Another story about SOG. This is true, very true.
One mid-afternoon day during POK time (kind of like a siesta in which all NVA observe) whereby all NVA take a long break from around 1200 to either 1300hrs and would last up to, usually to about 1400hrs. If anything moved in the jungle during this time the NVA would know that there is a Recon Team nearby.
Anyways, a RT was at the base of a mountain over looking "The Golfcourse" and I believe "Dollar Lake". These were two of the most out of place areas in Laos. The "Golf Course" was found in Northern Laos as was "Dollar Lake". They spotted a small ban of Pathet Lao escorting two Blue eyed Blondes in the middle of nowhere and they were coming towards them. They then sat up a hasty ambush in order to save these American females. When the Pathet Lao got well into the ambush area each team member picked his target and leaving the two Blondes on their own.
The RT opened up with quick bursts and knocked down all of them except for, the Blondes. As the RT got closer to talk with these American Females, both produced Tokarev pistols and were just getting them out when they all opened up again but only towards these females and killing them easily. After searching the females they found evidence that they were of East German dissent and were sent to a Pathet Lao base area over two miles, approximately, away. They were both nurses and were described at the AAR that stated that they were beautiful women.
When asked by a Colonel in the Pentagon as to why they shot the girls, the RT SSG. could only say that they had their pistols that were up and aimed towards one of my men. The RT then had to beat feet as the Pathet Lao had heard the shots and were on their way in Russian supplied trucks.
NOTE: The P/L were not known by their ability to fight as they had for the most part old rusted shoulder fired weapons with just a few rounds for each weapons. This was the case until near the end of the Vietnam War where they were using AK's, RPG's, and Soviet equipment. They, however, were known in the North and North Eastern part of Laos as a fighting force to be reccond with. They wanted to defeat the Government Soldiers and take over the Capital at Vientine(sp). Their mission was also to take over the opium fields and sell that for their own costs of fighting a War in Laos. This is where a little known General by the name of Vang Pao who had stationed his Laotian goverment soldiers near his house in Milliatary Region II in the most "Top Secret" place on the planet, Long Tien. The General and his men were there because of the opium trade that was used to pay for weapons, munitions, and ordnance as well for uniforms and boots. These were supplied by the CIA. I think everybody knows what happens after the CIA got involved in the drug trade. Plus, I should not say anymore on an open froum because of todays detection towards this alphabet Company.
Then we have another person which I know all of us living in the USA will recognize his name almost immediately. His name is Ross Perot, a Texan billionaire who had allot of interests on the POW/MIA position during those years and had a friend in Mike Cavanaugh. Mr Cavanaugh had been an extremely effective FAC for Pao and a good friend to the General. Mr. Perot would eventually get the General out of the country during the last days of the War with allot of help from the CIA, the "Ravens", and Mr. Perot himself. Mr. Perot then purchased quite a large farm in Montanna I believe or it may even of been in the South Western parts of the USA. Wherever it is, it is still a big ranch from what some old imformation I collected from various sources over the years states.
Mr. Perot flew in Mr. Cavanaugh at Dallas to talk to him about something that was very important to Perot. Perot wanted him to undertake a mission of a diplomatic nature. This is when the Gold Plated "Peacemaker" in .45caliber was handed to Mr. Cavanaugh to his astonnishment. This, Mr. Perot stated the following as remembered by by Mr. Cavanaugh: "I want to get his attention with this present. I've got a fix on some guys who are in a POW camp in Laos. See if VP knows anything about it and I'll finance a mission to go in there and pluck some guys out."
It was that "Gift" from Mr. Ross Perot who'd given the General one gold plated Colt "Peacemaker" in .45cal with "Hand-Tooled Inlay" on the holster and matching belt as a present to the Gneral. The General was very interested in Cowboys and Indians in the old west. So the CIA gave the mission to Mr. Perot who was more than happy to participate. Note: There are a few pictures and I mean a FEW, maybe less, of the General with Mr. Perot shown together. Talk about your "Secret Squirrel" world back then, wouldn't you all say so too?
For more information about their relationship see the book entitled: "The Ravens" By Christopher Robbins. ISBN is: 0-517-56612-5. There is a wealth of imformation in this book about the secret Air War in Laos by mostly Air America Pilots and their LIMA sites thru out Laos where the Generals men were station and natives who were very hateful towards Communism and the NVA backed Pathet Lao. Lima Site 85 being one of the most famous sites. The base was built from scratch with the help of the Far Eastern Constuction Company which was another CIA front consisting of Phillipinos and Thailanders. I wish I could remember the other CIA fake corporations. But right now I am having a brain fart. In the begining of the War we had a bunch of CIA Paramilitaries and Green Berets supporting the free Laotions in what was called Operation White Star.
The most secret place in the whole world at the time was Long Tieng. With exception being the Russians and so did a very select few outside of the base knew about its excistance, including naturally the people that worked in and flew out of the base. It had the name of "Spook Heaven". This is were General Vang Pao made his headquarters and it is located in Military Region II.
Well, that is enough for tonight. I might continue tomorrow if more people here "Want To Know" more about SOG especially, and my limited knowledge of the CIA in Vietnam. Allot of more "SPOOKY" stuff lies in the book called the "Ravens". I wish all could go and read it in it's entirely.
