Military Times received numerous reactions to an op-ed penned by retired Army Col. Paris D. Davis, which proposed honoring the Vietnam War’s most covert warriors, the U.S Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), with a Congressional Gold Medal. Responses included testimonials from veterans endorsing this recognition, highlighting the heroics of the MACV-SOG members and the challenges they faced. One response also illuminated the struggles some face in accessing benefits due to lack of official documentation or recognition of their covert service.
Key Points:
- Retired Army Col. Paris D. Davis wrote an opinion piece advocating for the U.S Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their covert services during the Vietnam War.
- A former Huey pilot emphasized the commendable acts of MACV-SOG members, noting the extreme conditions they faced and their exceptional performance.
- Karen Mihalic, wife of a Vietnam veteran, highlighted the difficulties faced by covert operatives in accessing benefits due to missing or classified records.
- A veteran shared insights on MACV-SOG’s Chain of Command, indicating it was linked directly to the Special Assistant for Counterinsurgency and Special Activities (SACSA), and several high-level entities were aware of SOG’s activities.
- The MACV-SOG’s operational area encompassed North and South Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Gulf of Tonkin, and the South China Sea.
