SOG Prairie Fire Stories #2: Jim 'Wild Carrot" Shorten-Jones
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ค. 2024
- An interview with SFC Jim "Wild Carrot" Shorten-Jones, who helped create our new Arma 3 DLC game. Find out more: sogpf.com
A fascinating insight into the life of MACV SOG Special Forces operating in Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam War.
Watch more SOG veteran stories on Jockos podcasts in our MACV SOG playlist.
00:00 - Intro
00:08 - Pre Roll
02:03 - Interview starts
04:13 - Jim joins the Navy
07:38 - What was life like at the A camp?
12:30 - Jim talks about his first contact
15:16 - Jim talks about NVA attempts to overrun the camps
20:00 - How Jim got his callsign
23:30 - Jim joins RT Delaware
27:50 - Jim talks about the indigenous troops
31:30 - Jim talks about tracking and stealth training
36:50 - Jim talks about equipment for a 1-0
43:00 - Deception tactics
47:00 - Using C4 for prisoner capture
58:21 - Immediate action drills
01:01:54 - Tactics in contact
01:16:07 - Bright Light missions
01:36:05 - MIA's
01:39:57 - Jim talks about being Pararescue
01:59:41 - Working with NASA
02:09:24 - Veterans staying in touch
02:15:43 - Interview ends/Photo montage - เกม
RIP Melvin Hill (mentioned by Jim)
soldiersystems.net/2020/08/15/in-memoriam-melvin-hill-veteran-of-first-combat-halo-mission/
Rob, Bonnie C did a great TH-cam tribute to Mel on his passing. You might post a link here.
@@hughescrewchief836 please post it Don - thanks!
@@b-52eggbeast88 Rob I asked Bonnie if she still has it to please post it here.
Link to Mel Hill Tribute
@@hughescrewchief836 vimeo.com/537206137
Thanks all for watching. So proud to be part of capturing the essence of the Wild Carrot. I don't think I'll ever meet anyone like him again in my life.
Thank you Jim for taking the time to talk with us and tell so many incredible stories. You made our day.
For those who noticed that I have long nails on my right hand is because I play Classical Guitar...
Jimi, you have always been a lifelong hero of mine and one of the reasons I wanted to be a PJ. Thanks for everything you’ve done sir, your a legend!
@@soldier2390 Wow, thank you... Wishing you all the best ;-)
Was honored to be part of testing the game and in the process exposed to all the podcasts and audio books of SOG men, always had a thing for the Vietnam war, respect from Israel. hope to read your book when it's out.
Thanks for doing this interview. Hope to see you out there :)
@@Patchaddictedpolymath I'm still working on how to play the game LOL @#$%^&*(
Classic tales. Another SOG legend ! 🎉 Salute to Mr Jim
I like the part that he goes
“So the mission is to go take out the tank”
Jimi : what!?!?
Jim is so cool you’d never know he was such a hard charger. Even the youth in his voice feels like a time machine.
Amazing, such a down to earth fella! Outgoing and energetic, I hope to one day play Arma 3 Vietnam with Jim. thanks for the stream guys
As a Veteran who plays Arma, and is very late to the party in finding this content after being AFK for about 6 years this made my day! thanks guys! Purchased instantly lol
Thanks and we hope you enjoy it!
Talk about making you feel like an underachievier.
WOW what a life. Once again a great interview.
Thanks!!!
When you look up the definition of a life well lived…there’s a picture of the Wild Carrot. Wadda life. 👏👏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸I’m always happy to hear the mention of the bravery of the Montagnards and the Hmong team members.
yeah Jim has lived more than any of us would in 5 lives
What a legend.
Somebody gotta make a movie about this man, what a legend!
totally agree!
It's so wild a couple game designers can do such a good job interviewing our Vets! There are people who's entire YT Channel/MO is Interviewing Combat Veterans and ya know they should take a couple pointers from you guys because every interview y'all do is phenomenal! I watched this a couple years ago and i just ran across it again and it's still awesome! Good job, fellas! 💪
NjG
Love Mr. Jim
This man has such a calming demeanor while talking about his intense experiences.
Thank you for sharing with us snippets of your well accomplished life. I would be first in line for any books you pen.
When they are talking bout the enemy grenades.... I was in the transient barracks at our HQ in Danang Aug, 68., on my way to R&R in Hong Kong We woke up to explosions bigger than grenades. It was satchel charges. Though, at the time we thought it was incoming rockets. The end of the building next to us had taken a lot of damages ( Gilbert Secor died in that). We were all passing through, R&R, or meetings. So none of us had equipment. I went out in the hallway and saw a grenade roll just in side the far end of the hall from our room. It was cylindrical and smoking. My mind actually said( very quickly), "it looks like a smoke grenade. Why would someone throw a smoke grenade? I don't care" and went back into our room. It wasn't a smoke grenade. During the next few minutes other grenades rolled into the hall, each getting closer to our room. The last one about 6 feet short. We waited. I was holding the light fixture that blew off the ceiling to use as a bat if one came in our window. And who ever was grenading us did try for our window but hit the outer wall. It went off
That's a fascinating first hand account I'venever heard before - thank you! Can we invite you to post it in our community forum where other veterans may also read it and add their stories about that night?
I have posted it here and will add our copy of the translation of the NVA Sapper Battalions AAR to that page.
community.sogpf.com/threads/356-Sapper-attack-on-fob4-Da-nang?p=987#post987
Sorry you had to go through all that. Satchel charges are bad... I've had a few experiences with them as well... :'-(
@@JumpingJimmyJet Satchel charges from the enemy were part of the "game." The game being war. What was a bit more unexpected was friendly fire.
Once with the Spike team we woke on the side of a trail. Heard voices(not friendlies) and laid low. An aircraft passed over head, then returned and dropped a CBU on the "voices." It landed short and we were untouched. But we used every radio we had, to ask them to stop bombing. While waiting, the radio operator at FOB2, wished us a "Happy Easter."
Another time, with the team, we got inserted and a few minutes later, a plane dropped a bomb close to where we got off the Huey. We decided two things. 1-Sometimes bombing the insertion loc was a good cover. But letting us know it was planned would have been nice. 2- It was time to accelerate our departure from the area.
On a "practice" hatchet force op, I was with the small squad (George Pointin was lead) to drive supposed enemy into an ambush(hammer/anvil ). The point man fired his M-79 ahead of us. It armed and detonated very close, proly hitting a branch. One piece of shrapnel hit my chest, didn't penetrate.
I had a couple more friendly fire (or accidental) events that I would not have minded, missing out on. So, in retrospect, incoming anything from the enemy was more expected/acceptable, in a way.
@@CandC68 That's some crazy stuff...
Rob asked some fantastic questions, good job guys.
Thanks Tom. It was a tough interview as we were so awedby our subject. Jim put us at our ease so well, but there was so much we wanted to ask, and getting the right words in the moment of a live interview is not always easy, especially at 1 in the morning! Jim was so great though he kept me alert til 4am...!
What an incredible life Jim has had - Great interview once again
Amazing video that’s documentary quality interview right there. I will use some of those information and facts to plan my mission edition in the future. Thank you guys for sharing and taking the time for it.
What an amazing, inspiring interview!
"What's the difference between a ship and a boat"?
Those guys must have been laughing their asses off at your answer after you left the room. Would have made you a flag officer if it were in their power.
Much, much respect, sir.
Thank you... I was offered a field commission 3 times. I turned it down, Officers don't get to have the fun us enlisted dudes have. ;-)
Dang jimmy.... Amazing ! Can’t wait to hear more from you!
WOW! What an amazing life of dedication, excitement and sacrifice. Get that book done "Wild Carrot " ASAP! I'LL be waiting for its release. Be Well.
Super interview. So grateful for the service of these men.
Thanks for sharing Jim, it is amazing to hear your stories!
I’ve enjoyed this series of interviews so much! This is my favourite. Just incredible stories and he is so engaging. Please write a book! 🙏
Love the photos at the end.
By far the most amazing person I've every heard of. As impressive as Johnny Kim the astronaut. Hoping to hear more of him and his story.
Great interview, loved the stories from "Wild Carrot".
What a Career!! What a Guy!!…
Wonder how many Angels God assigned to Jim!!
Thanks very much for this video - I really enjoyed this interview. It was really interesting. Jim is an amazing guy with some great stories. Funny how different Jim and John are in personality types!
I just take life as it comes. I don't let anything get to me, no matter how hard it may be. Actually these missions were a lot tougher than I present them to be. I have a habit of playing things down... I'll expand on them a bit more when I write the books... Best wishes, jimi ;-)
Hi, just wanted to say Great Job. Really wonderful depiction, thank you.
SOG is the best podcast ever------------
He invented the Camelbak and never got any credit for it.
LOL, I'm sure some other guys did it as well ;-)
What a great interview!
Jim thank you for your service !!
Thank you for sharing!
What a badass dude. I hope I can contact him and thank him for doing this interview, he's clearly a bright guy, and I'm glad to say that he's one of my countrymen.
a true american hero. Navy, Army SF, air force PJ. Doctor. i hope to be half the man this man is!
I'm sure you are ;-)
Wonderful interview. One of many. Does anyone else find the ending music/pictures captivating?
I was playing this DLC a month or so ago, and this guy sounds a lot like a guy in game that helped me when I got bit by a snake while fighting. He put anti-venom, food and water in my backpack. Would be amazing if it was Jim.
Thank y’all for doing these interviews and the work for the game! Incredible!
Hey Jim! Lee Burkins here. Glad to see you living well.
What an amazing man! Awesome isn’t even enough of a word just awe inspiring, wish I could thank him for his service but if he does see this , Thank you will never be enough.
We are collecting questions for our live discussion with 5 MACV SOG legends this Friday / Saturday (24-25 September 2021) here
sogpf.tiny.us/run
It’s interesting to see the gear the early SOG guys had vs what the guys carried later (e.g., 30-40 round mags instead of those dang 20 round ones).
A lot changed from FOB to FOB and from man to man and month to month. It was an ever evolving setup.
Arthritis- Lower back 1-5, OHSU,, Iv'e lived with it for a long time. Is this different than joints that have the 300 types of it? Should I be asking for the clarification of classification? Thanks. Great stories Jim. Thanks to the USA, Utube, and the folks getting the details...
14:42 Reminds me of the river ferry scene in Outlaw Josey Wales.
This man is crazy but heroic. This will sound self-impressed, but I have frequently had to have that risk and adrenaline need throughout my active life I took on the toughest criminal defense cases for trial at the request of judges--they estimated around 300 major felony cases--of those about 40 were murder trials. While I was doing the build, repair and them drove them---midgets and sprints ; the deadliest race cars of any type--- on weekdays I was doing those trials. I was a big water (1 mile wide Mississippi River) waterfowl hunting guide---November- December each year. Peers say I just had to have that danger and risk to live a happy and productive life. It was BRUTAL for my wife and daughter. Starting at 16, my daughter learned and became my crew chief at the track until about age 20. At 44 years old, she still remembers the firing order of the V-8 Small Block Chevy engine. She and my wife refused to be absent when I raced. They saw some awful wrecks in those races, but even when seriously injured, I crawled out. Very lucky !
What a life
1:26:30 “we got hit by an RPG... nothing serious”
balls of steel!!
The part where I say "the first time I was wounded, that was funny" well what happened is, I saw the enemy and the guy's asked me ware, so I put a magazine of tracers in my rifle and said, "there" well, all the enemy started shooting back at the tracers LOL, a bullet landed in front of me and kicked up a chunk of wood, it flew up and hit me square in the left eye, blood was all over the place... Moral of the story, "don't mark your position with a mag of tracers" LOL
@@JumpingJimmyJet incredible stories, thank you for sharing them!
AMAZING HUMAN BEING!
Every SOG guy gets told dont go here- they all said "ok-challenge accepted" everytime its hilarious! I dont know how they walk around because they have the biggest balls on the face of the earth I swear!!! Im so mad that here we have the most elite guys on the planet but yet no1 talks about them in history classes and during the time we are studying vietnam war! Its a travesty that more people dont know about these absolute heros!!!! I made damn sure my son knows about them and proud 2 yeach him about these men!! Not enough words to describe how proud I am to be from the same country as these warriors! Thank you for EVERY single 1 of them living and dead, and thank you for your sacrifices, bravery, and courage in your service for us here in the US and world too.
that's a very cool comment, thank you
@@SavageGameDesign Its the truth plain and simple, but Im thankful that they're getting a chance to document & talk to these heroes b4 its too late. It makes me sad to think that how we have acted as a country these last few years, I think, "We don't deserve men like this" sometimes. But anyway thank you for being a part of getting the rare chance to talk to them so we can learn from them. So few survived to begin with so these heroes are of a rare breed!
I finally know what Rob looks like. Lol good job guys I miss you all I just got praire fire
Oooo this round eye gets it
Better than Joe Rogan
Well duh Rogan is a major douche and has nothing on these guys
wish you guys put this great game in to Arma Reforger.
Wow Man!
I grew up playing Military games. Starting with Medal Of Honor and Call Of Duty. Alot of WW2 era games eventually leading to Modern Games. But as great as they were. I thought I knew what Warfare felt like. Well as much as one can know without having been there. I was wrong. Playing Arma 3 has been Intense and Made me reevaluate my knowledge from before. I am in a server with tons of others and In game. fighting to take all the AO's on the map. Facing VC Ambushes, Mortar Fire. You name it. All part of the Experience of the Vietnam War. I feel now. I have experienced alot more and I appreciate the Vietnam Vets. Even more then I did before playing. To all the Vietnam Vets. I want to say. Thank you for what you did. Seeing that in game was. Incredible. And Scary at the same time. [those ambushes are insane] I am where I am Today because of what those guys did. And my Freedom. is due to everyone who wears a Uniform.
This guy needs to be on a Wheaties box !
The carrot is awesome, just dripping with arrogance, total badass.
Wow, great show. Subscribed!! Thanks for showin me u exist😸 ... Don't worry, itsa good thing😹 b beast 🗡🍯💜🥀🐺🍻
Ps. Thank u so much for ur words of encouragement on my PTSD. 🙏💕🍻
10:22 damn had to catch himself there haha
What didn’t he do? What a great guy! I feel like I’m such an underachiever.
don't we all? Jim is such a nice guy too. He's saved countless lives as a doctor since.
The two dislikes are VC
LOL, I have a lot of respect for the enemy... They can take your life... I have always treated others the way I'd want to be treated... ;-)
@@JumpingJimmyJet Jimi thank you for your service and the reply you made my day. Take care
@@d-drizzle Any time brother
Good Lord, one guy did all this?!!!! No way could they make a movie, and his autobiography would be as thick as Ben Hur…
SOG men are truly unique
👍
Where can we get the music?
store.steampowered.com/app/1616620/Arma_3_Creator_DLC_SOG_Prairie_Fire_Soundtrack/
captured 7 or 8 guys... wasnt that like 5 days R&R and a 100 dollar bonus per dude? talk about a payday!
I took around 13 or 15 prisoners while I ran in Vietnam. No bonus checks for them. I never took a prisoner in Laos or Cambodia.
wooow so intersting
Is there anything that Jim hasn’t done yet?
He hasn't played Arma 3 Prairie Fire, but we mean to change that!
@@SavageGameDesign it’s a great DLC! So glad y’all were able to interview these legendary people! Thank you for what you do!
Lots of things I haven't done yet ;-) Still in my bucket to do :-)
Moose ‘s first name is Alton.
I thinkjim is getting the RPK confused with the RPD the RPK used 75 round drums the ROD is belt fed and the drum held 100 regularly but SOG could load it to 125 to make it quiter and more ammo
yeah most likely. these guys handled so much warsaw pact ordnance in their careers
@@SavageGameDesign plus it been 50 years and there not gun guys at least gun guys like I am
Promotion Board story ...Hilarious!
I grew up in Colorado too, wonder where this gentleman is from exactly
He's from Liverpool , England of Irish extraction which would explain the red hair and his slightly mental attitude 😀
@@Paulywauly1969 LOL I love it
I was born in Liverpool, England. moved to the USA and raised in Evergreen Colorado. Went to High Sylmar School, Los Angeles/ San Fernando Valley area of California. I went to college in San Jose California. Did my doctor training in the Bay Area and my residency in Radiology in Saint Louis, Missouri. My practice was in Tucson, Arizona...
@@JumpingJimmyJet you can tell I'm ex army .... I did a full recce before posting my comment .... salutè my friend.
Whose the kid doin the interview a civilian legg?????:-)🤔
Sam was 173rd, so he ain't no leg.
I'm a brit, ex-sailor and marine reservist, so yep I'm a leg!
We made the video game, the other guys ran the real missions ;)
What is ARMA? Like some SOG or Mike F nickname I have not heard? Sorry for my ignorance, my time was 01-13... Not the 60's 🤨😉
Voice actors? Ok nevermind, is it a movie or a documentary? I kept hearing about voice overs
Nevermind its a f'in game LMAO... Never heard of it
@@hissyhonker220 yeah the SOG vets featured on our channel worked with us for 5 years to make a video game telling their units story. See www.sogpf.com for more info
@@SavageGameDesign I will definitely check that out.. my uncle W.E. "Whit" Whitaker was LRRP.. hehe used to say he was lucky cause he got to Nam on Jan 19 of 68.. get it? Lol was a joke for vets, he got there at Hue the day before TET popped off, he was all up and down the perfume river over at Khe Sahn but "never, ever, ever went to Cambodia or laos, cause we we're not allowed there" he had a great sense of humor. Here in NC I volunteer at local VFW halls and do some video interviews with the guys willing to talk, it seems to really help some of these guys, it's sad but I got into doing this cause one day I was walking out of a pawnshop I buy flintlocks at and a navy Nam guy walks in, I just told him, I know it's a few days late and heck of a lot of dollars short, but welcome home G.I. and gave him a 20 and said go get some ice cream... The guy, Ron just looked at me and then cried I felt like shit and then he said no one ever said that to me but my wife and mother, he told me he and his buddies when they got back home changed at the airport and threw their uniforms away because guys were being targeted... Next thing I know I'm 5 hours late getting home because we talked forever and then I got invited to a local halls chicken stew and showed up in my uncle's jungle blouse and erdl trousers and boots and next thing I know I'm being called "cookie" whatever that means and I'm doing Interviews and welfare checks on the guys who live alone.. it's been 5 years now.. I love our nam boys, I hope they all find piece.. anyway sorry for the rant, I will definitely check this out it seems very interesting.. it's kinda funny to think of a Nam guy playing a "Vidya game" LMAO as my uncle would say. Keep up the solid work and always remember, keep your powder dry!
@@hissyhonker220 you're doing GODS WORK there. Salute.
Khan Doan aka Cowboy podcast, (mentioned by Jim)
th-cam.com/video/1Ca73ynwzTs/w-d-xo.html
Just wanna see if i could get killed...... How does he walks WITH EM BALLS OF STEEEEEELLLLLL
I won a contest one time for having the smallest balls on the A-team... and it's true... LOL
I heard the Vietnamese were scared to death of redheads and if they were captured they'd really do a job on them. Please ask this guy if he knew Jake Bowditch
Tom Cruz??? You gotta be shi--ing! Hell ...why not Benny Hill? Tom Crus....?
I was told that the Vietnamese was scared to death of redheads and they would really f÷÷÷ them up if captured
If you have enemy signs at both landing sights saying hello, and them calling by name, telling you to call the chopper back in, how does that happen? Look at planning- 2 drop zones, when is the mission planned, you have radio comms compromised or double agents in camp right? You could have someone selling the intel? He hasnt talked about how this occurred yet in the vids I've listened to...Not cool.
It's common knowledge amongst SOG vets about the moles and leaks they endured.
he looks so mild mannered for an epic badass.