OUR MISSION & WHO WE ARE

The Special Forces Association Serves as the Voice for the Special Forces Community; Perpetuates Special Forces Traditions and Brotherhood; Advances the Public Image of Special Forces and Promotes the General Welfare of the Special Forces Community. 

The Special Forces Association (SFA) is a non-profit fraternal organization for current and retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers, also known as “Green Berets.” Established in 1964, the association is based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with 84 chapters located in the United States as well as Panama, South Korea, Germany, Thailand, Philippines and Okinawa. Chapters meet in their respective areas and conduct meetings, hold reunions and host social functions for their members.

Membership is open to any person who is or has been a member of Special Forces, including those in the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard. Those wishing to join must apply, providing certified documentation proving past or current assignment with a Special Forces unit. Associate membership is also available to individuals who do not meet this criterion, but who have “contributed significantly to the support of Special Forces, or its lineage, in the accomplishment of its mission.

CHAPTER 51 NAMESAKE AND MENTOR:

He was one of the Originals. OSS. CIA. 10th SFGA.



Born in Brussels, Belgium to French parents, Colonel Sully H. de Fontaine began his Special Operations career during World War II, when, in 1943 he became a member of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Trained by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the Special Air Service in England, in 1944 he parachuted into occupied France where he escorted downed pilots to safety. After the liberation of France he was attached to the OSS-SOE Operations in Brussels, Belgium and following the war, he attended French, Belgium, and British Military Schools, as well as earning a Bachelors of Arts degree in Philosophy.

In 1956 he was sent TDY to the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) during the Hungarian uprising. Colonel de Fontaine completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in April 1957, and after served as an instructor at the Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, teaching Soviet Intelligence, Escape and Evasion, and Counter Guerilla Warfare from 1957 to 1959. Following this assignment, then First Lieutenant de Fontaine returned to the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Bad Tolz and became the security officer for the Group. During this time he was in charge of the Congo Operations, which evacuated over 200 stranded missionaries from the remote jungle areas. In 1962 he deployed to Algeria, serving as an observer with French Paratroopers during the Algerian War. In 1963 he joined the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and took an “A” Team to Vietnam. In 1965 Colonel de Fontaine commanded a “B” Team in the Vietnam Delta. He was then assigned to the Studies and Observation Group (SOG) where he recruited and trained Montagnard tribesman for cross boarder operations.

In 1966 Colonel de Fontaine became a Military Police Officer and was assigned as the commander of a CID Detachment in France. In 1968 he was redeployed to the Republic of Vietnam as the Officer in Charge of the Special Branch of the Criminal Investigation Division and afterwards transferred to the Criminal Investigation Agency in Washington D.C. From 1971 to 1973 he was the Provost Marshall of the 1st Armored Division in Bavaria, Germany. In 1973 he was called to be the Field Element Commander of the Joint Casualty Recovery Center, a Special Operations effort in Southeast Asia, and directed operations that recovered remains of personnel listed as missing in action.

Upon Colonel de Fontaine’s retirement in 1976 he continued utilizing the skills developed as a Special Forces and Military Police officer. His civilian occupations included Special Agent - Western Montana Bureau of Investigations; Senior Agent Nevada Gaming Control Board; Senior Vice President, Corporate Security, United Gaming Inc. Las Vegas, Nevada; President, International Consulting Agency, Inc.;Corporate Investigator, Park Place Entertainment, Inc., Las Vegas, Nevada; and Director of Investigations, Venetian Macau LTD., China.



During his service he was awarded over 20 US and Foreign decorations and awards to include the Legion of Merit (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal with “V” device, Purple Heart (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with “V” device, Army Commendation Medal with “V” device, Air Medal with “V” Device, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and British Special Air Service Parachutist Badge.