RELEASE NUMBER: 051207-01
DATE POSTED: DECEMBER 7, 2005
Quote:
PRESS RELEASE: Special Forces legend dies at age 93 in N.C. By Sgt. Joe Healy
U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Dec. 7, 2005) — Retired Army Lt. Gen. William P. Yarborough who is credited as one of the founders of U.S. Army Special Forces and -died Dec. 6 near his home in Southern Pines, N.C., at the age of 93.
Yarborough, a World War II veteran and Special Forces legend, died of natural causes.
Yarborough’s life was spent building the unique capability of Special Forces within the U.S. Army. As a young captain, he designed the airborne wings that every American paratrooper proudly wears today. Later, he won approval from the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, for the wear of the distinctive headgear of the SF Soldier - the Green Beret.
“The passing of General Yarborough marks a truly sad day for the entire Special Operations Community. He worked diligently to increase the professional and academic standards of the JFK School resulting in the development of courses that are still relevant today. His foresight was instrumental in the success of today’s Special Operations Forces. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Yarborough family,” said General Bryan “Doug” Brown, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command.
Born on May 12, 1912, in Seattle, Wash., Yarborough graduated from West Point in June 1936.
In 1940, he joined the newly formed 501st Parachute Battalion and was assigned to command Company C. Later, as Test Officer for the Provisional Parachute Group in 1941, he designed the paratrooper’s boot, the paratrooper’s uniform, and the parachutist’s qualification badge.
In 1945, he was the Provost Marshal for U.S. Forces in Austria and the Vienna Area Command. There he organized the Four Power International Patrol of Russian, French, British and American military police.
In June 1961, Gen. Yarborough assumed command of what is now known as the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Center for Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, N.C. The school trains elite Soldiers for counterinsurgency and irregular warfare situations worldwide.
Yarborough was a veteran of four combat jumps and received numerous military awards and decorations.
Yarborough’s legacy continues today as each Soldier that graduates from the Special Forces Qualification Course is awarded the Yarborough Knife, the official U.S. Army Special Forces knife-the Yarborough Knife
He is survived by his daughter, Patty Reed, and his son, retired Special Forces Lt. Col. Lee Yarborough.
The following is the Schedule for services for LTG Yarborough.
A service will be held at the Southern Pines Episcopal Church Saturday 10 December 2005 at 1400 hours. The service is planned for family, friends and some military. The service is open to the public, the church holds about 350 persons.
Southern Pines Episcopal Church
340 E Massachusetts Ave
Southern Pines, NC
(910) 692-3492
A service will be held at the JFK Chapel on Fort Bragg, Tuesday 13 December 2005, 1000 hours (the chapel General Yarborough had constructed upon the death of President John F. Kennedy).
Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery. Date/time to be announced.
The family request all donations and flowers sent to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation or the Special Operations Museum, Fayetteville, NC in memory of LTG William P. Yarborough.
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De Oppresso Liber - RLTW
"To make war upon rebellion is messy and slow, like eating soup with a knife" -TE Lawrence.
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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
__________________ Let us conduct ourselves in such a fashion that all nations wish to be our friends and all fear to be our enemies. The Virtues of War - Steven Pressfield
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