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Master Sergeant Joe C. Alderman was born Bartley, West Virginia and entered the U.S. Army in June 1958, serving as a scout in the first Airborne Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Team in Germany from 1959 until 1961. Master Sergeant Alderman joined the Special Forces in 1962. He completed engineer training and deployed to Okinawa to serve in the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Master Sergeant Alderman's combat experiences included serving in Vietnam ten consecutive years from 1963-1972 as a member of Special Forces detachments as light weapons NCO, heavy weapons NCO, engineer sergeant, intelligence sergeant, Project Delta, and MACV SOG as a reconnaissance team leader and advisor. While serving in Project Delta in 1966, he helped to establish MACV Recondo School by writing lesson plans and serving as an instructor between combat operations. He wrote a training manual for the Vietnamese Delta Reconnaissance Unit. He served as Recon team leader Blackjack A-504 Waterborne Operations.
Master Sergeant Alderman was selected as original cadre for the 1st Ranger Battalion in January 1974 and served in various leadership and staff positions until August 1976. He then served in Germany in the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) until 1979. He was selected by the Ranger Department to be the first noncommissioned officer guest speaker in 1980.
MSG Alderman’s awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Soldier’s Medal, six Bronze Stars (four w/Valor), Meritorious Service Medal, five Air Medals (two w/ Valor), Joint Service Medal, six Army Commendation Medals (two w/Valor), three Purple Hearts. Vietnamese awards include Special Service Medal for Heroism, Cross of Gallantry w/Silver and two Bronze Stars, and the Armed Forces Honor Medal. Badges and Tabs earned included the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachute Badge, Scuba Badge, Ranger Tab, Vietnam Parachutist Badge, Republic of China Parachutist Badge, German Army Parachutist, German Army Marksman Badge, Austrian Army Parachute Badge, and the Pathfinder Badge.
His Military Training and Education includes the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol, Pathfinder, 7th Army NCOA, SF Combat Engineer, Jumpmaster, MACV Recondo, Combat Recon Leader 10 Course, Advance Airborne Techniques (HALO) RVN, Military Freefall Ranger, Intelligence Analyst, MFF Jumpmaster, ANCOES, Arctic Military, PO Course, Mountaineering, Desert Warfare Operations, Jungle Warfare Operations, Amphibious Combat Scout Swimmer, Norway Winter Warfare Course, Military Skiing, Underwater Operations (SCUBA), First Sergeant Administration Course, French, Chinese (Mandarin), Vietnamese and German Command Language Courses. He was an Honor graduate from the US Army Ranger School and Special Forces Underwater Operations Course.
Master Sergeant Alderman's distinguished career is an inspiration to all with whom he served. He truly exemplifies the motto "Rangers Lead the Way."
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Other Comments:
In the summer of 1975, when I was a USMA First Classman on the RECONDO Committe at Camp Buckner, I was mentored by SFC Alderman. SFC Alderman was the Acting First Sergeant for the Composite Ranger Company, 1/75 Rangers ( under command of CPT David Grange, Jr.). The Composite Ranger Company was the cadre-along with 8 Firstclassmen- to run the new Yearlings (Third Classmen or Sophomores) through a week long RECONDO Course. SFC Alderman's tactical experiences and operatioal and leadership insights have stuck with me to this day. After 30 years in the Army (22 in SF) I can find no improvement on what I refer to as "The Alderman Method"!
As an example; I found and Alderman quote online:
Location: Bad Tolz, FRG, January 77; ODA outside doing morning PT in the snow wearing parkas over sweats, artic mittens, and Chippewa mountain boots; no sun in sight and colder than an endangered polar bear's testicles.
Question by young SGT to TM SGT: 'Top, why are we out here doing PT instead of using the gym or the pool?'
Answer by TM SGT (Joe Alderman): 'Because we don't get paid to fight wars in an f'in gym.'
This Quote was posted by Richard and it's an example of the "Alderman Method".
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