This is a Vietnam War era Indig (Indigenous) sleeping bag as used by MACV-SOG personel on cross-boarder ops in Laos and Cambodia. Many do not realize that in parts of Vietnam the temperature can drastically drop at night. SOG personnel needed something “sterile” (void of any association to the United States) and lightweight to provide warmth. Some troops used the indigenous sleeping bag, while others used indig poncho liners.
This is a Vietnam War era Indig (Indigenous) poncho liner as used by MACV-SOG personnel on cross-boarder ops in Laos and Cambodia. Many do not realize that in parts of Vietnam the temperature can drastically drop at night. SOG personnel needed something “sterile” (void of any association to the United States) and lightweight to provide warmth. Some troops used the indigenous poncho liners, while others used indig sleeping bags.
This is a CISO (Counter Insurgency Support Office) procured hammock that was made “sterile”, meaning void of any association to United States to be used by Special Forces, MACV-SOG, and indigenous personnel particularly in clandestine cross-boarder operations in Laos and Cambodia. It loosely resembles an NVA (North Vietnamese Army) hammock. This example appears to be unused and was part of a Special Forces Mike Force group. It is the only example I’ve seen, but like other CISO items, it probably came in other colors.
CISO (Counter Insurgency Support Office) headed by Deputy Chief Ben Baker and located on Okinawa provided many logistical resources to MACV-SOG and Special Forces during the Vietnam War. Among these items were sterile uniforms to be worn by US and indigenous SOG personnel on clandestine operations in Laos and Cambodia. This is an example of a CISO procured shirt patterned to look like an NVA garment.
The only marking it bears is a number “3″ inside the collar, which may denote size. There is ample photographic evidence of this pattern CISO shirt being worn by indigenous RT (recon team) SOG members in books like:
Indigenous ruck as used by Special Forces and MACV-SOG personnel during the Vietnam War. The ruck resembles the size and configuration of an NVA ruck with a map pouch, three outer cell pouches, and a main pouch. The fabric is impregnated with a coating to make it water resistant. This treatment feels tacky to the touch. The rucksacks were procured through CISO (Counter Insurgency Support Office) in Okinawa and came in a few color variations.
