Like many veterans, Chris Bell and Darryl Schumacher understand that comradery among soldiers doesn’t end once they retire their uniforms.
Both gentlemen served as Army Special Forces soldiers, also known as Green Berets.
As veterans, they’ve taken on the mantle to continue a traditional reunion for Green Berets which started in 1969.
They held their most recent function at Smokin’ Aces BBQ and Steakhouse – Plant City, on April 9.
“What we are – we’re a group of old veterans that gather up here every year, gather up and restore our friendships,” Bell said. “All the guys that come together – we either were together, we operated together, or we were all in the same unit.”
There’s about 85 former Green Berets that attended. Many come not only from other regions of Florida, but out-of-state from areas like Washington D.C., Alabama, and North Carolina.
“That’s the one thing we share in common,” Schumacher said. “The time we’ve spent in the service, we share that time.”
Bell is from Gulfport, having served as a Green Beret for 18 years.
Schumacher is from Plant City and served for six years.
They initially met in Tampa, serving the 3rd Battalion-20th Special Forces for the Florida National Guard. That Special Forces group was established in 1964. It consisted of a 12-man team: two personnel for weapons, two for communications, two for demolition, two for medical, two for operations, and two for assistant intelligence.
They are often tasked with disrupting the communications and supply line of the enemy as well as infiltrating their lines.
Their missions consist of:
• Counterinsurgency: helping to fight terrorism and training the military of other nations.
• Unconventional Warfare: allow an insurgency or resistant movement to coerce, overthrow, or disrupt a government or occupying power by using an underground force in a denied area
• Direct Action: to seize, capture, or destroy enemy materials or recover personnel by quickly going on the offensive
• Foreign Internal Defense: to train and supply allied forces so they can prevent insurgency, subversion, terrorism, and other threats
• Special Reconnaissance: Have surveillance for hostile, denied, diplomatic or political environments, to collect or verify information of strategic significance
• Security Force Assistance: helping other nations to train and develop defensive capabilities
“That’s what we do,” Bell said. “We go into foreign territory, work with indigenous personnel and fight the bad guys.”
Neither men were assigned on the battle field and were “cold war veterans,” Schumacher said. He also noted that he’s still passionate about his time in service, stating that he’s young at heart, but his body tells him otherwise.
However, the passion to become a Green Beret is dwindling, Bell said.
“There’s fewer Green Berets than there’s ever been,” he said. “It’s just getting harder and harder in the culture that we live in, for people to commit to go become Green Berets. You’ve got to want it more than you’ve ever wanted anything in your entire life.”
The annual reunion events are not just for veterans, but are inclusive to young, active soldiers. It’s an opportunity to offer them words of wisdom and advice.
Even the retired servicemen need inspiration as many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Bell said. He himself has dealt with the condition and has often found solace within his group.
Schumacher has been a longtime friend and confidant to him.
“I tell Darryl things that I can’t even share with my own family,” Bell said. “That’s how close he and I are.”
The veterans have a great deal of gratitude toward Robbie Jordan, the owner of Smokin’ Aces, for allowing them to use the restaurant for the Green Beret event. It’s now been their third year using the venue.
“We found here good food, good service, good people,” Schumacher said. “Robbie’s been really good to us.”
In fact, inside the restaurant is a sign recognizing the group:
United States Army Special Forces – B-3-20.
It’s a constant reminder of the solidarity and comradery expressed by the former Green Berets.
“We’re family, they’re family,” Bell said. “It’s just how we operate. We’re always trying to help other people. We try to lift people up. That’s our whole goal.”