The Original Green Beret

TCS Daily ^ | 19 Dec 2005 | Gordon Cucullu

[rahbert]

America lost a good one this month. Retired US Army Lieutenant General William Yarborough, 93, passed away. Bill Yarborough was a veteran of three wars: WW II, Korea, and Vietnam. He was a highly decorated paratrooper and is considered by many one of the most imaginative, innovative combat leaders that America has ever produced. Yarborough came of age at the defining moment of the 20th century, the onset of the Second World War.

[Old Sarge]

One inspiring story PING.

[Boris99]

RIP General Yarborough and De Oppresso Liber.

[canalabamian]

DOL

[wizr]

Thanks. God bless the men that jump from the sky, take the devil by the horns, and ride him.

[Lancer_N3502A]

As the Republican French would say; Bonvoyage' Mon General...De Oppresso Liber.

[MarkL]

This is NOT meant as an attempt to minimize the severity of this thread, but I have a question about something that I've never understood, and hope that someone here can explain to me.

Why is it that a Lt General is a 3 star, outranking a Major General, a 2 star?

Please don't think that I'm making light of this. It's just something that was brought to mind by the General's passing.

Thanks,

Mark

[yarddog]

You know, I have always wondered the same thing.

[R. Scott]

Unlike most headquarters-bound staff officers, Yarborough formulated the operational plan and then volunteered to accompany the attack as an “observer.”

That should be mandatory. We would have far fewer ill-conceived operations.

“Wear them with pride,” said the President. That took care of objections to the Beret from anyone lower in the chain of command than the Commander in Chief.

Oh yea!

[Boris99]

Originally the rank of Major General was called Sergeant Major General. A Lt outranks a Sergeant Major. Later the Sergeant was dropped, and we were left with just Major General, and the bizarre situation of a Lt Gen outranking a Maj Gen.

[CrazyIvan]

Read an article about him last year, a real "command from the front" guy.

[R. Scott]

Why is it that a Lt General is a 3 star, outranking a Major General, a 2 star?

It is my understanding that “Lieutenant” was/is the term applied to a direct assistant. The General’s assistant would then be a "Lieutenant" General. A “Major” General is a major vs. a minor general. The Brigadier General traditionally commanded a Brigade.

[Tallguy]

Go back far enough (Middle Ages) and the military ranks were, (in decending order)

King (or sovereign),
Captain-General,
Lieutenant-General,
Sergeant Major-General.

See the pattern? It roughly parallels company ranks (Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant Major) -- although the rank of Sergeant Major is now reserved for Battalion, Regiment & larger organizations.

[GarySpFc]

One story the General told was that during WWII, as they were approaching their drop zone in a C-47 during the invasion of North Africa, Vichy French aircraft came out to meet them and fired upon them. He, and other paratroopers, shot out the C-47s' windows and chased the French away. The General was disappointed that they did not parachute in on that one but air landed instead.

[Samwise]

Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Berets

Silver wings upon their chests
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret

[StarCMC]

Thanks for the ping Sarge. Inspiring indeed.