Approximately 3.2 million Americans served in Vietnam. Not only did it recruit solely from special operations units, but the inherent risk required that everyone had to be a volunteer. Service in the unit was highly selective. SOG was commanded by an Army colonel, called “Chief SOG,” reflecting the predominance of Green Berets in the organization, and divided into three geographical sections: Command and Control North (CCN), Command and Control Central (CCC), and Command and Control South (CCS).
But as far as the general public was concerned, they were each just another American soldier fighting Communism in Vietnam. SOG troops weren’t allowed to disclose their location, missions, or any other details surrounding their covert outfit and they couldn’t take photographs-like all good commandos, however, SOG broke that rule frequently, as the numerous pictures from the time suggest. The Ho Chi Minh Trail slithered throughout Indochina and supplied the insurgency in South Vietnam (USASOC).ĭuty in SOG was voluntary and strictly confidential.
