Books on SOG

These are the books I currently have about SOG:

1) SOG By John Plaster
2) Reflections of a Warrior By FranklinD. Miller
3) Break Contact, Continue Mission By Raymond D. Harris
4) Longshadows By Kent White
5) Across The Fence By John Stryker Meyer
6) MACVSOG Command History, Annexes A, N & M (1964-1966)
By Charles F. Reske
7) MACVSOG Command History Annex B, 1971-1972, Volumes I &
II By Charles F. Reske
8) SOG, MACV Studies and Observations Group, Volumes I, II, III,
& IV By Harve Saal
9) War Stories of the Green Berets By Hans Halberstadt*
10) SOG, A Photo History of the Secret Wars By John Plaster
11) Secret Commandos By John Plaster
12) At The Hurricane's Eye By Greg Walker*

"*" denotes book is not all about SOG

I know I need to purchase Running Recon By Frank Grecko


Can you guys tell me any others that are out there that I may have missed?

[Sigi]

Is this the bibliography of SOG?

Ahhh, could be

[Roguish Lawyer]

Nice list. How about some reviews? I have not read several of these and would like to know if I should.

Roguish Lawyer, which ones did you have in mind?


Does anybody else have any reccommendations on other books?

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally posted by MAB32
Roguish Lawyer, which ones did you have in mind?

I have read the books by Plaster and Halberstadt only. And I'm not sure if the one by Halberstadt is the one you've referenced or not. It was just called "Green Berets" and was recommended to me by an FOG. May have been BMT, but I do not recall.

The one by Hans Halberstadt that I have is the one with a dust jacket that has the background covered in tiger stripes with a few pictures here and there on the front and back covers. It also shows a Mini Grenade on the front cover. It is published by Motorbooks International, ISBN is 0-87938-955-9.

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally posted by MAB32
The one by Hans Halberstadt that I have is the one with a dust jacket that has the background covered in tiger stripes with a few pictures here and there on the front and back covers. It also shows a Mini Grenade on the front cover. It is published by Motorbooks International, ISBN is 0-87938-955-9.

Just ordered it. Here it is:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books

That would be the one. Allot of great stories and well worth the money. Read the story entitled "Live and Let Live" By Dennis Mack first. It is one of my favorites.

Here is a brief run through of the first volume of the 3 volume set By Charles Reske.

Mr. Reske has taken the documents "declassified" from SOG and "other" sources and turned them into a 3 volume set. There are allot of "deleted" lines, paragraphs, and pages in all 3 volumes. In the first volume, Mr. reske trys to fill in the blanks with the knowledge he had while attached to NAVSECGRU as an intelligence specialist with NSG-Detachment 9-6 and NSG-Detachment 5-6 from 1966-1972. Note: I wonder if he knew of John Walker? In the last volumes he doesn't do it nearly as much.

I will address the first volume now and go thru the others later.

The first book deals mostly with the Command History of Annexes A, N, & M (1964-1966). This volume tells you were it all began after the French loss at Dien Bien Phu and the CIA's involvement right after that to the decision in Washington to officially start the "secret" war. It then goes into the OPLANS from the Kennedy and Johnson administrations which set the wheels rolling for SOG. It explains SOG's organizational structure, some of their TOE, and a brief overview of the "who, what, when, and how" assets. If you are interested in the Naval Advisory Detachment to SOG then this is the book to get. It is full of info about the "Nasty" boats, their crews, and their exploits up and down the coast of N. Vietnam. In this Volume you will also hear for the first time the various CIA "phony" companies mentioned in the other volumes and other publications such as the Far Eastern Construction Company(FECC). These folks played a crucial role in making sure SOG and NAD got what they needed and on time.

If you want to start out fresh in finding allot about SOG and how it all began I highly reccommend reading this book first. It will give you a great background and starting point from which you will be able to sometimes "fill-in" the blanks found in other books dealing with SOG if that makes any sense?

Here is some info for ordering the book:

ISBN is: 0-939427-62-1. Try www.Bookfinder.com if you cannot find it anywhere else.

[D9 (RIP)]

I just finished Reflections of a Warrior by Miller tonight.

Very good read. Obviously the stories as told by Miller b/c of the lack of polish, but it actually lends a lot to the readability. The book is like a montage of war stories by one of the most BTDT guys around. These are some ass-kicking stories, no doubt.

The good thing about this book, apart from the excellent content, is the readability. Because it is a collection of stories it is an easy book to pick up and put down if your time demands it, although you will want to pull all-nighters.

CSM Miller must have been an incredible soldier to serve with. I'm glad he recorded his experiences. I heartily recommend this book.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by MAB32

Does anybody else have any reccommendations on other books?

The Dying Place - David Maurer (CCN)
The New Legions - Donald Duncan (B-52)
Medal of Honor - Roy Benavidez (B-56)
Code-Name BRIGHT LIGHT - George Veith (JPRC)
Green Berets at Wat - Shelby Stanton*
SF of the US Army - Ian Sutherland*
SOG: Team History and Insignia of a Clandestine Army - Jason Hardy (RTs Asp, Hawaii, Colorado, Indigo, Rattler, Idaho, and Montana)

Richard

* not just SOG

Richard,

Thanks for the list. I have all of them except Ian Sutherland's book. In fact while I was on vacation in the Great Smokie Mountains there was one up for sale on e-bay. Price so far on Saturday was only up to $55 and it had 1 day to go (sunday in the late afternoon). On Sunday we were at our cabin which was at 4,0430 ft. I had it locked on and was waiting for the last seconds so I could bid $125. I lost my signal at 40 seconds to go and it sold to somebody for $119.

Note: This book is in the $500 range when found. Even my book on "Special Forces at War" By Shelby Statton(SP?) is worth $1000 and I only paid $50 for it. Bottom line is that SOG books are going to become collectable in a few years! Some of the books Richard stated along with what others here have also stated are going to bring in high prices in the future.

D9,

Franklin Miller was one of the true billy bad butts (BBB) to have hit SOG. Plaster in his book called him a little to crazy for his friend Glenn from Hawaii who ran with Miller. Miller was absolutely "good in the woods" as they say. He knew what he wanted to do, it was his way so it was the right way and it simply worked. By the way Miller died of, I believe Kidney cancer back in 2004.

Finally, a few of the books mentioned here will be highly collectable since they are no longer available.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by MAB32

Even my book on "Special Forces at War" By Shelby Statton(SP?) is worth $1000 and I only paid $50 for it. Bottom line is that SOG books are going to become collectable in a few years! Finally, a few of the books mentioned here will be highly collectable since they are no longer available.

I search small used book stores and yard sales for my books. FYI, I paid $7.98 for my copy of Special Forces at War and $1 each for first editions w/original paper covers of The New Legions and The Green Berets. My advice is to keep looking and always be alert because you never know when you'll find a book you want.

Hint: libraries often sell books which have low circulation to clear their shelves and make way for more popular books. I check several libraries consistently and get books I'm seeking for $2 each (hardcover). My prize is JFC Fuller's three volume set A Military History of the Western World which was taken out of circulation at the embassy library in Bonn, FRG, and I got it for free.

Richard

[incommin]

SHADES OF DANIEL BOONE, Heritage Books, ISBN 0-7884-3228-1

Personal view of the Vietnam was as well as info on CCS and SOG........ I know RL has a copy.

Jim