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Who IS This Man?
Several months ago something posted to the SF List by Bob Golden tweaked my curiosity. I forget what it was. However, I ended up taking a look at his web site http://www.greenberet.net/. I have seen it before, but did not pay much attention to it, primarily because it reeked of some teenage kid’s fantasies. I ended up on his Scrap Book page after navigating through "Start Here", and "Check Out Ranger Bob". Scrolling down through his stuff, I discovered a copy of his DD Form 214 produced when he was RIF’d 2 September 1973: DD-214
I noticed his completion of Airborne Training was 1971. I went back to this photo and discovered the new 2LT Robert A Golden was wearing a novice Parachutist Badge: OCS Graduation Photo
This photo clearly shows 2LT Golden wearing the Parachutist Badge which he has not earned. I decided to contact Golden, back channel, to inquire about the possibility of an error on his part. Here is my request and Golden’s response:
Hi Bob:
Was looking through your scrap book on your web site. You have a lot of good
photos.
Something started bothering me when I got down to your DD214. It says you went
through Airborne School in 1971, but you are wearing jump wings in the "OCS
graduation" photo with your family in 1967.
Did you get the year or the occasion of that photo mixed up with something else?
Thought you might want to be aware of that before someone tries to make a big
deal out of it.
john h
His Reply:
“Was looking through your scrap book on you web site.
You have a lot of good photos.
Something started bothering me when I got down to your DD214. It says you
went through Airborne School in 1971, but you are wearing jump wings in the "OCS
graduation" photo with your family in 1967.”
<- Wow. You da man. No wonder your parent's gave you a name that sounds like
"Hawk". Seriously, though, thanks a lot for catching this. I didn't even
notice it before you mentioned it.
At the time of the photo, I was home directly from OCS. IIRC I'd put a set of
jump wings on my new uniform so I could see what it would look like when I
actually got them, which I was determined to do.
IIRC, my dad had scheduled a photographer to come by and take a family photo but
didn't tell me about it. When the photog showed up, it was all of a sudden
"Hurry up and go put on your uniform, Bob." and I completely forgot about this.
To this day when you jogged my memory banks about this.
This was something I did as a feisty gung-ho young 19 year old kid. I assure
you that I NEVER did this in public and it was an accident getting caught on
film privately (until now) on my part.
Did you get the year or the occasion of that photo mixed up with something else?
Nope. You got the honest 'rest of the story'. Sheesh, this is almost like
getting caught masturbating.
Thought you might want to be aware of that before someone tries to
make a big deal out of it.
<- Seriously, thanks for catching this. I will absolutely dig up my
PhotoChop and fix this as promptly as I can. Personally, I never did
care for that photo anyway. You would never know it was done by a
'professional' town photographer, would you?
At any rate, glad you like the rest of my scrapbook pictures. Thanks.
Shoot I'm still embarrassed that I did that. Thanks again.
Regards,
Bob Golden
Golden took several weeks, but finally made an attempt to remove the Parachutist Badge from the photo. I did not believe his excuse for wearing wings he had not been awarded ( Doctored Photo ). You all make up your own minds. This photo has been on his web page a long time. How long? I do not know.
The above caused me to look deeper at Golden. I discovered more discrepancies and obtained a copy of his military records: Records
I sent Golden a second email:
“
After discovering the photo of you wearing jump wings four years
prior to
your actual qualification and award, I decided to take a further look at
information you have posted on the internet. A lot of it I can not verify
at this time.
Master Parachutist Badge
3d Award of the Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
HALO Qualification
VN Master Parachutist Badge
Good Conduct Medal
Assignment to Mike Force in RVN
Retirement from the US Army.
Of course, I may have overlooked a few things. Let me know.
Take care,
john h”
Here is Golden’s response to the above email:
>After discovering the photo of you wearing jump wings four years prior to your actual qualification and award, I decided to take a further look at information you have posted on the internet. A lot of it I can not verify at this time.
<-
Of course. Just bear in mind that was an honest accident in the privacy of my
and absolutely never repeated. Especially in public.
Master Parachutist Badge
<- Here's the story behind that. When I got RIF'd, I was in C-2-5th Group commanded by Major Ben Phillips at the time. He called me in his office to, I guess, discuss my situation and plans. In the course of this I mentioned to him that one of my biggest regrets was that I was with days of qualifying for master wings before I got out and had more than enough jumps and jumpmaster duties, but was only lacking the time to get my orders for them.
He said, "Let me see what I can do about that." I figured that was the end of it. But the the morning of the day before my last official duty day, he called me at home and said "Bob can you come by today, I have something for you."
When I reported to him, he handed me orders for master wings award. The ink was long-dried on my DD-214 so it doesn't appear there. I got this corrected when I reported for CA NG duty and they corrected this on my DA-66 form, which I'm sure I have a copy of buried away somewhere.
<- I wish Bill Adams was still with us. He would verify this for me. He also handed me an industrial-strength stuffed-to-the-max medical bag right after that. He was the S-3 of the company at the time and a terrific man.
3d Award of the Purple Heart
<- Shoot, I had five certificates (the ones for framing) if I wanted to claim them. One is a duplicate and the other is for a scratch that I didn't count (the kind that dangerous REMF officers would kill for). Two were for shrapnel wounds one for two puncture wounds to my chin and neck that required evacuation and rear area treatment.
The other for one that I avoided evac for, but scared the shit out of me. One minor and one more serious to my upper left inside thigh. I didn't know I'd been hit when it happened due to close-up-personal exchange of small caliber bullet-launchers.
Afterwards, when I went to take the customary & necessary whiz-in-the-woods, I went to unbutton my jungle fatigues, I was shocked to see my leg and crotch area blood soaked. Needless to say I set a speed record for dropping trou' and checking the family jewels. One piece was partly exposed.
The medic treated me in the field, removing both of them. He told my I should go back to the rear area for observation, which I politely declined by asking if he couldn't observe me. So I continued the mission with only minor pain-killer pills for a few days.
The third was for an AK-bite to my left forearm which I'd be happy to show you the scar when we meet. I'd show you the neck and chin wounds, but I'd have to shave my beard. The thigh wounds seem to have pretty much overgrown themselves after 40 years. I doubt you'd want to search for them these days anyway.
I had another one that I didn't even discover until 4-5 months after I got back I'll save that till I see you 'cause it involves motorcycling.
Army Commendation Medal
<- It started as an ARCOM recommendation on that was upgraded to a DSM submission on a/d and then downgraded to an ARCOM award that finally caught up with me in the CA NG.
HALO Qualification
<- This was done OJT at my team's two deployments to Kent State University. This is another fairly long story to tell properly and I really need to get ready to move out to Ft. Campbell. I look forward to recounting that story, to you, too.
VN Master Parachutist Badge
<- Dong Ba Tinh in-country jump
school late Dec/early Jan (just before Tet holiday) 68-69. Not supposed to be
Master Wings. I just bought them on the local economy in the rush to get back
to my unit. If they were issued, I didn't get one.
Good Conduct Medal
<- Automatic issue to any guys with
prior enlisted service at Ft. Sill OCS. I know it was supposed to be three
years time to get one, but halfway through OCS they gave us ribbons & orders. I
thing it was done about the same time they gave us permanent E-5 status.
Assignment to Mike Force in RVN.
<- Not cited on my RVN orders per
my other send to you. Clearly recognized and cited in my meritorious BSM award
citation.
Retirement from the US Army
<- Long story I'll be glad to
explain when I see you. The short story is 7+ years active, 8 years NG, and 5
USAR.
Of course, I may have overlooked a few things. Let
me know.
<- Yes, you damned sure did. I can't believe an eagle-eyed hawk with pilot's eyes didn't want to know how I made it through SFOC in three weeks instead of the actual three months.
It's a long story I'll have to tell you about some day.... Naw, just another leg admin REMF screw-up. *\:-)
Looking forward to seeing you soon. Thanks for the prepping in dusting off the cobwebs of my memory banks. Whew!
Regards,
Bob G.
Who really needs to scoot now...
I do not accept his explanations of the discrepancies I found. His military records do not agree with his responses. In other words, Golden is lying about each and every item. His wannabee status started upon completion of Artillery OCS, 10 months after enlistment in the US Army, and has continued until today. My observations of this man from the time he came on the Special Forces List, shortly after I arrived in February 1998, until present, indicate he consistently inflates and sensationalizes any situation that will make himself look like the key figure and inflate his ego, true or not. I have always been suspect of his claims, since day one.
This is the man:
The following items are not substantiated by Golden’s military records:
Master Parachutist Badge
3d Award of the Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
HALO Qualification
VN Master Parachutist Badge
Good Conduct Medal
Assignment to Mike Force in RVN
Retirement from the US Army
1966-1986 -
20 Years
US Army At Last
While perusing Golden's web site I happened upon his "Short Story" (A Short Story). I was amazed at the inaccuracies and fantasies of this man's description of an air assault and MF combat operation. You all can read this "fantasy" story and come to your own conclusions. After leading air assaults, as large as two CIDG Companies, as a 1LT, and later covering many air assaults and SOG inserts/extractions as an AH-1G Cobra pilot, in RVN, makes me wonder where Golden came up with this "fairy tale".
Golden has brought shame, disgrace, and discredit upon himself, the
Army, Special Forces, every member of the Special Forces List, and most of all
the soldiers that bled and died, and the soldiers that earned all the awards and
decorations, and qualification badges they wear.
Bob has stuck his shit on the Special Ops Memorial as well claiming II Corps MSF 1968-69:
"The Memorial at MacDill AFB, Florida to the Unified Special Operations Personnel around the Globe who, throughout history, have Risked and/or Given their lives for Freedom throughout the World."
Folks, the remarks above are my feelings. You all can look at what I have come up with and make up your own minds about Robert A Golden. I do not trust him and do not want to share my personal information with him. I do not believe he qualifies for membership in the SF List even though he did complete SFOC and was awarded his prefix S.
JOHN R. HAUCK
Major, Infantry
US Army Retired