Directing Spectre Gunship Support in Laos - Chief Vernon Ward MACV SOG

Chief Vernon Ward led Recon Teams and Hachet Forces in MACV SOG.
In this interview with Rob and Sam, Chief Ward walks us through his distinguished career. He speaks to the historical significance of MACV SOG and how lessons learned there formed the foundation for special forces structures going forwards. He tells the story of landing in Vietnam and volunteering to be whisked away in a Kingbee. He walks through the granular details like how the teams determined loadouts and their weapon selections. He takes us through missions with RT's and Hachet Forces and what it took to lead these teams. Coming back from missions with bullets in his radio and more.

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00:00:05 Intro
00:01:00 Meeting Chief Ward & Hall of Hero’s
00:03:40 What makes S.O.G. Historically Significant
00:05:40 Unconventional Career Path
00:08:15 Differences in Training as an Officer
00:11:45 Volunteering for Vietnam
00:13:40 Finding S.O.G
00:19:00 Khe Sanh
00:21:50 Meeting the Indigenous Forces
00:22:30 What made the Montagnards so effective
00:25:11 What weapons/gear Ward was using
00:30:15 How’d you maneuver with heavy loadouts
00:31:30 Taking rounds in the radio
00:35:05 How many missions in Khe Sahn
00:43:00 Getting the minigun
00:46:02 Major Sincere/Value of Prioritizing Training
00:48:28 Mission Priority at Mai Loc
00:49:20 Hachet Force Dynamics
00:53:05 Leadership Duties on RT vs. Hachet Force
00:56:45 How did the bombing halt effect missions
01:00:16 Spotting Hostile Caucasians
01:04:10 Preparing for missions RT vs. Hachet Force
01:09:45 Snatch Mission from Mai Loc
01:18:45 Moving to Phu Bai
01:19:50 Liason with the Marines on Dewey Canyon
01:22:24 Friendly Guerrilla Units
01:27:40 Missions from Can Tho
01:29:44 First time with AC-130
01:34:44 How to communicate with a Spectre/TacAir
01:38:05 Biggest takeaways from Hachet Force time
01:41:26 Working with the 101st
01:43:07 Calling air support from the bomb crater
01:48:30 S.O.G. was one of his greatest assignments
01:50:55 Getting wounded at Phu Bai