William Dawson Waugh was a United States Army Special Forces soldier and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) paramilitary operations officer best known as the Godfather of the Green Berets who helped the C.I.A. hunt down the terrorists Carlos the Jackal and Osama bin Laden. Waugh was enlisted in 1948 and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his military service, he joined the CIA and served in various capacities, including as a paramilitary operations officer. He retired from the m... moreWilliam Dawson Waugh was a United States Army Special Forces soldier and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) paramilitary operations officer best known as the Godfather of the Green Berets who helped the C.I.A. hunt down the terrorists Carlos the Jackal and Osama bin Laden. Waugh was enlisted in 1948 and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his military service, he joined the CIA and served in various capacities, including as a paramilitary operations officer. He retired from the military in 1972 at the rank of Sergeant Major. He started working for the CIA in 1977 and his expertise in unconventional warfare and his experience as a Green Beret made him an invaluable asset to the CIA. He was involved in numerous covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, and later served as the CIA's chief of station in Laos during the 1970s. Waugh's dedication to his work and his courage under fire earned him numerous awards and commendations. He was awarded the CIA's Intelligence Star for Valor in 1973 for his actions in Laos, and was also awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart during his military service. He will be remembered as a brave and skilled soldier and intelligence officer who served his country with honor and distinction.
