Delta’s baptism of fire was (April 1980)—the failed attempt to rescue 52 American hostages from Tehran.
Follow for more on military history, leadership, and the untold stories of America’s quiet professionals. first delta force members
Beckwith got the green light. But building a unit from scratch meant finding men who could think and fight. Delta’s baptism of fire was (April 1980)—the failed
In 1977, U.S. Army Colonel Charlie Beckwith returned from a tour in Britain, where he’d served with the SAS. He was convinced: America needed a dedicated, full-time counterterrorism unit capable of hostage rescue and high-risk missions. The existing Special Forces (Green Berets) were trained for unconventional warfare, not precision hostage rescue. not precision hostage rescue.