On June 28, 1968, B-56 Project SIGMA’s Recon Company moved forward to our new launch site in the 1st Infantry Division (1st ID) base camp at Quan Loi. We set up operations on the airfield, and we lived in a large hay and rice storage barn at the end of the airfield, when we wereContinue reading “My First Bomb Damage Assessment Mission”
Category Archives: Armed Conflicts Worldwide
Booby Trapped Flashlight
Another devious exploding trap used in Vietnam. Turning that flashlight would certainly be bright.
Book Recommendation -The Final Collapse
This is actually a monograph written by an ARVN General who was considered the best officer in the South VN Army. Vien was very competent and respected by his own men and the senior officers of MACV. The book details his assessment of the final days of the war written fairly freshly after the eventContinue reading “Book Recommendation -The Final Collapse”
August 23 1968
Known as the worst day in Army Special Forces history, was a night attack by a PAVN sapper unit on a SOG headquarters. On this day in U.S. Army SF history…….23 August 1968: Worst Day in Special Forces history. A large force hit a MAC-V SOG FOB and mission launch site on Marble Mountain inContinue reading “August 23 1968”
551st PIB In Southern France Recreation
After the Instagram vote I set out to do a project on the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion. It was originally just going to be a static display with a few carbine pouches but I was having enough fun with it that I decided to do a full to do with it. Brace yourself, it’s aboutContinue reading “551st PIB In Southern France Recreation”
Some Worthwhile Interviews
Here are a few interviews with veterans from different wars. There are a lot on the American Veterans Center YouTube channel but here is a sampling to get you started. The last one will stick with you. Iraq Vietnam Korea World War II
GR103 40mm M-79 Round
Rare GR103 40mm M-79 Round. With it an antenna wire could be fire through triple canopy jungle for better reception. I am not sure who would want to give away their position by trying this gimmick though,
US Issue DextroAmphetamine Tablets
This is an example of US Issue Dextro Amphetamine tablets, these were issued by SOG recon teams to stay awake on extended missions where sleep was not an option. They were a controlled item and handed back at the end of the mission. The tablets have been replaced in this example with dummy items. OftenContinue reading “US Issue DextroAmphetamine Tablets”
The 551st PIB in Operation Dragoon
78 years ago today on August 15th 1944, the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion jumped into southern France as part of Operation Dragoon (Operation Rugby for the Airborne component). The operation was a to supplement the Normandy invasion. Originally planned to coincide with Normandy, then cancelled due to a lack of resources to support both operations.Continue reading “The 551st PIB in Operation Dragoon”
SOG XM21 Sniper
A rare photo of a SOG recon team member with the XM21 sniper rifle. Operating in the Daniel Boone AO (Cambodia) the sniper rifle was more feasible due to the more open terrain. A few other items to note are the WW2 leggings, the V40 mini grenades beside the rifle and the tropical rucksack.
Scattered Shots 