The studies and observations group sog was formally organized on 24 january 1964 by general order 6, headquarters, united states military assistance command, vietnam, dated 24 january 1964. In 1964 military assistance command, vietnam, activated a joint unconventional task force known as the studies and obser. He continues to study and observe and continues to enjoy learning the fascinating story of the most effective and secretive unit that operated in the vietnam conflict. Us macv sog reconnaissance team in vietnam warrior. Macvsog was the cover name for an organisation that was founded to carry out covert operations in and around north and south vietnam. Military assistance command, vietnam, studies and observations group macv sog was a highly classified, multiservice united states special operations unit which conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the vietnam war. We were both in b co of the 1st group and had not yet been assigned to an a team which happened after an ftx in the philip. At the time of its inception it was designated as the special operations group, and consisted of six officers and two enlisted men and was under the.
Us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam by gordon l. This website has been established for former advisory team members military and civilian, as well as facs, shotguns, naval, air. Army macv studies and observations group macvsog army. Personal accounts from the veterans of vietnam s studies and observation group. In 1968, every macvsog recon man was wounded at least once, and about half were killed. Join thousands of satisfied visitors who discovered sog seal knife, us army military records and army special forces. On 28 november 1970 recon team kentucky was conducting a longrange reconnaissance mission in attopeu province, laos, near the triborder area of vietnam, laos and cambodia.
The citation is awarded to units for extraordinary heroism in action. Us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam warrior book. Paliski, ssg e6, usasf, det a1212, macv sog, 5th sf group, b53, kiarr. Finally, nnr has accessioned the military prime contract. Team history of a clandestine army, volume 10 is now available. Textual records relating to pows and mias from the vietnam war for more information about the records described in parts iia and iib, contact the textual archives services division, national archives at college park. While denying involvement, north vietnam had long supported the insurgency with arms, munitions, supplies, and advisers. Us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam overdrive. Us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam gordon rottman. As a cover its mission was to conduct analysis of lessons learned in combat involved all branches of service. Sog s real mission was to conduct covert strategic reconnaissance missions into laos, cambodia and south vietnam as well as sabotage and black. Smith, jeffrey, general counsel, central intelligence agency. Reference information paper 90a finding aid to records relating to american prisoners of war and missing in action from the vietnam war era, 19601994 table of contentspart ii. Sep 20, 2011 us macv sog reconnaissance team in vietnam warrior rottman, gordon l.
The medal of honor was awarded to nine macv sog men, including lieutenant tom morris, a seaairland forces seal officer, and lieutenant loren hagen, the last u. With small reconnaissance teams numbering less than 10 men, macv sog tied down thousands of nva troops, provided invaluable. All sog vets are welcome to submit any stories for publication here. In 1964 military assistance command, vietnam, activated a joint. Us macvsog reconnaissance teams in vietnam, gordon l. History of the military assistance command, vietnam macv. Us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam osprey publishing. Macvsog recon casualties exceeded 100 percent, the highest sustained american loss rate since the civil war. Macv teams military assistance command teams vietnam. Throughout the 1960s the insurgency in south vietnam gradually escalated. Army member to be awarded the medal of honor in vietnam.
The military assistance command, vietnam, studies and observations group macv sog was activated, january 24, 1964, to function as a joint special operations task force. Rich known also as dick, rich and rj did not talk much about vietnam. Voir plus didees sur le theme guerre du vietnam, guerre et vietnam. But despite such high losses, macvsog boasted the highest kill ratio in u. The aim of the group is to understand the missions macvsog undertook during the vietnam war by exploring its tactics and equipment. In midafternoon, the team, which consisted of two us special forces soldiers and a number of arvn special forces personnel, was attacked by a companysized enemy force. Us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam warrior book 159 english edition ebook. Us army special forces 19611971 army center of military history. Oct 11, 2017 military assistance command, vietnam studies and observations group macvsog aka macsog or just simply sog was a top secret, diversely functional us special operations team that practiced clandestine and some black ops untraditional combat missions before and during the vietnam war 1. Us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam facebook.
Macv teams were out there alone not on base camps, air bases or at sea. Us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam ebook by gordon l. The united states military assistance command, vietnam, known as macv pronounced macvee, was a joint service command under the department of defense. Vietnamese commandos senate select committee on intelligence. The hard cover, 400 page publication has a dust jacket with over a thousand period photographs and artifacts. Us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam warrior, band. Aug 08, 2007 missing in action since 10 may 1971, after his longrange reconnaissance team asp was inserted into western quang nam province 12 miles from laos on 3 may 1971. Gordon l rottman served in the 5th special forces group in vietnam in 196970, and then went on to make the army his career. Small groups of americans often in remote areas supported only by vietnamese forces whose capabilities and loyalty were sometimes suspect. Us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam warrior, band 159 gordon l.
Miltary assistance command vietnam special operations group macv sog daniel boone emergency 23 october 1967 by. Military assistance command, vietnam studies and observations group macvsog was a highly classified, multiservice united states special operations unit which conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the vietnam war. Editions for us macv sog reconnaissance team in vietnam. Jan 01, 2011 us macv sog reconnaissance team in vietnam book. Macv was created on february 8, 1962 in order to increase assistance to south vietnam as well as command and control all advisory and assistance efforts in vietnam. Commandos had a love affair with captured ak47s medium. Editions of us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam by. Sogs real mission was to conduct covert strategic reconnaissance missions into laos, cambodia and south vietnam as well as sabotage and black. Read us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam by gordon l. The presidential unit citation army was awarded to macvsog military assistance command, vietnam studies and observations group, during a ceremony at ft. Gene paliskis and i ran around a lot together back on okinawa in 63. Macvsog the black operators of the vietnam war the.
Dennis paul neal, captain, reconnaissance patrol leader, command and control north, macv sog. Headquarters macv, yet there were many more let by other agencies of the us federal government in south vietnam. Jim burns, usaf retired i was flying as a flight mechanicdoor gunner on a u. Us macv sog reconnaissance team in vietnam go by iva. From 1964 to 1972, far beyond the battlefields of vietnam and the glare of media distortions, american green berets and their indigenous troops fought a deadly secret war in laos, cambodia and north vietnam under the aegis of the top secret military assistance command vietnam studies and observations group, or simply sog. Macvsog mia sog chronicles the secret war in vietnam. Military assistance command, vietnam macv was a jointservice command of the united states department of defense macv was created on 8 february 1962, in response to the increase in united states military assistance to south vietnam. Records of military assistance command, vietnam macv.
We are seeking all veterans who have served in korea, united states forces korea, usfk, both in the korean war and in the time after along the demilitarized zone, dmz, and with the 2nd infantry division, camp red cloud, yongsan garrison, camp carrol, camp castle, camp sears, camp mobile, and all other. These were contracts let by the state department, the agency for international development and so on. It is my understanding that my brother, richard j mcdonald, served in vietnam with macv team 21 from about july 1968 to august 1969. This is the home page of the korean war veterans of lake county florida, chapter 169. Military assistance command, vietnam studies and observations group macv sog was a highly classified, multiservice united states special operations unit which conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the vietnam war established on 24 january 1964, the unit conducted strategic reconnaissance missions in the republic of vietnam south vietnam, the. In 1964 military assistance command, vietnam, activated a joint unconventional task force known as the studies and observation groupmacvsog. A silidy \\a conducted by the macv siaff to determine the desirabilit, of com. Editions for us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam. Richard who has lived in delta junction, alaska for more than 25 years passed away december 24, 2018. Vietnam recon team still mia after 47 years sofrep.
This in turn has focused his interest in specialised units leading to a portrayal of u. Special forces in vietnam from which most of the macv sog have volunteered from. In 1964 military assistance command, vietnam, activated a joint unconventional task force known as the studies and observation group macv sog. United states military assistance command, vietnam office 01 the commonder apo son froncisco 96243 foreword the enemy we face in south vietnam today, both regular and guerrilla forces, is challenging us with many old fighting techniques and a few new ones. Alaska ccn, asp ccn, diamondback ccn and virginia ccn in a chronological pictorial order. Ospreys study of the military assistance command of the vietnam war 19551975. In his first vietnam combat tour he was macv g3 air liaison officer for the 35th. Dec 23, 2011 us macv sog reconnaissance team in vietnam by gordon l. It was fought for eight years under the aegis of the military assistance command vietnam studies and observations group, or simply sog. All material contained in this section is ed and remains the property of the authorowner unless otherwise noted. Macvsog was the cover name for an organisation that was founded to carry out. Us macvsog reconnaissance team in vietnam gordon l rottman illustrated by brian delf osprey publishing. As a cover its mission was to conduct analysis of lessons learned in combat by all branches of service.
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