SOG Kontum: Secret Missions in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia 1968-1969: Top Secret Missions in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, 1968-1969

The Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) was a highly classified, multi-service United States Special Forces unit which conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War. The unit conducted strategic reconnaissance missions in South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia; carried out the capture of enemy prisoners, rescued downed pilots, and conducted rescue operations to retrieve allied prisoners of war throughout Southeast Asia; and conducted clandestine agent team activities and psychological operations. This book tells the story of the Teams operating out of FOB2 Kontum, near the tri-border area, in 1968–69. From recon missions over the fence to the heroic, and sometimes fatal efforts undertaken to try and rescue missing SOG members, the events are told through the words of the men themselves, supported by previously unreleased official documents. Front Cover Half-Title Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents Foreword by John L. Plaster Authors’ Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1 ST Iowa Recon—Company B Road Mining Operation 2 ST Nevada 3 The Loss of John Kedenburg 4 Tony Love at FOB-2—RT California Attempted Prisoner Snatch 5 RT Hawaii’s Successful Ambush 6 George Hunt RT Maine—“Suicide” Mission with Tony Love 7 Loss of Spad 36—ST Maine Bright Light 8 Grommet—Tho Wounded 9 Dennis Mack’s Ghost Helicopter Mission 10 The Loss and Rescue of Specialist 5 Floyd Bryant 11 SOG SLAM VII: RT California, Hatchet Force Insertion—Nighttime Ambush 12 SOG SLAM VII: SLAM Company Insertion and Mission 13 SOG SLAM VII: Shot Down on the LZ—Carl Hoeck’s Account 14 SOG SLAM VII: A Long Night/Extraction 15 Last Days of SLAM VII—Bomb Damage Assessment Mission in Juliett 9—Russian Helicopters on Insertion LZ 16 Loss of Robert Scherdin—RT Vermont 17 Scherdin Bright Light—Jerson Loss—Robert Howard’s Medal of Honor 18 Huey Crash—Board Investigation—Report of Scherdin’s Loss and Later Searches 19 Hatchet Platoon Recon in Force in Hotel-9—Insertion of RT New Mexico—HP Bright Light 20 Insertion Attempt RT Iowa: Hill 1152 21 Insertion of Hatchet Platoon near Hill 1152 22 Attack on FOB-2: Bryon Loucks Wounded—Loss of Lieutenant James L. Ripanti 23 Operation Nightcap—SLAM 9 24 Attack on the ’Yard Camp 25 Hatchet Force Operation in Lima 6—Loss of Lieutenant Sheridan—Terry Cadenbach’s Dream 26 Operation Spindown Conclusion Appendix: Biographies Glossary Endnotes