If a conflict in U.S. history ever came with baggage, it has to be the Vietnam War. Although the service and actions of the millions of Americans who fought in Southeast Asia have been slowly recognized, the unpopularity of the war at the time, and for many years after, left a scar in American society. This unpopularity also meant that extraordinary men and units, such as the Military Assistance Command Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), have fallen through the cracks of America’s consciousness, and are only known to a few old comrades, their families, and a handful of military history enthusiasts.
The innocuous-sounding MACV-SOG is such an organization, although its obscurity also has to do with its highly secretive nature.
SOG operators pulled off some of the most impressive special operations of the entire war; including some that seemed to defy logic itself. As successive U.S. administrations claimed that no American troops were outside South Vietnam, several hundreds of special operations troops fought against all odds, and against an enemy who always enjoyed a numerical advantage that sometimes exceeded a ratio of 1:1000.
The most secret unit you’ve never heard of
Activated in 1964, MACV-SOG was a covert joint special operations organization that conducted cross-border operations in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and North Vietnam.
Composed of Army Special Forces operators, Navy SEALs, Recon Marines, and Air Commandos, SOG also worked closely with the Intelligence Community, often running missions at the request of the CIA.
During its eight-year secret war (1964-1972), SOG conducted some of the most daring special operations in U.S. history and planted the seed for the creation of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).
Related: ST IDAHO: THE SPECIAL FORCES TEAM THAT VANISHED IN THE JUNGLE
SOG’s main battleground and focus was the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail, a complex stretching for hundreds of miles above and below ground, from North Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia into South Vietnam, which the North Vietnamese and Vietcong used to fuel their fight in the south.
What was peculiar about SOG operations was the fact that they happened where U.S. troops weren’t supposed to be. Successive U.S. administrations had insisted that no American troops were operating outside South Vietnam.
SOG commandos, thus, wore no name tags, rank, or any other insignia that might identify them as Americans. Even their weapons had no serial numbers.
Duty in SOG was voluntary and strictly confidential. SOG troops weren’t allowed to disclose their location, missions, or any other details surrounding their covert outfit and they couldn’t take photographs—like all good commandos, however, SOG broke that rule frequently, as the numerous pictures from the time suggest. But as far as the general public was concerned, they were each just another American soldier fighting Communism in Vietnam.
SOG was commanded by an Army colonel, called “Chief SOG,” reflecting the predominance of Green Berets in the organization, and divided into three geographical sections: Command and Control North (CCN), Command and Control Central (CCC), and Command and Control South (CCS).
Service in the unit was highly selective. Not only did it recruit solely from special operations units, but the inherent risk required that everyone had to be a volunteer. Approximately 3.2 million Americans served in Vietnam. Of that number, about 20,000 were Green Berets, of those, only 2,000 served in SOG, with just 400 to 600 running recon and direct action operations.
Service at SOG came with an unspoken agreement that you’d receive either a Purple Heart or body bag. SOG had a casualty rate of 100 percent—everyone who served in SOG was either wounded, most multiple times, or killed. And to this day, 50 SOG Green Berets are still missing in action.
Our “Little People“
What enabled SOG operations was a steady supply of loyal and fierce local fighters who passionately hated the North Vietnamese—and sometimes each other. These local warfighters worked with the American commandos as mercenaries. The “Little People,” as the Americans affectionally called them, proved their worth on the field, against impossible odds time and again.
These local partner forces included Montagnards, South Vietnamese, and Chinese Nungs, among other tribes and ethnicities. Indeed, local mercenaries made up most of SOG recon teams and Hatchet Forces (more on them later). For example, most recon teams would run cross-border operations with between two and four Americans and four to nine local mercenaries. Locals had an uncanny ability—some SOG operators would say a sixth sense—to detect danger. This ability made them perfect point men during recon operations.
Usually, when launching a cross-border recon operation, SOG teams would enter a pre-mission “quarantine,” much like modern-day Army Special Forces operational detachments do before deploying. During this quarantine period, they would eat the same food as the North Vietnamese, that is mostly rice and fish, so they—and their human waste—could smell like the enemy while in the jungle.
Related: COWBOY, A LEGANDARY COMMANDO
Today, where pre-workout and energy drinks are borderline mandatory, even on active operations, such measures might sound extravagant. But in a moonless night, in the middle of the Cambodian jungle, surrounded by thousands of North Vietnamese trackers and troops, something as trivial-seeming as your smell could mean the difference between a SOG team getting wiped out or making it home.
The local troops, having a great understanding of the operational environment, were crucial in the survival of many SOG recon teams. When the war ended, some of them, such as the legendary “Cowboy,” managed to escape to the West and come to the U.S.
Death-defying special operations
SOG specialized mainly in strategic reconnaissance, direct-action, sabotage, and combat search-and-rescue.
Although SOG’s primary mission-set was strategic reconnaissance through its recon teams, it also specialized in direct-action operations, such as raids and ambushes. For these larger operations, there were different outfits within SOG.
The “Hatchet Forces” specialized in raids and ambushes, but also acted as a quick-reaction force for recon teams. Usually, Hatchet Forces were platoon-size and composed of five Americans and 30 indigenous troops. Sometimes, several Hatchet Forces would combine to create a company-size element, called either “Havoc” or “Hornet,” that could be very effective against known enemy logistical hubs or headquarters.
In addition to the Hatchet Forces, there were also the “SLAM” companies, standing for Search, Locate, Annihilate, Monitor/Mission, which were full-sized SOG companies with a few dozen Americans in leadership roles and a few hundred indigenous mercenaries who SOG had recruited.
The first SOG recon teams were called “Spike Teams” (ST), for example, ST Idaho, with the term “Recon Teams” (RT), for instance, RT Ohio, becoming more popular later in the war. Usually, SOG commandos named teams after U.S. States, but they also used other titles, such as “Bushmaster,” “Adder,” and “Viper.” The number of active recon teams fluctuated throughout the war, reflecting casualties and increasing demand. For example, at one point, CCC ran almost 30 recon teams.
Related: ELDON BARGEWELL, AN AMERICAN SPECIAL OPERATIONS LEGEND
Some notable SOG missions include Operation Tailwind, a Hatchet Force operation in Thailand and one of the most successful missions in SOG’s history; the Thanksgiving operation, when SOG operator John Stryker Meyer’s six-man team encountered and evaded 30,000 North Vietnamese; the Christmas mission, when Meyer’s team went into Laos to destroy a fuel pipeline but almost got burned alive by North Vietnamese trackers who lit the jungle on fire; Operation Thundercloud, in which SOG recruited and trained captured North Vietnamese troops and sent them to recon operations across the border dressed like their former comrades; and Recon Team Alabama’s October 1968 mission that accounted fora whopping 9,000 North Vietnamese killed or wounded in action.
What stands out about SOG is how much responsibility was placed on its young operators. Legendary SOG operator John Stryker Meyer, for example, was running recon as a One-Zero (team leader) at the age of 22 and just an E-4. And rules of engagement were quite different, with less bureaucracy impeding the guys on the ground.
“The Bright Light missions [combat search-and-rescue] would seldom be deployed under today’s Rules of Engagement,” Meyer told Sandboxx News.
“And, today, they call can’t believe lowly E-4s were directing air strikes, total control on the ground, and experienced troops had final say on teams, regardless of rank. Experience over rank.”
Meyer has written extensively about SOG and his hair-raising experiences in the unit.
Although techniques, tactics, and procedures were generally the same among the three SOG subcommands, SOG teams adjusted their approaches according to their geographical area. Laos, for example, has more mountains and jungle than Cambodia, which is flatter and more open.
Saviors from above: SOG’s Air Commandos
Pivotal to the success and effectiveness of MACV-SOG operations across the border were several aircraft squadrons from across the services and also South Vietnam.
The Air Force’s 20th Special Operations Squadron was dubbed the “Green Hornets.” They flew the Sikorsky CH-3C and CH-3E and Bell UH-1F/P Huey. First Lieutenant James P. Fleming, a Green Hornet pilot, earned the Medal of Honor for saving a SOG recon team from certain death in 1968.
The Green Hornets’ Hueys came packed with an assortment of weapons, including M-60 machine guns, GAU-2B/A miniguns, and 2.75-inch rocket pods. If ammo ran out, door gunners would lob grenades or shoot their individual rifles.
In addition to the Green Hornets, the South Vietnamese Air Force 219th Squadron, which flew H-34 Kingbees, was a dedicated supporter of SOG operations. These South Vietnamese pilots and crews were truly fearless, always coming to the rescue of compromised recon teams regardless of the danger. Captain Nguyen Van Tuong, a legendary pilot, stands out for his coolness and steady hand under fire.
Related: THE GHOST FIGHTER ACE OF THE VIETNAM WAR
Other notable rotary-wing units that supported SOG missions were the USMC Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, which flew the AH-1 Viper attack and the UH-1 Venom transport helicopters; the 189th Assault Helicopter Company “Ghost Riders,” which flew assault and transport variants of the UH-1 Huey helicopter.
SOG commandos on the ground could also rely on fixed-wing close air support, with the turboprop A-1 Skyraider being a favorite platform for close air support and the F-4 Phantom a good choice on any given day.
“Military politics always interfered, and our leadership had to fight from close air support assets, such as the A-1 Skyraider squadrons,” Meyer told Sandboxx News.
“For example, SOG brass had to fight to keep the 56th Special Operations Wing, operating from Location Alpha in Da Nang.
“That unit’s SPADs [A-1 Skyraiders] were consistent and fearless and were considered the backbone of CAS during Operation Tailwind. On day 4, for example, the NVA were about to overrun the HF [Hatchet Force] when Tom Stump made devastating gun runs that broke the back of those frontal attacks, giving McCarley time to get them off the LZ and out of the target as weather closed in.”
Close air support was vital and probably the most important factor in the survival of numerous SOG teams. However, although SOG commandos enjoyed air superiority and North Vietnamese aircraft never posed a danger, the Air Commandos supporting SOG had to face the extremely potent anti-aircraft capabilities of the North Vietnamese, which included anything from light machine guns to heavy anti-aircraft cannons to surface-to-air missiles. Every hot extraction forced a penalty of downed helicopters and fighters/ or bombers, or at least a few riddled with bullets.
SOG commandos called in close air support themselves, usually by using a compass and smoke canisters. Forward air controllers, nicknamed “Covey,” flew overhead and assisted in coordinating with the team on the ground and controlling all air assets and close air support. In CCS, Covey usually flew solo, doing both tasks while also flying his plane. In CCN, however, Covey was a two-man affair, usually entailing an experienced SOG operator joining the pilot and helping out with his unique experience, having been on the receiving end of close air support numerous teams.
Years after the Vietnam War ended, it was discovered that there was a mole at the SOG headquarters in Saigon who had been passing information on team missions and locations to the enemy.
SOG operators, including special operations legends like Colonel Robert Howard and Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez, earned 12 Medals of Honor throughout the conflict.
Although service at SOG came with the unspoken agreement of a perilous life full of danger and risk, it also came with an unbreakable sense of loyalty and trust between the men who served there. A sense of loyalty and trust that time and again SOG operators proved through their commitment to leave no man behind, dead or alive. That effort, that commitment, continues to this day.
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I guess my stat with MACV started with training with Arty in the states, FO,,,,RTO,,,Air Assault,,,forced Recon,,,,Survey,,,Target Aqusition. Army,& Marines.
68/69, thinking back was to lead to intresting, intense times.
Fantastic descriptive of these important cross-border operations. Unfortunately, the important role played by my unit, the 155th Assault Helicopter Company out of Ban Me Thuot, was not noted in the section describing the Green Hornets and other aviation support. Our crews (Stagecoach slicks and Falcon gunships) flew many, many B-50 missions from October through December of 1969. A number of these missions are recounted in LTC Fred Lindsey’s tome on these operations: `Secret Green Beret Commandos in Cambodia’. It would be appropriate to revise your text to include the 155th AHC
I spent most of my tour with the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Ban Me Thuot
Camp B-50 from May 1969 to May 1969. I flew on a UH-1F slick as crew chief an aerial gunner. I logged over 500 combat flying hours and over 225 combat missions.
We used the 155th Assault Helicopter Company’s refueling point in BMT. We flew a few joint missions with them in July and August 1968 in support of a ruse to draw out an NVA brigade in an attack of the A Camp at Duc Lap. The ruse began with a large display of force conducted by the 4th Inf Div backed up by the 155th AHC in mid July to early August. The 155th AHC took several casualties during the period drawing out fire from the NVA between the A Camp and the near by Cambodian border.
In early August, operations abruptly ended, and the 4th Inf Div left, and I could not understand why. Years later, I encountered the 4th Inf Div Command Sergeant Major during the period, and he explained the ruse to me to draw out the NVA regiment.
The 4th Inf Div had withdrawn to Nha Trang where they staged at strip alert awaiting the NVA to take the bait and attack the A Camp at Duc Lap, The attack commenced early on the morning on August 24th as I recall with a massive attack on the camp.
The 155th AHC and the 20th SOS gunships were the first to respond, and they worked without stopping from dawn to dusk when the 19th SOS AC-130 gunships “Spookies” to over the night mission.
The 155th and the 20th continued the day time fight with their miniguns on the 25th
while the 4th Inf Div was repositioning to BMT to join the fight. I recall humping ammo all day on the 24th and 25th loading our gunships. I never worked so hard in my life, but I knew the entire camp was a stake and we had to save them.
Finally, on the 26th in the morning, we got to join the rest of our unit with our slicks inserting 4th ID troops as did the 155th AHC. The battle had come to a peak with the NVA taking two of the three perimeter trenched and concertina wire fenced barriers.
All of the civilian support personnel and family members of the Montagnard soldiers
had converged on the top of the hill behind the last defensive perimeter. Among the chaos with napalm being dropped as well as bombs, a miracle of a danger close nature was needed to save the camp.
At this time, a desperate call was made by the camp’s radio operator saying, “if you are going to do anything, do it now or its all over!” It was at that time one of the 20th Green Hornet gunships dropped to about 50 feet and perfectly circled the last perimeter. The radio operator excitedly called out, “You did it! You did it! Do it again!”
It was done again, and the back of the NVA attack was broken. The 20th SOS and the 155th AHC continued to drop infantry troops of the 4th ID well beyond the perimeter
of the camp surrounding the remaining NVA troops. The battle was over with over 900 NVA killed during the three day battle. Of that number, 175 KIAs were attributed to those killed in the last trench breaking the final charge. Credit for that action went to Major Anthony Gonzales of the 20th SOS and his gunship crew who were awarded the Silver Star.
Again, years later, I got to talk to that radio operator. He said he never knew whose helicopter it was. I set him straight but we were all in the fight. I am glad the 155 AHC was there, and I am glad they took over our mission at Camp B-50, BMT. The 20th SOS was stood down from September to December 1969 and refitted with UH-1N model hueys to continue missions further north. The efforts of the 20th and 155th
supporting the collection recon info by all those SOG missions led directly to Congress and President Nixon approving the Cambodian Incursion in January 1970 and halting the Ho Chi Mhin Trail. This helped more than any single effort to bring the war to an end.
The 20th SOS efforts and the 155th AHC won them both the Army’s Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) the highest award given to any unit for performance. This was a first for the 20th as an Air Force unit to win an Army PUC because of their attachment to the Army in this early Joint Operation leading to today’s Joint Operation Command.
The 3rd and 4th SOS AC-47D Spooky Gunships from different base locations throughout RVN responded nightly to the Siege of Duc Lap, 1968. I’m not sure the AC-130 Spectre Gunships from the 16 SOS participated. The first four arrived at Ubon RTAB in Dec 68.
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Interesting article with more fact than the several fictional stories I have read concerning Marine Corps support of MACVSOG; CCN was the primary launch point the Marines supported. Two UH-1E’s were assigned to the MACVSOG mission each day; I was a 1/Lt in HML-367 April – December 1969. HML-367 flew the UH-1E until mid-December 1969 when it became a Cobra (AH-1J) squadron. The pilots (like me) that flew MACVSOG missions in HML-367 were transferred to HML-167 (UH-1E) to continue to support MACVSOG missions. Every morning a section of UH-1E’s would fly to CCN and lead the mission packages for either inserts or extractions; you spent the night at CCN just in case…and were relieved by two other HLM-367 birds the next morning if all was quiet. If teams were on the ground and nothing “significant” was happening, you spent the day looking over maps and trying to get intel updates – which did not come often. As the secret squirrels say, “…you’ll get the latest intel when you need it…” Some missions , either insert or extract, were reasonably uneventful…some were not the type you talk about and certainly not write home about. I met many truly great soldiers, real warriors. The King Bee pilots (VN H-34) had big, big balls…could and WOULD do things with their H-34’s that were absolutely unbelievable. Worst than getting shot up when trying to extract a team was to learn that a team you put in a few days before “lost contact” and never made it back..
very informative knowledge dear
An excellent synopsis of SOG. Couplle of clarifications: Until April of 1969, CCS recon teams had no access to tactical air support. None. Only gunships organic to the unit were authorized to support us. Tactical air support for CCS was only authorized by Chief SOG (and reportedly, the highest levels in Washington, D.C.) to recover two CCS recon teams conducting successive BDA missions that were disasters: KIA and still MIA on both missions following the first April ’69 B52 strikes on Cambodia. KIA/MIA included Jerry Shriver on the second of those efforts. In October 1968 I ran my first recon mission with Shriver. Until November, 1969, CCS recon men were permitted to carry weapons of their choice but in that month we were ordered to carry only non-U.S. manufactured arms. My choice was an AK47, a Browning Hi Power and a supressed Hi Standard .22 (the latter in violation of orders). Others carried UZIs, Swedish Ks, suppressed Stens and suppressed M3s. Boots had Ho Chi Minh sandal soles. A mix of C rations and “indig” rations were allowed. As others have noted, odors were relevant. No smoking three days before missions and no “bug juice” that grunts carried in their helmet band. Also, if setting up a prisoner snatch it was imperative and common to do so less than three meters from where they would pass. Don’t know of anyone who was involuntarily assigned to SOG but it could have happened. Finally, I didn’t know until years later that many SOGies were SF-qualified including my hooch mate Bill Kroske (KIA 02/11/69) who came to SOG from a 101st LRP unit.
Randy, excellent! I unfortunately left just before November of 69 so I missed a great deal at the end! I knew Jerry Shriver and will definitely buy the book about him when published, did contribute one experience I had with him, and sent a picture of his dog Klaus!
I apologize for a critical typo in yesterday’s post. The final sentence reads “…many SOGies were SF-qualified.” It should have read “…many SOGies were NOT SF qualified.” Perhaps my bad but I simply never had time to review 201 files and as a result, made that mistaken assumption. This is not in any way a criticism of any individual’s performance. I’ve long since recognized it as a symptom of how senior commanders dealt with attrition and their inability to replace the lost with fully-qualified SF personnel. I recall what a senior SF NCO with three tours told me in 1967 during a “death march” back to Bragg from “Pinelandia”. I was about to cash in my chips and perhaps sensing this he said “lieutenant, want to learn the only thing you need to know about Nam? Don’t volunteer for SOG?” I said “what’s SOG?” He responded “you don’t need to know. Just don’t volunteer for it” but I did.
Hey, thanks for clearing up the typo on SOGies like myself Non SF. Before National Archive shut down name searches, I managed to pull myself up. Mostly; Confidential, MACV, file numbers where my decorations are stored, written in Vietnamese. And a name list.
I was at Ft. Mammoth
Jersy 68. Spoke to my C.O. About PRU’s etc. He laughed at me, then told me to wait a sec. He leaves, a Civilian enters the room. He interviews me, and wants to know if this is what I really wanted. I said yes. He said my name is on the list. Shipped out to DIX, Benning, Brag. To young for SF. Took a short for the Herd: orders changed, 9th Div, went Recon/ OJT with others. Pure Comrades in Arms. The most awesome men/ fighters, ever. Was wounded 2x before, and one more time with them. Of course, I wasn’t there twice when I got hit. Still eat that shit up. But thank you man, for bringing this up. It’s very quite when alone.
I was one of the non-SF troops in SOG. I served almost a year TDY at the SOG launch site at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, as a teletype operator. When my tour was about to expire, I volunteered to extend my tour for six months contingent on being assigned to a recon team. SOG called my bluff, and I ended up serving as the 1-2 (RTO) on a CCN recon team (RT Louisiana).
I was not SF qualified, or even airborne qualified, aka a turd in the punchbowl. I remember a couple of other legs who were initially assigned to SOG as commo guys who also ended up runninng recon.
Did, you by chance a Green Beret by name of James ( Jamie ) Gannon?
Did any of you guys know Marine sergeant Jake Bowditch
Robert C Bowditch
Good Morning. I grew up on military bases and served in US Army Viet Nam 1971-72. My father served in US Air Force and my Uncle Caesar served in US Army. After my parents divorced and lost contact with my uncle. He was a jump instructor and served in Vietnam. His name is Sgt. Caesar Carrillo. If anybody has information about his status. Please post or forward to my email. Thanks.
Looking for any information on SSG. Charlie Watts
Nice article useful kaise kare
I’m looking for information regarding a Green Beret demo man who was in Nam, May to Nov 1964. Richard F. McCoy earned a Purple Heart his first tour. Thanks
Looking for someone who might have remembered a young Marine who entered Viet Nam ,very early, named Donn Proven. I am his wife and he is now deceased. I’ve just learned of his service. I’ve been told his skill with a rifle was exceptional. Bless you all!
Ma’am,
While I did not know CWO Proven during his time in Vietnam, I do know of him and much of his service in the Marine Corps and Army.
Please feel free to contact me.
Very nice article dear rajput ko kabu kaise kare super post bro
May God bless all of you who served so INCREDIBLY COURAGEOUSLY!! Steve Chelewski, U.S. NAVY, (former) Vietnam era
Does anyone remember William F. “Bud” Nichols (or Nickles possibly) special forces green berets?
Trying to do research.
He apparently died or was MIA in the 60’s but can’t find info. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
He would have served in vietnam in the 1960’s
My late brother, Robert C. Cheesman, was an A.S.A. E5 leading a squad into Laos to place personnel monitors along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. “Hell, Ben, for all we knew we could have been in fucking China!”
They came under mortar fire and a piece of shrapnel severed Bob’s Achilles tendon. He nevertheless made it back to the exfil truck, brought it up and laid down .50 cal. covering fire and got all his people back to safety. He should have gotten a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, but of course didn’t because they were never there.
What a warrior! Sgt. Cheese would laugh his ass off at “personnel monitors”. Last I saw him he was crossing a river in a valley in Laos, I was crossing the other way. He had three left in his squad. They were carrying two. I gave him some intel about what was ahead and he gave me info of what I was walking into. Previously I had ran two missions with him, one into NV and one into Cambo. He was chill at its highest point. Like you not so sure he could be killed. IF he lived through it, he’s still alive would be my bet. Too damn badass to die that way.
Was he there in 1972 or late 1971
A.S.A. was never in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, etc.
Classified info was “inadvertently” passed/lost but rarely. In 1967 classified info was lost but finally recovered from a S. Vietnamese army latrine. The “used toilet paper” had to be fished out by hand and every piece accounted for. Pity the guys that had to do the job. This was in Pleiku.
I served in all IV Army Corps in 67-68 and 70-71 and never heard of A.S.A. Don’t know the idiots that start these rumors.
Not a rumor. A.S.A. (Army Security Agency) units served in VN, assigned or attached to most major units.
Thanks to all that took part in this nightmare operation and God bless our families.. Wish I could talk about it but the nightmare is over and thank God we are still alive and living free of this nightmare. God bless America and all that took part in this. Asta la vista….
I had an Air Force Commando buddy who was in Nam early. His first tour was 1963, before SOG, probably CIA at that point although he didn’t elaborate, and I think his tour continued into early 1964. He said it was mostly 2 man LRRPs at that point; sniper/spotter teams, and HALO jumps. He still called it “Special Operations Group,” before it being more innocuously renamed “Surveillance and Observation Group.” His second tour was in SOG, in 1965, with more traditional Recon Teams. A very humble guy, didn’t say much, and he is deeply missed. He passed about 10 years ago.
Did anybody serve with Von Robbins?
I was at FOB4 in Danang when it was penetrated. After I was blown from my living quarters by a hand grenade ( my mattress saved me from serious wounds), I grabbed my Car-15 and my web gear with grenades and led a counterattack. The fight ended with the NVA being neutralized!
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My brother was in the last commando raider school held. He told of a wooden section of creosoted pole being chained around the waist that had to be carried during a phase of training, and the skin burn and irritation that resulted from the chain and pole. I was curious if anybody else endured this particular training harassment technique.
He also mentioned that during helicopter insertions he would not use the coordinates provided by headquarters due to the leakage of info. Instead after briefing he would tell the chopper crew where they were to be inserted.
He was being extracted from a mission and his chopper was shot down. Another chopper came in to pick them up and it was shot down. When the second chopper was hit he was wounded and blown out of the chopper into the top of a tree where he remained until the crash site was vacated by the enemy that night. It took him days to return to friendly forces.
If anyone remembers a Jim Kincell, 1st Lt, 1968 Armor OCS grad, Ranger who served over there I would love to hear from you. Thank you.
Warner Smith was the ultimate MACV-SOG Operator, leader of FRAM16, whose missions are still classified to this day.
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My father earned a Bronze Star with MACV-SOG. He didnot talk about it at all except to say he earned the award for digging a hole. Loved hearing more about MACV. He seemed to enjoy his time with MACV. I glad I know where I got my “crazy’ from.
Rangers lead the Way!
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My father William Mungeer SP5 E5 was in MAC-SOG in Vietnam. The card I found says B Team 5th Group. Anyone know him or anything about this team? Thanks
I’m looking for information on my grandfather Sgt. James Joseph Henke Jr. who served in Loas, Cambodia, and Vietnam somewhere between 1970-1971. He was 109th Airborn Special Forces Green Beret. I can’t seem to find any info publicly about him and nobody on my base (JBER) seems to know where I could find it. Any help would be amazing for our family, he passed back in 2012 from returning cancer. Agent Orange got him good.
I believe his officer was Col. Ransford Potters!
Dear Dustin Henke,
Two sites that might be helpful to you are: togetherweserved.com and sogsite.com.
Sogsite.com is the site for the Special Forces Museum. Contact person is Bruce Christensen 707 588 8438.
I wish you the best in your search. I am a fellow searcher myself for any information about Sgt Gregory A. Montgomery, MAC-V SOG, RT Mamba, 1969-71.
God Bless You
Winifred
My dad who passed in 2017 was Mac v sog ,I have an ornamental knife to prove it.Does anyone remember Tony R. Churchill?
Is it a banana knife with the thank you and has a black and a white heckle and jeckle with pith helmets?
The picture at the top of the article was taken by me in 1969 while waiting to insert this team into Cambodia. The team is from CCS, RT Brace (or maybe Shovel- memory fails) and Sgt Ron Mullins (on the left) was the 1-0.
The Helicopter used was a Green Hornet UH-1P in Slick configuration. We also had Gunship configurations with two pintle mounted Miniguns and 2.75″ rocket pods. The picture of myself in this article shows the typical gunner positioning during missions.
RT Rivero
Nice contribution RT
I am looking for information from anyone who may have known my late husband, Richard L. Ruff (U.S. Marine); I believe he was a part of the SOG in its earliest stages, but I have no proof. Thanks.
slobotnavich –
I was with SOG in ’67-’68, got lightly wounded the first time around, badly effed-up on the 2d go-around. SOG had the dismal distinction of having the most MIAs of the Vietnam War – some just disappeared without even getting off a distress call for air or artillery support. On the other hand SOG likely did more damage to the NVA war effort than any other single factor during that nasty and ugly little war.
Does anyone know a Charles Armistead that would have been in SOG? Thank you.
Great information here! Enjoyed reading this. My Dad spoke often of his cousin Bill Evans. He was a member of 5th special forces and a Mac V Sog team leader CCS. He was killed in action body not recovered in the fish hook area of Cambodia. These soldiers were true warriors.
Anyone know of a former Ranger Captain named Robert Lightfoot? Bob had served multiple tours in Vietnam, then was recruited by some governmental alphabit organization that he wouldn’t publicly disclose. When I dealt with him (in 1970-71) we were both stationed in Chiang Mai. Bob frequetly rode in unmarked Hueys (with no-rank Thai senior officers) into southern China to meet with the local KMT BMFWAICs (he took me along on one of those trips so I could buy jade and precious gemstones from the KMT locals). The local KMT owned/supervised virtually all of the opium trade from the golden triangle (southern China/Thailand/Burma) – harvesting it, then transporting it to Bangkok where it was processed into heroin and shipped around the world; Bob told me the KMT and CIA split the sales proceeds to finance their (and the CIA’s) off-the-books actions in several SEA countries. According to his obituary, Bob later became one of the innagural class of DEA agents, and was found dead in Thailand from a suspicious “accidental discharge of his 1911 while cleaning it.” He told many interesting stories.
We are honoring MACV-SOG member Eldon Bargewell in his hometown of Hoquiam, Washington. He conducted more than 25 operations behind enemy lines and earned the DSC among many others. He later became a member of the 75th Ranger Battalion and the First Special Forces Operational Detachment retiring in 2006 as a Major General.
To learn more visit our website eldonbargewell.org. We invite you to share your stories.
Does anyone know or have any information on Sgt. Bruce Berg? He was MACV-SOG 7 Aug 1971. Hometown LAcey, WA. His former high school wrestling team wants to honor him with a wrestling tournament named after him, with the proceeds going to his family. If anyone has any info on his military service or served with him please reach out.
matt.j.obleness@gmail.com
CCC Hatchet Force Kon Tom I was on the Arizona Team. 68-70. Code Name Leg. SGT Charles N. Sullivan II. Retired 24 years Retired out of 10 Group. 20 Sept 1990
Was with SOG 70-until March 71.
Had already extended for an
early out. Wasn’t able to go home with my buddies so flew Dust Off until my ETS,. Kind of like flying Chase Medic
Loved being a SOG Medic
Dave Hunt ring any bells with you vets of this unit? I have no details, just his claim to have served in MACV-SOG…Thx
Was he CCN CCC or CCS what yesr (s)
The A-1 Skyraider was not a turboprop. It used a Wright R3350 radial engine. A turboprop is very easy to disable, simply by holing the compressor casing and radically dropping the pressure rise in the compressor while increasing the TIT.
Airflow cools by pulling OPR stage rise temperatures through the high temperature combustor and out the high speed and load turbine stages as power to keep the engine turning and any mechanical takeoffs (for rotors or propellors or auxilliary systems like generators) running. No airflow means no core temperature evacuation through the combustor core stream and rapid core temperature rise.
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Thus total power loss from partial damage was not an issue. Though the large size and weight disparity, compared to a turboprop or turboshaft of similar horsepower, (688lbs for a T53 of ~1,400shp vs. 2,600lbs for an R3350 of 2,700hp) was considerable and the primary reason turboshafts rapidly took over as rotary wing engines. It was far easier to meter the power as specific fuel consumption to the mission need with a recip however; as the R3350 could be throttled down to ~600hp effective for long endurance. Whereas a turbine of any type is basically operating at 100% rpm, all the time, with the transfer gear box imparting a takeoff shaft mechanical load which would require throttle up to maintain that turbine operating speed to achieve greater commanded airframe climb rate, speed or turn performance via blade pitch coarsening.
The UH-1 was and always will be just the Huey. Venom is specifically applied (by Bell) as a commercial designator, only to the late model UH-1Y which is not a SEA airframe and is nothing like the UH-1B/C/D/H that were the most common versions of the type, as used there. It is important to note however that a few of the early UH-1N (T400 not T53) twin engined aircraft were available, late war, to MACV-SOG, because they were inserting through some pretty hairy mountain passes and it was thought that the added power would aid in both hot’n’hi insertion of the larger RTs then in use and provide perhaps a touch more stealthy ingress, flying over rather than through narrow canyons along the border, as so many of the teams were being chased by hostile hill tribes, almost as soon as they set down. We did not know about the leak in Saigon, though there was a lot of speculation, but the NVA had some truly massive head bounties out on the RT and Hatchet teams in particular.
Similarly, the Cobra was never the ‘Viper’ (AH-1Z appellation only) but sometimes called just ‘The Snake’, in SEA. Where there were certainly plenty of them.
The AH-1G was a temperamental airframe which did not perform well at slow speeds and whose teetering rotor severely compromised it’s rollover and diving reaction pass capabilities from a short perch. Airspeed dependent, you could lose the tail rotor on a UH-1 and keep the airframe pointed forward but a Cobra could not be kept under control. Coupled to no powered optics for sighting and the lousy M28 turret and Mk.40 rocket weapons systems and it was an airframe in search of a mission package it would not really get until the AH-1F of the later 1970s which then became so heavy as a (lead) ‘The Sled’ that it lost the high speed performance which made the AH-1G so sweet..
The F-4 was not all that great a shakes as an airframe. Crew ability played a huge part in how much you could get out of it as variant performance with heavy bombloads also differed greatly. Being a tad better than an F-105 did not make the McDonnell jet special. Though we did get a few experimental models with laser (Pave Sword) and radar beacon tracking gear (Skyspot) to help them bomb thru or under the weather, at night, these were always seconded from active PACAF or TAC squadrons already flying the Laredo-Wolf or Night Owl FFAC missions out of Ubon or Udorn, during those times when weather (Monsoons) or politics (Bombing Halt) made bombing up North all but impossible. USAF F-4s were not routinely available over the trail other than this role.
Most of the CAS/OBAS units active from the CIA side of things were based upon much older (AP-2V, B-26, T-28 and early on, the F-100) trainers and fighter bombers from the WWII or Korean era. It wasn’t until the ARN LORAN and later Pave Spike/LGB equipped F-4D/Es arrived at Takhli (as part of Constant Guard, in ’73-’75) that the Phantom became Phabulous.
For most of the war, the A-1s were the preferred asset because the SOS FOLs were stationed right on the border as part of RESCAP forces and if it was a major op, several would be airborne as the RTs developed targets or as direct escorts and LZ suppression platforms for the various, larger scale, helicopter assault operations such as Lam Son. The SPAD and it’s pilot community were highly respected and earned their reputation several times over.
After about March 1967, the B-57 and later, sometime in 1969 I think, the A-7D both began to show how strongly a dedicated jet attack platform could perform with HUDWAC dive toss accuracy and much longer on-station persistence than that of fighter jets. Though nothing matched the A-1 for sheer variety of ordnance and endurance, operations in Cambodia and Laos increasingly were too dangerous for propellor driven airframes as both MiGs and dedicated ADA began to proliferate outside of North Vietnam when the prolonged bombing halt encouraged the VPAF to become increasingly ‘frisky’, especialy down near the DMZ.
This would culminate with the SA-7 Grail, man portable SAM deployment in ~1970 which basically ended the presence of the big gunship platforms over the HCMT and sent all the WWII propellor driven airframes to the boneyard, overnight.
I got vacuumed into SOG on my second tour in Vietnam – got lightly wounded the first go-around, badly effed up the second time, though the VA gives me $2550 monthly for my trouble. Such-a-deal!
Fantastic article. My father CSM Stephen Joseph, was with MACV SOG. He retired in 1970 after 27 years in SF. He passed in 2015 at the age of 93. Interested to know if any warriors remembered him. RIP.
Yes, may he rest in peace. Please tell his story. He was one of the very best our country had to offer. The very best of the best.
Looking to see if anyone remembers my husband Stanley Wallen, I think he could have very well been in MACVSOG , the stories he has told us resemble this , Vietnam, reconnaissance, green beret, paratrooper, special forces, ect….. if anyone has any info, Tk Karen
MACV crypto operators detached to MACV SOG CCC sites. 1970. We didn’t talk to you, you didn’t talk to us. I was not a SOG personnel, but I was there. On site. Did what was asked of me. No record.
my brother was a crypto/morse intercept operator based in Thailand (Udon},but was sent all over SEA….were you with ASA ???? he talked about being at SF outposts in Vietnam and doing commutations on missions like when they went to the POW’s from the Hanoi Hilton…he told me then(in the late 70’s) there had to be a leak coz the place was empty!!!!..now I see there was a mole in the HQ of SOG…his name is ED Crawley but passed in 2005 …did you know him???
My Dad (who has passed) was in the MACV. He would barely talk about his time there, so I know very little. If anyone served with my dad, William E Roddy (Ret Capt USAF), I’d love to hear what you’re willing to share.
Hi Tina, my dad was also a Green Beret, paratrooper and MACV.
He has passed away and also never talked about it. His name was Kenneth J. Ross, 1st Sargent.
I would love to connect with others to learn more about these brave men.
Feel free to reach out to me if you would like.
Respectfully, Frances Ann Ross of Massachusetts.
Anyone whose any kind of military historian, military buff, Vietnam War buff, read any sort of Special Ops books from that era, was in the Marines or anything of the sort had definely heard of, knows or has read or seen something that refers to MACV-SOG. I’ve heard it referenced in several movies even that weren’t even largely related to Vietnam or about the war in particular. Definitely a group that became widely renowned after the war was over… To say it’s unheard of is ridiculous. Those guys did some pretty amazing stuff.
I was at CCN when the camp was penetrated in’68. I led the counter attack and personally killed dozens of the NVA commandos with my Car-15 and grenades…mostly with my M-33 hand grenades. Captain Chuck Pfeifer
My husband, Ron Jungling, has talked about you and that night, although he has told us few details. He said you both came out into the fray at the same time. A sapper was in front of you, but somehow you were both spared although the men on either side of you lost their lives. It was that moment that solidified his belief that you only died when it was your time. He said you and he ran through the camp that night. It wasn’t clear if you were also a medic. Ron had great respect for you.
Hi Pat, I knew your husband Ron, he was my platoon sgt when I got to CCN in Oct 68, he watch over me the first few months, before he went to Thailand. I always wonder how he was doing, and was very sad to hear of his passing.
I served in SOG from late 1969 to early 1971, A little over a year.
(Before SOG, I served on A-502 for a few months)
I was the 1-0 of Rt. Delaware and (Rt. Illinois for one Brightlight Mission)
This writing by Stavros Atlamazoglou, is pretty right on.
I received 4 wounds will in SOG, 3 wounds by a B-40 round…
So yes, many if not all SOG men where wounded one or more times.
As for contact with the enemy, on two Brightlight missions I was hit with over 350 enemy.
SOG Recon was a deadly mission, and yes it was strictly volunteer. You may have been sent to one of the C&C units, but you had to volunteer for combat rolls… “The Wild Carrot”
A friend of mine John Hoffman who was in 1st Force Recon says he was attached to MACVSOG as a radio operator from 69 to 70. I did not know that Marines were involved. Do you recall him or Marines being used.
Hey just wanted to throw it out there Black Rifle Coffee has a limited MACV-SOG Coffee. I just got mine delivered today. I would never have known about this group if it wasn’t for my late friend and co-worker who was part of this group , Mike D.
One of the better articles I have read about SOG. I spent a bit of time in and out of FOB 2 (CCC) at Kontum when Fred Abt was the CO. 1969-70. I was an extra they were kind enough to tolerate. LLP o.j
Had a cousin at CCC Kon tum sometime between 68 and 71. I think 68 is when he ws there maybe 69 since his 3rd tour in 71 was a personal escort to Maggie Ray.
I was at CCC in 69-70 under Abt, Lietes, and MacGowen.
LTC Abt (CDR), Bob Leites (S-3) and Maj Jax (S-2)(Eastern European expat) were poker buddies (I was a lowly 1LT). I started out at the Yard Camp before I moved to recon. Carlos Parker (later CSM 7th SFG) was my first 0-1.
I am writing the History of MACV-SOG http://www.sogsite.com Would be great to get anyone who was in SOG or supported SOG, their stories, bio and pictures.
Let me think about this. Not sure I’ll reply. I was there all of ’68, ’69’ and ’70, but never on recon. A lot of what happened is fuzzy. A lot of what is reported is bullshit. Good luck with your book. I’ll look forward to it.
I Wish some truth and facts would come out about operation phoenix. Even today it is still secretive about the missions themselves. Some of the units as noted by one of the other persons who commented about the 75th Rangers. There were mixed Special Operations Units who wore naked unmarked uniforms that carried out these missions inside Vietnam to find the bad guys and take care of what needed to be done and provide necessary intelligence back to the CIA through the Fifth Special Forces. Our intelligence was provided by aerial photos and the LRP on the ground. What was in this article was somewhat similar to the training we had and also no communication back home. Also chosen because you had no close ties to home usually from the single family, no girlfriend, no wife. You were usually groomed during Ranger school for your physical and more importantly your mental toughness. Then you were chosen or volunteered to go to a training with PSY ops. If you made it through there then there was more. Some people just dispute many parts of this article but some forget that the government can do whatever they want. Eating the food was important but bury everything. but smoking American cigarettes was definitely a problem. None of the men on our 12 man team smoked. Yes you could smell different orders in the jungle.OPERATION PHONEIX TRY FINDING INFO???
My dad who passed away in 2016 was an “environmental health specialist” in operation Phoenix. 71-late 72. I’ve tried to find anything I can about it and always come up with nothing.
Were you a part og sog? If so, i am someone who collects histories of veterans and would love to hear your story. I am a combat veteran myself from It raq war.
Thanks for your videos on YouTube! Shriver was a personal hero of mine. Never could find anything on him except in one sog book I read when I was younger. I served in 3rd RGR BN. Also 1st group. Your father was one hell of a operator too. Keep your research and videos coming! They help fill in the blanks for sure. God bless.
I was with CCC (formerly FOB 2 CCN) from the spring of 68 to the fall of 69. Initially at the Yard Camp as an Exploitation Platoon Ldr and later moved to the main base and ran recon. After I got there they changed to unit designation to SOA (Special Operations Augmentation). Later in my career, I met MG(ret) Jack Singlaub, who was the Chief MACV SOG as a COL during that time. He was also one of the initial JEDBURG Teams that jumped in behind the lines in France during D-Day. What a story he has.
Hi…I’m trying to find out if my Dad was SFG in Vietnam. 1969-1970.
All evidence says yes….but I haven’t been able to pin it down 100%. His records show no combat credit. I can prove otherwise. I can also prove my Dad was USARV, DISCOM…Gold Patrol. I know there was also a RED Patrol. I can’t find hardly a thing in any Veterans groups, or anywhere online….DISCOM was a direct subordinate of MACV. MACV=CIA…..My Dad was involved in some serious stuff, and 6 years in to my research….it’s been a battle the whole time….WHY don’t people want me digging? Things that make you go hmmmmmm.🤔
SP4 John Nix
HHC 4th S&T Bn 4th ID
USARV
DISCOM…GOLD PATROL.
Camp Enari, Pleiku, An Khe….May 1969- May 1970.
Extended….
HHC 15th S&S Bn 1st Cavalry Division, Long Binh.
June 1970-November 1970.
My father was Col. Glenn A Davis. He served at MACV HQ, Saigon 1968-70. Dad previously was on the Joint Chiefs Of Staff, Pentagon. My father received the Air Medal award. I know Dad went into Cambodia on covert missions. He did tell me a Huey was ready for him 24/7. He would not talk about his tour of duty. Curious if anyone flew on missions with Dad, and can share anything.
When I first got to my A team one of my teammates was with mac learned a lot from him
“Love it! Love the history, and the spirit behind it. SOG was badass, no doubt about it! The kids today have “almost” no concept of a war like Vietnam, or a SF unit like SOG – not these days anyway! Keep plugging guys!
Oh yeah. I understand “somebody is looking for a “SOG knife”?
Anyway… – dm
I know where there is one…but it’s sacred to my family….Owner…Lewis “Rock” Arnold……RIP
I have a new macv sog issue knife I acquired in 1971 at long bin. The blade has never touched anything but paper when showing my grandson how sharp it is still after 50+ years.
MSG Ron McCaig retired USA
Also picked several spec ops knives on my nine deployments to mideast areas. Finished 46 years in 2017.
Your article was copied and passed around. My husband thought he was.in the army. He liked your article.
I served in SOG, CCN 1968-1969. The first post was on RT Civet based at Khe Sanh. After we moved, the RT names were changed and we were RT Connecticut. The article by Stavros gets a lot of things right. However, although operational rules/customs can vary from year to year, and even site to site, there are also a few unnecessary exaggerations or inaccuracies in the article.
1) Claiming teams could be outnumbered 1000:1 implies direct contact was common. More accurate would be that there might 1000 NVA might be in a large area, but RT rarely engaged more than 10:1 odds, which is more than enough to worry about. Usually, by the time the NVA gathered enough men to overwhelm an RT team, they were extracted by helicopter. The exceptions were when an entire team vanished for causes never proven.
2) “No serial numbers on weapons.” Most US standard weapons had serial numbers. I remember a 30 caliber machine gun from the Korean War that had it’s number.
3) When I was in SOG, no one volunteered for it. You were assigned the Vietnam, and SF headquarters in Nha Trang made the assignments.
4) No, everyone who served in SOG was not killed or wounded. When I assigned to SOG, we were told the previous year had been the worst for SOG: 40% killed and 40% wounded. That’s obviously bad enough. Probably something like 40% of individuals were casualties over the years is a more realistic number.
5) “ . . . cross-border recon operation, SOG teams would enter a pre-mission “quarantine.” During this quarantine period, they would eat the same food as the North Vietnamese, that is mostly rice and fish, so they—and their human waste—could smell like the enemy while in the jungle.” I never heard of this and is sounds “fishy.” Sorry, couldn’t resist. Also sounds plain silly, although nothing the military comes up with is exempt. For one thing, it you got so close to the enemy that they smell you, you messed up.
6) “Recon Team Alabama’s October 1968 mission that accounted fora whopping 9,000 North Vietnamese killed or wounded in action.” “Accounted for” is a squishy phrase. No RT ever directly accounted for 9000 NVA casualties. In this case, RT Alabama called in air strikes. It’s believable that NVA casualties resulted, but nobody went around counting bodies. Casualty reports were done by Saigon HQ, which was notorious for exaggerating to make news reports sound better.
7) “SOG operators proved through their commitment to leave no man behind, dead or alive.” There definitely was a bond among SOG members to come to each other’s aid, and I know of two cases where an RT went missing and others volunteered (including me in one case) to be inserted to look for the missing team. In both cases, nothing was ever found. However, there was wide-spread agreement that making a rational attempt ended when a rescue was too likely to cause even more casualties. We excepted others to come to our aid if at all possible, but not at the cost of their own lives.
Mr. Anderson, regarding your point #6 and the 9,000 NVA casualties brought about by ST Alabama – and Lynne Black’s actions in particular – that figure came directly from the then-NVA Lt. Colonel who told Black that in a conversation years after the war. (Black had shot the NVA officer 3 times at the outset of that mission. Readable online at “You shot me three times” google search.)
For those with further interest, Jocko Willink has several podcasts with ex-SOG operators including Cowboy Doan, The Frenchman, and Dick Thompson.
Thompson’s experiences include his calling in a direct strike on his position with a CBU and doing a one man Bright Light that started with him dropping off a string almost 200 feet above ground, 20 feet above the canopy, and crashing through the foliage before tree branches 50 feet up stopped his fall.
It got more precarious after that.
Very well put and very accurately put! But we did work out make other selves smell and no after shave lotions no dial soap smell no American Cigarettes smell. Things that would carry the smell so as for the Enemy to detect our presents. But we ate C- Rations. We’d stay out weeks and Months at a time if we had to. We walked every where we went we didn’t have choppers to transport us. You were lucky. We at times were out numbered 10 too 1 we licked our wounds and kept on going. I do not talk about it very much. Pysmyir JOP
Olin,
We’re you at FOB 1 on Oct. 5, 1968?
Did you talk to the NVA general who ambushed the team? The 9000 isn’t squishy, it came from NVA.
John,
By October we must have been in Mai Loc (if I remember name) near Quang Tri. That’s where we first moved after Khe Sanh. Somewhere around there we got moved again, this time to Phu Bai. As for the 9000 number, I remain skeptical despite the source, but who knows? Good numbers were hard to get in those days.
Olin
Accurate information is so vital at times,most times,,I salute you for your stand..
I read an article that the north vietnamese had electronic smell sensors setup in the jungle…yes I really read that lol…
Hey , I am trying to get the word out to former SOG members that PA PA RON has passed. I do not know the time of his service or what unit he was attached to but thought you being a former member might have crossed paths with him. Also knowing that all of you were a tight bunch I thought the word would spread with this note. If you knew PA PA RON could you send me a thumbs up or maybe spread the word of this untimley departure, fucking covid!, Blessings to you Sir,Kevin
Concerning your comment about the serial number’s on weapons, yes they were serial numbered, but where the confusion over that comes from that leads some people to believe that they weren’t and assume it was for covert reasons are from experimental M16 (usually the CAR15 variant) weapons known as “tool room samples”, these would be development weapons like say the first CAR15’s made that were pre production weapons that would be sent over and given to SF operators to try out and see how they liked them, being one off tool room produced weapons and not coming off the regular production line they weren’t assigned serial number’s, obviously people who would hear from someone who had one in country about them not having serial number’s would assume it was for covert reasons and that’s most likely how that myth got started.
Great arrival, any info on team habu? Thank you
There’s no mention of 75th Rangers, I took part in many missions, Laos, Cambodia all over in 1969, 1970 and 1971, actually Green Berets left Vietnam in 1970
The 5th returned to Bragg in March of 71.
5th Special Forces…did you know Lewis “Rock” Arnold ?? He took over “Mad Dog Schrivers team…
Does she mean Jerry Shriver?
No, the Green Beret’s didn’t depart Vietnam in 1970, among other instances they were very involved in stopping the attempted invasion of the South by the North Vietnamese during what was known as the Easter Offensive in 1972, the fact is Green Beret’s conducted operations in South Vietnam all the way up to and including the evacuation of the South in the Spring of 1975.
We changed addresses 3 times and head gear 2 times . In the same place doing the same thing.
Anybody know Robert Wall RT Alaska 68-69
20th sos green hornets were bad-ass …
My Father was in 20th sos green hornets. Billy joe craig sr. do you kw him by in chance?
Fantastic account! I will be sure to look forward to reading more!
Thanks for a truly informative and fascinating article!
Jake Bowditch
Excuse the previous typo
Did any of you guys know Jake Biwditch?
Marine Ssgt 63 to 73.
I remember hearing about this group when I was stationed in Camp Eagle with the 101st Airborne and later in Plieku with the 17th Infantry 1971-72.
Remember those missions every day, and especially at night
Yes I understand. Rock was not afraid of the dark….he was afraid of the night….always had an escape route from our house…..we had lots of doors !!
Judy
Stavros, great article. I was fortunate enough to grow up in the shadow of two of these giants. They served with my dad and didn’t talk about this portion of their life. True quiet professionals. Fast forward to today and to see the lineage go through current orgs is impressive. Thanks again for the great read and passion you put behind the story of some outstanding servicemen. – brad
I SERVED AT CCC 68)69 RT Texas captured aPOW life was tough there
Dave, could you please reconnect with the SOA? We weren’t sure you were still out there!
Of course the NVA could track them. Look at the pictures they are all wearing U.S style combat boots or jungle boots not NVA sandals or foot gear.
Some of their boots were specially made for them with different types of soles to leave “other than American” tracks including a sole that left an impression of a barefooted person.
What was not mentioned were the SOG members that worked off of Nasty class specially built Norwegian long-range fast boats who operated in both North and South VN off coastal areas.
My team, “Nimbus” 18 to 20 highly qualified warriors who never wavered at any mission, were never heard from after the war. I can never forgive the US for leaving them behind and forgotten. The US simply forget and abandon these dedicated warriors who were willing to give their lives for us. Many had “SAT Cong” tattooed on their shoulders showing the loyalty and willingness to die for their country.
Allan,wow what a memory !! those Loyal men and the sát công tattoo above their left breast, those SOG seal team 2 junk patrol men who you never hear about and those loyal vietnamese and Hmong,,yes ! left behind , Seal team two Ray Rimbry asks this writter often,, what happened to those loyal anti communist warriors left behind? I pretty much know, and so many like yourself ,,honor denied..another long story I would like to forget..by the way those boats Were Nasty..
Reading through this, you get the feeling this unit was a precursor for SOAR (I know of a guy that lobbed grenades out of his little bird when ammo ran out) COIN, and the type of command structure where folks in the field had a lot of autonomy and latitude. So much information here, will need to come back a few times. Had no idea there was so much air support available.
“Never heard of”? There have been books written and documentaries made with MACV-SOG in the damn title. It’s a quite commonly known organization.
The casualty figures are wrong. About 2,000 men served on RT’s (ST’s)….casualty rates amongst these were about 40%. There were a lot of men in MACV SOG who never went on a mission….
Also, MACV SOG was totally isolated from the South Vietnamese command structure.
Who was the mole?
His name was Francois who was in the upper echelons of SOG hdqts and was not discovered until years later when journalist friends of LTC Speedy Gaspard told him Francois received a medal In Hanoi for his part in killing many Americans . The journalists covering it got back to Speedy and informed him of the event . I was a friend of Speedy and served at CCC , Recon and hatchet force ,,1969
Thank you Stavros. MAC-SOG MISSIONS peformed by extronary Warriors always in the fight. What can be reported about the mole?
See my reply to mr. Ford
Magnificent! I love reading about SOG. Thank you.