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The Making of a MACV- SOG Operator
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ส.ค. 2024
- The characteristics, both mental and physical, that prepared you to perform the duties of a MACV-SOG operator were instilled long before MACV-SOG existed.
Photo Credits: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ma...
Buy “Dawson’s War” on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0875JSK6K/
Recommended MACV-SOG Reading
Across The Fence: www.amazon.com/dp/0983256705
Secret Commandos: www.amazon.com/dp/1501183451
Whisky Tango Foxtrot: www.amazon.com/dp/1463797796
We Few: www.amazon.com/dp/B07CMHKC5Q
You are so right about how generations are changing my uncle was in vietnam and when he went to a funeral on leave when he came back his whole platoon wiped out he’s still alive till this day ray Gonzalez thank you for your service
I just learned my uncle was under the Mac V Sog group in Vietnam. He said he spent alot of time in the north identifying targets and doing assessments. I can't wait to ask him more about it. His name is Mervin.
I had the good fortune as an ROTC cadet in the late 70s to have snake eaters and LRRPs as my instructors. Our SMAJ (SF) would repeatedly ask me why I wasn't in Nam with him. Greatest compliment I ever got in my life. Loved your book. Read it in two days.
That's great to hear. Please let them know on Amazon reviews
"if you're gonna cry, I'll give you something to cry about". how many times did I hear that ? if I got in trouble at school(high school),I was told that I'd get double when I got home.
I was the third generation to serve. Grandpa - WWI, daddy - WWII, and me(10Mar71 - 3Jun74)
welcome home.
How about: Children should be seen and not heard.
@DawsonsWar YUP! My Mother used that when company was around. When no one was around it was the belt or her Dr. Scholls wooden shoes. Ahhh... those were the days..... No, they really were! 🙂
I just want to thank you for making these videos. My dad has passed away. He was in mac-v-sog. Marine corps force recon. He operated in Laos. Stephen d. Milligan call sign Lobo.
Given how rare Marines were in SOG, I was interested in your father's story,especially given that officially to this day no Marine was on the ground in Laos. What I found is that Force Recon has no Milligans on record and the USMC lists only a single S Milligan, and no D Milligan. The sole Stephen Milligan the Corp reports joined in 1979 and was a criminal investigator, he is also still living. I don't know what to make of this information, but I'd be happy to do further research if you're able to provide more detail?
@@chasecarter8848 Stephen Dale milligan. Was force recon mac-v-sog. Was a force recon drill instructor at camp pendleton. He retired just before we invaded Grenada. I believe one of my sisters still has a lot of his info including some mission reports. I'll see what I can get for you
Also I believe my God father might still be alive. He served with my dad. I'll see if I can get ahold of him as well
I know this is a long shot, but have you heard of Frederick Leroy Helm? He's my dad. I know from old newspapers he served in Nam as a veterinarian inoculating all the dogs to prevent rabies and shit, and i know he was a green beret, but then his record goes dark.
Of his time in Vietnam, he would only tell me that he was somewhere he wasn't supposed to be fighting someone he wasn't supposed to fight.
After he died, I found a MacVsog patch in his stuff. I assumed it was a natural green beret thing until I saw your videos.
He talked a little about his scars. An AK 47 cut a chunk from his shoulder that my 6yr old pinkie fit perfectly into...he had scars on his stomach from being hit with shrap, having to be cut open and stapled shut and then medivaced out. Stab wounds in his back. Bullet wounds in his other shoulder.
He couldn't retrieve the bodies of his fallen until 1995.
Email me if you know anything. I'm hungry to learn everything.
I don’t, but you could ask on this Facebook group. It’s open to everyone.
facebook.com/groups/549842630052772
This story was a lot like mine. While growing up and especially in high school we were facing the draft. We all just expected we would serve. I had parents that never wanted or loved me. I found my first job at the age of eleven. Overall i did some things that could have got me in trouble but i was never caught so was a good kid overall. I graduated one day from high school and had already enlisted so left the next day for basic. I volunteered for Vietnam so they sent me to England on a three year tour. I was trained in communications a job i hated so at end of first enlistment i returned home to civilian life. Drugs were becoming a big problem so my best friend and i went to work for the police department setting up drug buys. Back then police departments had no problem using civilians to do this. We were very good at it and set up many drug dealers. A year and a half later i got bored. Vietnam was still going on so i reenlisted and again volunteered for Vietnam. Six months later i was sent to Vietnam. Intelligence had gotten my record from the police department and were impressed so asked if i would like to work for them. I jumped at the chance. First case i infiltrated a group of American soldiers selling goods to the communists. Being more impressed with me they started sending me to different schools. When i graduated LRRP school they asked if i would like to be assigned to SOG. I accepted. Then was assigned to a black op[s unit with the CIA. Never knew for sure where they dropped us but suspected was Laos, Cambodia or North Vietnam.
🫡 love you boys with all my heart
My father was in laos his second and third tour. He rarely talked about it and when he did all he would say was it was the most horrific time of his life. One hand it was exhilarating and on the other hand it was absolutely terrifying. He had a lot of respect for the lay ocean people though he said the Montague people were tougher than nails and is ruthless as they come
Thank you for your service, Sir.
Your bio was a trip down memory lane for me as a 'boomer' growing up in CT 1950s-65. Lots of similar experiences. Our town hosted a Memorial Day Parade where our vets were honored. As a Boy Scout I got to march in the parade with my Scout troop. Many years later I was honored as the featured speaker at the town cemetery where the parade ended. I enlisted right after high school in the Marines and later was commissioned and led a rifle platoon in Vietnam.
When I joined the 2/75 Rangers in 1975 many of our initial leaders were from the LLRPs and Rangers. They were put into place to get the 1st and 2nd Battalions started.
They told us their stories in a theater and being young privates, we were in awe.
Mr. Dawson, you and men like yourself were my mentors, my heros.
And your opening statement in this video is spot on, and its a disgrace to watch the collapse of our society!!
- De Oppresso Liber, Sua Sponte
This is the first time I've seen the politicians and elites so openly hostile to the middle class in the United States. I've seen it in other countries. It doesn't work out well.
I was smack next door to you guys at Ft Lewis at the same time. I would hear you guys at 5 am or earlier "Left, Right Ranger" as I lay in my bunk at the barracks. Lol
@@medic5499
North Fort or by the airfield?
We moved from the WWII wooden barracks on north fort once our new barracks were built in 1975.
as a combat veteran during the desert storm, thank you for your service.
My Father worked heavily with SOG but mostly with Seals. on occasion with LRRPs and later on Rangers along with other conventional units as well. He was s proud member of HAL-3 U.S Navy Seawolves, the world's first Special Operations Helicopter unit with the main goal of providing Gunship support in all weather day or night.
I love you SOG guys, and I proudly serve today in the U.S Army Airborne Infantrymen.
Thanks B. K. for the narrative.
I’m a couple years older than you and I remember everything you described vividly about growing up in the 50’s.
I was a draftee, being drafted on 1 September 1965.
I did basic and AIT at Fort Knox.
I too served in SEA, only it was Thailand, at Korat then Sattahip in 1966.
I salute all you SOG Vets for doing a tough job.
Nobody today can do what y’all did.
Gary
I certainly hope they can.
Thank you sir for your story and brave service. My father never talked much about his time in Sicily and Italy but his time there shortened his life. Men were of strong character back then. Mostly all I see now is big children out for themselves.
I finished your book 2 days ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. As an ole LRRP who worked out of Dakto, some of your sit reps gave me tingles in the spine like I haven't felt in a long time. Thanks for the good read.
Thanks. That's good to hear. Please let them know on Amazon.
@@DawsonsWar I bought it from Amazon.
@@LRRP6768 Please rate or write a review of the book on Amazon for me. Thanks
An America gone. Now, instead of Ike, we have Joe.....
Big big ballz. Much respect...great story!
That’s a great story it just so happened. My older cousin came to visit us from Washington state (Seattle) we talked about how we grew up with our uncles. We were one big, happy family and they all were World War II veterans from different services and that is exactly how it was brought back a lot of memories. thanks for this video.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thanks for speaking these Truths, in our trouble times. God bless America
Thanks for watching
@@DawsonsWar Its awesome to hear, what you guys went through and endured. Almost unbelievable... But I'm a believer... You guys are my Hero's
I joined the US Army at 22 for experience and wanting to get back out and go into law enforcement. Once in I went to Korea and served 3 tours on the DMZ. I loved it and re enlisted ended up in the 101st later in 3/187 INF then 1/502 INF going to Iraq in 03 from Al Najef Karbala, Bagdad and Mosul Iraq. I retired after 21 years during my time I liked it. While in Korea I served with a E-7 James lake he told me he was in Charlie's rangers and if I didn't believe him to buy the book and look in the back his name was in the book.
Thank you for your service. I appreciate all you have done bringing these videos to the forefront. My respect for you and your comrades is unmeasurable. Thank you again
Thanks for watching and I appreciate your comment
Outstanding!!
Great videos! Thank you for your service.
Thanks for watching!
Received my copy of your book last Friday the 19th, nearly finished by Sunday the 21st. Enjoyed reading and now want to know more about the experiences of those brave men. I was lucky enough to work for a command sergeant major who spent a good bit of time in Nam. He was an awesome man from whom I learned a great deal about being a good American, and "there are so few left" he would say. I have to agree that times have changed and not for the good. I shudder to think what things be like if we get involved in another global conflict. Thank you and all others that have served their country. God Speed.
Excellent job 😊
Thank you for your service sir. Glad you made it back alive.
My Father was in Vietnam June 1968-1969 . He was USA major (0-4} as a XO and then CO of a ASA battalion and his younger brother was over there CAPT USA in command of a 175mm artillery battery. I personally witnessed a anti war demonstration real close on July 4,1970i in Washington DC. I tell you this, when my old man came back from Vietnam, I could tell he had changed, July 1969.I was 6. I had 2 uncles serve in the Pacific and one of them got badly injured on Iwo Jima. In addition I had 2 other uncles fight win the army in WW2 Europe : one in a M-4 tank and the other in a forward recon unit in Algeria,Tunisia, Sicily, and mainland Italy. He came back home to Virginia with Parkinson's disease at age 22. By the way, my older brother was born at Fort Bragg NC Feb1960.I am out here in Honolulu , Hawaii and for years one of my neighbors was a 442nd veteran.As a kid, a note or call from school was a moment of dread, and for good reason.
I was born in a naval hospital in Annapolis in 1957. I grew up surrounded by WWII vets but knew little of their valor and sacrifice. And it took some time to grasp the Vietnam War. Our high school class could have contributed, plenty of lean and mean adventurous types. Things have changed since then.
I remember the day JFK was assassinated. The picture of the flag at half mast as I looked down from my dorm window is with me to this day. I had the joy of burning my draft card one night while under a rocket attack at the Da Nang Airbase. In other words I beat them to it. Story was great, my dad was a WWII vet and your childhood was pretty much identical to the way I was raised.
Glad you enjoyed it
The Americans who fought in WW2, The Korean war and Vietnam are heros in every sense of the word. I have the most respect for these men , warriors at heart . My grandfather was a Marine and fought in Korea in 1953. Ill always have a special place in my heart for those brave Marines... And then a few years ago i was introduced to a breed of warriors whos bravery, courage and willingness to fight took a hold of me . The honor and brotherhood amongst these fellas captivates and always will . The men of MACVSOG... Going behind enemy lines , caring nothing about recognition or attention . ... I would truly love to know each one of those mens story , ill always appreciate such courage.
Thanks for your interest
Just finished it.... Great read
That's good to hear. Glad you enjoyed it.
Gotta get you on to share! Folks keep asking about you after watching your vids or reading “Dawson’s War”
I am really enjoying your videos sir. Thank you.
Do you happen to remember a Richard 'Dick' Gross? He was One Zero of RT California at one point and a few other teams.
Sure do. I worked with him at Kontum in the fall of 1969. One of the best One-Zeros SOG had.
Well done...
I spent most of my time in Viet Nam humping much of the mountains of I corps and hoping not to get shot. as it turned out I spent a lot of my time getting shot at. I ended my thirteen month as one of six guys in my platoon not getting wounded. Looking back most of our wounded were from shrapnel wounds. Semper Fi marines, and a job well done to everyone who were there for what ever reason.
Excellent.
Thanks
@@DawsonsWar As others have said, similar to me. Bad student in college, joined service because I felt I had been lucky in life, and it was time to pay my dues. Basic, AIT, OCS, Jump school, SFOC, SF UWO school, then assigned as an S-1 for a B team in Vietnam. Didn't think I had been in training for 2 years to sign forms. Applied to C&C.
@@CandC68 I think I would have made a great S-1
LOL @@DawsonsWar
Had the duty and honor of rescuing Chief Sog. COL. JOHN K. Singlob at his villa morning of TET with Gunny Stone my mate. Singlob is a true hero...
I was born in 1952 and have been a history buff. This video is the first time I’ve heard of the “ruptured duck” pins.
I flew with the 195th AHC from July until Dec 1970 when the unit stood down we supported y'all in 3 Corp out west of TayNin (probably spelled wrong)😅
Can you explain the link between secret ops in Laos & President Kennedy's assassination please? Where you say being assigned to SOG meant "I could do something about it [JFK's murder]" at 12:08
No i think you misunderstood. Oswald was just a scape goat and Ruby took him out so he couldn't talk. Johnson was oldest VP we had and Kennedy was youngest president and Johnson wanted to be president so he had Kennedy killed. How do i know ? I had a friend who retired from CIA and he told me how it was done. He was actually there when Kennedy died.
You're keeping it nice, we were just crazy and wild and the officers didn't like these crazy guys but wanted them on the front lines, we didn't give a damn about anything we just want to go go go no fear just go, the hell with the suicide stuff. Today we can only talk to our close friends and were told by feds to just shut up
DW I'm truly wondering if you knew my Dad (VanHorne) as I had heard MacV( One of his buddies is a guy named Billy W SGM (R)) mentioned in many conversations he had with a couple of SF adviser buddies of his in the mid 60's. Email?
Liked and subscribed! ❤Yes you are right about the current Generation Z. Love the fact that your dad was a no holds barred disciplinarian. 💪
I own a lot to my dad. Too bad he passed before I could tell him what I did. Thanks for the sub!
@@DawsonsWar you are welcome! Thanks for sharing your life experiences with us all here. 💪
Thanks for posting your stories. Any thoughts on an audiobook version?
A lot of thought. I can't do it myself so I'd lose too much money.
Why do they run covert operations around Home.? Induct MARSHALS project
As a gwot veteran, I have always admired you SOG guys. Had the pleasure of meeting Joe Walker years ago
.
Could you please tell me where MLT One(CCN) was located ?
Thank you for your sacrifice
In the 1 Jan 1969 consolidation FOB 4 was converted to CCN. It was located at the foot of Marble Mountain in Da Nang. Thanks for watching.
@@DawsonsWar I appreciate the quick reply, i guess i should've just asked where was MLT#1 ?
Ive heard quang tri, phu bai ,and NKP.
Thanks again!
@@irishdixie77 Phu Bai 1971
@@DawsonsWar Thank you Sir.
2:38 Your next-door neighbour, my guess would be a Grunt or part of the army that fought in the Pacific. Australia was an R&R stop for them and we have a lot of people who are descendants of Marines + their Australian wife they met while on furlough. Funny, in the "Battle of Brisbane" Australian soldiers came to the rescue of a drunk Marine who was getting beat up by U.S MP's, it escalated and more and more Australians and MP's joined in and eventually the MP's were surrounded in a post office and an MP fired a shotgun 3 times and killed an Australian soldier. This pissed off the Aussies even more. Australian soldier's honestly didn't like the GI's because they were popular with the women, "overpayed, oversexed and over here".
That's a story I never heard. Thanks
It's called the Battle of Brisbane, lots of really detailed and interesting videos about it. Really showed the difference in attitude between the Australian Army. @@DawsonsWar
My dad joined the Navy, around '73, and described to me that, after rifle qualification, he was offered a six month contract.
He takes secrecy very seriously, so he won't confirm or deny my various suppositions as to the actual identity of his unit.
He told me that he worked alone, and with a small unit, to assassinate VIPs, like community leaders, in Southeast Asia.
If it wasn't MACV-SOG, do you have any ideas about what other units it could've been?
Maybe something through CIA?
He only spent six months in "the Land Navy", but he earned retirement benefits, so he definitely was part of something like MACV-SOG.
He's from San Diego, and was probably known as Bob, or as Peterson.
He's still got PTSD, and I'm trying to find someone he can relate to, to process that trauma.
Please, give me a lead.
Phoenix programme
Do you know of the North Star special operation team that is on a mission in Laos ?
There was Operation White Star in 1961. I'm not familiar with North Star.
@@DawsonsWarIt is a secret operation directly under the United States Army Chief of Staff in Laos. I would like to know information about this secret operation unit
Did you ever serve with any marine recon guys? My dad did a tour with SOG in 66-67 or so. Stransky is the last name
I didn't get there till 1968. Didn't know any Marines
Thank you for the great video, Mr. Dawson!
You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.
Ever work side seal team 6 when you are serving your duty in Vietnam
No. Don't even know if I knew team six existed
Did you know Pat Patterson?
Yeah criminal record no matter what or is the parents fault, hell back then they gave u a choice jail or army. Criminals o noooo
Th Lao People r strong and Proud people , great sense of Humor , drink 🍻🍷 like Mexicans , love 2 Party 🎉
That's funny and very true
Much better you reading it. You sound a lot like the actor Trent Williams
Thanks, but you can't imagine how much I hate doing it.
I'm surely not the first person to notice that if everyone who claimed to be part of MACVSOG were actually involved it would have been staffed at corps strength. This obviously isn't directed at the author, but there are some people in the comments who could stand to look critically at what older relatives have told them. The odds your dad/uncle/grandpa was actually in SOG is about 1 in 10,000, and that's assuming your relative both served in Vietnam and volunteered, so more like 1 in several million military aged men at the time. A simple test runs thusly: Not born before 1950- not SOG. Not Army: extremely unlikely to be SOG, and not involved in over the fence missions beyond general analysis and high level planning. Generally speaking, all US SOG actually over the fence warriors are so few that a middle class income would allow you to buy all of them dinner, and any decent sized restaurant could serve them all at once. The odds you are related to one are so low that if you have been told you are you've almost certainly been mislead.
I read recently that 9 million living Americans claim to have served in Vietnam. From the comments it seems most of them were in SOG. A few dozen of us are meeting in Las Vegas next week. Perhaps we should rent the grand ballroom.
Hat off, hand over my heart for you guys. Welcome home. Re: discipline and being told that if you cry you'll be given something to cry about, I can't imagine how some places in the country(eg. California) could even generate a few hundred such candidates for SO. Here teachers told my kids(1980's-1990's) that if your parents hit them tell the teachers about it. Then those 'educators' wonder why teenagers attack teachers. What goes around.....It's the 'woke joke' as I call it. As for hiding the truth about operations in LAOS or Cambodia, well, any country that helps our enemy is not neutral, but is also our enemy. They made their choice so too bad.
Things are certainly different today
You were the bad guys.