand: The Night Delta Force Went After the Leader of the Taliban
Geo Hand: A Former Delta Force Operator Talks About the Dangers of Training
Combat is the single highest-risk life event known to mankind. So much so that as many as 96 percent of the men who stormed Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day of WWII were killed or wounded. And if you consider the mental state of the four percent who were not physical casualties… well, where did the percentage lie then? High-risk training is how the military attempts to … [Read more...] about Geo Hand: A Former Delta Force Operator Talks About the Dangers of Training