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Old 6 February 2007, 02:36 PM   #1
leopardprey
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Tradition of Special Forces and Rolex Watches

Below link to old saying made in the 1960s regarding my alma mater, US Army Special Forces (the Green Berets). Kind of one of the reason I always wanted a Rolex, a lot of history tied to Special Forces. Many fellow team mates through the years bought Rolex watches. Always easy to get, as were ale to save up money from pay and per deim on long deployments or re-enlistment bonus. Until mid 90s, the PX used to sell Rolex Subs.


http://www.sfalx.com/h_sf_soldier.htm
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Old 6 February 2007, 07:36 PM   #2
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Interesting site, LP. I wonder why it mentions Dick Meadows without Bull Simmons, though. While I was serving (my unit performed similar roles to that of the Rangers, and Special Ops was part of our formation) your chaps dropped by for exercises and we hoisted an ale or two - decent chaps, the Green Berets.

It's probably more of Singaporean thing than a unit tradition, but there's no shortage of Rolexes in my unit.
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Old 6 February 2007, 11:01 PM   #3
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Anyone know or hear of Col. David Hackworth. He wore a Rolex in Vietnam when he was with the 9th Infantry Division. Col. Hackworth was truly a soldiers soldier.

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Old 7 February 2007, 12:05 AM   #4
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I am currently at Bragg and most of the Paratroopers and SF Guys are wearing SUNTU (sp?). Units now are ordering them prior to deployments. I see more Rolexes now than prior to my last deployment especially TT Submariners (that one is for JJ). I guess some of combat pay is making its way to local ADs along with Harley Davidson.

"All Then Way"
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Old 7 February 2007, 12:50 AM   #5
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Haven't seen that since the late 70s. The photos are from before that. The Rolex watch was a sign that you had "arrived", and you weren't a new guy.
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Old 11 November 2007, 01:56 PM   #6
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I bought my first Rolex (a used GMT Master) in a pawn shop outside Ft. Bragg, for $700.00. I was a young SF trainee. The year was 1983...
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Old 11 November 2007, 02:40 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paratrpr Tom View Post
I am currently at Bragg and most of the Paratroopers and SF Guys are wearing SUNTU (sp?). Units now are ordering them prior to deployments. I see more Rolexes now than prior to my last deployment especially TT Submariners (that one is for JJ). I guess some of combat pay is making its way to local ADs along with Harley Davidson.

"All Then Way"
Tom

Suunto and Casio probably have more of a recent history with S.F. and paratroopers than Rolex. They are more practical and rugged also. As much as I love my SD I don't think I would have been wearing it back in the day when I was at Bragg.

Jumping out of a C130 in the middle of the night onto Sicily, Salerno or Holland DZ I don't think I would have wanted to worry about my Rolex.

All the way.
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Old 11 November 2007, 02:50 PM   #8
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Funny, my GMT survived my military time, while a Casio G-Shock I bought for a sense of Abn & SF continuity failed to survive a comparably lame civilian encounter.
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Old 11 November 2007, 02:52 PM   #9
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This was my Ft. Bragg special. Notice the high speed band brace (paper clip) and I think it still has the Bragg funk on it.


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Old 11 November 2007, 02:58 PM   #10
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Not sure about the watch, but the band sure looks like that of a Seiko diver's watch - right down to the breakage, linking one notch to another! One of these days, I'll have to get another one of those Seikos!
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Old 11 November 2007, 03:03 PM   #11
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Not sure about the watch, but the band sure looks like that of a Seiko diver's watch - right down to the breakage, linking one notch to another! One of these days, I'll have to get another one of those Seikos!
Good call! It is a Seiko, the band did not come with this watch but it is a Seiko dive band that I picked up after the original crapped out.
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Old 11 November 2007, 09:45 PM   #12
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Nice link, Chad! Very interesting read, indeed!
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Old 12 November 2007, 03:30 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nko51 View Post
Anyone know or hear of Col. David Hackworth. He wore a Rolex in Vietnam when he was with the 9th Infantry Division. Col. Hackworth was truly a soldiers soldier.

.......................--::**::--..Rolex Forever..--::**::--.........................
...............I KNEEL IN THE LONG SHADOW OF YOUR GREATNESS.............
And a helluva good writer, too. I've got all three of his books, About Face, The Vietnam Primer, and Steel My Soldiers' Hearts.

Colonel Hackworth was a great man.
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Old 12 November 2007, 03:41 AM   #14
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I enjoyed Hackworth's book. It was one of the most enjoyable 3 years of my life.

Now I use it as a jack when I rotate my tires.
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Old 14 March 2015, 03:11 PM   #15
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The tradition continues...

Militaries throughout the world had worn Rolex watches because of it's ruggedness, durability and defendebility. Great tool watch for the military.
Long time ago Navy Seals were issued Rolex as their timekeeping tool.

The PX military exchange used to sell them to GI's.
GMT's and Subs are the model that's preferred
This tradition continues to this day.
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Old 14 March 2015, 03:33 PM   #16
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A thread that is, near-as-makes-no-difference, a decade old?
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Old 14 March 2015, 05:16 PM   #17
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Ha,funny, I haven't noticed any of those guys asking if it's safe to wear a Rolex for.......

Just an observation
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Old 14 March 2015, 05:19 PM   #18
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Ha,funny, I haven't noticed any of those guys asking if it's safe to wear a Rolex for.......

Just an observation
The OP can't ask any questions, he got banned six years ago.
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Old 14 March 2015, 05:43 PM   #19
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I meant the other guys.They don't strike me as types that would melt,if they got rained on, know what I'm sayin.
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Old 14 March 2015, 05:47 PM   #20
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The OP can't ask any questions, he got banned six years ago.
And the Dank isn't a mod anymore.
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Old 14 March 2015, 06:00 PM   #21
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Guys read these old threads by all means but quite pointless to reply to a thread almost 10 years old.
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