You cannot improve the morale of the force by just changing hats. I have always admired your courage and the way that you have conducted yourself. I am writing to you to express my feelings about General Shinseki's recent declaration that all Army personnel should be issued the black beret as part of the regular uniform. I am saddened by the General's apparent lack of respect for the special forces, and for the men who have fought and died wearing the black beret.
Rangers are an elite group of fighting men who have distinguished themselves on many battlefields.
They have overcome incredible challenges to earn the right to be called Ranger. I feel that it is an insult to these fighting men to make one of their most cherished symbols something ordinary and arbitrary. This aspect of the Army's Transformation is similar. To insinuate that a special forces beret is no more unimportant than a buttoned or buttonless sweater, or a raincoat, is disrespectful and degrading to the men who have fought so hard for our freedom. My brother earned his beret and tab while going through very difficult family tragedies.