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Chapter 54 of the Special Forces
Association is based in New England. The chapter members come
from all six New England states and beyond.
The chapter is named after LTC William
Buckley, a chapter member and Special Forces officer, who died in Lebanon in the service of his country -
more information is provided at the menu to the left by
clicking on his name.
The members of the Special Forces
Association, formed in 1964, are current and former Green Berets of the United
States Army from the active and reserve components. The
national headquarters of the Special Forces Association is
located in Fayetteville, North Carolina (near Fort Bragg - home
of SF). There are over 90 Special Forces Association chapters spread
across the country and overseas.
The Chapter 54 members meet several times a
year. The regular business meetings are held periodically
throughout the year. Memorial Day is observed by chapter
members in Stoneham, Mass, in late spring an annual Foreign
Weapons Firing weekend takes place, August the chapter
holds its annual cookout, Veterans Day is observed in Stoneham,
Mass, and the annual Christmas party is
held in December.
Chapter 54 shares the New England region
with
SFA-72
based in New Hampshire and
SFA-48
based in Rhode Island.
Chapter 54 News and Events
Annual Cookout. This year's big summer event
will be held at the Devens, MA Community Center. The date of
the cookout is Saturday, August 22, 2026. The event is free to
Chapter 54 members and one guest due to our cookout sponsor.
Chapter
54 Cookout
Shotgun Raffle Tickets Mailed. The raffle
prize for the 2026 is the
Benelli NOVA 3, 12 guage shotgun. If you have not received
your raffle tickets in the mail contact the Chapter
president.This year's drawing will be made at the annual
Chapter 54 cookout on August 22, 2026.
Chapter 54 Scholarship Application Deadine Extended.
The deadline for applications is now June 15, 2026. There are
two $5,000 scholarships and one $1,000 scholarship. Details at
the link in the left hand column of this webpage.
Mrs. Peggy Cummings. The wife of chapter
member
Don Cummings, passed away May 16, 2026. Don passed away in
October 2025.
Peaks Island, Maine Cookout. On June 6,
Chapter 54 will have our
Peaks Island Cookout off the coast of
Portland, Maine.
Tour of USS Salem. On May 2, 2026, the chapter
will tour the Heavy Cruiser USS Salem at the Quincy, MA
shipyard, followed by lunch on the water immediately following.
No charge to Chapter members. See events
listing for more details.
RIP - Thomas Sullivan of
Woodbridge, MA passed away at age 75 on April 12, 2026. He
served and retired as a Major in the U.S. Army with time spent
in Special Forces.
https://specialforcestaps.com/f/thomas-edward-sullivan
Scholarships. Due to the generosity of
anonymous donors, there will be two $5,000 scholarships awarded
in 2026.
Chapter 54 Scholarship. The Chapter's annual
Scholarship program is underway and applications will be
accepted by the Chapter 54 Scholarship Committee of Al
Kornacki, Bob Delponte, Dan Winschell, and Bill Friberg. The
application and instructions for completion can be found in the
menu on the left side of this webpage under "Scholarships". While preference wil be given to
new applicants that the Committee finds meritorious, previous
applicants and awardees are also encouraged to apply if they
are continuing their studies. The program is open to Chapter 54
members in good standing, and their children and grandchildren.
RIP Al Smith. Al passed away on March 26,
2026. He was a member of the 11th and 20th
Special Forces Groups as well as a member of Chapter 77 SFA in
Pennsylvania. Some Chapter 54 members may remember him; for a
period of time he was assigned to Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
He served a tour in Vietnam as a member of a Long Range
Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP).
https://specialforcestaps.com/f/alfred-e-smith
National SFA Convention Info
SFA Teamhouse
June 7-12, 2026, Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Dana Richard
Oliver passed away on March 8, 2026. He was a member
of A/2/19th SFG(A) (RI) and then a member of C/1/20th SFG(A)
(MA). He retired from the Army after 20 years of service. He
retired as a Massachusetts State Police Officer in 2024.
Obituary
James
Patrick Shea of South Hadley, Ma passed away on January 14, 2026. He
is an “At Large” (no chapter) member of the Special Forces
Association. He served with 5th SFGA in Vietnam as a
medic. A Funeral Mass in his honor will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at Holy Name Church in
Springfield, MA.
Obituary
Ronald “Fred” Frederickson
passed away on January 4, 2026. He served with 10th
SFG(A) from 1970 to 1973. He was a member of Chapter 72. Funeral services will be in
Fitchburg, MA and burial at Winchendon Veterans Cemetery on
February 6, 2026.
Obituary
Latest News
for Chapter 54
Events for
Chapter 54
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