Operation Brightlight

Prior to SOAR XXIX, in 2005, a long time SOA member recommended to the SOA Board of Directors that the SOA establish a fund that would assist SOA members who had come upon hard times attend an annual SOAR. The consideration was especially for those who had never attended a SOAR or had not been able to do so for a long period of time. When the recommendation was approved by the SOA Board, Directors the Operation Brightlight committee formed. During the secret war in Vietnam, when a Hatchet Force, Recon Team or a downed pilot were in trouble, a SOG Brightlight team was formed and inserted into the target area to find, locate, assist and exfiltrate them from the area of operation. It was by far, the most hazardous of all duty in MACVSOG. Thus, when an element of MACVSOG troops was in trouble, a Brightlight team came to its aid, hence the genesis of the mission statement for Operation Brightlight in 2005. SOA member and former SF Medic John Thomas Walton was among the first to contribute to the SOA’s Operation Brightlight.

The mission statement for Operation Brightlight is simple: to help bring any SOA member to SOAR who, due to fiscal exigencies, wouldn’t be able to otherwise attend the reunion. The SOA spread the word to its membership about Operation Brightlight. In 2005, more than 125 SOA members telephoned in the search for potential Brightlight candidates. Several potential candidates were identified and interviewed before two candidates were selected: thanks to the generous contributions by SOA members, both warriors attended SOAR XXIX free of charge. For SOAR XXX, six SOA members were selected as recipients of Operation Brightlight stipends, thanks to the generosity of SOA members. For SOAR XXXI, an SOA member donated a SOA Commemorative Pistol to be raffled off during SOAR XXXI with receipts going to Operation Brightlight and the SOA Scholarship Committee. MACVSOG memorabilia collector Jason Hardy generously contributes airline tickets in support of Operation Brightlight candidates.

If anyone knows of a Brightlight candidate or wishes to make a contribution, please contact the SOA Secretary at: soasecretary@earthlink.net