SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam

Today I read the outrageous criticisms posted by Donald Zlotnik and Sherman Batman. Instead of attacking them personally, which would be easy to do, I offer these facts in repudiation: First, Sherman Batman claimed much of what I wrote didn't happen, was wrong, etc. He called my writing on the suppressed Swedish K a "stupid statement" and insisted that SOG did not such weapons (as if that were important). Look at the April 2015 American Rifleman magazine, page 91, a photograph of SOG recon man Hurley Gilpin with a suppressed Swedish K. I carried one myself in combat -- Batman was wrong. Another "stupid statement" he cited (which I never wrote) concerned a potential rusting problem with the M16/CAR-15, and insists it was impossible because these are aluminum weapons. What I cited concerned the trigger mechanism which is steel, and was cited in Congressional testimony in 1968 as one of the Colt weapon's problems in Vietnam. Again, he was totally wrong and even misrepresented what I wrote. As for whether we sang in the club to memorialize each lost man, Batman can phone Joe Parnar, whom he knows, and learn that this is absolutely true. The song often was led by the Recon Company commander, Ed Lesesne.My writing of this book was supported by 3 years of research, which included TAPED interviews with all four living Chief's SOG (the SOG commanders) in their homes, such as Major General Jack Singlaub and General Donald Blackburn. Did they lie? It included TAPED interviews with all seven surviving SOG Medal of Honor recipients. In the 3 other cases, I interviewed the men who were with them when they died earning that Medal. In all, I interviewed more than 100 SOG veterans of all ranks, which generated 10,000 transcript pages, single-spaced. I also relied upon official award citations which described the actions in which men were awarded the Silver Star or Distinguished Service Cross. I challenge anyone to read the online citations and cite how they are different from what I wrote. My interviewees included SOG/Special Forces legends such as Dick Meadows and Billy Waugh, USAF/CIA legend, General Heinie Aderholt, aircrewmen, etc., etc., etc. My own SOG service -- 3 years in SOG, during which I ran 22 missions behind enemy lines, and flew with USAF Forward Air Controllers in support of SOG -- were hardly mentioned. It was this background that helped me write the book. Donald Zalotnik's criticisms are far more troublesome, because he attacks the character of a Medal of Honor recipient -- why, I cannot fathom -- but this has been his obsession for at least a decade. The recipient, Jon Cavaiani, passed away last year and was too much a gentleman to respond to these outrageous claims. I advised Jon to sue Zalotnik, but he did not want to revisit the hell of when he was overrun and the three years he spent as a POW in North Vietnam. Think about this: Everything about his capture and POW years was known to the Defense Department before Jon was submitted for the MOH. If any of Zlotnik's claims had substance, would he have received the Medal of Honor? Does Zlotnik know better? Both General Westmoreland and Dr. Henry Kissinger provided quotes favoring the book and its important contents. Are they liars, too? The criticisms of both Batman and Zlotnik attack the character and ignore the great sacrifices of SOG's warriors. Shame to both of you. JOHN L. PLASTER, U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES, (ret)

I write this review with a 1-star rating with the chief purpose of debunking the only other 1-star rating on this book and a companion 2-star rating. Actually, I rate Plaster's books as 5-star. I was one of the SOG recon men of whom Plaster writes in his books. His account of one of my missions was spot on factual with no exaggerations, no literary license, no embellishment. Were there a few errors in the accounts? Possibly due to the erosion of memories over time. But Plaster interviewed dozens of SOG personnel, and in most cases sought to confirm their mission exploits both from other team members on those particular missions, and from official documents to include after action and command summary reports. In particular, Major Zlotnik (Retired), the only reviewer who rated Plaster's book with one star, claims knowledge that he does not possess. Unlike John Plaster, who was a top-notch recon team leader and possessed first hand knowledge and experience, Zlotnik served as a supply/staff officer who claims to have sat in on debriefings (which in my experience would be unlikely for a supply officer) and had access to after action reports (also unlikely) and possessed vicarious insights only. I will also point out that most of SOG's Medal of Honor recipients came from CCC, so his claims that CCN was the most hazardous SOG operation is uninformed and clearly ridiculous; note also that CCC's casualty rate also exceeded 100%. And Zlotnik's access to mission information from the other SOB forward operating bases was virtually non-existent in a compartmented intelligence environment, so he couldn't possibly pass authoritative judgement on the relative hazards.In respect to the 2-star review by Sherman Batman, please note that his SOG assignment appears to have been "circa 1968". He appears to be offended by Plaster's account of one of Batman's missions. Plaster's tour at SOG (CCC) brought a different experience. This included a significant ramp-up in enemy operations in the SOG operational areas, with greatly increased hazards and casualty rates as a result. Batman's comments on rusting of the M-16/CAR-15 safety was absolutely wrong. Many American team members used either lubricating oil or WD-40 to prevent the internal components of the safety from rusting in place. Batman is also wrong regarding the inventory of silenced weapons at CCC including pistols in .22, .32 and 9mm; sub-machine guns in .45 and 9mm (including the Swedish K) and suppressors for the M-16 rifle - - and other exotic weapons that may not have been available when Batman was in SOG. Lastly, I can personally attest to "Old Blue" being sung as tribute to fallen SOG personnel in our club. His claims of "untruths" in his review are therefor all false.

I was a team leader with 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, USMC in Vietnam (1968-69). Our long-range reconnaissance missions and operational methods were very akin to what SOG was then doing, although our patrols were conducted in areas that were within the geographic borders of South Vietnam. This book profiles the incredible courage, tenacity and effectiveness of the warriors within one of the top fighting units in American military history. Force Recon Marines of my era have admiration and respect for the men of SOG, to include their Montagnard brothers.

I’ve always enjoyed Plaster’s work, but this is his best yet. I’ve read a lot about SOG simply because the stories of what they did are so mind boggling. There are many good accounts of their missions by various authors, many of whom were participants like Plaster, but Plaster is the go-to guy for well documented histories of SOG. This edition tops them all and contains a bunch of excellent information I’ve never seen elsewhere. It’s hard to write an exhaustive history without being boring, but Plaster pulls it off in grand style. It pretty much covers SOG from start to finish, yet reads like an action novel instead of a history.I’m sure all wars have their extraordinary heroes, but for my money the heroes of SOG in all their forms and missions are the most insanely courageous bunch of warriors the US fielded in Vietnam. Hats off to Major Plaster for first having the courage and skill and luck to run recon across the fences for two years and survive, and second for writing what I think is absolutely the best book ever on the subject.

I worked in 'Nam at the start of the 90's & visited some of the places mentioned. This I found to be a most fascinating account of undercover ops. Such bravery. Amazed at the resourcefulness, audacity & deviousness of the NVA & sympathisers, but no less the bravery of the US Forces, fighting for the West against what was back then the real threat of Communism to the West. I was a schoolboy during those years but can still recall the daily news bulletins on tv. Needless to say, I, some of my school mates & family were solidly behind the USA. In the midst too of all of this carnage, one or two amusing tales of attempted snatches of NVA prisoners which went pear-shaped, without major casualties on the US side of the fence at least, providing camp fire stories for friends or family back home. All in all, I found this book a very enjoyable bedtime read.

This book is a collection of short war stories, which after you've read a few become quite repetitive. The formula is usually this - SOG team inserts into a LZ in Cambodia or Laos, fights off a small NVA force, spends a few days evading the NVA, eventually get spotted by a massive NVA force, epic firefight ensues, a few friendly Vietnamese 'nungs' get killed but they're not American so nobody seems to care, call in A1s, extraction force arrives, a few choppers get downed, SOG team evacuated. Rinse and repeat. It's interesting at first but you don't really gain anything by reading beyond a couple of chapters.There are some funny anecdotes in there - the one about the captured bicycle actually made me laugh out loud. Some stomach churning stuff too about what allegedly happened to captured Americans. Some of the stories of American actions seem a bit gung ho and outright ridiculous - losing 11 men (2 captured) and 5 aircraft to rescue a downed US aviator at the end of the war, or launching a full scale attack not knowing they're landing on an NVA HQ with devastating US casualties. It's bizarre to think that these things actually happened.It's an ok read but definitely not a 5 star book. If you're interested in the subject I found 'Chickenhawk' to be a much more interesting and informative read.

I bought this book to read as I have taken an interest in other 20th century conflicts in addition to the two world wars.Well what an eye opener. Major(Ret) Plaster is an incredible man who documents the experiences of daring special operations within vietnam in a way that only a veteran could.He takes you through the entire involvement in the war, from prior to major US involvement, throughout the main years of the US led war effort and in the aftermath and the wind down, in which SOG were still very active throughout.He documents how this extraordinary band of men were the true meaning of "economy of force" by punching well above their weight and providing a return of losses in the region of NVA 250:1 SOG Trooper. He documents their incredible missions with tremendous detail to keep the reader interested and accounts how SOG pioneered many innovative and now regular special forces techniques such as HALO jumping insertion, Bright Light patrols and certain psychological warfare deception techniques etc.He also portrayed to me the fickle nature of the politicians, regularly downgrading or even failing to recognise the tremendous contribution of the average SOG soldier in this bitter campaign they waged simply because the missions were secret, not 100% by the book or similar poor excuses. It is similar to the constant failure of recognition of British troops in small cold war conflicts such as Oman in the 70's.This book gives a good insight into special forces operations and the dark arts of cold war operations and how truly path-forging these operatives were with their unique ability to push boundaries and pioneer new techniques. It is noteworthy that some of the missions in this book were used as the basis for the Vietnam missions in the Call of Duty Black Ops game, a true testament to their daring nature!!I highly recommend this book to anyone with even a casual interest in the Vietnam War, special forces development or just military history - it has earned a rightful place on my shelf!!!

If you're interested in the Vietnam war as I am this is pretty good reading. A fascinating view of special ops (in the first person singular) of the war. No punches pulled, friends and comrades die and there is no glossing over. Amongst all of it there are, believe it or not, some hilarious bits so look out for the mix up between a bicycle and a Vietnamese General. It's a very interesting read and well worth buying.

This book gives an amazing insight to clandestine warefare. The warriors spirit is present in abundance. Technical information is better than simliar books for those readers who crave more detailed knowledge than normally available. All too familiar in these books is the unsung proffesionals who acheived very impressive results from little resources and usually with political restraints from "armchair controllers". SOG operatives were some of the finest fighters in the war. Most of their exploits were unseen and were never fully recognised. I loved the "dirty tricks" used to fool and undermine the enemy, most of them were pure genius. This book cannot be praised enough, I am full of admiration for these soldiers. My only regret was getting to the end of the book.I would also recommend "The Ravens: Pilots of the Secret War in Laos" by Christopher Robbins, a similiar style book but from the pilots war.