View Full Version : 40th Anniversary Son Tay Raid
http://www.psywarrior.com/sontay.html
Today we salute those exceptionally brave Quiet Professionals, who did everything they could to bring American POWs back from Vietnam. Today is the 40th anniversary of the Son Tay Raid. We salute you, veterans of Son Tay! To those still with us: thank you for your brilliant service and sacrifices. Thank you for teaching many of us what it meant to be a Special Forces soldier. For those who have passed on: your memory will live forever in the annals of Special Forces history. Thank you for your service and sacrifices.
Thanks to the QP's that put their lives on the line to try the impossible.
And thanks for the post..
Thanks to everyone involved in the Son Tay Raid! Your actions and sacrifices shall not be forgotten.
As a very young trooper in the "Q", I met several Son Tay Raiders. Some were JFK school house instructors, some worked CIF, all were very much loved, respected and admired.
I'm very honored to have met a few of them.
Not sure who it was, but I met the man, the story I remember.
A soldier, assigned to the aircraft that crashed inside the compound, on purpose, had reheared moving from the crash site to a "tree inside the compund" to lay down supressive fire with his M-60, and 500 rds., his assistant gunner carried an additional 1000 rds.!!!
The tree was identified by spy craft photos, when the aircraft landed, (crashed), the soldiers moved the 25M, but the tree was gone. Standing there, not knowing what to do, the soldier was slapped on the left shoulder and told, "LAY DOWN NOW!!!".
After 1000 hours of rehearsal time, he was conditioned to walk/run the 25 meters.
A simple thing as lying down escaped him, he and his asst gunner just froze.
Nothing but great respect for the Son Tay Raiders.
Thanks fellas.
As a very young trooper in the "Q", I met several Son Tay Raiders. Some were JFK school house instructors, some worked CIF, all were very much loved, respected and admired.
I'm very honored to have met a few of them.
Not sure who it was, but I met the man, the story I remember.
A soldier, assigned to the aircraft that crashed inside the compound, on purpose, had reheared moving from the crash site to a "tree inside the compund" to lay down supressive fire with his M-60, and 500 rds., his assistant gunner carried an additional 1000 rds.!!!
The tree was identified by spy craft photos, when the aircraft landed, (crashed), the soldiers moved the 25M, but the tree was gone. Standing there, not knowing what to do, the soldier was slapped on the left shoulder and told, "LAY DOWN NOW!!!".
After 1000 hours of rehearsal time, he was conditioned to walk/run the 25 meters.
A simple thing as lying down escaped him, he and his asst gunner just froze.
Nothing but great respect for the Son Tay Raiders.
Thanks fellas.
I think that was Sgt Jacovenko, wasn't it? I remember a similar vignette...
I think that was Sgt Jacovenko, wasn't it? I remember a similar vignette...
That may be right, I was was too young to consider ever writing this stuff down in a journal at the time.
Another regret.
None the less, what a remarkable story!!!!
None the less, what a remarkable story!!!!
And a testament to the power of muscle memory!
The Raid took place while I was in Cbt Engr AIT at Fort Lost In The Woods. It became a textbook case for SF and I later got to serve with and know a number of Raiders - Leroy Carlson, Jake Jakovenko, Don Taapken, Dave Nickerson, George Petrie, Billy K Moore, Pappy Kittleson, Bill Tapley, Ronnie Strahan, Paul Poole, Jesse Black, and Elmer D Adams.
George - the first man on the ground in the compound because he was thrown out when the HH-3 crashed - is in the hospital again but should be released soon. Age and the results of a long-serving SF lifestyle have caught up with him but he's still one tough SOB. Ross Perot personally ensures George gets the best treatment available here.
These guys are an inspirational chunk of living history - I hope more of y'all can meet some of them one day before they, too, are gone - you'll never regret it and you'll never forget it.
Richard :munchin
ZonieDiver
11-21-2010, 16:57
As a very young trooper in the "Q", I met several Son Tay Raiders. Some were JFK school house instructors, some worked CIF, all were very much loved, respected and admired.
I'm very honored to have met a few of them.
Not sure who it was, but I met the man, the story I remember.
A soldier, assigned to the aircraft that crashed inside the compound, on purpose, had reheared moving from the crash site to a "tree inside the compund" to lay down supressive fire with his M-60, and 500 rds., his assistant gunner carried an additional 1000 rds.!!!
The tree was identified by spy craft photos, when the aircraft landed, (crashed), the soldiers moved the 25M, but the tree was gone. Standing there, not knowing what to do, the soldier was slapped on the left shoulder and told, "LAY DOWN NOW!!!".
After 1000 hours of rehearsal time, he was conditioned to walk/run the 25 meters.
A simple thing as lying down escaped him, he and his asst gunner just froze.
Nothing but great respect for the Son Tay Raiders.
Thanks fellas.
I was in Weapons training in SFTG when Son Tay happened. Even as a 'Snuffy' (as we were then called), it was a very proud time. I first heard the story Wet Dog relates on the Weapons final FTX. We were moving among different weapons, and came to a stationed manned by SSG St. Clair - a Son Tay raider. He related the story to his very rapt audience, and in my memory, he related that it occurred to him, but it may have been related as having happened to another.
Nonetheless, imagine the cojones it took! Even today, I am awed.
mojaveman
11-21-2010, 17:46
During Phase III of the SFQC in '84 an officer who's name I forgot and who was a Captain at the time of the operation gave us a very good presentation on Operation Ivory Coast.
After being assigned to 5th SFG I had the privilige of serving with three Son Tay raiders, all of whom were pretty impressive people.
When I attended Phase III of the SFQC in '84 an officer who's name I forgot and who was a young Captain at the time of the operation gave us a pretty good presentation on Operation Ivory Coast.
After being assigned to 5th SFG I had the privilige of serving with three Son Tay raiders, all pretty impressive people.
If you heard a presentation at Ft. Bragg by an officer who served as a young Cpt at the time of the op it was probably Meadows.
greenberetTFS
11-21-2010, 18:24
I was in Weapons training in SFTG when Son Tay happened. Even as a 'Snuffy' (as we were then called), it was a very proud time. I first heard the story Wet Dog relates on the Weapons final FTX. We were moving among different weapons, and came to a stationed manned by SSG St. Clair - a Son Tay raider. He related the story to his very rapt audience, and in my memory, he related that it occurred to him, but it may have been related as having happened to another.
Nonetheless, imagine the cojones it took! Even today, I am awed.
Absolutely Zonie,"COJONES" being the key word here,it's amazing how these guys had them.......... :) Never having the privilege of meeting any of them like some of you have,but sincerely wishing I had.........:) Men like these make me feel proud that I'm a Green Beret......:)
Big Teddy :munchin
The Reaper
11-21-2010, 18:35
Thanks for trying, brothers.
TR
Thanks you very much for trying and inspiring future Special Forces Soldiers to be the best like you are.
Snaquebite
11-21-2010, 19:15
I had the priviledge of working with/for a few of these soldiers during my career. They all were always an inspiration and a wealth of knowledge. Others I had the priviledge to meet. They too always had a way of inspiring the people around them. Thanks to all you brave soldiers.
http://www.sontayraider.com/
Green Light
11-22-2010, 18:59
Thanks for trying, brothers.
TR
Tiny Young was the intel Sgt on my first team. He was a heck of a guy. I guess he was one of the few guys big enough to run with oxy-acetylene tanks on his back. Paul Poole and a couple of others were in the company. They were larger than life and more fun than any other group of guys I've ever seen. They were truly the great heroes of their generation.
The only guy who could have put it together and kept them together was Bull Simon. I never met him but the Raiders spoke of him with great affection and admiration.
Those guys did more to save those POWs than all the other strategies combined. The NVA began to treat them more humanely after the raid. They knew that their game was about to be blown and they wouldn't be seen as the great humanitarians of the world but as the criminals they were.
Jake, Joe Lupyak, and all the other guys were and still are in my eyes, the greatest unit of warriors ever put together. No high-speed selection course, no multi million dollar training area. Just a bunch of SF guys who were given a mission.
...and I'll never forget this oped cartoon...says it all...
Richard
I had the honor of meeting a raider while training at Fort William Henery Harrison in Montana.
I can't remember his name to save my life, but it was a very humbling experience indeed.
There is another thread on here that has a photo of him and myself when I was in Montana.
Gone but not forgotten...RIP, George.
Richard
alright4u
11-21-2011, 22:48
If you heard a presentation at Ft. Bragg by an officer who served as a young Cpt at the time of the op it was probably Meadows..
Dick Meadows was no youngster.
I was with the 6th Group at the time, legendary warriors walked among us at Fort Bragg.
The excitement was palpable and volunteering for an unknown mission was a dream come true, "many were called, few were chosen' and the incredible feeling of being "left behind" when friends were selected was disappointing.
40 years on, I'm proud to have stood with such men ! :lifter
I was with the 6th Group at the time, legendary warriors walked among us at Fort Bragg.
:lifter
Several of those legendary warriors still walk among us, rather, we walk among them in awe, in the Fayetteville area.
Kenny Mac and several 'other' true warriors can always be found at CM's or at 1/18.
Proud thanks out to all who knew and worked with these true QP's.
greenberetTFS
11-22-2011, 13:27
Tiny Young was the intel Sgt on my first team. He was a heck of a guy. I guess he was one of the few guys big enough to run with oxy-acetylene tanks on his back. Paul Poole and a couple of others were in the company. They were larger than life and more fun than any other group of guys I've ever seen. They were truly the great heroes of their generation.
The only guy who could have put it together and kept them together was Bull Simon. I never met him but the Raiders spoke of him with great affection and admiration.
Those guys did more to save those POWs than all the other strategies combined. The NVA began to treat them more humanely after the raid. They knew that their game was about to be blown and they wouldn't be seen as the great humanitarians of the world but as the criminals they were.
Jake, Joe Lupyak, and all the other guys were and still are in my eyes, the greatest unit of warriors ever put together. No high-speed selection course, no multi million dollar training area. Just a bunch of SF guys who were given a mission.
They truly are the "BEST of the BEST".............:lifter:lifter:lifter
Big Teddy :munchin
69harley
11-22-2011, 15:10
Several of those legendary warriors still walk among us, rather, we walk among them in awe, in the Fayetteville area.
Kenny Mac and several 'other' true warriors can always be found at CM's or at 1/18.
Proud thanks out to all who knew and worked with these true QP's.
Is Kenny Mac still alive? Amazing. I always enjoyed the Sunday pool parties at Sky King's house, Kenny Mac and Pappy were almost always there. They had some amazing stories.
They truly are the "BEST of the BEST"............
Indeed. Amazing men...