Like many of the SOG vets in recent Q&As, I met Ken through the MACV-SOG private group they graciously allow me to be a part of. He served first as a Marine in Vietnam (1966-1967) Then again in Army Special Forces in SOG ( 1971-1972) 1.How did you find out about SOG and got recruited/joinedContinue reading “Interview With Ken Holmes 5th Special Forces-MACV-SOG Command & Control North”
Category Archives: Armed Conflicts Worldwide
25th Infantry Sniper
A very cool picture from 1969 of an Army sniper in the 25th ID. Youc an see him with the XM21 with night vision optic and suppressor. He mentions he had the Refield/Leathwood ART scope in the rucksack beside him. His spotter poses with his suppressed M16.
History: Bill Brophy
A follow up post on a man I have talked about in the past a bit. The most significant man at Aberdeen Proving Ground, in 1941, was General Julian Hatcher. Hatcher was one of the most prominent members of the nation’s shooting fraternity. He was also the Commanding General of the Ordnance Training Center. PerhapsContinue reading “History: Bill Brophy”
WeaponsMan: The Big Lie About Wanat (COP Kahler), Part 2 of 2
In the enormous1 part one of the series, we reacted to a brain-dead article published in The Atlantic by a retired Major General, who has, since his retirement 20+ years ago, been a lobbyist for defense firms and TV talking head. (Before he got his stars he was an artillery officer). We may have more to sayContinue reading “WeaponsMan: The Big Lie About Wanat (COP Kahler), Part 2 of 2”
Rangers In 1971
A group of Rangers having a little in Vietnam in 1971. Drinking booze out of a dead communist’s skull. The good old days. Some silly, whimsical fellows.
THE SPENCER CARBINE AT THE BEECHER’S ISLAND FIGHT
When the Civil war ended, the breech loading Spencer repeating carbine benefited from a wave of popularity. Gen. James Harrison Wilson had high praise for the firearm. “the Spencer carbine is undoubtedly the best firearm ever put into the hands of the soldier” he wrote in a document that would end up becoming part ofContinue reading “THE SPENCER CARBINE AT THE BEECHER’S ISLAND FIGHT”
WeaponsMan: The Big Lie About Wanat (COP Kahler), Part 1 of 2 (long)
The Big Lie principle, as elaborated by Hitler and Goebbels, is that if you tell a small lie, you’ll be caught on it, but if you tell a really big, even outrageous whopper, people will tend to believe it. It’s an insight into human psychology which helps explain how those two second-stringers wound up seizing the levers ofContinue reading “WeaponsMan: The Big Lie About Wanat (COP Kahler), Part 1 of 2 (long)”
RT HABU’s WAR TROPHY
In 1971, 5th SFG official HQ produced a register of approved “War Souvenirs” that USSF personnel were allied to carry back to CONUS. One of the approved items was a Montagnard CrossBow. With the list in hand Lemuel McGlothern and Jimmie Johnson created the ultimate in a Montagnards crossbow that used a Chi-Com RPD(Ruchnoy PulemyotContinue reading “RT HABU’s WAR TROPHY”
SOG XM21 Sniping
A very cool picture of a SOG Command & Control South Recon man. CCS was the “Daniel Bone” area of operations. Which is Cambodia. The more open terrain meant using a scoped rifle was more feasible. Some things to note. By the rifle are the V-40 mini grenades popular with SOG recon teams. The WW2Continue reading “SOG XM21 Sniping”
Carl “Snake” Shepley 20th SOS assigned to SOG/CCS
I became friends with Carl several years ago and last night he shared some pictures with me that he took in Vietnam. Carl was a crew chief in the 20th Special Operations Squadron, AKA ” The Green Hornets”. The green and tan paint patter is a way to immediately recognize a 20th SOS helicopter duringContinue reading “Carl “Snake” Shepley 20th SOS assigned to SOG/CCS”
Scattered Shots 