MACV-SOG Bright Light Mission With George Wilson Hunt
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- On August 09, 1968, Colonel Wayne B. Wolfkeil of the 6the Special Operations Sqdn, 633rd Special Ops Wing, 7th AF was shot down and killed. Wayne and his wingman were providing air support defending a (MACV-SOG) team on the ground that was in real trouble and faced pending annihilation.
The following Interview is with George (Wilson) Hunt and David Wolfkeil, son of Col. Wayne B. Wolfkeil. The video is a discussion of the Brighlight Mission that Wilson performed more than 40 years earlier.
Bright Light Missions
” They were the deadliest of all.”
In the eight-year secret war fought by Green Berets during the Vietnam War across the fence in Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam from 1964-1972 under the aegis of the (MACV-SOG), Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Studies and Observations Group.
No mission was more dangerous than a Bright Light mission. Heavily-armed (MACV-SOG) recon teams were sent in to find downed pilots, relieve recon teams surrounded by enemy troops,
or to recover the dead and wounded.
“Did I bring back enough?”
In August of 1968, RT Maine (One-Zero) Green Beret George (Wilson) Hunt led a Bright Light mission to recover the remains of an A-1 Skyraider pilot who had been shot down and died defending a (MACV-SOG) team on the ground that was in real trouble and faced pending annihilation.
Two previous (MACV-SOG) teams tried in vain to perform Bright Light missions to recover the downed A-1 Skyraider pilot's remains. Both teams had met with such fierce enemy resistance they had to call in emergency extractions to prevent being overrun by communist enemy soldiers.
Wilson and his team were the third (MACV-SOG) team ordered to do the Bright Light mission. Wilson's mission was to locate the crashed aircraft and to determine if the pilot were alive or not and to retrieve
his remains if possible.
This mission would haunt Wilson’s mind for years to come, as he and his team were unable to recover the pilot's remains.
After only locating the pilot's charred flight helmet, one question remained on Wilson’s mind for decades to come.
“Did I bring back enough so the military could tell the pilot’s family what
happened on the mountain?”
In a strange twist of fate, it would take 40 years for Wilson to learn the name of the pilot, Col. Wayne B. Wolfkeil.
40 years later, Wilson got his answer.
A charred flight helmet, an old newspaper article, a Skyraider pilot, and the author of Uncommon Valor would all converge to help George (Wilson) Hunt not only complete this Bright Light mission. Wilson would meet the family of the pilot and deliver the news himself, providing comfort and closure for all. This is his story.
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What a story!! The SOG men are a DIFFERENT BREED! It’s been the honor of my life to Attend soar and document some of these mens’ stories
So much respect for the Bright Light guys. Those missions were difficult beyond what a person can grasp. I commanded a 5 man search team for JCRC that conducted recovery missions for American MIA and Bodies not Recovered. What we did was remarkable in it's own right, but nothing like what the Bright Light guys did. Sad to say that the recovery effort pretty much came to an end when we were ambushed in December 1973 by NVA and the State Department said it did not make sense to send live guys after dead guys. The story of JCRC will most likely never be told but it was a great undertaking by a group of dedicated and courageous men.
Every recon team at each FOB took turns as Bright Light Teams. When you got the order,your team flew to the launch site each day with the recon team going in,and sat around listening to the radio calls. When/if a team called in that was in danger of being overran,you grabbed your gear,jumped on the helo,and went in to get them.
Nobody ever bitched about it because it could be YOUR team calling a Brightlight Emergency the next time,and some other team would most likely be rappelling into a hole in the jungle to come get you.,
Crazy, walking dead men, who, despite maybe some inner complaints and worries, had no trouble volunteering for what was neal suicide, all to attempt the near impossible task of getting their friends home. True love blossoms amongst the ugliest of shared experience.
@@lazaruslong6382 The Seals have never left a body behind.
Interviews like this are an important historical document. Thank you.
I hope this story brings some peace to the son. I have so much respect for the Skyraider pilots. Also, MACV-SOG. My best friend was in USMC Force Recon. Buried him in 2021.
This is a story worth telling to the entire nation. I’m not in any way a hollyweird supporter however there has to be some Independent film makers with the capability and resources to make this story into a proper motion picture. The Heroism exhibited by our Brothers in arm like this MUST be told!
Now is the time
My father served with him
My father was a ranger apart of Mac v sog I believe 67-71 a combat medic survived Vietnam passed away from agent orange god bless these men and women that served in Vietnam true war heroes I feel greatest era
My brother and myself served in Vietnam. He did 3 tours with the Army and died of agent orange. I didn't finish my tour with the marines. I was wounded and discharged. We all were tight brothers one and all.
@@johneynon7121 I can remember back to ft Sam early 80’s when he was active he was a strong man it’s a disgrace the lies the treatment and agent orange it damages dna and crosses should be awareness to counter the lies and under the carpet and the treatment to the Vietnam vet and family heroes
@@johneynon7121 thank u for your sacrifices duty honor and service god bless u and your brother and family real war heroes real warriors brothers god bless thank u sir
@@dame5372 My brother and I were seperated at an young age. I thought he changed his last name to Allen. He went in the Army as a private and died a Lt. COL. Receivevd 2 purple hearts before agent orange killed him at 38y/o. I wish I knew what units he served with while in Vietnam. You got any info?? Thanks for your commits
@@johneynon7121 You can get a copy of his DD-214 from the government. Just search online for the OFFICIAL government website and fill out the form.
I was crew cheif with the 119 AHC, I'm certain I was on the insert of the SOG team that day,we left DakTo in the morning , the insert was uneventful,but later that afternoon we had to go back the team was in big trouble. I was flying chase up high and saw Officer Wolfkeil go in, I also wondered 45 years what had happened that day. Macy was the gunner but I forgot the pilots names. It was the most scared I have ever experienced.Laos was always foreboding.
What an awesome, awesome story and I thank you for sharing. I love hearing stories like this because it shows the level of selflessness that some people have gone through for others. For you and others like you I thank you and I m so glad you made it through and are back home.
Glad you enjoyed it! I am always amazed when men like Wilson Hunt share their stories. You never know where the conversation will go. You never know what emotion it will evoke. However you will always come away with knowledge and inspiration.
God Bless this man and all that served in SEA, and especially those that shed their blood for my freedoms....
Deepest thanks to every veteran of our country.
I have READ "Uncommon Valor"by Stephen Moore, but via audio book. I am an Australian Veteran of Iraq but predominantly Afghanistan wars in the early 2000's. I have severe PTSD as well as some physical injuries and no matter how hard I try, picking a book up now is just not like it used to be. As an Inf soldier reading was your next best past time to sleeping :) now I don't get to much of either.
To see this on YT was simply amazing, having read the book and knowing the story behind the meeting. If my pathetic memory serves me correct Col Wolfkeil was a much respected Spad pilot by the ground teams and his loss was taken hard at the time. They however did not have the luxury to mourn for very long. One thing that I noticed was in the book it was read as Wolfkeil and initially on the YT it also said the same but the sons name was Wolkeil. Was this a typographical error or did the Col add the "F" in his name as a change for his "Call Sign"?
Either way, I really enjoyed seeing the respect between the two men and the relief in the eyes of George Hunt after 40yrs of wondering. This is what sorts out the quiet heroes we never know. Today, I watched a real hero tell a story to the son of another hero. Thank you.
Spartan 59, Thank you so much for your note, you are one great proofreader. Thank you for pointing out my typo. You are correct the book is correct. I do apologize. I sent this off for all to proof before posting and we all missed that detail. It was a special moment to capture for sure, George "Wilson" Hunt is tone amazing fellow who I wish I could have spent more time with.
Spartan 59, I want to say the following words, what you did meant something to the world, welcome home sir. May you find peace and enjoy your days thank you for your service.
@@militarytales Thank you, I did not mean to cause any havoc with the spelling issue 😇.
Like many who have faced the two way firing range, I am sure the result is never wanting to see your children have to do it, so we therefore hope for peace.
There is a difference to listening to the stories of brave men, who day after day risked all they had, to save a fellow team mate. This goes beyond a region many people can or ever will understand. Some call it "A band of Brothers", but it more than even this.
The people I worked with, came from different countries, had different methods and different thoughts...Spoke English with thick or soft accents, yet today, almost 20yrs later, I can still see them, hear them and feel the closeness we shared in danger.
Some are gone now, others have civilian jobs and live on. We keep in touch, sometimes a random phone call other times a regular birthday greeting.
None of us escaped the "Black Dog". it gets us all at one time or another but medication subdues it well. Was it worth it, that is a question I am still trying to come to terms with as I watch in horror at the latest disgusting war.
I do not support Ukraine, I saw what happened in 2014, and I have followed this ever since. I have so many reports from the UN on Human Rights abuse by the Neo Nazi groups from the West Ukraine, now run by Zelensky.
I compare this to when we went to invade Iraq and the UN did not sanction it, in the search for WMD's. That was wrong and illegal, yet searching for terrorist schools in Afghanistan seemed right and good.
So, what I did, is questionable every day and I am not comfortable with it.
I seek solace in hearing about men who lived to save their teams and brothers, gave their all to achieve this. Of all the combat I have seen, that I have read about since I was old enough, the video documentaries I watched, none have given me the sense of feeling something inside as the men of MACVSOG and the Pilots who supported them in operations.
Never in my wildest dreams did I know of such men until this year, but now I rest better. Through them I feel like I hear a kindred spirit speaking, but I am only a rank amateur by comparison. I would walk a thousand miles to pick up the sweat scarf of one of these men to show them how much their stories have helped me.
To them all, I am indebted and eternally graetful.
@@spartan5921 There was no Havoc created, thank you for bringing this to my attention. If TH-cam ever makes the move to allow editing of the video online, I will fix it immediately. I am pleased that the videos bring you solace, that is exactly why we began filming these stories. Lessons were learned and paid for at a tremendous price. These interviews are a time capsule of the truth of the past. Thank you for your support, we have many more videos to come.
Very Brave men, to go into a crash site, knowing the NVA would be close by, and do this many more times during tour of Duty with nerves of steel, and Big Brass Ball's.
thanks for your service fella's I remarkable bravery
Heartwarming story guys, thank you for sharing!
Our pleasure! Each time I worked on the project, I found myself looking at a man who could have been my grandfather. So wise, so humble. A pleasure to have recorded his story
What a great story. Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it! George "Wilson" Hunt is quite a man.
So cool. Great production quality! I dig the rising sun and text intro, really sets the mood
These interviews with SOG guys r amazing. I read a book called 15 Months in SOG that was great, if u can find it read it
harold the the author of "15 months" is mostly bullshit and fiction.
WOW what a insane mission, amazing they lives to tell us about it. Bravo Zulu to the bad*** team Maine.
Humble respect ! Incredible valor ! SALUTE ! Jack Murphy USMC 72-74
I love the song
Thank you Sarah
Play it at 1.5 speed, trust me.
Background noise very disruptive
I totally understand, sometimes when we attend Military Reunions, we do not have ideal situations for audio, because of the environment we are in. Unless we have a private room or space, we no longer use shotgun mics, we have transitioned to the use of lavaliere mics to help with this very issue. If I could go back in time and change one thing, that would be it. George Wilson Hunt is a treasure. Thank you for your note
Bump
Where can I find this version of the song?
I will make a separate cut of the song and load a video BTW... The House of the Rising Sun music, in the beginning, is actually from my old friend Dick Fortenberry. He is playing guitar and backs up harmony. The lead vocal is his pal and fellow Huey pilot Denny Marvicsin. They recorded this in 1966 while in Vietnam while flying gunships for the 114th AHC - The Cobras. I thought it fit the theme very well
@@militarytales Thank you very much, I appreciate it, your a legend.
@@betacraft7 Just ripped it will be uploading shortly
@@militarytales bloody legend mate. Thank you.
Man the mic's audio quality is shit
You realize just how important it is to have command of the English language and being able to communicate events of the past. Clearly the work these fellows was maximum importance to others in the area of operation. I can see why he wasn’t the radio operator they never would’ve made it.
So do tell us Mr Blake, just how is it then, that you've never served in any capacity to sit in judgement of others when you yourself, would have most likely failed?
Pretty easy to sit there and be a snotty shit armchair general when you haven't got a clue one what to do in the bush.
52 years after the fact. And you're criticizing an old man's ability to tell a story? Seriously? That speaks more to the person you are than it does to him.
Robert Blake, you're lucky you are never to bump into this gent in a dark ally. These boys pushed hard through anything and anyone put in front of them. Respect is due.
The most humble Badasses ever. 🇺🇲🪖💥
These were the MEN of yesterday. Now look what you have. We can't afford that the country served so honourably by these heroes just a few lifetimes ago. is left to fester and die at the hand of cowards and traitors. I served as an Australian Advisor with SF chaps. 2 tours: 67-68 & 71-72. They were good days. I hope these good days return to The U.S. real soon Enough said. Percical.
Does Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson know who their dealing
With?
🍁🎃..What is it with the people in the background..?? Makes it very difficult to follow the narrative--- 🍂💀🦇
What a great story . Whole teams would sometimes never be heard from again after insertion. So many aircraft and crews lost. These men who would draw the Brightlight missions knew the shit had already hit the fan. The air support for teams were pretty much dedicated to the sog teams. This team leader can put one demon to rest finally.
Is there a reason why they did the interview in a room where other people were talking?
Hello Bo, This is one of the very first interviews that we did. We were at a military reunion and as fate would have it both men had attended not knowing the other was there. The only place to conduct the interviews was in the corner of the 35,000 sq. ft. hangar. We learned quickly that interviews would be conducted in the quietest place possible after this interview. Although the recording location offered audio challenges we are so glad that we were able to interview these two men. Thank you for the great question, and thank you for watching
Need to get a lapel mic. Awesome interview 🙌🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
CAG RangerSealNinja - I know, we had an area that was removed from much of the Military reunion that day. Unfortunately, filming ran long, and the reunion guys came in to set up for the dinner party that night. Thank you for your comments. We have bunches of these that we will be posting. Thanks for following us
Thank you All. WELCOME HOME..