Clayton Valley grad retires as longest serving Green Beret
CONCORD, CA (Aug. 28, 2021) — The U.S. military conducted a joint service retirement ceremony overlooking Monterey Bay on Aug. 19 for Lt. Gen. Eric P. Wendt. The Green Beret graduated from Clayton Valley High School in 1982.
Wendt was the longest serving active duty Special Forces branched Green Beret of any rank still on active duty as of his retirement date. At three stars, he retired at the highest rank achieved by any Special Forces branched/career-long Green Beret since the group’s creation in 1952.
His remarkable career spanned more than 34 years of active duty. This includes more than four years in the Light Infantry, followed by 30 years as a Green Beret.
California roots
A California native, Wendt is the son of Pete and Pat Wendt. He married the former Katherine Laurie of San Jose, and they have two grown children, Emma and Alden.
Wendt graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1986. Wendt won the George C. Marshall award as the top cadet at UCSB and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. He served around the world in 56 countries, including 55 months of combat deployments to multiple locations.
After commanding special operations troops and units for 13 years, he culminated his career as commander for the NATO Special Operations Headquarters in Mons, Belgium. The then returned to the Presidio of Monterey to retire.
Distinguished service
His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service medal and two awards of the Army Distinguished Service medal. He also earned the Legion of Merit, three awards of the Bronze Star, two awards of the Humanitarian Service Medal, the German Gold Cross of Honor (earned during combat service in Afghanistan), the Korean President’s Cheon Su Medal. In addition, he holds the Thai and Korean Master Parachutist Badges, the U.S. Master Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Special Forces Tab, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
“I am thankful to have been a soldier for over 34 years and to have served alongside incredible men and women from all the American services and many different American agencies, as well as troopers and civilian government employees from many other countries,” Wendt said.
“I will always be thankful for all of my brothers in the Green Berets,” he added, noting that several of them flew to Monterey from around the world to attend the ceremony.