Story by: Sgt. Josiah Pugh

Posted: December 8, 2013

AUSTIN, Texas - For the first time in the Texas Army National Guard’s history it has a joint special operation’s detachment. The Special Operations Detachment – Africa (Airborne) (SOD-A) is one of eight such units belonging to the National Guard nationwide and was stood up in October of 2012 at Bee Caves Armory in Austin, Texas.

Their mission, to deploy overseas, lead and train both joint and combined special operations forces in support of theater campaign plans. 

In the last year, SOD-A has recruited soldiers that will allow them to support their higher headquarters Special Operations Command-Africa whose goal is to promote regional stability in Africa and combat terrorism. About half of the soldiers in SOD-A are from a special forces background while the remaining members come from special operations forces, human resources, intelligence, logistics and signal backgrounds. soldiers in this unit travel from as far as California and Washington, D.C., just to attend their monthly drill. 

Maj. Nathan Rettig, SOD-A Future Operations officer, said about the unit, “Getting a chance to support special operations in Africa was a long time goal, as I firmly believe special operations forces is an exponential force multiplier on the continent. Just as importantly, I knew and served with the high caliber individuals in this unit since we started the Texas Army National Guard Special Forces family in 2007.” Rettig added, “I know they are some of the most capable, experienced, and committed teams in the special operations forces community and I'm humbled and honored to serve with them."

In May, SOD-A participated in Epic Guardian, a joint staff-coordinated exercise focused on crisis action planning, deployment of forces and field operations. Aside from developing a partnership with Malawi, Djibouti and Seychelles, Maj. Duncan Smith, another SOD-A future operations officer, said the exercise provided much more to those countries’ militaries and militias. “We’re there to partner with the governments or militaries and offer an increased capability to provide a secure and stable region,” said Smith. 

SOD-A provides a place for special forces or special operations soldiers in the National Guard where they can grow and advance their careers. Lt. Col. Douglas O'Connell, SOD-A commander, said, “The soldiers who have joined SOD-A are looking for a chance to conduct real world operations in challenging and extreme environments.”

Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Carter, training noncommissioned officer, has been with SOD-A since April of this year. “I can’t think of a better place for me and my future goals to be or a better environment where the mentorship is from the top down,” he said.

In late June, SOD-A conducted Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk airborne operation training and a reflexive fire with M4 carbine rifles and M9 pistols alongside Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group. In August, the unit conducted its first joint training partnership with the U.S. Navy Reserve SEAL Detachment 208, in a joint military decision making course in order to prepare for future deployments.

Spc. Vanessa Freitag, a personnel administrator, has been with SOD-A since March and found her comrades have been more than happy to include her in all their training.

“I love it,” said Freitag. “I think this has challenged me. I’ve grown with them. It’s such an invigorating experience being a part of this group because initially it was very intimidating. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect or what they expected of me and everything’s formed together, especially for a new unit. A lot of the guys are special forces and they’re not quite used to a staff unit, but we’ve meshed so well together. They’ve made me feel very welcome from the beginning.” 

Lt. Col. Theo Unbehagen, Operations Officer, has been with SOD-A since October of last year and is excited to deploy to Africa. “It’s going to be a great experience I think, because we’re going to be in a different area,” said Unbehagen. “We’re going to be working with the partner nations, working, training with, learning from them and teaching them. It’s really rewarding.

Posted By: 7-DEC-13

DALLAS, Texas - Don Hart was a homeless man who lost his way in the world, but was finally found.

He now rests among the neat rows of markers at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. He received a military funeral Thursday afternoon, with gratitude from soldiers and veterans who never knew him thanks to LTC-Chaplain Billy Corn and others who have made it their mission to take care of these heroes. LTC Corn has for years quietly and without fanfare made it a priority in his life to ensure these homeless veteran were not alone when laid to rest.

More than two dozen Patriot Guard Riders paid respects. An honor guard folded the flag. "Nobody knows this man here. Not one of us,” said Patriot Guard Ride Captain Rick Crabb. “But he's home with heroes now." The honors were earned a lifetime ago in Vietnam -- that much we know. "We know he's an Army vet. We know he served honorably from '71 to '73,"

And they were mourners, though strangers. “I’m just so sad this man had no family to be found. We’re his family,” Linda Tinnerman said. Tears dripped from beneath her sunglasses. She received the folded flag, just as she received her husband’s flag nearly nine years ago. We've learned that Don Hart was well known as “JD” on the streets and in the shelters in Fort Worth and Dallas. And that a formerly-homeless friend took him in just hours before Hart died. "He was looking pretty sick," Chester Williams told us. "He was a friend of mine. A real good friend of mine.”

Williams said he found Don Hart sitting outside the VA hospital one day in late September. "So I told him, 'JD, why don't you come to the house and clean yourself up?' He said, 'OK,'" Williams said.
Williams said his friend “liked a ruckus,” but was kind. That he took to sleeping outside because he didn’t like shelter rules. Caseworkers who tried to get “JD” off the streets preferred to call him private. They liked him. Williams said he cooked Hart dinner the night he died.

“I was reading my Bible,” Williams said, “and he said, 'Why don’t you just read it out loud?'” He said Hart fell asleep on the sofa. Sometime in the night, he passed away. The cause of death was heart disease. No next of kin were found. "He died at peace,” Chester Williams said. “You could tell, he died at peace." Williams is glad his friend got a dignified burial. “It’s a very peaceful place,” he said. “Very honorable place. I’m glad he’s finally home.” Don Hart was 62. He is no longer homeless thanks for LTC Corn and others who will always remember.