SOG
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.
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SOG
This is a used Vietnam era AC-11 cargo strap that was popularly used by SOG personnel as a waist belt because it could double as a tourniquet or be used in various other emergency situations. The total length of the strap measures 42 inches.
Price: $65.00 (USD)
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SOG
Until recently, little was known or published about MACV-SOG, an elite US Special Forces reconnaissance unit in Vietnam. SOG was under joint command by 5th Special Forces Group and CIA with an objective to recon and disrupt the Ho Chi Minh trail by running cross-border operations into denied areas, primarily Laos and Cambodia. SOG recon teams were small, typically 6 to 8 men. They had a 1-0 (pronounced “One Zero”) who was the team leader, a 1-1 assistant team leader, and a 1-2 radioman. The remaining personnel were typically indigenous mercenaries. Depending on region, they could be Chinese Nungs, Montagnards, Cambodes, or Vietnamese.
The 1-0 was a leader with innate skill coupled with experience. Rank was irrelevant on SOG teams. Being “good in the woods” is what ultimately determined survival or failure. 1-0’s commanded respect from all of the Special Forces community. The 1-0 jacket was a symbol worn at camp to distinguish themselves from other SOG personnel. The 1-0 jacket was awarded to 1-0’s after completion of the Recon Team Leader course at Long Than. Initially, they were intended to be worn in the field. Photographic evidence verifies this. However, the nylon material was noisy in the brush, so 1-0’s eventually opted to wear them in camp only. Often times, jackets were modified with direct embroidery bearing the wearers name and SOG related themes like recon team names, “shell burst” skulls, etc.
There were three patterns of 1-0 jacket. The first pattern (shown here) is a pull over with a removable hood. There are two front slash pockets, single snap cuffs, and a rear “map pocket” in the lower back with a snap closure. There is a small oilskin tag marked “M” inside the hood and collar to denote size (medium). The second and third patterns are not pullover and do not have a removable hood. SOG was a relatively small unit, so these jackets are extremely rare and often overlooked as being a simple windbreaker.
Posted in Special Forces & MACV-SOG, Vietnam War Militaria | 7 Comments »
SOG
This is a very complete group for a Special Forces veteran that served two tours in Vietnam and was killed on 16 July, 1970 at camp A-236 (Bu Prang) while patrolling the camp perimeter. Prior to assignment at Camp A-236, he was with 1st Special Forces Group and TDY’d to FOB-3, (Command and Control North MACV-SOG) on a Snakebite Team and served on a Hatchet Force. This vet is listed in Sherman’s Who Who in SOG on page 132. Some of his awards include: US and Philippine Jump Wings, Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medals, Vietnamese Gross of Gallantry w/ Palm, PUB, and Navy PUC.
I purchased everything in this group from a person who lives in the same town as the veteran’s parents. He purchased the items directly from the family.
The items in this group include:
1. CISO made PJs. CISO (Counter Insurgency Support Office) was located on Okinawa and headed by Ben Baker. They made “sterile” untraceable weapons, equipment, and garments to be used by CIA, Special Forces, and Indigenous personnel in Vietnam and denied areas like Laos and Cambodia. There is ample photographic evidence of CISO PJs being worn by SOG Hatchet Teams in cross border operations.
This Set of PJs have been worn but are in excellent condition. They have the CISO silk size tags marked “M” for medium. The trousers have the vet’s initials in white laundry marker.
2. Tiger stripe camouflage shirt in “Tadpole Sparse” pattern. Size tag in neck is marked “A-L” for Asian Large. The shirt has strong color and all buttons with original thread. There is one pea-sized hole in the chest. Otherwise, the shirt is in excellent condition.
3. 1968 dated Jungle jacket in excellent condition. This must have been the soldier’s garrison jacket because it is crisp with nicely sewn insignia. The shoulder has early twill subdued Special Forces SSI. The breast has US and Philippine jump wings.
4. 1968 dated OG-107 Utility shirt with early twill subdued Special Forces SSI on the shoulder, a Combat Infantry Badge, and US Jump Wings. There are period repairs to both armpits that are not visible when displayed. The collar has a laundry tag with the last 4 digits of the vet’s Army serial number.
5. Rare and unique tiger stripe Okinawa-made apron with “SP/5 WEAVER, CAMP HARDY, COMBAT TRAINING CENTER” machine embroidered on the front. The vet’s MOS was Demolitions and I would assume that he wore this apron when working with and advising on explosives.
6. 1965 dated OG-107 Dive Shorts. The soldier’s nametape is sewn across the leg and his laundry ID is in the waist. These were commonly worn while scuba diving.
7. Green Class A Blouse with SSGT Chevrons and cut-edge color Special Forces SSI. The blouse has several moth nips, but still could display decently. Loose insignia is listed in number 17.
8. Black leather jump boots in excellent condition.
9. Theater-made camouflage ascot
10. Theater-made pillow cover with hand embroidered tiger and “Viet-Nam”.
11. Interesting rigger-made Airborne M1-C helmet web chin cup
12. Vietnam souvenir ceramic ashtray
13. The vet’s Basic Training yearbook from Fort Knox, Kentucky
14. Two Special Forces transfer decals
15. Training Manuals with Weaver’s Name on them
16. Spiral notebook with demolition notes and a letter to a girlfriend that he never finished…
17. Insignia including 8 nametapes, Army tape, two cloth jump wings, two cloth CIBs, two Special Forces para ovals, two subdued SF SSIs, two color SF SSIs, 1 color airborne tab, 5th Group flash, 1st Group flash, 10th Group flash, SF DI (with 1 prong missing), Vietnamese-made Playboy Bunny patch, Vietnamese made three place ribbon bar, EM garrison cap badge with blue infantry disk.
18. Montagnard carving of a Huey Helicopter
19. Copies of general orders and citations for Weaver’s Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Award Document.
20. Detailed NARA records containing undeleted sheets of Weaver’s awards received, assignments, and achievements.
Price: SOLD
Posted in Recently Sold Militaria, Vietnam War Militaria, Vietnam War Militaria | 6 Comments »
SOG
I was excited to obtain a copy of SOG: Team History and Insignia of a Clandestine Army, the much-anticipated book written by SOG authority Jason Hardy (www.thedogtag.com) with help from author/dealer Mike Tucker (www.authenticmilitaria.com). Jason is well known in the militaria collecting community as a specialty dealer focused on SOG and Special Forces memorabilia from the Vietnam War. In fact, several of my favorite SOG pieces in my collection have come from Jason. Mike Tucker is known for his excellent self-published books on Third Reich insignia, but he is also an advanced Special Forces collector.
For those not familiar, SOG (Studies and Observations Group) was an elite Special Forces unit during the Vietnam War created for the purpose of reconnaissance. SOG teams were inserted into denied areas (primarily Laos) to monitor enemy activity along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This small unit reported directly to the White House and their activities remained classified until recently.
SOG teams varied in size, but were typically comprised of three US members and three indigenous members. The indigenous members came from various groups including Chinese Nungs, Cambodes, Montagnards, Ex North Vietnamese Soldiers (Chieu Hoi’s), or South Vietnamese personnel. Positions on a SOG team were experience-based, not rank-based. A team leader was called a “1-0” (One Zero). Assistant team members were 1-1, and 1-2 respectively. Indigenous team members were the inverse (0-1, 0-2, 0-3, etc).
This book focuses on the history of seven SOG Recon Teams from CCN (Command and Control North) and CCC (Command and Control Central). The authors intend to cover additional teams in subsequent volumes. The recon teams in this volume include:
1. RT Asp
2. RT Colorado
3. RT Hawaii
4. RT Idaho
5. RT Indigo
6. RT Montana
7. RT Rattler
Each chapter provides a chart containing names of the American recon team members in chronological order along with their position. The pages of the book are comprised of never published SOG images from each team along with brief captions. The photo quality is superior to all other SOG books and the book itself is well made with high quality pages and binding.
There are many beautiful scans of authentic SOG recon patches. Many of the pieces are directly attributed to the vet with solid provenance. These insignia images are superior quality to all preexisting SOG and Special Forces books. Additional highlights include an appendix in the back providing a reference section of all the recon team patch variations from Vietnam, Thailand, Okinawa, and elsewhere. There is also a chapter explaining the history of the notorious “Cheap Charlie” patches. This information has never been published before and is a real asset to Vietnam insignia collectors. The book is on par with Shelby Stanton’s long out of print Special Forces at War: An Illustrated History, Southeast Asia 1957-1975, in that the images are so amazing, you can pick this book up 1000 times and discover something new in a photo that you overlooked before.
The only disappointment I have with this book is that it lacks images of the amazing uniforms and equipment Jason Hardy has collected directly from SOG vets. I hope he will consider including these in his next book. Overall, SOG: Team History and Insignia of a Clandestine Army is a must have for any military historian or collectors’ library.
Posted in Military Book Reviews, Vietnam War Militaria | No Comments »
