We have also just received this photograph which shows the presentation of the #0001 Yarborough Knife to retired General William Yarborough by Lt. Gen. Doug Brown.
When the presentation was made, the following report appeared in "The Pilot", the local newspaper in Southern Pines, NC where Gen. Yarborough lives:
'Yarborough Knife': First Copy Brought to Retired General
by John Chappell: Staff Writer
It's called the Yarborough knife.
That's the name written on it. It isn't just any name, and it isn't just any knife. Lt. Gen. Doug Brown hand-delivered the very first one to retired Gen.William Yarborough, for whom the knife has been named. From now on, the only way to get a Yarborough knife will be to complete U.S. Army Special Forces training.
Brown commands the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, headquartered at Fort Bragg, which includes Special Forces. Thursday afternoon, his command car pulled up outside Yarborough's Southern Pines home. Welcoming as he emerged were the general's son, retired Lt. Col. Lee Yarborough, and his wife, Ellen; retired Special Forces Maj. Rudi Gresham, who had served as the general's aide; and an old family friend, retired Col. Lee Mize, who won the Medal of Honor.
Brown presented Gen. Yarbor-ough with Special Forces Knife No. 001, the first "Yarborough Knife."
"It is a tremendous honor, General Brown, that you gave me the honor of this knife," Yarborough said. "You know, I tried to pass the Bowie knife, and it didn't make it. This will be an heirloom for my children and grandchildren."
Gresham told The Pilot that Yarborough tried to introduce the Bowie knife years ago for Special Forces soldiers to use.
"It never was authorized," Gresham said. "Later, we had what we called a SOG knife in Vietnam. General Brown got in contact with me and said he wanted to do something for General Yarborough. So, he called me and told me how he went to over 100 different manufacturers to find a knife that would be ideal."
The Yarborough knife is not for show. It is in deadly earnest, a working knife for a soldier.
Gresham said. "He has the first knife, and it says 001. Every student from now on that goes through the Q (Qualification) course will get one. It is only for Special Forces graduates. Retirees can buy one through the museum, but none are to be given ceremonially. The only person other than Special Forces who will get one is the
commander-in-chief, the president of the United States."
Gresham says many special features in the design of the knife are included to make it more useful under conditions encountered by Special Forces soldiers.
"When it gets wet, it gets sticky so you don't lose it," he said. "It is a working knife. It is one heck of a quality knife."
Mize told Brown that Yarborough had at last been recognized as the father of the modern Green Berets. "Sir, this is the least that they could do," he said. "I am honored to be here." Mize told The Pilot that Yarborough more than deserved the honor. "He is not only the father of the Green Berets," Mize said, "he is the one who brought us out of the Wilderness and brought us into the light. He has done more than anyone alive or dead for special forces."
As to Yarborough's reaction, Gresham told The Pilot, "He was overwhelmed."
This is a piece of history!
Anne
"Airborne, All the Way"
EC