7th Special Forces Group (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 7th Special Forces Group


caption=7th Special Forces Group beret flash
dates= 2 July 1942-1945 {disbanded}
20 May 1960 - Present
country= United States
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branch= U.S. Army
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garrison=Fort Bragg
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nickname=The Devil's Brigade
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battles=Vietnam War
Operation Urgent Fury
Operation Just Cause
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honors=Operation Urgent Fury
Operation Just Cause
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The 7th Special Forces Group, an operational unit of the United States Army Special Forces, was activated on 20 May, 1960. It was reorganized from the 77th Special Forces Group, which was also stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Its purpose is to conduct guerrilla operations and train friendly governments' armed forces in Central and South America. 7th Special Forces Group participated in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada in 1983, as well as in Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989. [cite web | title=7th SFG |url=http://www.groups.sfahq.com/7th/history.htm|work=7th Special Forces Group webpage| accessdate=March 3| accessyear=2007]

History

World War II

7th Special Forces Group was originally formed as the 1st Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Service Force on 9 July, 1942 at Camp William Harrison, Montana. The unit was a combined Canadian-American commando unit, designed to conduct raids against Germany's fledgling nuclear capability in northern Europe. However, it was relocated to the Aleutian Islands to fight the Japanese. Upon the successful completion of the Aleutian campaign, the SSF was transferred to the European theater of operations. The unit earned the nickname "The Devil's Brigade" for fighting with distinction in Italy and Southern France. It was disbanded in France in 1945, and reactivated in Fort Bragg on 10 November 1953 as the 77th Special Forces Group.

Reorganization as 7th Group

In 1960, the 77th was reorganized and redesignated as the 7th Special Forces Group. In the 1960s, the need for Mobile Training Teams exceeded the capability of the US military, so the 7th Group provided the cadre for the 3rd and 6th Special Forces Groups

Vietnam

The 7th Group was active early in the Vietnam War, first operating in Laos (Operation White Star), and later in other global Cold War operations in addition to South East Asia (Laos, Thailand, and South Vietnam). 7th Group was also the first unit in South Vietnam to have a member earn a Medal of Honor, Captain Roger Donlon. [cite web | title=7th SFG |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/7sfg.htm| work=7th SFG at Global Security| accessdate=March 3| accessyear=2007]

outh America

At the same time, Special Forces were expanding into Latin America. In May 1962, the advance party from Company D, 7th Special Forces Group departed for Fort Gulick, Panama, in the Canal Zone, to establish the 8th Special Forces Group. 8th Group was deactivated in 1972 and the unit redesignated as the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group.

Throughout the 1980s, 7th Special Forces Group played a critial advisory role for the El Salvadoran armed forces, which grew from a force of 12,000 to a total of 55,000 men. The Salvadoran military became a highly trained counter-insurgency force under the tutelage of 7th Group.

The 7th Special Forces Group also played a very important role in preparing the Honduran military to resist and defeat an invasion from Nicaragua. 7th Group also trained the Honduran military in counter-insurgency tactics, which enabled Honduras to defeat the Honduran communist-backed guerrillas.

7th Special Forces Group also became involved in counter narcotics operations in the Andean Ridge countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. The goal was not just to stop the flow of drugs into the United States, but to stem the violence that resulted from the drug trade in those countries.

From December 19, 1989 to January 31, 1990, elements of the 7th Special Forces Group participated in Operation Just Cause to restore democracy to Panama. Over the first two weeks, 7th Special Forces Group conducted many reconnaissance and direct action missions in support of the operation.

References