George Marecek

Colonel George Marecek was born in September of 1932 in Czechoslovakia. He attended both grammar school and high school there and was a student at Carl's University in Prague during his last two years prior to departing that country. In 1948, during the Communist overthrow of the Czech Republic, he escaped to West Germany where he joined the Free Czech Labor Organization under the control of the International Refugee Organization. In the later part of 1948 he was transferred to Italy where he continued to work for the International Refugee Organization. In mid 1950, he emigrated to the United States. | On 3 August 1951, he entered the United States Army as an enlisted man and went through basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After basic training, he was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea where he served as a Rifleman, Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant of a heavy weapons platoon with Company A, 38th Infantry. | He returned to CONUS from Korea on 24 July 1953 where he joined the 82nd Airborne Division and served with them until 1954.  His last assignment in the 82nd was as 1st Sergeant, HHC, 505th Infantry Regiment.  From there he went to the 77th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a Light/Heavy Weapons Leader of a Special Forces A Detachment. In December 1956, he was transferred to the 10th Special Forces Group in Bad Toelz, Germany in the same weapons specialties and remained there until 1958. In 1958 Sergeant First Class Marecek was transferred to Special Forces Detachment A Berlin where he served until 1959 at which time he was selected to attend the Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia. Second Lieutenant George Marecek graduated from the 52nd Officers Candidate Company at Fort Benning, Georgia on 18 December 1959.  His first assignment as a commissioned officer was a Platoon Leader, Company A, 3rd Bn, 1st BCT Bde, Fort Ord, California.  He later assumed command of this company and remained with this unit until June 1961. | In June 1961, First Lieutenant Marecek was transferred back to Fort Bragg as Operational Detachment A Commander, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne).  In February 1962, First Lieutenant Marecek was transferred to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).  There he served as an Executive Officer, and as Detachment Commander of an Operational A Detachment which participated in two missions in Laos and three in South Vietnam. | In August 1964, Captain Marecek attended the Armored Officer's Advanced Course, Class #1, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, for a period of nine months.  After the advanced course, he returned to Korea and commanded Company B, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry (Mechanized), 2nd Infantry Division and remained with this unit for thirteen months.  From this assignment, Captain Marecek went directly to Vietnam where he was assigned to Company D, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) as Commander, Operational Detachment A-430.
In October 1966, Major Marecek assumed command of Operational Detachment B-40, better known as the IV Corps Mobile Strike Force, and remained in that capacity until 23 December 1967.  Major Marecek then returned to the United States and was assigned as Operations Officer, HHD, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  On 1 April 1968, Major Marecek assumed command of Company E, 7th Special Forces Group until August 1968. | In August 1968, Major Marecek attended the Command and General Staff College for a period of nine months. After graduation, he was selected to attend the German War College in Hamburg, Germany for two and a half years, graduating in August 1971. In September, that same year, Major Marecek was assigned to Headquarters, United States Army, Europe and Seventh Army as Transportation Staff Officer for war time movement, in the Transportation Division, ADCSLOG. In this position, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and remained there until September 1973. | Lieutenant Colonel Marecek was then transferred to United States Army Special Forces, Thailand, in the capacity of Deputy Commander and later as Commanding Officer. In April 1974, Lieutenant Colonel Marecek deactivated United States Army Special Forces Thailand and was reassigned in country as the Senior Advisor to the Roya1 Thai Army Special Warfare Center, Cavalry Center, Artillery Center and Aviation Center. He remained in this assignment for one year  In July 1975, he was assigned as Commander, 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Devens, Massachusetts until January 1977. | On 28 January 1977, Lieutenant Colonel Marecek turned over his command and was selected to be the Senior Advisor to the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) National Guard, Birmingham, Alabama. In September 1979 Colonel Marecek was transferred back to Fort Bragg, N.C. as ACofS, G3, United States Army John F. Kennedy Center for Military Assistance. | Colonel Marecek's awards and decorations include: Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, Occupation Medal of Germany, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal with Four Battle Stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with Four Campaign Stars, United Nation Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Two Silver Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantryman’s Badge with Star (2nd Award), Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Pathfinder Badge, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Unit Citation with Palm, Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badge with Fourragere, Ten Overseas Bars.