Special Operations.Com
MACV-SOG
KIA / MIA Chronology
1964-1973
Compiled and Maintained
by CPT Robert L. Noe, U.S. Army MACV-SOG, Retired
Anyone with any details regarding
any of the incidents/missions, additions/deletions
and/or corrections to contact Robert Noe regarding
the memorial names/dates/incidents via email
or telephone at (318) 445-7960. To obtain additional
information and their specific location on the Vietnam
Memorial for the following individuals, you can
go to the Vietnam Memorial Wall by clicking on the
link -->
The Wall on the Web Once there, locate the letter
of the last name, click. Scroll down to the name
of the individual and click on the blue word (details).
Main Menu
Please select the year you wish to
view.
The following quote is extracted from
Maj John Plaster’s Book: SOG, The Secret Wars of American
Commandos in Vietnam and reflect’s both the intelligence
gathering aspects of a reconnaissance mission to gather
intelligence data and the ability of that soldier
to fight:
"I looked up at the bunker
in front of me and saw a khaki-uniformed NVA with
a pith helmet, chest web gear, green Bata boots and
an AK, Type 56, and no other identifying insignia.
Then I shot him." -- Sgt Tony "Fast
Eddie" Anderson, RT Kansas, 1971
As I worked on this project, many
times I had to stop, my heart filled with pride, a
lump in my throat, emotional pain filling my soul,
bringing tears to my eyes. Always, avoiding the gazes
of those who might come around so they would not know.
Then I ran across a passage in John Plaster’s book
which says it all contributed to Bill O’Rourke when
he was speaking of Mad Dog Shriver, I’ll paraphrase
it to fit the feeling of all our SOG brothers: I
feel very privileged to have been associated with
these brave men, some my friends and all my brother,
I wish I had been standing and fighting with each
one of them, to bring them home, I wasn’t, and I grieve
for each. Hopefully, I did contribute in some small
way with my service with SOG!
A Note on Sources
The above named losses and narratives
are complied from various documents, books, Official
Records, and personal accounts. Some of the sources
include SOG "MACV Studies and Observations
Group" 5 Volume books by the late Harve Saal;
Who’s Who in MACVSOG by Steve Sherman; SOG
The Secret Wars of American’s Commandos in Vietnam
by John Plaster; Reflections of a Warrior by
Frank Miller; Vietnam Magazine; Green Beret
Magazines; Green Berets at War, U.S. Special
Forces in Southeast Asia 1956-1975, by Shelby
L. Stanton; Internet websites; Telephone calls, email,
and stories from Helicopter pilots/crews supporting
SOG operations; individual SOG members; and family
members; as well as my personal memory. Anyone with
any additions or corrections please contact me so
that the below memorial can be updated.
The source; 15 MONTHS IN SOG, A
WARRIOR’S TOUR, by Cpt Thom Nicholson written
as non-fiction, but appears to be fiction, has many
wrong dates, wrong assignments, various individuals
involved in missions that were killed, events, and
descriptions, etc., that do not match actual, verifiable
data. The only individuals mentioned in this book
who were killed and their names verified was Paul
Potter, KIA 23 Aug 68; Maj Samuel Toomey killed 30
Nov 68; and 1Lt Peter McMurray died 27 Aug 69 instead
of 22 Jun 69 as reported in the book. All other individuals
recorded as killed by Cpt Nicholson appears to be
fictitious. Thus, the only event used from this source
is on Peter McMurray, only because of the similarities
of his official cause of death and that related in
the book. According to official records, McMurray’s
death is recorded as Non-hostile; however, in the
book, the events show his death as a result of hostile
action. A disclaimer was inserted.
