Senior United States Army officer (1912-2005) who designed the U.S. Army's parachutist badge, paratrooper or 'jump' boots, and the airborne jump uniform. He is known as the ‘Father of the Modern Green Berets.’ ALS signed “Bill Yarborough,” five pages, 5.5 x 4.25, personal letterhead, December 29, 1994. Handwritten letter detailing the history of the Bowie knife with the Green Berets, in full: “I can understand your interest in the Bowie Knife and its connection with the spirit of the Green Berets as I saw it. There is no question about the part the Bowie Knife played in the early frontier history of our United States. The ability of our ancestors to ‘live off the land,’ to survive in hostile environments and to accomplish a multitude of tasks for which no special tools were available were all made easier when a Bowie Knife was part of their personal equipment.
Given the special orientation of Green Berets toward environments in which a wide variety of missions would often include circumstances similar to those faced by American pioneers in ‘Indian Country,’ the appropriateness of the Bowie Knife was quite apparent. Above and beyond the basic utility of the instrument, its very special unique American character made the Bowie Knife a symbol—like the Crusaders' sword, of some of the intangibles that combine to produce that invaluable component of military morale—tradition. I tried to obtain authorization for making the Bowie an item of issue for Special Forces but the Quartermaster General did not share my enthusiasm and it never came to pass—(sorry about that!) That’s the story.” Included with the letter is a circa 1930 blacksmith-forged Bowie knife measuring an imposing 16″ in length, which is accompanied by its leather sheath. In fine condition.
General Yarborough's passion for a designated Special Forces knife eventually led to the creation of the Yarborough knife, which was made by Chris Reeve Knives in collaboration with William Harsey Jr., and was awarded to all Special Forces Qualification Course graduates.
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