Green beret
When visiting the Special Forces at Fort Bragg on 12 October 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked Brigadier General William P. Yarborough to make sure that the men under his command wore green berets for the visit. Later that day, Kennedy sent a memorandum which included the line: "I am sure that the green beret will be a mark of distinction in the trying times ahead". By America's entry into the Vietnam War, the green beret had become a symbol of excellence throughout the US Army. On April 11, 1962 in a White House memorandum to the United States Army, President Kennedy reiterated his view: "The green beret is a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom". To no avail, both Yarborough and Edson Raff had previously petitioned the Pentagon to allow wearing of the green beret. The President, however, did not fail them.
David Oh
During the 2011 campaign, "The Philadelphia Daily News" reported that Oh's claim that he served in the U.S. Army Special Forces, commonly known as the Green Berets, was a stretching of the truth. Oh criticized the paper for publishing the tabloid-styled piece and for confusing military uniform and terminology of 1991 with that of 2011. He noted that he did indeed serve as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Army National Guard. He also stated that the reporter had official documentation that his MOS (military occupational specialty) was changed from 11-A, "Infantry Officer", to 180-A, "Special Forces Technician", and that he was assigned a green beret which he had full authority to wear during his time of service. Oh himself did not, however, complete Special Forces training. He defended his military service” but issued an apology not being aware of the uniform changes since 1993 and for any confusion that may have resulted. Several veterans and related groups stepped-forward to defend Oh, including the Green Beret officer who recruited him to join the U.S. Army Special Forces. Veterans criticized the "Daily News"' original story, including the front cover picture of Oh with a green beret photoshopped onto his head, as misleading. As a result, the United Veterans Council of Philadelphia endorsed Oh and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Society made him an honorary member.