Early Military Career
In 1969-70, Boykin was a part of 'Inter Services', created by Edwin Wilson and Major Green. This unit was created to replace the defunct CIA paramilitary force. Training was conducted in a decommissioned base on the Texas/Oklahoma border by Altus Air Force Base. This group led to the formation of the Delta, later SOCOM forces and re-establishment of the CIA paramilitary services. Original teams were sent to Operation Phoenix in Vietnam. All members were specialist and could be interjected with any military force within NATO. Many members worked worldwide and Boykin maintained a team throughout his career in the military. His passion for biblical scripture was always well known, not ever to be found without a pocket Bible.
He later held positions within the 2nd Armored Division, 101st Airborne Division, and served as a company commander in the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized).
From 1978-1993 he was assigned in various capacities to Delta Force. Lieutenant Colonel L.H. "Bucky" Burruss, helping with Delta Force selection at the time, recalled that Boykin "had a bad knee and I thought he would never make it.... I thought, I hate to see this guy busting his, I don't see how he can make it on this bad road wheel, but he surprised us." In fact, a Fort Bragg psychologist almost ended Boykin's career, wanting to exclude him from the Delta Force because he was "too religious". However, he was finally accepted into the Delta Force at the age of 29. Burruss wrote at the time that "Jerry Boykin is a Christian gentleman of the highest order." Boykin believed God had a hand in things: "God led me into the Delta Force.... And He said to me, 'This is where you ought to be.'"
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