Special Forces Association Chapter XCI

DOL

On May 29, 1997, U.S. Army Green Berets from ODA 334, 3rd Special Forces Group, carried out one of the most daring and unheralded missions of the 1990s—setting the stage for the successful evacuation of thousands of civilians during a violent coup in Sierra Leone.

It began a month earlier, in April 1997, when ODA 334 deployed to Freetown, Sierra Leone, for a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) mission. Their goal was to help build a professional and apolitical military, one that supported Sierra Leone’s democratically elected government.

But on May 25, chaos erupted. Rebel forces and rogue soldiers overthrew the government, triggering widespread violence. The Green Berets immediately shifted from training mode to combat-ready. As gunfire broke out at their training site, they manned security positions, established comms with SOCEUR and EUCOM, and attempted to contact local military leaders.

The next day, they made a high-risk move—traveling 20 miles through rebel-controlled territory back to Freetown. With quick thinking and the relationships they’d built with local soldiers, they managed to pass two rebel roadblocks and an army post, ultimately making it safely to the U.S. Embassy.

In Freetown, the team split up to secure both Embassy compounds, ran advance force operations, and conducted recon on a coastal helicopter landing zone. Amid looting, chaos, and gunfire, they defused a tense diplomatic standoff between senior ambassadors and rebel leaders at the British High Commission.

Then came the pivotal moment—May 29.

Under the cover of early morning darkness, Green Berets from ODA 334 patrolled through hostile areas to secure the landing zone for the arrival of U.S. Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). They established sniper overwatch, coordinated with Nigerian forces, and locked down the area.

On May 30, the Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) began. SF Soldiers personally escorted American officials to the LZ, then formed blocking positions between the Marines and advancing rebel forces. In a powerful show of professionalism and control, they successfully turned back rebels, ensuring the safety of U.S. forces and evacuees.

The evacuation continued through June 3, with 2,509 people—including 454 Americans—safely evacuated from a country on the brink of collapse.

This mission, known as Operation Noble Obelisk, highlights everything Special Forces are trained to do: operate in austere environments, build local rapport, maintain calm under pressure, and pave the way for larger force deployments—all while saving lives.

To the men of ODA 334: You wrote a quiet but unforgettable chapter in Special Forces history.