John L. Plaster - SOG: The Secret Wars of America’s Commandos in Vietnam

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More Outstanding Praise for SOG

Major Plasters book is comprehensive, informative, and often exciting. His effort to recount American soldiers feats of bravery in Indochina is a worthy act of historical rescue.

The New York Times

SOG played an important role during our operations against the communist enemy in Vietnam. SOG is a superb and compelling account of their dedication and heroism.

Gen. William C. Westmoreland, U.S. Army (ret.)

The enormous contribution of SOG in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos is a story that needs to be told.

Henry Kissinger

At last, a quarter century after their top secret deeds, we can recognize the Vietnam Wars greatest unsung heroes, SOGs covert warriors. The dramatic true stories in SOG fill a major gap in special operations history.

Maj. Gen. John K. Singlaub, U.S. Army (ret.)

A magnificent book of enormous power and a milestone in the literature of special operations. SOG is an excellent account of secret warriors who gave their all for country, for mission, and for each other.

Col. Robert Howard, Medal of Honor winner, the Vietnam Wars most highly decorated soldier

Authoritative and insightful... a true insiders account.

Publishers Weekly

Indispensable.

Booklist

Engrossing and thoroughly exciting.

Library Journal

Fascinating... Americas finest fighters in the Vietnam War.

Duluth News Tribune

An eye-opener of death-defying intrigue, carried out against almost suicidal odds!

Naples Daily News (FL)

This book is dedicated to all of SOGs secret warriors, and especially to the SOG men captured but never released

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Copyright 1997 by John L. Plaster

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Interior design by Alexis Minieri

Cover design by Adam Auerbach/Penguin Random House and Alison Forner

Cover photograph by Corbis Historical/Corbis Via Getty Images

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.

ISBN 978-0-6848-1105-5

ISBN 978-1-5011-8346-1 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-5011-8958-6 (ebook)

A book of this scope and detail would have been impossible to produce without the generous assistance of many people. While I thank all who helped, this project was assisted especially by:

Lieutenant Steve Sherman, USA

Mr. Jack Kull

Sergeant Major Jan Dutch Wieranga, USA (ret.)

Sergeant Major Gene Adcock, USA (ret.)

CW2 Stanley Steenbock, USA

CW2 Richard Madore, USA

Dr. John Brand

Mr. Paul Cornish, Imperial War Museum (London)

Mr. Z. Frank Hanner, Curator, National Infantry Museum

Mr. Jim Phillips

Sergeant Bryon Loucks, USA

Sergeant Major Bobby Burke, USA (ret.)

Mr. Tim Eldridge, U.S. Forest Service

Mrs. Jeanette Worthley

Messrs. Roger Kennedy and Charles Farrow, photographers

Almost every SOG veteran I contacted consented to be interviewed. Many put me up in their homes, loaned me irreplaceable photographs and trusted me with information that could be declassified only when I submitted the manuscript to the Defense Department. They are listed alphabetically, with their rank either in SOG or upon retirement:

Brigadier General Harry Aderholt, USAF (ret.)

Sergeant Major John Allen, USA (ret.)

Staff Sergeant Tony Andersen, USA

Mr. Conrad Ben Baker, Dept. of Defense (ret.)

Lieutenant Colonel Dean Ballmes, USAF (ret.)

Sergeant Major James D. Bath, USA (ret.)

Master Sergeant Rick Bayer, USA (ret.)

Brigadier General Donald G. Blackburn, USA (ret.)

Sergeant Michael Buckland, USA

Staff Sergeant Frank Burkhart, USA

Commander W. T. Red Cannon, USN (ret.)

Sergeant Major Jon Cavaiani, USA (ret.)

Colonel Steve Cavanaugh, USA (ret.)

Colonel J. H. Scotty Crerar, USA (ret.)

Staff Sergeant William Curry, USA

Sergeant Charlie Dodge, USA

Sergeant Major Norman Doney, USA (ret.)

Master Chief Petty Officer Barry Enoch, USN (ret.)

Colonel James Fleming, USAF

Staff Sergeant Ancil Sonny Franks, USA

Sergeant Bob Garcia, USA

Staff Sergeant Robert Graham, USA

Major Don Green, USA (ret.)

Sergeant Major Billy Greenwood, USA (ret.)

Sergeant Major Richard Gross, USA (ret.)

Staff Sergeant Ray Harris, USA

Staff Sergeant Oliver Hartwig, USA

Sergeant Major Sammy Hernandez, USA (ret.)

Sergeant Tony Herrell, USA

Sergeant Major James Hetrick, USA (ret.)

Colonel Robert Howard, USA (ret.)

Sergeant Major Rex Jaco, USA (ret.)

Lieutenant Colonel Frank Jaks, USA (ret.)

Colonel Don James, USAF (ret.)

Sergeant Major David Kahaahaa, USA (ret.)

Staff Sergeant Steve Keever, USA (ret.)

Sergeant Mark Kinsler, USA

Sergeant Major Ronald Knight, USA (ret.)

Colonel Edward Lesesne, USA (ret.)

Sergeant Major Dale Libby, USA (ret.)

Staff Sergeant Ben Lyons, USA (ret.)

Captain Larry Manes, USA (ret.)

Lieutenant General Leroy Manor, USAF (ret.)

Staff Sergeant Jeff Mauceri, USA

Sergeant Major Kenneth McMullin, USA (ret.)

Major Dick Meadows, USA (ret.)

Staff Sergeant John Meyer, USA

Sergeant Major Luke Nance, Jr., USA (ret.)

Sergeant First Class Cliff Newman, USA (ret.)

Colonel Charles Norton, USA (ret.)

Master Sergeant Lloyd ODaniels, USA (ret.)

Colonel Bill ORourke, USA (ret.)

Staff Sergeant John Padgett, USA

Colonel Bill Page, USAF (ret.)

Sergeant Major Robert Parks, USA (ret.)

Colonel Roger Pezzelle, USA (ret.)

Colonel Bob Pinard, USAF (ret.)

Colonel Bobby Pinkerton, USA (ret.)

Sergeant Larry Predmore, USA