Darrell William Katz

Colonel (Ret) Darrell W. Katz, USA of Wimauma, FL died on January 16, 2026. Darrell was born in Alliance, Nebraska on 12 March 1939 to the late Amy M. Katz and Max L. Katz. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hannelore, sister Barbara, brothers Charles, Randal, and Duane.

He is survived by his loving wife, Christine, daughter Monica Lee Nelson (David), Grandchildren Ashley Kautz (Mathew), Kelly Cochran (Taylor ) great grandson Felix Kautz and great granddaughter Mila Cochran. Stepson Michael Oliver (Jackie) granddaughters Kierston and Jessica.

The son of an Army Officer, Darrell attended school in Germany and numerous Army installations. He enlisted in the Army in March 1956. Following basic training and jump school he served in the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 505th Infantry at Ft Bragg, NC and Mainz, Germany through 1961 when he was reassigned to the 10th Special Forces Group (Abn) in Bad Toelz, Germany until departing to attend Infantry Officer Candidate School in 1965.

Colonel Katz's assignments included command of 14 Company, a Vietnamese Mobile Strike Force (MSF) company in I Corps, 5th SFGA, Republic of Vietnam, 1967-68. Upon his return from Vietnam in 1968 he commanded Company A, 2/325th Airborne Infantry; 82nd Airborne Division. Following completion of Army Rotary Wing Flight School, Cobra transition, and the Infantry Officers Advanced Course in 1971, he returned to Vietnam and served as company Executive Officer of Company D, 227 Cavalry and Battalion S3 of the 10th Avn Bn, 1st Avn Bde. Returning from Vietnam in 1972 he attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha to complete his bachelor's degree in business administration. In 1973 he returned to Germany assigned to the 71st Assault Helicopter Company, Wertheim, Germany. CPT Katz returned to Special Forces in 1975 and served as Commander of ODA 6 and Executive Officer, Detachment A, Berlin Bde, US Army Berlin, Germany. Upon completion of the Command and General Staff College and a master's degree in political science from Appalachian State University in 1978, Major Katz served as G5, 2d Armored Division (Fwd), in Garlstedt, Germany. As a Lieutenant Colonel, he returned to Berlin and commanded Detachment A, Berlin Bde in 1981-84. From 1984-86 he commanded the 1st Bn, 10th SFG(A) in Bad Toelz, Germany. Following completion of the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA, he was assigned to the then recently activated United States Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB, FL, as the Operations Division Chief. In 1989 he returned to Bad Toelz. Germany to command 7th Special Operations Support Command, US Army Europe.

In January 1991 the unit deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Provide Comfort, the Kurdish relief operation in northern Iraq. Upon redeployment to CONUS he served three years as the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, US Army Special Operations Command, Ft Bragg, NC. In December 1995, COL Katz concluded 39 years and nine months of service as the Deputy Director of Operations. U.S. Special Operations Command.

Col Katz is a member of the Intantry Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, GA and is a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment at Fort Bragg, NC. His awards and decorations include the Silver Star Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal w/olc, Legion of Merit w/201c, Bronze Star w/olc, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/numeral 7, Army Commendation Medal w/olc, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Army Aviator's Badge and Master Parachutist's Badge.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:

Chapter LX, SFA

ATTN: Secretary

PO Box 6515

MacDill AFB, FL 33608-0515