Plaster's "Secret Commandos"

[Smokin Joe]

Originally posted by rubberneck
I bought the book last night and can't wait to get the time to read it. I was struck by the pictures however. It is truely amazing to me, the type of man that is willing to go behind enemy lines and to sneak within feet of an enemy patrol and snap a picture. My hat is off to you Ambush Master, all the SOG vets and all the current SF Soldiers who carry out these types of missions. You guys must certainly have a very large set of brass balls to pull that off.

I'm about a 3rd into the book. I completely agree with Rubberneck on this you gentlemen are friggin amazing.

My farther used to tell me stories about SF and Thai's he worked with while he worked for Air America. Specifically a 3 man SF team that had come from Africa they would drop them in the woods way way out and about a month or two later they would walk back on to base. But nothing as vivid as what Plaster accounts in his book.

If any of you are ever in my area the steak and beer are defiently on me.

[CPTAUSRET]

Your Dad fly for Air America?

Terry

[QRQ 30]

Did you fly Cobras out of FOB-2 around April , 1968? I remember the first group of Cobra Pilots well. They strutted into our air-briefing with their pretty white helmets with Ford Cobra decals. Within five days three were shot down and one was shot up. They were grounded temporarily to develope more appropriate tactics.

It reminds me of the first days of OIF. Those Apaches were put unnecessarily in harms way. For some reason the higher ups don't realize how devastating small arms fire can be.

Once they got it together they were the best close cover we could ask for.

[CPTAUSRET]

Originally posted by QRQ 30
Did you fly Cobras out of FOB-2 around April , 1968? I remember the first group of Cobra Pilots well. They strutted into our air-briefing with their pretty white helmets with Ford Cobra decals. Within five days three were shot down and one was shot up. They were grounded temporarily to develope more appropriate tactics.

It reminds me of the first days of OIF. Those Apaches were put unnecessarily in harms way. For some reason the higher ups don't realize how devastating small arms fire can be.

Once they got it together they were the best close cover we could ask for.

Terry:

No in 68 I was flying Cobras out of CanTho after flying B-model gunships out of SocTrang in 65-66, and spending about a year as a gunnery IP at Mother Rucker. I had a healthy respect for what small arms fire could do to a helicopter. My nickname was "Magnet Ass", cause I couldn't seem to come back from a mission with out a few bullet holes for someone to patch up:

Terry

[Smokin Joe]

Originally posted by CPTAUSRET
Your Dad fly for Air America?

Terry

Yes T-28's and A-1E's out of Udorn, he lived in Udorn and flew out of Laos (I think) or whatever AA base was close to Udorn from earliy 67 to late 69.

[Martinez]

I have both of the Major's SOG books, have placed an order for his latest. I can't wait to read it.

Jennifer Martinez sends

[Solid]

I got it late Friday and finished it sunday. It had a far more personal, less explanatory and historic slant than SOG, which for me made for harder, more emotional reading. Plaster is very good at 'pen portraits'.

Everyone should read this book.

Solid

[Eagle5US]

Originally posted by Smokin Joe
Yes T-28's and A-1E's out of Udorn, he lived in Udorn and flew out of Laos (I think) or whatever AA base was close to Udorn from earliy 67 to late 69.

That is the Savannhaket Airfield...the same one we fly into and out of for most of our OPNs in the Southern provinces.
The Air America hangers are still there as are the parking pads surrounded by blast walls.
AEK Udorn is just accross the border...there is a clinic that I use there for stabilization of patients prior to transfer up to Bangkok.
Next time I am there...I will try to get a couple of photos (of what is left) if you want.

Eagle
per QRQ 30's incredible memory...(and my lack of coffee)
correction...
AEK Udorn (Udon Thani) is in the North by Vientiane...
I was referring to Ubon (Ratchathani) in the South

[QRQ 30]

Eagle: I believe you are speaking of UBON and Gorilla Joe is speaking of UDON. AA flew out of both as well as NKP and Pitsanoluk. Udon is across the river from Vientiane and closest to the northern areas of Laos. In 73 I got a gold Presidential Rolex in Vientienne for $900 U,S. We recovered a T-28 from the river near Savanahket and another from a lake north of Vientienne. I have been to both airfields. We recovered RLAF aircraft and shipped them to the states for remanufacturing since there were no more aircraft to be bought.

"HeavyHook" also worked out of NKP with AA.

[Eagle5US]

Originally posted by QRQ 30
Eagle: I believe you are speaking of UBON and Gorilla Joe is speaking of UDON. AA flew out of both as well as NKP and Pitsanoluk. Udon is across the river from Vientiane and closest to the northern areas of Laos. In 73 I got a gold Presidential Rolex in Vientienne for $900 U,S. We recovered a T-28 from the river near Savanahket and another from a lake north of Vientienne. I have been to both airfields. We recovered RLAF aircraft and shipped them to the states for remanufacturing since there were no more aircraft to be bought.

"HeavyHook" also worked out of NKP with AA.

You're right I'm wrong...DAMMIT!!!
AEK Udorn (aka Udon Thani) is across from Vientiane and is my stabilization platform in the North...
Ubon (Ubon Ratchatani) is where the clinic is located in Southern Thailand across from Savanakhet.

Sorry...coffee deficient at the office...

Eagle

[Smokin Joe]

Originally posted by Eagle5US
You're right I'm wrong...DAMMIT!!!
AEK Udorn (aka Udon Thani) is across from Vientiane and is my stabilization platform in the North...
Ubon (Ubon Ratchatani) is where the clinic is located in Southern Thailand across from Savanakhet.

Sorry...coffee deficient at the office...

Eagle

Ubon sounds familiar, however I will get clarification on EXACTLY which one he flew out of.

It is Udon Than.
He said all the Gringos called it Udorn.
Close to Vientien.

Eagle it sounds like you are walking around my dad's old stomping grounds.

He would love to see some photos of what is left. I will try and get some old photos of what the place looked like. Only problem is all his photos are on slides. But I will see what I can do.


Stay safe

Joe

[QRQ 30]

Folks: I am a slow reader, but as I read the book I realize I have several pictures illustrating the Book. Here is an example: from p.14 -- Maybe a little more extreme than "tounguing his ear". If anyone is interested I could post whem as I read about them.

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally posted by QRQ 30
If anyone is interested I could post whem as I read about them.

Please!

[CPTAUSRET]

Originally posted by Roguish Lawyer
Please!

Yup.

Terry

[QRQ 30]

Kontum City in 1968 just after Tet.