Eldon Bargewell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eldon A. Bargewell
Born	(1947-08-13)August 13, 1947 Hoquiam, Washington, U.S.
Died	April 29, 2019(2019-04-29) (aged 71) Eufaula, Alabama, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1967–1973 (enlisted) 1973–2006 (Officer)
Rank	Major General
Unit	2nd Ranger Battalion 5th Special Forces Group MACV-SOG Delta Force
Commands held	Special Operations Command Europe Delta Force Joint Special Operations Command 5th Special Forces Group Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Operation Just Cause Operation Acid Gambit War in Afghanistan
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart

Major General Eldon Arthur Bargewell (August 13, 1947 – April 29, 2019) was a United States Army General officer. He served as commander of the U.S. Army's Delta Force unit.

Early life and education

Bargewell was born in Hoquiam, Washington and graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1965, enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1967. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1968. During the Vietnam War Bargewell was accepted into MACV-SOG where he served at the "Command And Control North (CCN)" Forward Operating Base 4 at Da Nang and served as Non-Commissioned Officer Team Leader for Reconnaissance Team "Viper" (all CCN teams were named for states or snakes). While serving with CCN, Bargewell earned the Distinguished Service Cross in September 1971 for his actions in combat in saving his team and getting them to safety.

Career

Bargewell graduated from Officer candidate School and received his commission in 1973. In addition, he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in resource management at Troy State University.

Bargewell's first assignment was as a member of the 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he later served as rifle platoon leader and executive officer. As a captain, Bargewell was assigned as Rifle Company Commander with 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry. In 1981 Bargewell volunteered for and completed a specialized selection and operator training course for assignment to Delta Force where he would serve as Operations Officer, Squadron Executive Officer, Troop commander, Squadron Commander (twice), Deputy Commander and unit commander from July 1996 to July 1998.

While in Delta Force Bargewell participated in Operation Acid Gambit during the invasion of Panama, including the daring rescue of American citizen Kurt Muse from the Modelo prison. After the successful extraction of the hostage the MH-6 Little Bird transporting Muse as well as several Operators crashed behind enemy lines wounding many of them; however, they managed to seek cover in the city until they were recovered by an APC.

He commanded a Delta Force Squadron (A Squadron) during Operation Desert Storm in western Iraq. In 1998 Bargewell became Commanding General of Special Operations Command Europe, followed by assistant chief of staff for SFOR military operations in Sarajevo. Bargewell returned to the continental United States, and served as director of the center of operations, plans, and policies of United States Special Operations Command. In 2005, Bargewell became Director of Strategic Operations at Multinational Force Iraq. While serving as the Operations Officer, Bargewell pursued an outside administrative investigation as to how knowledge of the Haditha incident in Iraq passed up the Marine chain of command and whether or not any commanders lied in their reports. The informal investigation, pursuant to Army regulation AR 15-6, began on March 19, 2006, and was expected to examine how servicemembers and their commanders were trained in the rules of engagement. The completed report was sent to Army Lt. Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the second-ranked US commander in Iraq, on the morning of June 15, 2006. This was separate from a criminal investigation being conducted by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Beret flash of SOCEUR for U.S. Army.

Distinguished Service Cross

Death

Bargewell died near his home at the age of 71.

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantryman Badge

Master Parachutist Badge with USSOCOM background trimming

Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge

Special Forces Tab

Ranger tab

French Parachutist Instructor Badge

United States Special Operations Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Army Special Forces Command Distinctive Unit Insignia

7 Overseas Service Bars

Army Distinguished Service Cross

Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Army Distinguished Service Medal

Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster

Legion of Merit

Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and silver oak leaf cluster

Purple Heart with three oak leaf clusters

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal

Air Medal

Army Commendation Medal with "V" device and oak leaf cluster

Army Presidential Unit Citation

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Valorous Unit Award

Army Meritorious Unit Commendation

Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award

Army Good Conduct Medal

National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead device and service star

Vietnam Service Medal with six service stars

Southwest Asia Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Armed Forces Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal

NCO Professional Development Ribbon

Army Service Ribbon

Army Overseas Service Ribbon

NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia

French commemorative medal

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation

Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation

Vietnam Campaign Medal

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Bargewell was inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame in 2011.