How do I find info on someone who was a green beret?

Question

Is there any why I can find info on someone who was a green beret by their name? I know the persons name and that they were in the vietnam war.

this person is my father who is died in the 90's.

Answer 1

Which group did he serve with? That any other details might help find somebody he served with in Vietnam. Check the Special Forces Association site below, site list the location of local chapters. Many old SF Vet's are members of their local associations, might be a chapter near where you live. Shoot me an email if you have any other questions...

http://www.globalspecialoperations.com/sfa.html

Answer 2

List Of Green Berets

Answer 3

For Training: Navy SEALs have a 70% dropout rate and a 10% roll back rate; Green Berets have a 90% dropout rate even after passing RASP; Rangers have a 60% dropout rate Differences: Navy SEALs are actually acknowledged by the government and are more amphibious; Green Berets use unconventional warfare and use extreme intelligence to convince and train the indigenous population against the enemy whilst fighting the enemy; Rangers are elite shock troops that primarily lead raids against enemies and capture objectives via Airborne Beneficial: It depends- they all do different things---- If it's a domestic enemy, Green Berets are more suited so they can convince the population to defeat the enemy; if it's a sea/water threat, the SEALS are the ones to do the job; if it's a mission like a raid or anything that involves supreme firepower, the Rangers are more suited for the job Action: I don't really know that one. They all have I guess. The Green Berets are in fact Army Special Forces, but the Rangers aren't, in controversy to what most people think. The Rangers are Special Operations and specialized light infantry troops. I planning on joining the Rangers after Westpoint, have to say, RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!!

Answer 4

It depends. Some information is public and some information is covered by privacy laws (actually most information is private if the person is living and you have not obtained their written authorization) . Depends of whether the person is living or dead and whether you are related.

Veterans who served in Vietnam who were killed in action are listed on the Vietnam Wall. There is an online equivalent (I posted the link below).

If you are a living descendant of a deceased veteran and can find enough identifying information (for example, military service number) then you may be able to obtain information from the National Archives on their military service.

If a person received a prominent award, such as the Medal of Honor, or was a POW, then there is sure to be a record in the newspaper or online, of this.

If this a living person, then in all likelihood you will need their permission and assistance to obtain any military service information.

I hate to even mention this but it does occasionally occur. If you are dealing with a living person who you know only casually, who is claiming to be a Green Beret, then just make sure what they are saying sounds credible. If they are not able to mention specific places or don't seem to know much about the military, then you may have reason to question their story.

I am not aware of any publicly accessible database that simply lists Green Berets by name. Also, even if you had permission to request records from the military, you would most likely make the request the individuals military service number or Social Security number, the name and the fact that they were Special Forces would not be sufficient to search their records.

If the person however, mentioned a specific Special Forces unit however, then you may have enough information to check up on retired enlisted or officers associations since it is not unusual for former service members to keep in contact and join fraternal organizations (particularly if they were in combat or part of an elite group such as the Special Forces).

I just read your latest edit. I would recommend sending an request to the National Archives (see link below). If possible provide your father's military service (serial) number and/or Social Security number along with a copy of his death certificate and copy of your birth certificate (as evidence that you are his daughter---I don't know that this is really necessary but it probably wouldn't hurt), tell them what you want (copy of his discharge document, personnel records etc.). If you are unable to provide any of this information, don't worry. Send whatever information you have and if that is insufficient then they will write back to you telling you what they need to identify his records. One final note: if any of the information is still classified, then of course you won't get it. But I doubt that there is still very much from Vietnam that is still classified.

Answer 5

My father-in-law, said that he was a Green Beret in Vietnam. He was in the National Guard in Mobile, Alabama. The reason I need to verify this is, he is not receiving any benefits from VA. He is not in poor health, but he is not in good health either. He could really use the help. He said that he did not have enough active duty service to qualify for benefits. My mother-in-law said that he only went to Vietnam on his two week summer drill. I don t understand any of this. Is there anyone who can give me some help n this matter so I can see about helping my in-laws out. Don Oswald

Answer 6

My father was also a Green Beret in Vietnam. Unfortunately he doesn't want to talk ANYTHING about what he did in the war, where he was, his missions, etc. We've been trying to make him talk more than 20 years but every time we try he has refused. I would like to know his history but his records say all his missions were top secret. I would love to see his pictures in Vietnam because my Grandma lost them in a flood and I just saw the once when I was a little girl.

Answer 7

Howdy~

I'm trying to verify if a guy was actually a member of the SF community. I'm not sure if you can help me or maybe point me in the right direction.

He was in Vietnam during the early to mid 60's and boasts about doing this and winning that. He claims he's won either "The Distinguished Service Cross" or "The Distinguished Service Medal" though I've never seen it personally and I've checked on the web sites for his name and found nothing.
He also claims to be a Retired LTCol, though during his time in Vietnam he was Enlisted.

While he was married. He refused to get his spouse and infant son ID Cards and enroll them in DEERS. And now even while divorced refuses to enroll his now 10yr old in DEERS.

Is there a way you can find out.
1, If he really is Retired?
2. If he was SF?
3. If he has in fact won either one of those awards?

His name is: Ronald Lee Elrod. I believe he grew up in Grand Island, NE and now lives in OK. He was born in July 1948.

Thanks for any help,

Ken Hilley

Answer 8

What is your purpose? From the construction of your question I would guess you are not doubting the validity of this persons claim and merely interested the history of that person.
Around the world are many Special Forces Detachments composed of retired Green Berets. They have a wealth of information but you will have to convince them you have a "need to know".
Tyler gave you one of several internet sites. If I can be of any assistance you can email me.


Email me the information and I will see what I can do for you.....need as much information as you can provide.....full name.....nickname anything you can think of....."who ,what, where, and when"

Answer 9

was ralph g. Meckler a member of the green berets

Answer 10

That would depend on what info you are looking for and if you are any type of a relative.

It also may depend on whether the person is alive or not.