Talk:Arthur D. Simons

Col Bull Simons

I enjoyed researching Col Simons and wish I had known him. Please let me know if I missed anything. Wayne A Kirkbride, LTC (Ret), USA Wkirkbride 03:38, 19 January 2007 (UTC) 19 Jan 07

Brigadier General "Don" Donald D. Blackburn, U.S. Army Special Forces

To all,

BG Blackburn died on Saturday. His obituary is below. I have added my notes to the end.

Donald D. "Don" (Ret) Blackburn Sept. 14, 1916 - May 24, 2008

Retired Brig. Gen. Donald D. "Don" Blackburn, 91, Sarasota, formerly of McLean, Va., died May 24, 2008. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Toale Brothers Funeral Homes, Colonial Chapel. A full military service will be later at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. Survivors include a daughter, Susan B. Douglas of Sarasota; a son, Donald D. Jr., of Los Gatos, Calif.; and five grandchildren. Donald Blackburn was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Infantry Reserve on May 30, 1938, and entered into active duty with the Army Sept. 22, 1940, assigned to the 24th Infantry at Fort Benning, Ga. At the outbreak of World War II, he was serving as an advisor to a battalion of the 12th Infantry, Philippine Army. Upon the fall of Bataan in April 1942, he evaded capture and until October 1945 conducted guerrilla warfare on the island of Luzon. During this latter period, he reorganized and commanded the 11th Infantry, Philippine Army, which was integrated in October 1945 as a regular unit in the Philippine military establishment. Since World War II, he has served in various command and staff assignments. He was assigned to the Department of Military Psychology and Leadership, Tactical Department, United States Military Academy, in 1950. During 1953, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va. He was then assigned to NATO's Allied Forces Northern Europe, Oslo, Norway. On return to the United States in 1956, he was assigned as commanding officer, 3rd Training Regiment, Fort Jackson, S.C. In 1957, he was assigned to MAGG, Vietnam, and served as the senior advisor to the commanding general, 5th Military Region (Mekong Delta). In October 1958, he was assigned as commanding officer, 77th Special Forces Group (now the 7th SFG) where he was instrumental in initiating Special Forces operations in Southeast, Asia.* He attended the 1960 class of the National War College. He served as deputy director of developments for special warfare, Office of the Chief of Research and Development from 1961-1964, and then was reassigned to the office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations as director of special warfare. He was commander SOG (Studies and Observations Group) Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, from May 1965 to May 1966. He served as assistant deputy director, Defense Communications Planning Group from August 1966 to August 1967. He was the assistant division commander, 82nd Airborne Division from September 1967 to October 1968. He was the director of plans and programs, office of the Chief of Research and Development from October 1968 until his retirement in 1971. * Brig. Gen. Blackburn has been awarded the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, the Gold Star Medal (Philippines), the Medal of Merit (Philippines) and the Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Medal. He is authorized to wear the Distinguished Unit Citation with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Master Parachutist Badge. Following his military retirement, Blackburn took a position with Braddock, Dunn and McDonald, where he served as vice president, special projects until 1979 when he retired.

Roxanne's note: While 77th/7th SFG(A) Commander, he assembled the first White Star MTTs. The first itieration was led by "Bull" Simons who he had first gotten to know from the Philippines. He was the director of plans and programs, office of the Chief of Research and Development from October 1968 until his retirement in 1971. While in the position, he authorized and oversaw the initial electin of the Son Tay POW for Operation Ivory Coast, briefing LTG Wheeler. He was part of the briefing with Dr. Kissinger. He is the one that chose BG Manor (Air Force and overall commander of the Raid), "Bull" Simons, Dick Meadows and "Doc" Cataldo. After the Raid, he was the one the navigated the furor over the fact there were no prisoners.

ROXANNE M. MERRITT Director, JFK Special Warfare Museum 910-432-4272/1533; DSN: 239 910-432-4062 fax merrittr@soc.mil; Roxanne.M.Merritt@us.army.mil

Dr. B. R. Lang (talk) 01:27, 2 June 2008 (UTC)