Commandos-22 SAS Regiment, Delta.

The Blue Light unit was started in 1977 as a counter terrorist unit to fill in the US Military's gap in this capability until Delta was operational. Made up of primarily Vietnam Special Forces veterans, their mission set was focused on hostage rescue. It was becoming more and more clear a unit with the capabilities of the 22 SAS Regiment and Germany's GSG-9 was desperately needed, hence why Delta was given the go. Although Deltas MOS was built using SAS training and tactics, Blue Light was not. During this time there was infighting in the Army over the two units. In the end Delta was and is the Tier 1 counter terrorist unit.

1953, CIA and MI6 helped Iranian royalists depose Mosaddegh in a military coup d'etat codenamed Operation Ajax, allowing the Shah to extend his power for next twenty years. US Government continued to support the Shah with CIA training the Iranian Secret Police. Because of numerous reasons within Iran, the Shah was eventually overthrown. President Carter on New Years eve 1977 toasted the Shah, while in Tehran which further pissed off the anti-Shah Iranians. In 1979, the Ayatollah Khomeini after being in exile was put in charge of Iran. The American Embassy in Tehran was overrun and American Hostages were taken. Longer story short, Carter authorized our military to develop plan for hostage rescue.

Understating the complexity of going in to a foreign capital and recovering our citizens with least amount of collateral damage, in 1980 a plan was set in motion.

For those who do not know, this was before…

Founded as a regiment by David Stirling in 1941, the Special Air Service was a unique group of individuals put together to wreak havoc and disrupt the German military in the desert of North Africa.

The Regiment worked 'outside' of the conventional British Military. Planning their own missions and using unconventional tactics, their success in destroying German aircraft and bases proved their worth. Their casualty rate was extremely high but their unconventional tactics, bravery and skill showed British Command how small units, well trained and with proper pre planning could accomplish missions the conventional branches could not. After WWII they morphed into other areas of special operations including anti-terrorism. The US Army had no unit of this type, and because of the persistence of Col. Beckwith, the Unit (Delta) was given the go ahead in 1977.

Beginning with Vietnam legend Col. Charley Beckwith, after cross training with the British Special Air Service (SAS), he went through the struggles of convincing US leaders we needed a unit that could do what the SAS could do...