Vietnam

As the soldiers of MACV-SOG sifted through the remains left behind following the NVA attack on FOB 4, the pieces began to fall into place.

With the fighting at FOB 4 ebbing, the remaining MACV-SOG operators sorted through the dead and regrouped, preparing for another possible attack.

When FOB 4 came under attack by NVA sappers, it wasn’t just MACV-SOG in the fight. A pair of Navy corpsmen showed up and went to work saving lives.

Note: This is part of a series. You can read part one and part two here. Back in the transient barracks, Watkins continued crawling toward the end of the hallway. He froze. Silhouetted by flare light in the open doorway, a NVA soldier cautiously peered in to determine if anyone inside was still alive. He […]

Does America place its troops in unnecessarily dangerous situations because of overly restrictive Rules of Engagement in places like Afghanistan?

Note: This is part two of a series. You can read part one here. Sometime after midnight, Aug. 23, south of FOB 4 in Da Nang, sitting atop the highest of the five peaks that make up Marble Mountain, the nine men of ST Rattler were enjoying a quiet night. Assistant Team Leader Larry “Gambler” Trimble […]

“Much to my utter and complete dismay, the colonel looked at me and said, ‘Not to worry, the major has this handled.’ I was stunned, and simply walked back to the comm center.”

As time marches forward, SOFREP continues to reflect on Spec Ops history, including insights into once-secret operations. One such secret operation was conducted for eight years during the Vietnam War, hidden from the press, the public, and the politicians. The secret war was conducted under the aegis of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam – Studies and Observations […]

The key to winning wars, or simply managing chaos, is understanding not only what is going on, but why, and how it has been dealt with in the past.

Beginning in the summer of 1965, 3/4 (Third Bn, 4th Marines) were faced with an expanding tactical area of operational responsibility (TAOR) and shrinking numbers due to insufficient replacements coming in to fill combat losses. As a result, the Marines began working directly with the Popular Forces, local militias made up of old men and boys […]

  Even though it was a dark, leftist, anti-war fairytale, Green Berets have a special place in their hearts for the film Apocalypse Now.  This Todd Graham merger of Apocalypse and Pooh provides the perfect touch of the absurd. “Walt Kurtz was one of the most outstanding officers this country has ever produced. He was a […]

Jimmie Earl Howard enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1950 at the age of 21. He graduated from boot camp in January, 1951 and was promoted to PFC. He then stayed on MCRD San Diego as a drill instructor until December, 1951. (The Marine Corps operated a little differently then.) In February, 1952, he was […]