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A CWX History inquiry...
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Posted 1/12/2010 9:03 PM
Zero Week
Zero Week
Group: Forum Members
Active: 1/27/2010
Posts: 16
Hi all

I have just finished reading "No Room For Error". It is a great book, however I saw Combat Weather mentioned only once, and a hint at a second. Reading that book got me interested in the history of Combat Weather more in depth. The threads on this board have answered a few questions, but is there a more in depth writing on CWX missions in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, and Iran?

Further more, "No Room for Error" really gets into how hard it was for Special Tactics to emerge and be brought along on missions with other units. It seems CWX operators were there as well according to the stickies on this board. How hard was it for CWX to be recognized in the special operations theater?

Thanks to anyone who can help me investigate some more, I can't get enough!



First_Gen



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Posted 1/13/2010 6:14 PM


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Well, for starters there is Keith Grimes Oral Bio posted at
http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/ do a search for "Keith Grimes". I also have a copy on CD-Rom. That should take care of Viet Nam.
As far as Granada, check out Thor's Legions, don't know of any other pubs on that one.
As far as Panama goes, several folks on this forum were in that one. Desert Shield/Desert Storm, there is a thread posted on this subject here, and plenty of us still kicking who were there. And finally Joe Benson did his thesis at NPS on Combat Weather, but I don't think it was ever published.

Any others got any ideas where to point this young man?

RHK Sends...//

Air Commando L-4010, 2005 ACA HOF

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Posted 1/13/2010 7:03 PM
Zero Week
Zero Week
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Active: 1/27/2010
Posts: 16
RHK,

Thanks! I have just started reading his biography, and it is incredible to say the least. Exactly what I was looking for.

I'll take anything else that can be thrown my way. Once again, thanks!
First_Gen



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Posted 1/14/2010 4:19 AM


Former Operator
Ground Week
Group: Operators
Active: 7/29/2010
Posts: 128
Some of the history isn't releasable yet.

I was one of the 4 SOWT bubbas in Panama for Just Cause and the only one at my site.

Let me know what you wanna know about it and I'll tell ya what I can tell ya.

I also had the good fortune of personally interviewing and/or speaking with several of our WWII veterans, so I can tell you a bit about their efforts, as well.

Why are you so interested, by the way?
SOWT Operator - 1987-1992, 1995-96, 1999-2001, 2003-2005 - Now serving in the ARMY - Hooah!!! 
 
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Posted 1/14/2010 8:24 AM
Retired Operator
Tower Week
Group: Operators
Active: 2 days ago @ 7:44 AM
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Thor's Legions isn't accurate when discussing Grenada.
Wishing everyone a GREAT AF day!
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Posted 1/14/2010 3:00 PM
Zero Week
Zero Week
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Active: 1/27/2010
Posts: 16
Quote: Some of the history isn't releasable yet.I was one of the 4 SOWT bubbas in Panama for Just Cause and the only one at my site.Let me know what you wanna know about it and I'll tell ya what I can tell y...

I understand that a lot of the information is still classified.

My main interest is really how hard was it for SOWT to emerge out as being "accepted" and recognized as useful to the war theater.

After reading "No Room For Error" and seeing how difficult of time CCT had to be proven useful, I could imagine SOWT had just as difficult of time....or am I wrong?



Overall, I feel learning the history about a career field I want so bad wouldn't be the worst thing for me either.

Thanks!
First_Gen



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Posted 1/23/2010 5:49 PM
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First_Gen, please be more OPSEC conscious of what you are asking or you're likely not to get any answer at all.

 


WMB
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Posted 1/24/2010 10:58 PM


Former Operator
Ground Week
Group: Operators
Active: 7/29/2010
Posts: 128
Never attached - OPCON

Attachment includes UCMJ authority and the USAF will never release that to the Army.

OPCON - Look it up, since you're still learning.

Panama -

I was at Rio Hato, OPCON to the 2nd Battalion, 7th SFG(A). I was the only SOWTer there with a Battalion - The others were all at the Group HQ.

I was an augmentee from the XVIII Airborne Corps' Cadre Weather Team, so I had no continuity with the Battalion going in. That may or may not have affected how I was used.

At one point they wanted to put me on a hillside to get me to send back weather data. One of the questions they asked during that discussion was "are you CCT qualified?" Which was ridiculous in our eyes, but a legitimate question from their perspective - Since the only AF muldoons they knew about were CCTs and PJs.

Most of the time I was there (which was only a month) was spent coordinating general weather support. I also served on the ad hoc security response force, which responded a few times on foot and via helicopter to reports of armed men near the base.

When I returned to Bragg, I was reassigned to support the 3rd Battalion, 5th SFG(A) - Which ultimately became the 1st Battalion, 3rd SFG(A). When we deployed the Battalion in support of DESERT STORM, I had nearly a year of continuity with my Army counterparts and enjoyed an associated amount of credibility because of it. Additionally, wearing the SF combat patch gave me some credibility, as did being both a Army SERE and MFF graduate - Especially SERE, since I had attended that course the Battalion S3. We were well wrapped up in operations from the start of deployment planning and even had two SOWTs with advanced infiltration skills (one MFF, 1 SCUBA) identified for Special Reconnaissance missions with two separate ODAs. I'd call that a very good example of being accepted by the community, but it was all due to personal interaction, as opposed to being a "known commodity," due to an effective and standardized pipeline, such as exists today (thankfully!).

"Delta?" Never heard of it...

:o)
SOWT Operator - 1987-1992, 1995-96, 1999-2001, 2003-2005 - Now serving in the ARMY - Hooah!!! 
 
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Posted 1/25/2010 8:41 AM
Zero Week
Zero Week
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Active: 1/27/2010
Posts: 16
Quote: First_Gen, please be more OPSEC conscious of what you are asking or you're likely not to get any answer at all.

WMB,

I read that post everyday wondering if it was too far, and I have now edited it accordingly.

I apologize for going there.
First_Gen



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Posted 1/26/2010 6:44 PM


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Actually I just edited the offending text, go back and read the first post again and you will see what we're talking about. There are certian things we don't discuss in these uncalss forums.

RHK Sends...//

Air Commando L-4010, 2005 ACA HOF

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