MACV-SOG - Mother of Elite SF | Studies & Observations Group {Marine Reacts}

[@GlassWolfLH]

I can vouch for this. My father served two tours in Viet Nam, with SOG. He never spoke much about it, before his exposure to Agent Orange caught up with him in the form of cancer. When my mother went back to the VA many years later to claim his death benefits, she handed over his records. The entire section of his 30-year service covering his time in Viet Nam was redacted with black marker. The VA said they saw no proof he was on the ground in Viet Nam in his records. We eventually convinced the VA of his service by showing them old photos of him, in uniform, nevt to Montagnards and the gifts they'd given him as a thanks for his service (bracelets, a rooster, etc..) I still have his green beret, and tags, and his original SOG knife, and 1911.

[@forddriver8827]

I'm sorry your father was shown so little respect.

[@bobbyj0nes911]

Thats awesome man you must be very proud.

[@Fouremyleofceres]

My Dad was SF and SOG and died of cancer. No benefits for my Mom. Can we help each other?

[@krushtyy]

take care of those momentos

[@5jjt]

@Blue88 Try calling a VA benefits attorney

[@Chernobyl_Noble]

You mentioned shooting someone with a .50 cal bullet being illegal. I remember when I got trained on the .50 and my instructor told me the same thing. He said "We are only supposed to shoot at the enemies equipment with this weapon, so aim at their dog tags. Because dog tags are government issued equipment."

[@adjcsee4476]

Well damn. That's some precise shooting right there.

[@ArtisChronicles]

@@adjcsee4476 I mean, you don't necessarily have to hit the tags. Just be aiming for them. Stuff moves, accidents happen etc.

[@thelonevaultwanderer673]

Ha I love that!

[@darrenjackson1330]

For one shooting someone with a .50 cal is not illegal. Considering the M2 is an infantry weapon designed for anti-personnel which it even shows in the manual how to engage personnel in multiple formations.

[@FeWolf]

50 cal is legal, it is used against equipment on the person

[@footballtitann]

My grandpa was a SOG member. Didn’t know about it until he passed away. He was an Air Force pilot. I’m very honored to be his grandson.

[@MenaCourtadeProductions]

I am Honored to have a neighbor that showed me his MACV-SOG patch and his uniform. The stories he tells I pray I can make a film.

[@donoberloh]

Stories? Maybe.. hmmm

[@92GreyBlue]

DO IT.

[@davogeorge4525]

@@donoberloh not every operator or nam vet is a closed book, Victoria cross winner and sas operator mark Donaldson said in his autobiography that his dad (who was a Vietnam vet) never talked to him about the war, but he use to tell the neighbors kids about it, his mother told him it was because it was easier to share these things with strangers than his own family.

[@davogeorge4525]

@Mike Fitzpatrick rain can be a little like that in the Australian outback, in the northern territory theres only two seasons, the dry season and the wet season.

[@oif3vetk9]

@@davogeorge4525 one of my ex grandfather in laws served in Patton's spearhead during ww2. He never talked about it to anyone until one day we were deer hunting. Everybody else went out to hunt and I decided to hang back with grandpa at camp. (by that time he couldn't hunt anymore but still enjoyed going to deer camp) We sat on the tailgate of his truck and drank coffee with brandy in it. We just sat there talking and he was asking me things about the "modern army" (I was in at the time). One thing led to another and next thing I knew he was telling me about his time in Europe. I just listened. I knew I was hearing history. He talked until the guys started filtering back into camp for lunch. Soon as they came back he stopped. Why he told me what he did I have no idea I'm just thankful to have heard it.

[@Ramsed1]

Been reading John Stryker Meyer's books & it's blood chilling stuff, he says many times that the LAST GRENADE he carried was in case he was getting captured he would take as many with him as he could but he was NEVER going to be taken alive...they ALL knew what would happen to them. Also amazing how much ammo etc they carried, he says they would not take food so that space would be made for more mags, claymores, grenades etc. Heroism that the average person can't even begin to dream of was SOP to them. Humbles you to read it.

[@aarone1981]

That guy is amazing. He has 4 podcasts with Jocko, everyone should watch them now! Our grenade launchers and claymore mines were extremely effective, these guys were often outnumbered 50-1

[@Rikalonius]

Meyer's book is great. So is Nick Brokhausen's We Few and Whispers in the Tall Grass. They are very much from a first person point of view, but you learn a great deal about how SOG operated.

[@aarone1981]

I have read a ton of Vietnam War books but only SOG by John Plaster, not the other 2, I will buy them, thanks. My favorite Vietnam book recently is Hue 1968 by Mark Bowden. What a brutal fight that was. An amazing book though.

[@jsj01999]

Great book about some amazing warriors

[@jcaleca60]

My buddy was in the village of Chi-Chi Special Forces camp he said a lot went on the casualty rate was high God bless those American Heroes

[@timothydixon2094]

My older brother served in the group. He will always be my hero. May rest in peace.

[@chrishandsome4267]

Your older brother is a legend

[@redzen5149]

Rules of engagement, were written by those who never had to engage.

[@richardmorris2634]

Or as Churchill put it "If you ever fought a good war you never made a good peace, if you ever made a good peace you never fought a good war"

[@eeshsinger]

red zen they're just a bunch of puss puss and dont understand the harsh reality of war aka people will break rules just to win

[@SwiggityPeanut]

the entire point of the Geneva Convention is to limit undue suffering. War doesnt have to include atrocities. Its called empathy and compassion. Removing the rules of engagement will turn some of these heroes into monsters. For the life of me I can not understand why anyone would argue against the Geneva Conventions. You can fight a war without gassing entire populations, dropping white phosphorous on people and buildings, torching villages etc. Combat is an ugly thing. Theres nothing glorious about it. But that doesnt mean it should devolve into wanton violence, which without the rules of engagement, it most definitely will. We are humans, not animals.

[@thomasfisher7391]

Sl1m I think he means along the lines of don’t shoot unless shot at types of rules of engagement. People could point loaded weapons at you and you couldn’t shoot them. I have even heard of times where you could be in an engagement and the enemy could just break off and run to an area you cannot shoot or destroy and just get away. Just saying some ROES need to be redone

[@redzen5149]

@@thomasfisher7391 @Sl1m Long story short, ask the enemy if they concur with the rules of engagement.

[@ferdterguson124]

If you are sf and you have an eyepatch.... no questions asked, 100% ultra badass

[@nastybastardatlive]

What if his eye was poked out by his lovers member? Dangerous to jump to conclusions when you don't know all the facts.

[@sjtv6565]

@@nastybastardatlive That's still more badass than anything you'll ever do

[@ourchh]

@@nastybastardatlive obama

[@daneblackburn613]

He is jealous his lover hasn’t poked his eye out with his member.

[@Chernobyl_Noble]

Real life Snake Plissken. :D

[@AlexBall-ft9xr]

MACV-SOG members are absolute heroes.

[@mortdemott5786]

Knew about them when I was in Nam. A group was stationed at the camp I was at near Cambodia. Patched a couple of them up one night after a ambush but was told not to discuss it.

[@JamesonsTravels]

They did not come into the public view until years later. Imagine that today.

[@c.b.2838]

@@JamesonsTravels yes sir. There is a group exactly like them. They’re called the CIA special activities center. Please look them up. Very little is known about them. We do know that they were in every major conflict in the last 30 years. Even rare pictures of them in early 2001 in Afghanistan!!

[@c.b.2838]

@@JamesonsTravels they also recruit primarily from delta force and seal team 6!

[@tomanginator]

@@c.b.2838 so then they were MAC-A-SOG?

[@c.b.2838]

@@tomanginator they’re like them in many ways. And the army unit ISA. Extremely secretive

[@GabeTheGrump]

That tiger stripe camo is still awesome one of my favorites

[@CAL1MBO]

The best.

[@reggierico]

I flew with a guy who'd been in SOG. He carried a hammerless Smith & Wesson revolver in his flight boot. One of the amazing missions he was in involved observing troop and materiel movement along mountain trails and if possible kidnap/capture an enemy officer. His team had seven guys and a dog. Three of the team members were indigenous Montagiards and the others were SF. They did manage to capture a guy, but were compromised and detected upon their exfil. They ended up dispatching the dog and the prisoner and had a running gunfight for hours through the jungle as they made their way to an emergency exfil site to be picked up by helicopter. The Montagiards did not make it to the helicopter and my friend credits his survival to their sacrifice.

[@Tilukis]

They ended up just popping the officer and the dog?

[@reggierico]

@@Tilukis Yes, that's correct. War is hell.

[@playboyfan001]

@@reggierico war is indeed absolute hell. They should make it mandatory for all people considering enlisting for a combat role to expose themselves to first hand accounts of combat. Either written or footage. For me it was lone survivor. After reading that book at age 13 I knew I’d never ever want to willingly subject myself to anything the military had to offer and I salute all those who do.

[@gavinchia5841]

Probably the best SF's units are the ones that we will never hear about.

[@kierenboimufc5940]

E-squadron work under MI6

[@American-Dragon]

My cousin was a green beret. He did all sorts of things that were classified. Went in as a private in the late 70s. Did sf as a medic, went on to become a nurse of anesthesiology. His unit got mortared in Baghdad Airport. Had some sort of anti mortar nets over the hospital. 100% casualties 100% lived. Medical retirement as a major.

[@nota4688]

KierenBOI MUFC SAD. Much less known about then other SF groups and picked from top tier ones such as DEVGRU and CAG

[@yjy5448]

@@kierenboimufc5940 Z FORCE....AUSIES

[@yjy5448]

@TheGodEmperorofMankind UNTRUE.. MY FORMER MENTOR, NOW PAST SINCE 1998 WAS EX US AIR FORCE COMMANDO...THE BEST U RARELY HEAR ABOUT YOUNGSTER....NEVER COMPROMISE YOUR UNIT OR CAPABILITIES... TEARS OF THE SUN, WAS ACTUALLY A JTF2 OPERATION BECAUSE THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT DID NOT WANT THE PUBLICITY...HENCE, IN COMES BRUCE WILLIS AND THE US SEALS...THERE IS A GOOD DEAL U DONT KNOW KIDDO.

[@kerryrimildi2320]

When I went through basic we was told only shoot equipment with 50 caliber and one guy said isn't your pistol belt and your steel pot equipment. Haha

[@JamesonsTravels]

exactly the same thing for us.

[@serpent645]

@@JamesonsTravels same here

[@comfortablynumb9342]

A shirt is equipment, a button is fair game.

[@davidr1676]

That's what we said about our WP shells. Burn the rifle right out of their hands and that stuff.

[@davidr1676]

I'm against unnecessary Nuclear or stuff like Sarin or VX or Mustard Gas that I got to hear about from an old relative that was in WWI. Biological I'm opposed to but if we could safely vaccinate our own and allies and hit the enemy it is in theory not bad but shit mutates and escapes. I fear an EMP attack on us about as much as anything else. Beyond that; hollow points, mines, booby traps, CS, WP, cluster munitions, shelling entire areas, Napalm, assassination, incapacitating agents, and more are all fine by me. No use of .50 cal on people? How do we explain 20mm, 25 mm, 30mm guns strafing infantry except as a waste of expensive ammo on troops in open. AC-130's, artillery? Artillery mainly kills by causing internal injuries by shock waves and not shrapnel and HIMARS and MLRS and the guns on the gunships hit with heavier stuff than .50 cal but I may be wrong on the gatling guns but maybe those are bigger than I'm thinking. Should build A10 variant with a .50 cal gun or a pair tucked on each side and give them Hellfires and other to hit tanks and structures and APCs. They don't hold enough 30 mm for using on troops in a near peer war anyhow. Saying that, I'd be up for us building another 1000 of a modern version with whatever big gun as that is a plane that is beautiful to see bearing down on some trucks.

[@kpkelly99998811]

My father was a FAC (66-67) attached to a SOG unit for air support. He was totally in awe of these guys!!!

[@suppo6092]

Lauri Törni or Larry Thorne served in that unit during Vietnam war and died on his second tour in helicopter crash. "Soldier of three armies" Finnish, SS/German and American Officer.

[@ismoteivainen1028]

His picture is in time 14:02 in the video.

[@suppo6092]

​@@ismoteivainen1028 Must've missed it.

[@r.daillee1034]

I had a friend who described his combat service in Viet Nam as "Black Ops." The only thing he would say about what he did was: "We did horrifying things in places we weren't supposed to be." I have first-hand knowledge that these teams still exist; they train in Central and South America. Those guys have no rules of engagement, they "don't exist." Make no mistake, the majority of high ranking military officers wouldn't think twice about sacrificing even elite troops to win a significant military victory to rack up sufficient prestige as a strategic commander. That's the only way they get promoted to the rarified atmosphere of General Officers. When military officers get beyond the rank of Army "Bird" Colonel, or the equivalent in the other services, they are as much politicians as they are military, likely more. There's a reason Congress has to approve a promotion to the rank of General Officer or its equivalent. History is littered with examples of top military brass shitting on active soldiers and veterans to keep politicians happy so they can further their military careers.

[@1monkey1typewriter]

That actually explains a lot.

[@scorpianbliz]

Sound legit

[@Northman.56]

Well said mate.

[@ibubezi7685]

Westmoreland was a Democrat - in uniform. Butchering his troops, losing the war for Johnson and McNamara - the three of them have blood on their hands - tankers full of blood. Let's hope they burn in an ocean on napalm.

[@nashobasipokni3628]

Step father was SOG, in country 68'-69'. Never understood why he only had tons of photos of Saigon and his motel until he spoke in the late 1980's. Was dropped with foreign weapons and clothing, no I.D., over borders for surgical effect. He gave a lot but got out alive. RIP Charlie

[@yoloswaggins2161]

People criticize the US for going into Cambodia and Laos, not asking themselves why they were there. Some SOG units would find entire NVA divisions across those borders. I'm all for respecting borders and neutrality but if there are tens of thousands of enemy troops in there you have no choice to at least keep tabs on em.

[@aarone1981]

We needed many more Puff the Magic Dragon gunships, but back then they didn't have the 105 mm howitzer

[@Rikalonius]

We "lost' the Vietnam war because we didn't shut off the Ho Chi Min trail. The Chinese and Russian equipped soldiers from the North would stream into Laos and Cambodia and do hit and run inside South Vietnam. SOG proved that neither country was in any way neutral. SOG also kept entire divisions pinned down in those countries trying to deal with them, so they weren't attacking other Americans.

[@aarone1981]

The AC-130s would rip them to shreds along the trail, but it was hard to see under triple canopy jungle and they immediately repaired any damage we did along the trail, and eventually they brought in Anti-aircraft artillery to defend the trail. In retrospect, we should have really focused on destroying their supply lines, but they were clever, using Laos and Cambodia. They didn't play by the same rules. I guess the AC130s did get the 105 mm howitzer, but not until 1972, by then it was too late. The AC130 is by far my favorite aircraft. John Meyer talks about getting saved by the gunship's miniguns, firing with extreme accuracy, when they were close to being overrun.

[@dallasyap3064]

@@aarone1981 I love that AC130 gunship. Favourite gunship, it can blast the enemy to hell. Yeah it was too late when it enter service.

[@americanmilitiaman88]

Should of used VX

[@kryptyk3]

My uncle was Force Recon (also a scout sniper) in Vietnam, and was recruited in To MACV-SOG. He told me their last test to get into the the Unit was called, "Bet your life" , which was a,'real world mission'... He still won't say anything more about it... Also found out that a neighbor of mine, (a SEAL), in Vietnam operated in the same unit as him.. Both men scary the sh*t out of me even in their 70's! Yet both are very chill...

[@dallasyap3064]

Damn Force Recons are badasses too.

[@dallasyap3064]

@David Bury I thought MACV-SOG includes not just Green Berets but also Navy SEALs, Force Recons, CIA's SAD & CCTs. I am not sure whether Rangers were part of it or not.

[@c.l.e.a.n.nation]

@@dallasyap3064 you're right, it was definitely a multi service outfit made up of guys from different branches

[@chasespillers1619]

@@dallasyap3064 CIA sad didn’t even exist at that time

[@dallasyap3064]

@@chasespillers1619 yes it already exist. The CIA was founded in 1947.

[@terenceblanchette9059]

I have a friend who was a team leader in SOG. The experience changed him. I am a vet and some of the things he has told me almost makes my blood run cold. Completely respect those guys!!!

[@RoscoEngland]

Hey Jameson, hope you are well buddy. Another good upload, thanks for making my morning considerably more enjoyable! Real impressive pace you've been cranking your uploads out at. I appreciate ya mate!

[@JamesonsTravels]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@nory826]

My old man was attached to MACV. Vietnam 69-70. Hooah.

[@dallasyap3064]

That's awesome. I guess he was either a Green Beret or part of LRRP (Ranger)?

[@_LC23]

My Dad was there 69-70. 4th ID, extended to 1st Cav. Found a MACV card that was his in his wallet when he died in 2015..... Multiple AO presumptives. Heroes🇺🇸💜

[@glenndwyer5786]

Good man,brave man,you have good blood running through you,thank you for your family's sacrifice,surviving or not,it's a sacrifice

[@_LC23]

Nory...my Dad was also there in 69-70. Also attached to MACV...not sure on what capacity yet though, he was DISCOM(Division Support Command) patrol, team Gold....he was either search and destroy, and/or involved in The Phoenix operation aka Pacification. Heroes💜🇺🇸both our Dads. Mine was 4th ID Camp Enari, Pleiku and extended to 1st Cav (AM) in Long Binh. Hooah!!

[@mustafarami8424]

@@_LC23 wait are you talking about MACV? Or MACV-SOG cause there is a difference between the two

[@iakazul]

Been reading the accounts of John Stryker Meyer and the experiences read far more terrifying than any horror novel or movie. Absolutely incredible how these brave operators dealt with such circumstances. Thank you for sharing.

[@markcopeland3892]

He does a podcast on Jocko Wilinks KZbin channel. They call it sogcast. They have 10 so far lot of cool stories

[@michael.waddell]

I think there will always be top tier forces out there that we won't know of, both private mils and government.

[@kylerrrr]

A good example would be E Squadron, obviously most people know about the SAS and SBS, arguably the top SF's, but E Squadron are experienced veterans handpicked from the SAS, SBS and SIS (MI6).

[@dallasyap3064]

@@kylerrrr does the MI6 have a more elite unit/command like the CIA's SAC?

[@kylerrrr]

@@dallasyap3064 Yeah you could say that the SAC is similar to the E Squadron, the main difference is that E Sq orginates from the UK SF's working with the SIS whereas I'm pretty sure the SAC originates from the CIA with the US ex SF's being in the unit

[@dallasyap3064]

@@kylerrrr oh I see. Thanks. However the SAC doesn't just recruit former spec ops soldiers, they also recruit current members if they have to.

[@kylerrrr]

@@dallasyap3064 Ah right nice, both very good units

[@NWIE76]

"KILLING IS KILLING!" Their is no nice way to kill! 50 Cal, 7.62, 5.56, 120 mm Mortar, J Dam! Choking to death on your own blood or choking to death on some poisonous gas, same thing! "DYING IS DYING!" Bottom line..."War is Brutal!" Another great video Marine. Respect and Salute...

[@JJM-qf8dz]

Semper Fidelis

[@danielt.3152]

I agree having done a lot of hunting in my experience dead is dead no matter how you deliver it. Animals get “the look” when they are dying you can see it in their eyes. That is the way of things.

[@NWIE76]

@@danielt.3152 U said it Brother. Amen to that.....

[@4tango123]

Your Wrong. Obviously you never witnessed a man burning to death.

[@paulzsori4761]

I can hear the CO briefing in my head " Men I will rain down hell upon this land before we see you suffer at the hands of our enemy ."

[@felippecordilha4842]

Jocko and the team house podcast have AWESOME episodes with SOG heroes

[@stevebaldwin6904]

In my humble opinion, your best presentation to date. Thank you.

[@ledeyabaklykova]

In the film Apocalypse Now, the Capt Willard character played by Martin Sheen is a lone Green Beret operative assigned to SOG.

[@FATMIKED5183]

And it's clear that he carried out an assassination for the CIA for whatever terror operation they were runnign in South Vietnam to intimidate the VC.Willard was probably a super bad ass with tons of dirt and blood on his hands,halfway to becoming Kurtz.

[@kamuelalee]

@@FATMIKED5183 Willard says he'd assassinated a few people. And that he was being sent out of the scope of Nam to Cambodia.

[@kilroywashere6174]

martin sheen is a liberal hoop sniffer

[@shooter7734]

It was also implied he worked for the Phoenix program, the assassination he spoke of of the vc tax collector was a Phoenix program assignment

[@FATMIKED5183]

@@shooter7734 Thank you,that's the program I was talking about in my comment,but couldn't remember what it was called.

[@finlaymckill2030]

Not going to lie this is probably the earliest time I’ve got up to watch your video. Keep it up 👍🏼.

[@JamesonsTravels]

Thanks! Will do!

[@ShawmahlamaDing]

Remember when the VC's were abiding by the "Geneva Protocol" yeah, me neither.

[@joje1118]

Hung them out to dry during the war, then hung them out again when they got back home. Poor guys.

[@michaeltaylor8835]

Yep. All pawns

[@quitequiet5281]

Redacted...

[@jacobsladder6715]

@@quitequiet5281 perfect way to state it.

[@derekgreene2304]

War is money, rockafellas etc,made a lot of money. One b 52 strike must cost half a million. Its simple, the v cong attack at night, go to ground after, thats why they had to flush m out.

[@nousdefions702]

I’m sure the CIA still has some team of secret squirrel’s running around.

[@dallasyap3064]

Probably, not just the CIA's SOG but the military's JSOC.

[@orlock20]

The CIA liked dead animals, because they though others would find it too gross to pick up the animal and search it.

[@Spacegoat92]

I'd laugh my head off if they were called the SSG "Secret Squirrel Group"

[@lunapetunia3778]

They do, CIA SAC (Special Activities Center). There's also the OGA's, Army ISA and many other military contracting agencies.

[@kylegibbs2410]

Yeah as mentioned before CIA had SAD (Special Activities Division) then they changed it to SAC and the DIA also combined it's team with the CIA newly renamed SAC. Contractors are definitely used even during Vietnam and directly afterwards but sometimes people definitely tend to view PMCs allowed capabilities a little extreme especially since the government got burned before using them in covert operations where they want deniability. If you want to be able to deny something completely you must be able to control it's start it's hard for the government to do with private companies unless they own them to begin with like CIAs famous "Commercial Airline" they owned as a disguise.

[@brandonashbrook4783]

My grandfather was a member of SOG. He was in 1st Reconnaissance BN during the war in the USMC.

[@jonathanellis9898]

The 'SOG of today' that you mentioned might exist... That's surely the CIA SAD unit. Special Activities Division. Pulls from the Tier1 SF units on a person by person basis and nobody knows what the fuck they're up to.

[@RicardoMartins67]

Of course exist... they are called PMC's... Triple Cannopy, GK Sierra, ACADEMI...

[@DukeoftheAges]

i think they still use the sog name in some cases but yeah as far as we know they are still the same group no matter what they call themselves.

[@rykehuss3435]

Sierra117 SF = Special Forces, the Green Berets. You mean SOF, Special Operations Forces. Minor nitpick

[@jasonparrish8796]

CAG is tier 1

[@dallasyap3064]

I don't think they are the same unit. The CIA's SOG is Special Operations Group while this unit is MACV-SOG and if not mistaken is a military unit.

[@davidbaker6941]

"If you live long enough , some day you'll understand , that there ain't no such thing as a Superman".

[@JamesonsTravels]

some guys are braver than others. that is for sure.

[@drewbeeson7117]

@@JamesonsTravels please do a show on the most insane and brave SOG who ever lived. Ted B. Braden.

[@vagabond4576]

You got the Alamo Scouts as well. They were the most successful hostage rescue unit with the least amount of casualties.

[@shooter7734]

Least amount of casualties being an exact number of zero Zero casualties in 110 missions behind enemy lines Unmatched performance

[@Connoryt2]

Someone knows about the Alamo Scouts! Nice! A bunch of badasses.

[@tacklengrapple6891]

SOG is one of the most interesting units to read about from any war. The amount of operational freedom they had, the wide array of wild personalities in it, and the level of casualties they took in what often seem like literal suicide missions, just crazy. Read about guys like Bob Howard, Frank Miller, Jerry Schriver, and others to get a feel for how badass crazy these SOG teams were.

[@Error_404_Account_Deleted]

Project Delta ran alongside SOG during the war. They communicated well, and both projects fed off of each other’s successes and failures/lessons.

[@NelinhoArrentela97]

Imagine my suprise finding you here in this kind of video.... Makes sense. Much respect sir. Keep up the good work.

[@hhhgfcvjk7999]

John Stryker Meyer on jocko willinks podcast says the myth of the bombing sog groups that would be captured never happend . Although if the men in the field called for close bombing they got it

[@JamesonsTravels]

I listened to him on Jocko right after I did the video. I am glad it did not happen. The attitude of the generals and pols were disgusting.

[@thexraider2713]

@@JamesonsTravels is black water like SOG or am I wrong ?

[@venomsnakeYGBSM]

@@thexraider2713 No its a private military founded by a former Seal

[@venomsnakeYGBSM]

@@thexraider2713 PF/Mercenaries

[@captdinglehopper]

Dem shoes fit a hall

[@ruben9618]

Jocko has a multiple podcasts with some SOG guys. Crazy stories.

[@KidDynamite6]

our vietnam vets are a treasure man

[@CalebsCars]

I'm here after hearing SOG stories on Jokco's Podcast

[@JamesonsTravels]

Great podcast. I watched it right after this vid.

[@travismiller641]

do a video on the british pathfinders or the british SRR

[@rose3152]

Thanks for posting this informational set of videos and commentary. The SOG members were studs.

[@eeshsinger]

this is why the MACV SOG is the most badass group to ever lived they did all that super risky shit that even a normal soldier would be scared of doing

[@roberttrevino9129]

For now...

[@kelleychilton2524]

Some of the SOG missions were probably intentional "bait" missions, but it's now known that at least one NVA mole was imbedded in SOG. This is how Jerry Shriver met his fate in April '69. His last mission was compromised from the get-go. Many other SOG missions were compromised as well. Too many instances of teams being hit soon after infiltration, the NVA would wait until the helos were gone and then they would hit the team. Some teams just vanished, to never be heard from again. It was an inside job.

[@Sebomai-b8i]

Definitely look into the work of Hilaire du Berrier. He was a French-American pilot and spy. The intelligence services of the West have been infiltrated by dyed in the wool Marxists since World War 2.

[@bmaniac1]

Enjoyed your viewpoints. Thank you for your service.

[@tropocal2343]

*Rules of War, crack me up, and are utterly absurd.* *I honor these men on this Memorial Day; 5-31-21*

[@ericshelly2518]

My uncle Sgt Gary Crone was in the 5th SF. He was killed on his last day in country. This year York county Pa honored him by naming a bridge after him. It was a little thing but it was a nice gesture

[@heikoplotner9924]

Traurige Geschichte.

[@geraldwest3428]

Huge big time thank you to every one of you....some of the greatest men ever! The inspiration is unbelievable.

[@daimlertime9479]

“This is when top secret meant top secret, didn’t mean link it to cnn.”

[@dansmith5505]

Ever notice how it is always the democrats doing intel leaks? And nothing is ever done about it.

[@robnewhere152]

@@dansmith5505 Did you notice when Marine said operations sometimes received immediate action and thought there might have been leaks.

[@playoffl36ron8]

@@dansmith5505 so when the goverment spies on us or commits war crimes oversees it should swept under the rug according to you

[@Drifter4804]

Yes

[@fluxcapacitor143]

Hahahahaha! this is completely ridiculous!!! first of all there was no CNN or Fox News; second of all it took 3 weeks for news reels to get from Vietnam to America before they could be edited and shown on TV. Y'all are a bunch of sheep buying into this dudes rhetoric. He doesn't even quote any of his sources and I'm pretty sure this dummy was not in Vietnam or Special Forces or even anything close to SOG. Probably was in the motor pool. Wannabe couch cowboy. Just post the video and STFU. His thoughts are disturbingly far fetched, SOG units being subcontracted privateers in warfare now?!!! its a volunteer military since Vietnam and the majority of Black Op Teams and "Specialists" were drafted into "service". Nobody ever said "Thank You for Your Service" when these got home. Volunteer are volunteer, its your job, just do your job and nobody has to thank you for doing your job.

[@michaelsix9684]

SOG teams did incredible missions, often overcame incredible odds to survive and win

[@measl]

*I had a best friend who was in SOG (Actually "MACV-SOG"), and he came home after his first SOG tour - at least in body. His mind was **_gone,_** but he technically survived to make an honorable discharge. Nobody knows exactly what happened to him, even to this day, but whatever it was it changed an extreme extravert into a nearly mute, semi-catatonic plant with feet, whi was never again able to hold down a job. Any job, He wasn't even able to work in the bicycle store down the block, where he spent his teenager years building and selling bicycles: his attention span was so poor that attempts to assemble simple bikes shipped from overseas (primarily Peugeot, from France), were impossible to complete. On top of it all, he came home with a heroin habit that was just **_incredible!_** It wasn't unusual for him to be shooting three or four "boats" - a "boat" was 10 baggies if I remember correctly.* *He eventually killed himself a couple of years after he got back.*

[@justinwinn01]

R.I.P to your friend.

[@samwiebaux2788]

You make you own decisions! You live your own life! Doing DRUGS at ANY TIME shows WEAKNESS! Life CAN BE HELL..... WAR IS WORSE!

[@tonycummings5427]

To your friend, thank you for your service and sacrifice sir. RIP

[@measl]

@@justinwinn01 Thank you Justin.

[@measl]

@@samwiebaux2788 Spoken like a true asshole.

[@NYRM1974]

I remember my late father who served in 5th Special Forces telling me about MACV-SOG. I also had the pleasure of meeting General Mitch Werbell in the 1980s discussing the subject.

[@bobclifton8021]

Back in the /day we called the war over there King Lindon's Southeast Asian War Games. The attitude that it was mostly a game went all the way down from the White House through the Pentagon and down to Area commanders. The enemy not only wore black pajamas, but they also wore three piece suits or had stars on their collars.

[@baxlife334]

My friends father Col Frank Cuddy flew Huey Gunships for MAC V SOG. He was in the Scarface Unit HML 367 and was shot down twice. He won 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses. He was part of Prairie Fire, Operation Beauty during the rescue attempt for Jimmy Stewart's son who was killed in action. During the mission he talked alot about it. Said he unloaded an entire clip on an NVA soldier right at his door when he landed. Frank was what an American Hero of Vietnam was. He was a man of mystery til close to his death when he spoke a lot about the war and his life. He hated John McCain with a passion and said he lost count of how many people he killed on the ground. Frank should have the MOH, but didn't get his medals til 1990. He would always tell us the government isn't our friends and not to trust them. He brought back a Chinese helmet he got in Cambodia and his helicopter helmet with the skull on it.

[@curtislewis509]

Plaster was an army sniper I believe and he has written a couple of books. One simply titled SOG is probably the most detailed definitive one ever. His chapters on actual missions are hard to stop reading. I wonder why Hollywood never made a blockbuster. Epic stuff

[@AlaskanBoy84]

This is a tragic to the soldiers that were treated like that... heartbreaking to see a man in uniform and hearing his comrade in his last words. Civilian attention, with presenting arms for your fallen comrades, my condolences and appreciation. I salute to you my respects, Marine. Semper Fi.

[@SlowStang10]

On the thumbnail he looks like matt demon from saving private ryan

[@Tsamokie]

"Matt Demon", you nailed it.

[@KrazyKoleG]

That's John Stryker Meyer Biiiiiitch!

[@kylerdelorenzo3381]

Oh my god It's Jason Bourne

[@1anre]

Sure there’s a Tier-0 unit. We can all be allowed to babble and debate about who qualifies to get into Tier-1 classification, meanwhile there a Tier-0 elements we’d never just hear about.

[@JamesonsTravels]

You are correct. Sure these guys are something special and our govt official in that video were sickening.

[@frankiefrostie1]

In Afghanistan, my unit all agreed that nobody would ever get taken alive if we could help it. These guys were fighting an enemy that they knew would torture them in the most horrific ways if captured. I can just about guarantee that none of them ever got captured without doing his best to die fighting first, and perhaps a b52 strike was a relief compared to what their fate otherwise would have been.

[@kendawa2918]

In spite of what politicians want, I couldn’t imagine these units being coed.

[@collinwoodard5116]

I couldn’t imagine what they would do w a female sog prisoner

[@kamuelalee]

Women make the best assassins.

[@elavke5441]

@@collinwoodard5116 I wouldn't want to imagine

[@ArtisChronicles]

@@kamuelalee if you say so

[@kamuelalee]

@@ArtisChronicles Yes I do. Also, old men and children make great assassins...at least in Hollywood movies.

[@paulking3035]

I"m a Marine. And I learn more each day about the Special Operations Community. That shocks my soul. Semper Fi

[@davidneidel436]

All of the rules we were told to follow, were supposed to be complied with. In reality, we knew we could not shoot at them in certain areas, they knew it and use to show us just how happy they were that we couldn't shoot at them. The ropes were used to extract helicopter flight crews from high risk positions. Remember that "little birds", light observation helicopters crews were used as bait despite highly trained and skilled men to find the enemy. Most of those missions were high risk areas, most were shoot as fired upon. That was easy to do since they could see the helicopter long before you could see them. Out of our 10 OH6A's birds, 9 had been damaged or destroyed until the one not damaged and was shot down and never recovered, this was the day prior to the 1972 Offensive. At least both crew members were able to get out only injured, they bombed the remains of the helicopter. My respect goes out for each and everyone who served and most for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.

[@joseontiveros8859]

It's more like a C.I.A. Black Ops mission

[@Mosey410]

Cross boarder missions were originally run by the the CIA I think code name Leaping Lina . It was switched to the Army in 66 I think. CIA was still running another front in Laos.

[@dallasyap3064]

It is comprised of the CIA's SAC but its not a CIA unit.

[@Wildernessoutside]

it was set up by cia Annie Jacobsen wrote a book called surprise kill vanish about cia secret wars and macvsog are heavily involved in it ,great read you should check it out

[@wade4452]

Marvin the Arvan in day, was Charley at night. In pre-op breafing, going north. Leaving firebase going east. Ambush prevention.

[@maxcullen3427]

Some serious badass amazing bit of craziness just too spice it up big respect from England

[@JoeBlow-tx9lm]

John Stryker Meyer is the man in the thumb nail, anyone interested in sog should look him up.

[@larrymcjones]

His podcasts along with Dick Thompson and Doug Letourneau are my favorite Jocko Willink podcasts I’ve seen all of them several times since I discovered them 9 months ago.

[@bvglee9731]

@DARTH MoodYdiaH John "Tilt" Stryker Meyer, A.K.A Jason Bourne Sr.

[@Rustafarian71]

I would also like to share a bit of my family's sacrifice during WWII. My 94 year old Grandfather "Papa" who served in the Pacific himself, had 5 brothers before 1942 (all 6 boys served) well, after 1944, he had 3 brothers. He lost 2 brothers. His brother Jim joined the Army at 17 in 1939. He rapidly became Staff Sgt Robert J Batts, he was gruesomely violently, killed by a landmine (The letter to my Great Grandma actually said there wasn't much left of him worth sending home) on August 19 1944, 4 days into the invasion of Southern France, he was not quite 22.. He is buried, well, his remains are buried at Rhone American Cemetery Draguignan France. He didn't have to go, he chose to go back to Europe with the last platoon he trained. Papa's other brother was PVT Clifton Batts Died on July 21 1942 age 27, he was a genius, had other plans for life, but joined without complaint. Well he died in a Georgia Hospital in the Iron Lung. They were training in a swamp and when he dove into the water, his head hit a tree stump, rather than breaking his neck and killing him instantly, the impact drove his spine down, tearing every nerve branching out from his spinal cord. He suffered 2-3 weeks with what he said felt like 10,000 pounds on his head before dying a slow horrible death. We have a picture of him in the lung from a newspaper clipping. Anyway, I hope I haven't written too much, but I believe it's a story you and your subscribers will appreciate with honor. By the way...In exchange for the two sons she birthed, fed, "kept safe" raised to be fine, honorable young men she loved beyond measure, The US Gov't gave her 2 Flags, 2 Purple Hearts, and 2 sets of dogtags.They actually sent Jim's Scorched, Bent to Hell and blood stained Tags he was wearing when the mine exploded. I saw all of the stuff in an old trunk, plus letters home. The Officers/Politicians are all heart Sir. Well, thank you for letting me vent.. Russ Jarman

[@bourneoutdoors6758]

My grandfather was part of MACV-SOG. 2 Purple Hearts and Silver Star. RIP Grandpa ♥️

[@Salubrious101]

When your unit has to temove all identifiable decals you know you are deniable and expendable if things go wrong.

[@vivek27789]

Does the term black ops originate from that...meaning wearing black unidentifiable uniform?🤔

[@goinhot9133]

“Weren’t allowed to wear dog tags, and wouldn’t be covered under the protection of the Geneva convention “ Like since when, has any American enemy ever played by the rules.

[@dansmith5505]

But international laws really helped! Like when Hitler... oh wait. Well, what about when Mao... hm. Well Osama... uh...

[@legionofthedamned157]

@@dansmith5505 or USA drone strike a family home

[@ja6995]

They always sent bright light missions to find SOG men.

[@Vato-Psyko-Loko]

Read John Plaster's book on his time as a green beret and SOG soldier. Good read but very scary. God bless our veterans.

[@petepan9696]

Name of the book.

[@Vato-Psyko-Loko]

@@petepan9696 secret commandos.

[@josiahkemp4454]

From an interview with John Stryker Meyer, it was usually 4 man fireteams versus thousands of Vietcong. Thankfully they had some insane air support, but the whole situation seemed stranger than fiction.

[@tayk385]

I'm in in the mind set that in war anything goes to win.

[@Sam-pg9sr]

I imagine CIA Special Activities Division (SAD) teams are similar to what a modern SOG would be.

[@tori9365]

Also, Army ISA (Intelligence Support Activity)

[@dallasyap3064]

The CIA's SAD, since 2016 called SAC was part of this MACV-SOG.

[@dallasyap3064]

@@tori9365 I don't think the ISA have existed yet. The Army of Northern Virginia was founded in around 1980.

[@fra19141]

@@dallasyap3064 The Army of Northern Virginia.... Have not heard that name in a few years...

[@dallasyap3064]

@@fra19141 it's actually a nickname of ISA. ISA went by many names since their establishment such as like Gray Fox, Centra Spike, Cemetery Wind and pretty much others. Other names include ISA, Mission Support Activity, Army of Northern Virginia, Task Force Orange. This unit conducts intelligence gathering and surveillance on those very HVTs for SOF particularly CAG & DEVGRU prior to their missions. These guys are very quiet and secretive, nothing much is known about them. Even some of those known about them are only allegations but not confirmed. They can also conduct raids and capture or kill operations themselves too if they have to.

[@richardkusiolek5198]

I was part of an AirCommando Squadron that set up in NhaTrang to air support these GREAT MEN who risked their lives to meet the mission objectives of John F. Kennedy. We flew in Cambodia and Laos. This guy means well but he does know anything about fear or about SOG.

[@kathywierenga6675]

My husband was SOG/ANACONDA. He just turned 85 and still teaches for the government. Yes, he is a BADASS and my hero.

[@w9akwqsl]

I had a friend that worked for SOG and he told me things that hardly repeat. Him and his buddy were scout snipers. He did 3 tours in Vietnam. Back to the subject matter. They lost teams never saw them again on input to LZs.

[@UnconfinedConfusion]

I honestly feel like there is still a secret SOG that still exists that we dont know about.

[@captainhammer9840]

There is. CIA SAC/SOG.

[@O.S.T.G]

Your leaving out the sexy factor my friend, young men are willing to agree to unthinkable circumstances in order for an opportunity to set themselves apart from their peers.

[@Kriegter]

The closest thing to MACV SOG right now might be CIA SAC. Also, SAC means special activities center. CIA SAC does similar operations to MACV SOG such as operations in foreign country. CIA SAC is reported to have been operating in Oman, Somalia and even Iran. They also played a big role in korea and the bay of pigs invasion. While MACV SOG ceased to exist after the Vietnam war, the SAC continued to be active.

[@en.copedawg2321]

The Activity? That's a lose term. You can be doing "Activity" things but not be in "The Activity"...if that is what they call it still...I surly do not know

[@arym1108]

such a good read

[@tori9365]

@@en.copedawg2321 you're thinking of the Army's ISA (Intelligence Support Activity) ... those are the ones usually referred to as "the activity". They are a similar clandestine unit but have to operate under the U.S military, which CIA SAC don't

[@en.copedawg2321]

@@tori9365 .. sounds good to me...I surly don't know. Thanks for the teachen

[@dallasyap3064]

More specifically the CIA's SOG. The military however has SOCOM and JSOC too.

[@laurenced2916]

SOG recon teams were the biggest bad asses on the planet. Bob Howard probably the biggest of all. He was submitted for the medal of honor three times and should've received all three.

[@lazaruslong6382]

3 times in less than a year. Bob was something special,with bells on. He was also one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet unless you were a slacker. He had no patience with people who didn't do their jobs to the best of their ability.

[@LadiezzMann217]

SF guys knew they were bait. They still did reconnaissance anyways. They wanted to do it. They were willing to take the brunt of the impact to save the lives of their fellow Americans by providing intel

[@priceyj69]

The US was so impressed by the Australia SASR during Vietnam that they created their own version.

[@NPC-fl3gq]

Some SASR went on missions (and were involved in training) with MAC-V SOG - but our government still denies it because of the cross-border operations into friendly country's.

[@visassess8607]

The Australian SASR deployed to Vietnam after MACV-SOG.

[@_aponak4716]

@@visassess8607 Wrong most SOG earlier cross train ..With SAS in Malaysia..

[@visassess8607]

@@_aponak4716 Malaysia isn't Vietnam and the British SAS isn't the Australian SASR. The first comment specifically said "The US was so impressed by the Australia SASR during *Vietnam* that they created their own version". My comment said the Australian SASR deployed to Vietnam after SOG and you never actually explained how that's wrong. Please actually read the comments and comprehend them before trying to call someone wrong.

[@harry77998]

Geneal westmoreland send Richard J.Meadow , Charles Beckwiths and other group to British SAS jungle warfare school in Johor bahru , Malaysia . Later both those guys founded Delta force !

[@paulsalmon4406]

Unfortunately our adversaries do not adhere to the "Geneva Protocol", therefore why should we?

[@dansmith5505]

Pretty much. The only people who think ROE that are not strategically or tactically driven are good are those who never have seen war and think if we follow the rules, then other people will too... in a game that is literally life or death. The stupidest part? Laws of war only apply to people who signed in agreement with them, which are none of our enemies.

[@dansmith5505]

@Great White No it doesn't. Laws of war apply to international situations, not domestic issues. Example, tear gas is outlawed in war, however it can be used domestically in riots. I'm not against tear gas, I'm just saying don't fall for the propaganda of globalists who try to brainwash citizens that laws of war prevent the worse outcome, they absolutely do not, and you realize that the first time you get in a real fight.

[@daltonclayton5135]

Cannibal Warlord, are you able to "love" your enemies into submission?

[@jacobplatt840]

Jocko willinks podcast 180,181,182 covers this. John Stryker Meyer is on the podcast and he has written many books over this

[@caineashcroft6134]

186 too. I ended up getting his book on audible. Unreal stories

[@telepath2homie131]

Not one single comment about they volunteered. I was part of the all volunteer Army. Them and us joined to fight. We knew and understood the risk, for $500/month.. Even today is its all volunteer. If you didn't serve, don't judge us.

[@feheregkovako]

Bo1 fans?

[@PiperAtTheGatesOfYourMom]

Now black ops cold war

[@frankwoods6991]

Yeah...

[@mrginedive]

I can hear ice cube telling me that the enemy spy plane is inbound

[@lewismccombe6231]

There's a book I read called Tigerman, it's memoirs from a MACV-SOG soldier collected posthumously by a British author and a surviving member of the man's team. The things this guy did are insane, as in he did things you'd see in call of duty and think 'well that's a bit far fetched.' seriously recommend it however I don't think it's fully published yet so it'll be hard to find.

[@coloradonative4997]

In viet nam I was a crew chief on a UH 1 when some of our unit was tasked with flying these units into north viet nam and Louse. We had to swear to secretary of what we were doing, we were not allowed to say anything to anyone and now it’s on U tube. We were in the CCN group.

[@emmettfitz-hume9408]

Another great video. Its a shame that most Americans will never know about these guys' sacrifices.

[@alexandermalone6539]

We have a good family friend that was in SOG during the late 60s early 70s. Some things he says. Are like "that really happened" great guy. A friend anyone would love to have.

[@stengelhaus]

My father was a part of MACV-SOG...and only now am I understanding what he went through. He told my brother and I very few stories growing up, but when my brother joined the Marines and went to Iraq he went into more detail with my brother about how to handle situations. He said he would never be taken alive...he would rather go down with the plane than to be captured. He recently passed away and my mother found some very strange photos of my father taken by the military. In the photos he is wearing a military uniform with no markings and he looks like he went through hell. We also finally received some paperwork on him after his death, which is only partially blackout. I would love to know more about this elite group of men that he served with. Thank you for posting this information.

[@eastboundwand4450]

I can’t begin to imagine the secret groups we must have now given how far technology and combat has come.

[@dansmith5505]

In reality, not by much because while technology has advanced, our conviction has declined. Hell, we prosecute a navy seal with war crimes for doing his job. That's all you need to know if you think we are prepared.

[@wadurito]

My grandfather had that patch in his cabinet, I never knew what it ment till I joined and got to talk to other people that knew a lot more than me in RASP, os something you might call RIP. He never talked about any of it, but he showed me some videos he had taken himself. Vietcong blown clear off the side of tbe mountain, he was a badass green beret that inspires me to this day. His name was Ronald Darwin Wingo, and he lived to tell his stories. Please tell his story James, no one else has. We definitely have a clandestine team that goes on today.