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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Veterans Chronicles. I'm Greg Corumbus. Our guest in

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<v Speaker 1>this edition is retired US Army Major Christopher Brewer, who

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<v Speaker 1>served as a non commissioned officer for an Army Ranger

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<v Speaker 1>Battalion and a Special Forces officer. Today will be discussing

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<v Speaker 1>some of his elite training and his deployments to Colombia

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<v Speaker 1>and Panama in the late nineteen eighties and early nineties.

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<v Speaker 1>Major Brewer is also the author, most recently of In

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<v Speaker 1>the Shadows Between the Wars, Becoming a Special Forces Operator.

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<v Speaker 1>Christopher Brewer was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but grew up

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<v Speaker 1>in countless military communities while his father served in the Army.

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<v Speaker 1>When he became an adult in the early to mid

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<v Speaker 1>nineteen seventies, Brewer was interested in the service and in college,

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<v Speaker 1>but when he saw an opportunity he could not pass up.

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<v Speaker 1>He was all in in the Army.

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<v Speaker 2>Pretty much all I'd known all my life. I started

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<v Speaker 2>to go into college at North Georgia Military College at

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<v Speaker 2>that time as a cadet, joined the twentieth SF National

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<v Speaker 2>Guard to help pay the bills, and they cranked up

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<v Speaker 2>the first Ranger Battalion in nineteen seventy four reactivated it.

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<v Speaker 2>I caught the bug, dropped out and enlisted for first

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<v Speaker 2>Ranger beat and linked up with him during the activation test.

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<v Speaker 1>Brewer, who had never jumped out of a plane before

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<v Speaker 1>Ranger school, says the training was tough, largely due to

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<v Speaker 1>no nonsense instructors who knew what it took to succeed.

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<v Speaker 2>When the Ranger Battalion was reactivated in nineteen seventy four,

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<v Speaker 2>every NCO in it and almost all of the officers

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<v Speaker 2>were combat veterans out of Vietnam, most of them survivors

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<v Speaker 2>of the long Ranger connoissance patrols. So you had about

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<v Speaker 2>as hardcore, competent, well trained, experienced cadur as you could possibly.

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<v Speaker 2>Those guys cut no slack whatsoever. They did everything to standard,

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<v Speaker 2>and you would do it again and again and again

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<v Speaker 2>until you met that standard or you didn't last there

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<v Speaker 2>very long.

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<v Speaker 1>Brewer was later assigned to the five hundred and ninth

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<v Speaker 1>Airborne Battalion Team, which was stationed primarily in Italy. While there,

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<v Speaker 1>Brewer became an expert in free fall parachuting, but he

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<v Speaker 1>also took part in some very difficult but highly valuable

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<v Speaker 1>training in Germany at a place called bod Tulls. It

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<v Speaker 1>was called platoon confidence training.

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<v Speaker 2>The German Ranger School does a lot of things, but

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<v Speaker 2>some of the things they do very well, or long

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<v Speaker 2>range navigation in short periods of time. The whole philosophy

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<v Speaker 2>is that the Soviets have invaded and we have to

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<v Speaker 2>move back to friendly lines, which may involve moving forty

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<v Speaker 2>to fifty one hundred kilometers. So you get a map.

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<v Speaker 2>You're allowed to sketch the map, because if you're in

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<v Speaker 2>that bad a situation where the Russians run the country,

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<v Speaker 2>you may not have a map. There may be five

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<v Speaker 2>of you and only one of you has one, So

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<v Speaker 2>you sketch key points, you navigate off that for four

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<v Speaker 2>or five kilometers. They'll give you an asthmuth and a

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<v Speaker 2>distance which invariably goes across a lake, over a mountain,

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<v Speaker 2>over a river, some obstacle that you've got to have

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<v Speaker 2>find some way to negotiate around. But in this case

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<v Speaker 2>you don't have a map, so you don't know it

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<v Speaker 2>till you find it. And other little tricks that teach

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<v Speaker 2>you land navigation down to a fine art which came

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<v Speaker 2>in it really helpful. By the time I got to

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<v Speaker 2>Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and actually got to the Special

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<v Speaker 2>Forces qualification course because one of the events you have

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<v Speaker 2>to get through is called the Star Course. In our class,

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<v Speaker 2>out of a class of four hundred people only I

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<v Speaker 2>think twelve fifteen of us passed on the first attempt.

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<v Speaker 2>Now they ran it two more times just to get

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<v Speaker 2>enough people to make a class, but we still only

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<v Speaker 2>had one hundred out of four hundred and sixty who

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<v Speaker 2>made it through that particul or gate. So that served

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<v Speaker 2>me very well getting that experience.

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<v Speaker 1>Brewer explains why the Army put him and others through

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<v Speaker 1>the grueling selection and assessment tests.

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<v Speaker 2>The whole idea is one, are you really sure this

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<v Speaker 2>is what you want to do and how bad do

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<v Speaker 2>you want it. They're going to push you to the

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<v Speaker 2>point where your body and your mind says, I just

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<v Speaker 2>can't do it anymore, to see what you're going to

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<v Speaker 2>do when you reach that point, and they basically want

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<v Speaker 2>you to keep going to your drop, and if you're

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<v Speaker 2>not in good physical condition, you're going to drop pretty

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<v Speaker 2>early in that process. The other thing they're doing is

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<v Speaker 2>in the selection and assessment phase is they want to

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<v Speaker 2>see how you're going to interact with the other people

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<v Speaker 2>on the team. When you're dog tired, you're confused, you

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<v Speaker 2>don't know what's going on other than you have to

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<v Speaker 2>do this and you don't know why. And if you

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<v Speaker 2>don't all to work together, you're just not going to

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<v Speaker 2>make it. And that's really the whole purpose of selection

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<v Speaker 2>and assessment. Get people that are serious, they're in good

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<v Speaker 2>physical condition, that got good mental endurance as well, and

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<v Speaker 2>they can work well with team members to accomplish a goal,

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<v Speaker 2>even if they don't know the intended objective.

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<v Speaker 1>A couple of years later, Brewer was back at Fort

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<v Speaker 1>Bragg and had not parachuted in a while. But it

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<v Speaker 1>came back to him quickly, which is a good thing.

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<v Speaker 1>If it hadn't, he likely would have been killed.

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<v Speaker 2>I'd come back to Fort Brag and had a jump.

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<v Speaker 2>There was a round canopy. I hadn't jumped free fall

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<v Speaker 2>in a year or two, and normal progression they want

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<v Speaker 2>you to jump a static line first to make sure

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<v Speaker 2>you can, and then you'll jump out. They call it

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<v Speaker 2>a hop and pop, and then a five second ten

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<v Speaker 2>second to lay. The jump master had rigged the static

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<v Speaker 2>line incorrectly, so when I jumped out, I had a

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<v Speaker 2>lucked container container wouldn't open, but it did pull out

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of the parachute, which is called a horseshoe maufunction.

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<v Speaker 2>If you have a bad malfunction like that, the normal

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<v Speaker 2>procedure is you cut it away, you get rid of it.

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<v Speaker 2>Can't do that when it's locked on you back, and

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<v Speaker 2>if you pull your reserve, it's going to wrap around

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<v Speaker 2>the other part. So there were some midair gymnastics to

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<v Speaker 2>try and get that under control, wrapping it around, flipping

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<v Speaker 2>in the air, pulled it down, fired the reserve, got

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<v Speaker 2>it off clean. By the time all of this had occurred,

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<v Speaker 2>I'd lost a good bit of altitude and this was

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<v Speaker 2>enough for brag. So we were over a range and

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<v Speaker 2>as I'm looking down, I could see all these little

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<v Speaker 2>boxes with little green things in them. Didn't register at

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<v Speaker 2>first what it was until I heard this deep booming

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<v Speaker 2>voice behind me. Is there anyone down range? Is there

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<v Speaker 2>anyone down range? Is there anyone down range? Fires will

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<v Speaker 2>watch your lanes. I was over the target rate, not

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<v Speaker 2>where I wanted to land, so under the reserve, I'm

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<v Speaker 2>pulling down suspension lines to slip as hard as i

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<v Speaker 2>could to get out of the impact area, which I

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<v Speaker 2>was successful in doing about one hundred feet off the

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<v Speaker 2>ground by this time, and I'm over trees, nowhere to

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<v Speaker 2>go but into the trees. So then we had to

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<v Speaker 2>execute a tree landing. Hit the top, branches, broke through it, collapse,

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<v Speaker 2>A shoote I'm hurtling toward the ground. Literally just as

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<v Speaker 2>my boots started to touch the canopy, snagged on the

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<v Speaker 2>top of one of those North Carolina pine trees, landed gently,

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<v Speaker 2>got out of it, went back over, talked to the

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<v Speaker 2>jump master and said, look, I know I'm supposed to

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<v Speaker 2>do a static line, a hop and pop, a five

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<v Speaker 2>second and a ten second delay before I can jump

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<v Speaker 2>my own rig. But considering I just did all of

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<v Speaker 2>that in the last jump with the reserve activation and

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<v Speaker 2>a cutaway with a horseshoe malfunction, can I please now

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<v Speaker 2>jump my own parachute? Have I proven my proficiency? And yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>you're good, you go on ahead.

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<v Speaker 1>Not long after that, Brewer faced a difficult career choice.

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<v Speaker 1>Went faced with many years of being a ranger drill instructor.

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<v Speaker 1>It's a job he did not want, but there were

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<v Speaker 1>very few options to get out of it.

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<v Speaker 2>When I was in Germany, I got picked up for

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<v Speaker 2>a sergeant first class E seven with only about seven

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<v Speaker 2>years in. I was two weeks, literally two weeks in

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<v Speaker 2>the secondary zone, but I was a section leader for

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<v Speaker 2>our particular unit out there at the time. So I

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<v Speaker 2>told all my guys, you're all going to go down

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<v Speaker 2>and you're going to get your DA photo. And they

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<v Speaker 2>all said, we're not going to get picked up. We're

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<v Speaker 2>all just in the secondary zone being a good leader.

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<v Speaker 2>I said, no, we're all going to do it because

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<v Speaker 2>you just don't know, and lo and behold, I got

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<v Speaker 2>picked up. So I was relisted about that time, and

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<v Speaker 2>I figured, you know, as an E six, just making

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<v Speaker 2>E seven, you have to have instructor time. I really

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<v Speaker 2>didn't want to be a drill instructor, so I thought,

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<v Speaker 2>I'll reenlist for Fort Benning. I'll go be a ranger instructor.

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<v Speaker 2>I'll check that block and then I can go back

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<v Speaker 2>to the Ranger Battalion, or I'll volunteer for s F training,

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<v Speaker 2>both of which sounded pretty good to me. Got there,

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<v Speaker 2>the start major looked at me and said, welcome, boy,

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<v Speaker 2>buy yourself a house. You'll be here for the rest

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<v Speaker 2>of your career. No, sorry, Major, come on, man, I've

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<v Speaker 2>only got eight years in now. I'm not staying here

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<v Speaker 2>for twelve years, and say, yes you are, since you

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<v Speaker 2>are here at Fort Benning. You'll be here in the

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<v Speaker 2>department for two or three years, but you will be

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<v Speaker 2>selected to be a drill sergan and we're critically shorter

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<v Speaker 2>of drill sergeants, so it is currently a five year

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<v Speaker 2>stabilized tour. So that's seven years right there. You got

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<v Speaker 2>eight in. You'll be about fifteen by the time you

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<v Speaker 2>get off the trail. We'll bring you back over here

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<v Speaker 2>for a couple of years in the department, maybe send

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<v Speaker 2>you to the Airborne Department to get you twenty. Just

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<v Speaker 2>buy a house. You ain't going anywhere, sorry, Major, I'm

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<v Speaker 2>going back to the range of beds. No you're not.

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<v Speaker 2>You're an E seven. There's a three year waiting list

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<v Speaker 2>for the sevens to get there. Besides which that doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>take priority over drill. Well, I want to be an SF.

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<v Speaker 2>We keep on dreaming there, chumbling, you're not going to

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<v Speaker 2>SF either. We're getting rid of SF. All those snake

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<v Speaker 2>eaters are of no use in the modern army, so

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<v Speaker 2>we're just working all ready to get rid of them.

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<v Speaker 2>And of course you know that how that turned out.

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<v Speaker 2>But I gots kept looking around, and the only thing

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<v Speaker 2>that took precedence over drill sergeant was Officer Candidate School.

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<v Speaker 2>So if the ultimate active betrayal to the NCO Corps,

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<v Speaker 2>A volunteered to become a second lieutenant as a sergeant

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<v Speaker 2>first class from the Ranger Department went into OCS with officers,

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<v Speaker 2>some of whom had been thrown out of Ranger School,

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<v Speaker 2>which is how they wound up as tack officers at OCS.

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<v Speaker 2>Which that was an interesting couple of months there to

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<v Speaker 2>make it through that, sat through classes in the NCO

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<v Speaker 2>Advanced Course before I went that were the same classes

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<v Speaker 2>with the same instructor in OCS, and then to the

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<v Speaker 2>same instructors, same classes for a third time at the

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<v Speaker 2>Infantry Officer's Basic Course before I got out and got

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<v Speaker 2>to go to my first unit.

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<v Speaker 1>As a Special Forces officer, Brewer knew that he and

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<v Speaker 1>his men could be deployed at any time, but he

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<v Speaker 1>says the biggest challenge was embracing the mindset needed to

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<v Speaker 1>be in special Forces.

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<v Speaker 2>I think the thing that has to come to the

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<v Speaker 2>forefront of your mind is when you go in one

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<v Speaker 2>of those jobs, nobody's coming to help. If you get

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<v Speaker 2>in trouble. You're on your own and you're going to

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<v Speaker 2>have to figure it out, and you really need to

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<v Speaker 2>keep that in the forefront of your mind with everything

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<v Speaker 2>that you do, and as long as you go into

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<v Speaker 2>it with that attitude, it can be very interesting work

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<v Speaker 2>and liberating to a great extent too. But these days,

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<v Speaker 2>you've got cell phones. The guys who've got helmet cameras,

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<v Speaker 2>they got the earphones on. They've got some officers sitting

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<v Speaker 2>three thousand miles away when they're going through a room

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<v Speaker 2>clearing rooms, telling no, go left, don't go right. There's

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<v Speaker 2>nothing they can do that. Somebody isn't leaning over their

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<v Speaker 2>shoulder and watching, but you're still three thousand miles away.

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<v Speaker 2>If it doesn't turn out right, they're still not going

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<v Speaker 2>to be able to get there to help you.

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<v Speaker 1>That's Christopher Brewer. He's a retired Ranger Battalion NCO and

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<v Speaker 1>Special Forces officer. The book is in the Shadows between

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<v Speaker 1>the Wars, when we come back facing the Colombian drug cartels.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Greg Corumbus and this is Veterans Chronicles.

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<v Speaker 2>Sixty Seconds of Service.

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<v Speaker 3>This sixty seconds of Service is presented by T Mobile

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<v Speaker 3>recognizing these steadfast edication and sacrifices made by service members

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<v Speaker 3>slash military to learn more.

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<v Speaker 4>Marine veteran Ethan Carter thought his best days were behind

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<v Speaker 4>him until his Doberman Maverick stopped an armed robbery in

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<v Speaker 4>their small town. Their active bravery went viral. Encouraged by neighbors,

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<v Speaker 4>Ethan ran for mayor and one Maverick still shows up

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<v Speaker 4>to city hall every day wearing a badge. Now, Ethan

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<v Speaker 4>uses his role to support veterans, and Maverick's calm presence

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<v Speaker 4>puts everyone at ease, from war zone to hometown hero.

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<v Speaker 4>They're a team built on courage and trust. Today's sixty

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<v Speaker 4>Seconds of Service is brought to you by Prevagen. Prevagen

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<v Speaker 4>For more great veteran stories, just go to National Defense

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<v Speaker 4>Network dot com.

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<v Speaker 1>This is Veterans Chronicle. I'm Greg Corumbus. Our guest in

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<v Speaker 1>this edition is retired US Army major and Special Forces

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<v Speaker 1>officer Christopher Brewer. His new book is in the Shadows

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<v Speaker 1>Between the Wars. In August of nineteen eighty nine, Colombian

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<v Speaker 1>presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galan was assassinated by hitmen hired

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<v Speaker 1>by drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. The country was rife with violence,

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<v Speaker 1>and the US decided to get involved in a limited way,

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<v Speaker 1>enter Christopher Brewer and the seventh Special Forces Team.

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<v Speaker 2>George Herbert Bush was the president at that time, and

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<v Speaker 2>he went on national TV after Galan was assassinated by

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<v Speaker 2>Escobar and said, we are going to help the Colombian

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<v Speaker 2>government stand up to the cartels. We'll provide logistics, we'll

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<v Speaker 2>protride helicopters, we'll give them whatever they need, but we

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<v Speaker 2>are not going to get involved in a Latin American war.

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<v Speaker 2>We will not send combat troops. So one of the

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<v Speaker 2>first things that they asked Force is where we really

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<v Speaker 2>need a medical Corman school. We don't have any medics,

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<v Speaker 2>and when we go out into the jungle, if our

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<v Speaker 2>guys get hurt, they die. So we figured out that

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<v Speaker 2>we need a metavact capability. That went down to an

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<v Speaker 2>office that's called at that time was called the Security

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<v Speaker 2>Assistance Training Management Office, and they basically provided doctors, nurses, logisticians, engineers,

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<v Speaker 2>non combat arms folks that they would send out to

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<v Speaker 2>teach other foreign governments and military and police non combat

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<v Speaker 2>related items or skill sets. But when they looked at

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<v Speaker 2>Bogata at that time, there were on a normal day

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<v Speaker 2>in Bogatah, there'll be one hundred people get killed just

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<v Speaker 2>from street crime. And at that time, the cartels were

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<v Speaker 2>setting off bombs all over the city, and no one

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<v Speaker 2>really knew who in the military was compromised and who

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<v Speaker 2>in the government was compromised. The government had just decided

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<v Speaker 2>they're going to fight back against the cartels and they

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<v Speaker 2>had a real challenge on their hands, so nobody could

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<v Speaker 2>guarantee the safety of anyone that went down there. So

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<v Speaker 2>SATMO said, look, you know, we can't put and nurses

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<v Speaker 2>into that environment. So mission came over to seventh Special

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<v Speaker 2>Forces Group. We speak Spanish, but it called for six

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<v Speaker 2>medical trainers. Now you've only got two medics on an

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<v Speaker 2>a team, and none of the guys that were down

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<v Speaker 2>in Panama who were some of the best Spanish speakers.

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<v Speaker 2>A third battalion wanted to give up all the medics

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<v Speaker 2>for three teams. So it came to us.

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<v Speaker 1>Brewer explains how he and his men were not officially

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<v Speaker 1>Special Forces in Columbia and the limited resources they were given.

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<v Speaker 2>So we got the job. But the way they handled

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<v Speaker 2>it was they transferred us on orders out of Special

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<v Speaker 2>Forces to SATMO. So once we were officially SATMO not

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<v Speaker 2>special Forces, put on Savine clothes luggage, went down to

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<v Speaker 2>Miami Airport and jumped on a flight going down to Bogata.

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<v Speaker 2>And while I was in there, I saw this book

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<v Speaker 2>just come out Tom Clancy, Clear and Present Danger. So

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<v Speaker 2>I bought that book to read on the flight down.

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<v Speaker 2>We got there, the RSO briefed up. Everybody said, nobody

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<v Speaker 2>goes out of the embassy unless you're an armored vehicle,

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<v Speaker 2>most dangerous posting since Beirute, and all the casualty figures

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<v Speaker 2>except for you guys. We'll drive you down there to

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<v Speaker 2>the middle of South Bogatah where all the shooting's going on.

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<v Speaker 2>You're going to be living there. Here's a bretta pistol,

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<v Speaker 2>and here's a box of fifty rounds to protect yourself with.

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<v Speaker 2>Call us once a week let us know if you're

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<v Speaker 2>still alive.

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<v Speaker 1>The closest Brewer got to combat in Colombia came as

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<v Speaker 1>Escobar vowed to attack a US radar site that was

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<v Speaker 1>causing him problems with his drug trafficking, but Brewer needed

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<v Speaker 1>a lot more weapons and a plan to stop Escobar's attack.

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<v Speaker 2>There was trouble down in the valley between Bogata and

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<v Speaker 2>Median and Escobar knew that there was a US Air

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<v Speaker 2>Force radar site that had been set up at a

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<v Speaker 2>Colombian Air Force base, and that radar was picking up

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<v Speaker 2>the drug planes that were flying out of that valley

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<v Speaker 2>and handing them off to Colombian jets and US Air

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<v Speaker 2>Force jets that were intercepting him on the way to Miami. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>obviously that interfered with Escabar's business. He didn't like that.

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<v Speaker 2>But the president has said there weren't any US troops

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<v Speaker 2>down there, so this was TSSCI. Nobody could know about this,

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<v Speaker 2>and the Colombian government wouldn't let him bring down more

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<v Speaker 2>troops to protect the base. Escobar called the base up

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<v Speaker 2>and said, if you don't shut off that damn radar,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna come on there and I'm going to kill

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<v Speaker 2>all the gringoes and I'm going to blow up the radar.

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<v Speaker 2>So they were in a quandary. They didn't know what

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<v Speaker 2>to do, so they called us. There were only six

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<v Speaker 2>of us there and we were running a school. We

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<v Speaker 2>couldn't really afford to let anyone go, so I took

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<v Speaker 2>one guy with me. They flew us out on a

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<v Speaker 2>Columbian general's airplane. We landed. We brought along one set

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<v Speaker 2>of combat fatigues with us, with no patches or anything.

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<v Speaker 2>So we had that tucked up in our backpacks and

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<v Speaker 2>we got out, changed out of saving closed, changed into

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<v Speaker 2>army gear. Still only had a burretta and to talk to.

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<v Speaker 2>There were only about five or six US Air Force

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<v Speaker 2>people there. There was a commander, some technicians, and one

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<v Speaker 2>security policeman. And first thing we did would say, hey,

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<v Speaker 2>we're here to help. First off, if you guys got

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<v Speaker 2>any guns, This bread is all I got. He said,

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<v Speaker 2>oh yeah, come on. So he took us out to

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<v Speaker 2>this GP large tent that was in a grass strip

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<v Speaker 2>between the two runways, and I thought that was their

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<v Speaker 2>command post. But that GP large tent was completely full

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<v Speaker 2>of crates of guns, of ammunition, explosives. Now there was

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<v Speaker 2>literally enough there to outfit a couple of companies, And

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<v Speaker 2>I said, what the hell were you going to do

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<v Speaker 2>with all this. I said, well, we were going to

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<v Speaker 2>equip the Colombians, but we think they're compromised and descobars

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<v Speaker 2>paying them off, so we couldn't give it to them.

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<v Speaker 2>But you guys can have whatever you want. So we

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<v Speaker 2>started opening up boxes and grabbed an M sixteen, found

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<v Speaker 2>these beautiful little chopped M sixty machine gun, Grabbed a

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<v Speaker 2>couple of things of ammunition, loaded up a jeep trailer,

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<v Speaker 2>found crates of claymore minds. Loaded all those up and

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<v Speaker 2>he felt a lot better at that point in time,

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<v Speaker 2>a lot more comfortable.

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<v Speaker 1>That's retired US Army Major Christopher Brewer. His book is

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<v Speaker 1>In the Shadows Between the Wars. When we come back,

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<v Speaker 1>we'll finish the story in Columbia, and then Brewer is

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<v Speaker 1>off to the unstable aftermath of Operation Just Cause in Panama.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Greg Corumbus, and this is Veterans Chronicles. This is

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<v Speaker 1>Veterans Chronicles. I'm Greg Corumbus. Our guest in this edition

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<v Speaker 1>is retired US Army Major Christopher Brewer. He served as

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<v Speaker 1>a Ranger Battalion NCO and a Special Forces officer. His

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<v Speaker 1>latest book is entitled In the Shadows Between the Wars.

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<v Speaker 1>Becoming a Special Forces operator. In just a moment, you'll

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<v Speaker 1>hear how Brewer and his team went to Panama after

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<v Speaker 1>Operation Just Cause in order to deal with these significant

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<v Speaker 1>instabilities there following the deposing of Manuel Noriega. But first

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<v Speaker 1>we head back to Columbia. Brewer now explains what it

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<v Speaker 1>was like waiting for Escobar's attack and how the situation unfolded.

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<v Speaker 2>Escobar had already cleared trail going up to it, so

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<v Speaker 2>we went back down. We talked to the base commander says, look,

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<v Speaker 2>we need to use this company for about a day.

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<v Speaker 2>We need to clear fields of fire all the way

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<v Speaker 2>around that hill. We need to dig fighting positions, communication trenches,

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<v Speaker 2>and we're going to put those claim wars up. So

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<v Speaker 2>we did all of that. We made a point to

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<v Speaker 2>getting the Columbian officers out there with the machine guns,

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<v Speaker 2>showed them how to operate the machine guns, let them

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<v Speaker 2>shoot that made them happy, got good food for the troops,

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<v Speaker 2>and water that made them happy. And knowing full well

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<v Speaker 2>that we're being observed the whole time by Escobar and

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<v Speaker 2>his crew. So by the time we got done the

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<v Speaker 2>target that he had already made plans to have his

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<v Speaker 2>guys crawl up through this trail in the jungle and

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<v Speaker 2>blow them up. Now had three hundred meters of open

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<v Speaker 2>ground all the way around it, with dug and fighting

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<v Speaker 2>with them, sixty machine guns set up in them and

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<v Speaker 2>claymore set out. And the last thing we did before

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<v Speaker 2>the sun went down on the night he was supposed

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<v Speaker 2>to come, we told all the cabos, the corporals that

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<v Speaker 2>we were pretty sure were compromised, do not come on

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<v Speaker 2>this hill tonight. You don't come. Don't let any of

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<v Speaker 2>your guys come, because we will kill anybody who comes

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<v Speaker 2>up that road tonight. This is when Escobar said he's

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<v Speaker 2>going to come, and I can't tell them at you

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<v Speaker 2>or them, so don't come. I care about you. I

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<v Speaker 2>don't want you to get hurt. And lo and behold,

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<v Speaker 2>eight man patrols started walking up that road about three

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<v Speaker 2>in the morning, and it was pretty obvious these were

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<v Speaker 2>not the same guys. But that cabo that I'd talked

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<v Speaker 2>to popped up out of the brush and stopped him

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<v Speaker 2>at the base of the hill, talking to him, pointing up.

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<v Speaker 2>They turned around and they left, and the next day

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<v Speaker 2>Escabar called the base commander. I said, I don't give

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<v Speaker 2>a damn about your radar or your green berets, and

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<v Speaker 2>that was it.

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<v Speaker 1>Because of the assignment in Colombia, Brewer and his team

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<v Speaker 1>were part of Operation Just Cause in Panama in late

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<v Speaker 1>December nineteen eighty nine, but they were not home for

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<v Speaker 1>long before they were on their way to Panama to

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<v Speaker 1>deal with the volatile aftermath of removing Noriega from power.

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<v Speaker 1>Brewer explains the less than enviable task he was given

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<v Speaker 1>with respect to the recently defeated Panamanian forces.

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<v Speaker 2>We got down there and we were met by some

417
00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:28.920
<v Speaker 2>people who, in briefness that said that you're going to

418
00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:32.720
<v Speaker 2>go out to all of the Panamanian National Defense Force

419
00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:37.279
<v Speaker 2>compounds with all of their troops. We want you to

420
00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:39.960
<v Speaker 2>go and give them their guns back. They've just been

421
00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.920
<v Speaker 2>shooting them. A lot of these guys have been killed

422
00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:45.440
<v Speaker 2>just the week before. Literally give them their guns back

423
00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:48.200
<v Speaker 2>and tell them they're police now. Now, in that culture,

424
00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.920
<v Speaker 2>if you were too fat and lazy to be in

425
00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:53.640
<v Speaker 2>the army, you could be a cup. So telling all

426
00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:56.279
<v Speaker 2>these guys that you're not in the army anymore your

427
00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:01.240
<v Speaker 2>cups was not going to go over very well. And said, okay, well,

428
00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:03.799
<v Speaker 2>you want us to teach them how to be cops.

429
00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:06.960
<v Speaker 2>Said no, you can't do that. You're not cops. You're

430
00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:09.680
<v Speaker 2>a tripwaar. We want you to live with them, keep

431
00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:11.759
<v Speaker 2>an eye on them, and if it looks like they're

432
00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:14.279
<v Speaker 2>going to mutiny and try to mount a coup, you

433
00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:17.559
<v Speaker 2>let us know. And if you don't check in after

434
00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:20.200
<v Speaker 2>three days, we'll figure you're dead, and they will know

435
00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.519
<v Speaker 2>pretty well that the coup's going on.

436
00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:24.160
<v Speaker 1>To find out whether there were plans for a coup,

437
00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:28.119
<v Speaker 1>Brewer and others on his team routinely patrolled areas to

438
00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:31.720
<v Speaker 1>keep order and keep an eye out for anything resembling

439
00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:35.640
<v Speaker 1>a plot to stage a coup. But Brewer also explains

440
00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:40.200
<v Speaker 1>that simply walking through different areas gave him ample opportunities

441
00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:43.480
<v Speaker 1>to gather intelligence without even trying.

442
00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:46.240
<v Speaker 2>We'd go out of the compound because we wanted to know.

443
00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:48.240
<v Speaker 2>They weren't going to tell us much, so we'd go

444
00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:51.440
<v Speaker 2>talk to the people in the village. We'd leave. We'd

445
00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:54.880
<v Speaker 2>walk around initially in twos, but there weren't enough of us,

446
00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:58.559
<v Speaker 2>because there's only four in my location. Some places only

447
00:23:58.599 --> 00:24:03.000
<v Speaker 2>had two. So sometimes you'd go walk alone, but you'd

448
00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:06.119
<v Speaker 2>walk with there were lots of witnesses. You'd keep moving

449
00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:09.039
<v Speaker 2>you never let anybody know other than your own guys,

450
00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:11.200
<v Speaker 2>where you're going or at what route you're going to

451
00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:14.880
<v Speaker 2>never follow the same route twice. And we weren't allowed

452
00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:18.960
<v Speaker 2>under US law at that time to establish an intelligence network.

453
00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:21.079
<v Speaker 2>In fact, we got in trouble with that with some

454
00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:23.359
<v Speaker 2>of the army intel people because they accused us of

455
00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:26.839
<v Speaker 2>being spies, and we're spies. You're not spies. You can't

456
00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:29.400
<v Speaker 2>do that, as we told them, says, we're not spies.

457
00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:32.920
<v Speaker 2>We're going out and saying hello and having coffee with

458
00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:35.480
<v Speaker 2>the people. And if the people want to come up

459
00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:38.480
<v Speaker 2>and tell us something, who am I to tell them? No,

460
00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:42.960
<v Speaker 2>I'm just being friendly. I'm not tasking anyone. I'm not

461
00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:46.240
<v Speaker 2>saying go find this and come back. I'm not paying anybody.

462
00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:49.359
<v Speaker 2>I'm just being a nice guy and just getting out

463
00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:51.680
<v Speaker 2>and being a nice guy. We started to get better

464
00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:55.480
<v Speaker 2>intel than the military intelligence unit back an amatur in

465
00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:58.359
<v Speaker 2>the Canal Zone was getting, which really pissed them off

466
00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:01.319
<v Speaker 2>no end. So then wound up doing the dance with

467
00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:07.440
<v Speaker 2>the nory Gistas, the Dignity Battalion guys who have been

468
00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:10.440
<v Speaker 2>formed by No Diego that were part of the organization

469
00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:14.559
<v Speaker 2>trying to mount a coup, and the US military police

470
00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:18.839
<v Speaker 2>who really didn't like green Beres, and the US military

471
00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:23.559
<v Speaker 2>intelligence unit who was trying to catch us doing intel operations. GUS,

472
00:25:23.640 --> 00:25:24.880
<v Speaker 2>we were walking on their turf.

473
00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:28.559
<v Speaker 1>As you heard, Christopher Brewer was not only dealing with

474
00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:31.960
<v Speaker 1>the very real possibility of a coup, but he was

475
00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:35.839
<v Speaker 1>also embroiled in turf wars within our own military and

476
00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:39.759
<v Speaker 1>orders from higher ups that he found completely unacceptable. Here,

477
00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:42.319
<v Speaker 1>Brewer explains the back and forth he had with a

478
00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:46.319
<v Speaker 1>higher ranking officer about what the rules of engagement ought

479
00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:49.680
<v Speaker 1>to be for him and the other Special Forces members

480
00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:51.559
<v Speaker 1>on this assignment in Panamon.

481
00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:55.000
<v Speaker 2>When they said go to civilian clothes, they stipulated, we

482
00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:58.920
<v Speaker 2>have credible intelligence you're at risk out there, and well,

483
00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:02.039
<v Speaker 2>no shit, we knew that when we got here. But

484
00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:05.039
<v Speaker 2>if we want you to go armed, and we want

485
00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:07.920
<v Speaker 2>you to carry your weapons concealed. So the only thing

486
00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:10.640
<v Speaker 2>we had that we could conceal, you know, the rifles

487
00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:12.359
<v Speaker 2>are obviously going to be too big, but we had

488
00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:15.759
<v Speaker 2>the baretta. So we got people to make us some

489
00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:18.359
<v Speaker 2>holsters that we could put on our civilian clothes, and

490
00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:20.920
<v Speaker 2>we started carrying the bretta concealed and said now here's

491
00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:23.920
<v Speaker 2>your rules of engagement. First off, make sure you carry

492
00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:27.000
<v Speaker 2>that pistol unloaded. You can have a loaded magazine in

493
00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:29.880
<v Speaker 2>your pocket, but do not put it in the pistol. Now,

494
00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:32.119
<v Speaker 2>if you're in a situation where you feel your life

495
00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:37.119
<v Speaker 2>is in danger, draw that unloaded pistol and shout halt,

496
00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:42.119
<v Speaker 2>I am armed. If they don't stop, pull out your

497
00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:46.559
<v Speaker 2>magazine and say halt. If they still don't stop, put

498
00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:49.880
<v Speaker 2>it in and say halt and they still don't stop,

499
00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:54.000
<v Speaker 2>load around and yell halt. And if they still don't stop,

500
00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:56.599
<v Speaker 2>and your life is in danger, shoot to wound, not

501
00:26:56.680 --> 00:27:01.400
<v Speaker 2>to kill. Yeh listen, Oh God, we go. They don't

502
00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:04.559
<v Speaker 2>have a clue. So finally I said, look, man, no,

503
00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:08.039
<v Speaker 2>if that's the roe, we're going unarmed. We're not going

504
00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:09.960
<v Speaker 2>to carry any guns at all, because all you're going

505
00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:12.319
<v Speaker 2>to do is get us killed. Because even the local

506
00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:15.839
<v Speaker 2>crooks are going to know we're carrying an expensive Buretta

507
00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:18.559
<v Speaker 2>pistol that's unloaded, and they're not going to have any

508
00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:20.319
<v Speaker 2>trouble at all taking it away from us, so they're

509
00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:22.480
<v Speaker 2>going to kill us just to get the gun. So no,

510
00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:24.920
<v Speaker 2>we're not going to do that. And I got to

511
00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:28.920
<v Speaker 2>reply it back, saying, well, what is your roe? I said, Okay,

512
00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:32.920
<v Speaker 2>my ro is very simple, and I'm going to brief

513
00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:36.559
<v Speaker 2>my guys in Spanish out in the compound, where I'm

514
00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:40.720
<v Speaker 2>sure that all the Panamanian Defense Force guys can hear

515
00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:42.279
<v Speaker 2>every word I say, and I'm going to use a

516
00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:45.279
<v Speaker 2>loud voice, and I told my guys we are in

517
00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:48.200
<v Speaker 2>danger out here, there is a threat. You will carry

518
00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:51.359
<v Speaker 2>your weapon on your person at all times. There will

519
00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:54.599
<v Speaker 2>be around in the chamber. And if you find yourself

520
00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:57.720
<v Speaker 2>in a situation where you think your life is in danger,

521
00:27:58.119 --> 00:28:01.119
<v Speaker 2>I want you to negotiate, and I want you to

522
00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:05.759
<v Speaker 2>warm threaten whatever you have to do to de escalate

523
00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:09.200
<v Speaker 2>without anyone being harmed. Don't be afraid to run if

524
00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:12.039
<v Speaker 2>you have to. But if you're cornered and there's nothing

525
00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:14.559
<v Speaker 2>you can do and your life is in danger, you

526
00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:18.039
<v Speaker 2>draw that pistol and you kill whoever represents the threat.

527
00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:21.200
<v Speaker 2>If that gun comes out of the holster, there better

528
00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:24.279
<v Speaker 2>be a dead man at your feet. Otherwise, you keep

529
00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:26.160
<v Speaker 2>that gun in the holster and you keep talking or

530
00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:30.039
<v Speaker 2>you get running. That's those are the conditions.

531
00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:32.480
<v Speaker 1>When it came to turf wars, Brewer says he had

532
00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:36.799
<v Speaker 1>a memorable and intense exchange with a colonel from military intelligence.

533
00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:40.359
<v Speaker 1>As you might have guessed from some of Brewer's earlier comments,

534
00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:44.359
<v Speaker 1>special forces and military intelligence were not on the best

535
00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:48.799
<v Speaker 1>of terms due to the military intelligence leadership becoming convinced

536
00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:53.799
<v Speaker 1>that the special forces were encroaching on their turf. Brewer's boss,

537
00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:57.720
<v Speaker 1>also a full colonel, did not want Brewer revealing anything

538
00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:01.880
<v Speaker 1>to the kernel from military intelligence. Brewer was a captain

539
00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:05.519
<v Speaker 1>at the time, but followed his colonel's orders precisely.

540
00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:09.599
<v Speaker 2>Officer in charge of US called me and told me that, look,

541
00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:12.880
<v Speaker 2>this MI I Brigade commander is coming out and he's

542
00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:15.960
<v Speaker 2>coming to your compound and he wants to be briefed.

543
00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:19.759
<v Speaker 2>You don't tell him a thing because this is a

544
00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:22.480
<v Speaker 2>turf war. We don't want to give him any leverage.

545
00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:26.240
<v Speaker 2>Just tell him you can't brief him. Leave it at that, say, man,

546
00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:28.200
<v Speaker 2>you know he's not going to be happy and he's

547
00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:30.079
<v Speaker 2>going to be a full bird talking to a captain,

548
00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:33.720
<v Speaker 2>So yeah, we'll handle it all right. So he showed up,

549
00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:36.039
<v Speaker 2>came in, and I was going to give him the

550
00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:39.359
<v Speaker 2>standard briefing that we would give to any military tourists

551
00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:42.279
<v Speaker 2>that showed up that none of the really sensitive stuff.

552
00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:45.400
<v Speaker 2>But here's where we are and where we're positioned, and

553
00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:48.000
<v Speaker 2>how many people this compound and this compound we've been

554
00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:51.079
<v Speaker 2>here for this long. And get about halfway through that,

555
00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:52.559
<v Speaker 2>and he said, I don't want to hear any of

556
00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:55.720
<v Speaker 2>that crap. Tell me about the guns. He said, look sir,

557
00:29:56.759 --> 00:30:00.799
<v Speaker 2>we know in where we're sitting right here is probably surveilled.

558
00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:03.279
<v Speaker 2>I would be very surprised if they didn't have this

559
00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:06.839
<v Speaker 2>place tapped. And I can't talk about stuff like that. Well,

560
00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:09.680
<v Speaker 2>you're gonna have to tell me anyway, all right, come

561
00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:11.200
<v Speaker 2>on with me. And I took them to a place

562
00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:13.480
<v Speaker 2>that we knew was clean because we had our people

563
00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:15.720
<v Speaker 2>all the way around it and we checked it. Sat

564
00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:19.319
<v Speaker 2>him down, said, look sir, you've got an MI person

565
00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:22.839
<v Speaker 2>here on the team. He'd sent out a young lady

566
00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:27.680
<v Speaker 2>who she was a translator. She spoke flawless Spanish, showed

567
00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:31.599
<v Speaker 2>up at our door saying, have you got any bullets

568
00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:34.599
<v Speaker 2>for this thing? With a bretta that was unloaded, and

569
00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:37.480
<v Speaker 2>she'd been sent out to gather intel and a sign

570
00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:39.960
<v Speaker 2>to live with us. So we said, look, you know,

571
00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:43.799
<v Speaker 2>first off, let us teach you how to shoot that gun. Second,

572
00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:46.880
<v Speaker 2>let us teach you a little bit about collecting intel

573
00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:49.680
<v Speaker 2>and let one of our guys go with you because

574
00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:52.000
<v Speaker 2>this is not a safe area in it. And over

575
00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:54.400
<v Speaker 2>a period of time she learned she was really sharp.

576
00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:57.039
<v Speaker 2>She ultimately went over to the FBI and she got

577
00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.640
<v Speaker 2>to be a strong member of the team. But she

578
00:30:58.759 --> 00:31:02.039
<v Speaker 2>knew everything we knew, and that helped solve the dilemma.

579
00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:06.400
<v Speaker 2>Because she was military intelligence, she could task, she could

580
00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:09.359
<v Speaker 2>pay people, but legally we couldn't. So it actually made

581
00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:11.680
<v Speaker 2>a good functioning team. And I told him, says, sir,

582
00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:17.119
<v Speaker 2>your representative here knows everything we know. I don't care.

583
00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:19.359
<v Speaker 2>I want you to tell me. Sarah can't. Well, you

584
00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:21.759
<v Speaker 2>should have called back and got permission, Sarah. I did

585
00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:24.200
<v Speaker 2>call back, and they said not to tell you. I

586
00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:26.160
<v Speaker 2>don't know what's going on. I don't know what the

587
00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:28.839
<v Speaker 2>conflict is, but I have my orders. I can't do that.

588
00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:32.559
<v Speaker 2>And he crosses his arm says, well, Captain, I'm giving

589
00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:34.519
<v Speaker 2>you a direct order. You're going to brief me, and

590
00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:36.440
<v Speaker 2>you're going to do it right now. And I've had

591
00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:39.119
<v Speaker 2>about all of this guy that I can handle on

592
00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:42.240
<v Speaker 2>that particular day. So I said, look, sir, I have

593
00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:45.799
<v Speaker 2>my orders. I can't violate my orders. I will tell

594
00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:47.960
<v Speaker 2>you that I've got a situation going on in here

595
00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:51.240
<v Speaker 2>right now where I don't feel that we're safe or

596
00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:53.880
<v Speaker 2>you're safe, and you're getting in the way of me

597
00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:57.440
<v Speaker 2>being able to accomplish my mission. So I'm asking you

598
00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:04.400
<v Speaker 2>please leave now. I'm done talking. Well, Captain, I'm not leaving, sir,

599
00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:07.279
<v Speaker 2>Yes you are. If you don't leave on your own,

600
00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:10.279
<v Speaker 2>then we're going to take you out of here. Well

601
00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:12.279
<v Speaker 2>how are you going to do that, captain? And I'd

602
00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:14.160
<v Speaker 2>already called two of my guys to come on in,

603
00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:17.680
<v Speaker 2>told him, come on in here, bring a duffel bag. Well,

604
00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:19.319
<v Speaker 2>you need it, the duff bag. Just bring a duffel

605
00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:22.319
<v Speaker 2>bag and fleck scuffs. So you see these two E

606
00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:25.519
<v Speaker 2>seven standing behind you? Yeah, I see him. Well, sir,

607
00:32:25.559 --> 00:32:29.000
<v Speaker 2>if you will not cooperate and leave voluntarily in your car,

608
00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:31.519
<v Speaker 2>I can't have you going out of here kicking the screaming.

609
00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:34.960
<v Speaker 2>So what's going to happen these two E seven's here.

610
00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:37.720
<v Speaker 2>They're going to cuff you, They're going to gag you,

611
00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:39.599
<v Speaker 2>and they're going to put you in that duffel bag

612
00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:41.880
<v Speaker 2>and then they're going to carry you out, put you

613
00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:44.000
<v Speaker 2>in the trunk of your car, and we're going to

614
00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:46.200
<v Speaker 2>drive your car with another one of my vehicles and

615
00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:48.519
<v Speaker 2>my guys in it to protect you back to the

616
00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:51.079
<v Speaker 2>canal zone. And he just looks at me real hard.

617
00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:54.799
<v Speaker 2>I'm looking at in and I finally he blinked and

618
00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:56.119
<v Speaker 2>he got up and walked out.

619
00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:59.599
<v Speaker 1>But that is not the end of the story. Brewer

620
00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:02.519
<v Speaker 1>says he faced a list of court martial charges from

621
00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:07.400
<v Speaker 1>the military intelligence colonel, but Brewer explains how the allegations

622
00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:09.319
<v Speaker 1>were methodically countered.

623
00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.759
<v Speaker 2>But as soon as he got to the canal zone,

624
00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:13.519
<v Speaker 2>he tried to started bringing court maultra charges, and he

625
00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:17.599
<v Speaker 2>tried to charge me with assault that I didn't lay

626
00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:20.359
<v Speaker 2>a hand on him. I just extribed what I was

627
00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:24.440
<v Speaker 2>going to do for his safety, disobedience of direct order,

628
00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:27.200
<v Speaker 2>which I had the conflicting orders for my colonel. They

629
00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:30.079
<v Speaker 2>backed me up, and ultimately he charged me with sexual

630
00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:33.720
<v Speaker 2>harassment because I would not let his female agent go

631
00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:36.680
<v Speaker 2>out into the field alone, and I had had to

632
00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:40.279
<v Speaker 2>explain this look. Ultimately, we did let her go out alone,

633
00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:43.400
<v Speaker 2>but we asked her to stay and take training from

634
00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:46.920
<v Speaker 2>us and allow us to escort and shore around so

635
00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:49.960
<v Speaker 2>she didn't wind up dead in a hole someplace, and

636
00:33:50.119 --> 00:33:54.079
<v Speaker 2>she voluntarily did so and turned into be a damn

637
00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:55.160
<v Speaker 2>good member of the team.

638
00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:58.519
<v Speaker 1>Christopher Brewer spent twenty four years in the US Army,

639
00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:02.799
<v Speaker 1>retiring as a major in nineteen ninety seven. Much of

640
00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:06.079
<v Speaker 1>that time was spent in Special Forces, where your role

641
00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:10.239
<v Speaker 1>and your work are often kept secret for years, decades

642
00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:14.800
<v Speaker 1>or longer. In fact, he had to fight to declassify

643
00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:18.119
<v Speaker 1>certain details from the mission in Panama before he could

644
00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:21.519
<v Speaker 1>talk about them in his book. But despite the occasional

645
00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:25.760
<v Speaker 1>clashes with Army bureaucracy, Brewer is grateful for his service

646
00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:30.079
<v Speaker 1>and to have served alongside the excellent soldiers in US

647
00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:31.360
<v Speaker 1>Army Special Forces.

648
00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:34.119
<v Speaker 2>We accomplished a lot of good things, a lot of

649
00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:37.599
<v Speaker 2>good things people don't really know about, and Special Forces

650
00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:40.280
<v Speaker 2>is still doing that. The guys that are out there

651
00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:43.360
<v Speaker 2>don't get enough credit for what they do, So I

652
00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:45.079
<v Speaker 2>was just proud to be able to be one of

653
00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.719
<v Speaker 2>them and stand out there with them.

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00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:50.239
<v Speaker 1>That is retired to US Army Major Christopher Brewer. He

655
00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:53.199
<v Speaker 1>served as a non commissioned officer for an Army Ranger

656
00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:57.719
<v Speaker 1>battalion and as a Special Forces officer. His latest book

657
00:34:57.800 --> 00:35:01.639
<v Speaker 1>is In the Shadows Between the Wars becoming a Special

658
00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:17.559
<v Speaker 1>Forces operator. I'm Greg Corumbus and this is Veterans Chronicles. Hi.

659
00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:21.159
<v Speaker 1>This is Greg Corumbus and thanks for listening to Veterans Chronicles,

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00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:25.360
<v Speaker 1>a presentation of the American Veterans Center. For more information,

661
00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:30.280
<v Speaker 1>please visit American Veteranscenter dot org. You can also follow

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00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:33.760
<v Speaker 1>the American Veterans Center on Facebook and on Twitter. We're

663
00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:38.599
<v Speaker 1>at AVC update. Subscribe to the American Veterans Center YouTube

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00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:43.119
<v Speaker 1>channel for full oral histories and special features, and of course,

665
00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:46.920
<v Speaker 1>please subscribe to the Veterans Chronicles podcast wherever you get

666
00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:50.599
<v Speaker 1>your podcasts. Thanks again for listening and please join us

667
00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:52.599
<v Speaker 1>next time for Veterans Chronicles