A BRIEF LOOK AT RICHARD MEADOWS AND DELTA

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today we're going to be talking about the quiet architect
of American special Forces, Richard Dick Meadows. It's a name
that's often spoken with reverence among those who know the
history of American special operations, though largely unknown to the
general public. Meadows was a foundational figure in the development
of modern US special forces, particularly in the formation and
evolution of the Delta Force. Meadows enlisted in the Army

(00:23):
at age fifteen years by lying about his age. His
natural talent for leadership and his physical toughness quickly became apparent, however,
and he rose through the ranks during the Korean War.
It was during the Vietnam War that Meadows began to
make his mark as a member of the newly formed
Military Assistants Command Vietnam Studies an Observations Group, or as
you and I both know it, MAC v SAG. We've

(00:43):
talked to several of those real operators a few years back,
we have some interviews. In the last couple of years,
he conducted deeper constance missions far behind enemy lines, often
in Laos and Cambodia. These missions were classified and extraordinarily dangerous,
requiring elite skills and evasion intelligence gathering and combat. Meadows
became known for his ability to lead and train indigenous forces,

(01:05):
often working with South Vietnam and Montaigue Montaignard tribes. His
deep understanding of unconventional warfare made him invaluable not only
as a warrior, but also as a mentor and strategist.
Despite his effectiveness in combat, Medos was also a quiet
and disciplined operator. His legacy reached a new level in
the nineteen seventies when he was hand picked by Colonel

(01:27):
Charles Beckwith to help establish the first Special Forces Operational
Detachment Delta, better known as Delta Force. Meadows deep experience
with covert missions and unconventional warfare made him an ideal
figure to help shape the unit's tactics, training, and ethos.
While Beckwith provided the organizational framework, Meadows was its field
hardened soul. One of Meadow's final known operations came during

(01:51):
the infamous Operation Eagle Claw in nineteen eighties that failed
attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran. Though the mission
was aborted due to mecanic failures and a tragic accident
to kill the eight servicemen Meadows had infiltrated Tehran ahead
of the Rescue Force disguised as a businessman. His work
provided crucial intelligence and demonstrated his continued willingness to put

(02:12):
himself in harm's way for the mission. Even in his
late fifties, he was operating at the cutting edge of
excuse we has special operations. After retiring, Meadows remained in
quiet presence in the community of special forces. He passed
away in nineteen ninety five, but his influence is still
deeply felt in special operations world, and recognition of his contributions,
the Army established the Richard J. Meadows Memorial Parade Field

(02:35):
at Fort Bragg and posthumously awarded him the Presidential Citizens Medal.
So incredible life of Dick Meadows, and we didn't give
it any justice. There was so much more to the
story of that man and what he did.