http://www.groups.sfahq.com/1st/history_jake_jacobson.htm
History
[Excerpt]
The disappointing conclusion to America's Vietnam experience foreshadowed
a shift of strategic emphasis away from Asia and the Pacific, back to NATO
and Europe. The size of the Army was being reduced to peacetime levels, and
decisions on these reductions were being made by leaders more concerned with
maintaining armor and mechanized infantry strength than with maintaining
unconventional warfare capabilities. Special Forces, which had grown to a
force of seven groups in 1963, was cut severely in strength. 3rd Group was
inactivated in 1969, followed by 6th Group in 1971, and 8th Group in 1972.
In 1974, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) was also cut from the force,
furling its colors on 28 June. Left behind was a single team, US Army Special
Forces Detachment Korea, to provide a special operations presence in the
Far East.
Ten years later, the need for special operations forces in the Asia-Pacific
Theater became apparent to the leaders of the Army and the nation, and 1st
Special Forces Group (Airborne) was once again called to duty. One battalion
of the Group would be forward-stationed at Okinawa, while two battalions
and the Group's headquarters and separate companies would be organized at
Fort Lewis, Washington.
The first element to be activated was Company A, 1st Battalion, which was
reactivated at Fort Bragg on 15 March 1984. This company and the remainder
of 1st Battalion were assembled and deployed to Torii Station, Okinawa during
the spring and summer of 1984, under command of Lieutenant Colonel James
Estep. An in-theater activation ceremony for the battalion was held at Torii
Station on 19 October 1984, with Lieutenant General Alexander Weyand present,
as reviewing officer.
Activation of the rest of 1st Special Forces Group (Headquarters Company,
2nd and 3rd Battalions, Service Company, Signal Company, and 1st Military
Intelligence Company) officially commenced on 4 March 1984 at Fort Lewis,
Washington.
http://www.groups.sfahq.com/1st/area_of_responsibility.htm
AREA
OF
RESPONSIBILITY
List
of Countries and Entities of
the Asia-Pacific Region |
|
| Australia |
_____ |
Mauritius |
| Bangladesh |
|
Micronesia, Federated States
of |
| Bhutan |
|
Mongolia |
| Burma (Myanmar) |
|
Nauru |
| Cambodia |
|
Nepal |
| China |
|
Niue |
| Comoros |
|
New Zealand |
| Brunei |
|
Palau, Republic
of |
| Cook Islands |
|
Papua New Guinea |
| Fiji |
|
Philippines |
| New Caledonia/French Polynesia
(France) |
|
Russia |
| India |
|
Samoa |
| Indonesia |
|
Singapore |
| Japan |
|
Solomon Islands |
| Kiribati |
|
Sri Lanka |
| Korea, Republic
of |
|
Taiwan |
| Korea, North |
|
Thailand |
| Laos |
|
Tonga |
| Madagascar |
|
Tuvalu |
| Malaysia |
|
Vanuatu |
| Maldives |
|
Vietnam |
| Marshall Islands, Republic
of |
|
