Today is the eightieth birthday of “Billy” Waugh.

“Who?”

Billy Waugh, born today in 1929 in Texas, tried to run away to enlist in the Marines in World War 2 at age 15.  He failed – but came back when he was of age (after going back to school and earning straight A’s to avoid confusion) in 1947.  He served as a paratrooper in Korea, and then became a Green Beret…

…which, in the sixties, took him to Vietnam, where he became a Special Forces legend.  He retired from the Army after a 25 year career as a Sergeant Major in 1972…

…to make time to go to work for the CIA’s “Special Activities Division”, the Agency’s “black ops” wing.  He spied on Libya, worked with anti-communist forces all over the world, worked on the plot to off Carlos The Jackal and other terrorists and narcotraficantes…

…and, in 2001, at age 71, was in the first team of CIA paramilitaries parachuted into Afghanistan.  Ahead of the Green Berets that quickly topped the Taliban.

Did we mention how old he was when he went – via parachute – to Afghanistan?

At the age of 71, Waugh participated in Operation Enduring Freedom as a member of the CIA team led by Gary Schroen that went into Afghanistan to work with the Northern Alliance [the guerrilla group, not the radio show – Ed.] to topple the Taliban regime and Al Qaeda at the Battle of Tora Bora. Waugh was in-country from October to December 2001. Waugh spent many years being both a “Blue Badger” (employee) and a “Green Badger” (contractor). He continues to work as a “Green Badger”. It is unknown how many missions Waugh was involved in during his career.

Somewhere, John Wayne is smiling.

Happy Birthday, Billy Waugh.