SRS: Henry Dick Thompson - MACV-SOG Operator, Codename "Dynamite"
Shawn Ryan spends some time with a Vietnam War legend...
Henry L. (Dick) Thompson, Ph.D., is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and legendary MACV-SOG operator known by the codename "Dynamite."
Serving as a recon team leader from 1968 to 1970, he led over 20 high-risk black operations deep into enemy territory in Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam during the Vietnam War's secret campaigns, earning a reputation for bravery in brutal firefights and hand-to-hand combat.
After 21 years of military service, including roles in Special Forces, Airborne, and Ranger units, Thompson founded High Performing Systems, Inc. in 1984, where he serves as President and CEO, providing leadership solutions, training, and assessments for corporate, military, law enforcement, and firefighters in high-stress decision-making.
A psychologist, Mensa member, and Ironman triathlete, he authored, among other books, the bestselling "SOG Codename Dynamite (opens in Amazon USA)" series, including "A MACV-SOG 1-0's Personal Journal" (2023), sharing firsthand accounts of combat psychology and spiritual warfare.
Thompson advocates for mental resilience, veteran support, and applying combat lessons to everyday leadership.
NOTE: This is a long video, as it is any time Shawn has a very distinguished guest, such as Henry Thompson. You may want to bookmark this post or the video to view it in segments. Also, learn to listen at an accelerated play rate -it will save you some time. :-)
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
03:08 Honoring Veterans and Their Service
07:59 Combat Stories and Survival Tactics
18:07 Escape and Jungle Survival
35:26 Childhood and Early Influences
49:26 Sleep Deprivation Experiments and Cognitive Effects
54:35 Military Applications of Sleep Studies
01:01:27 Enlisting and Ranger Aspirations
01:12:28 Volunteering for SOG
01:31:41 First Mission: Combat Reality Sets In
01:45:19 Intense Jungle Firefights
02:06:05 Taking Command and Team Leadership
02:25:23 Emergency Rescue Mission
02:38:45 Helicopter Ambush and Extraction
02:42:10 Solo Operations and Survival Skills
03:21:31 Honoring Fallen Comrades
03:35:58 Final Missions and Close Calls
03:56:10 Returning Home and PTSD
04:19:50 Life After the War
04:26:25 Final Reflections and Closing Thoughts
What is MACV-SOG?
The Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) was a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit that conducted covert unconventional warfare operations before and during the Vietnam War.
Established on January 24, 1964, by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it was a top-secret, joint unconventional warfare task force that served as a subsidiary command of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV).
MACV-SOG's operations included cross-border intelligence gathering and raiding missions into Cambodia, Laos, and North Vietnam, as well as prisoner of war (POW) and downed aircrew rescue missions.
Despite its innocuous name, MACV-SOG participated in critical operations and was controlled by the Special Assistant for Counterinsurgency and Special Activities (SACSA) at the Pentagon, as the MACV commander lacked authority for operations outside South Vietnam.
The unit comprised personnel from various branches, predominantly Army Special Forces, but also Navy SEALs, Air Force, Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, and CIA personnel.
Their existence and activities were highly classified, and operatives were held to secrecy agreements spanning 20 years, leading to families often not being informed of the details regarding members killed in action.
MACV-SOG's missions often involved small teams, typically two U.S. SOG men ("One-Zeros" and "One-Ones") and a team of local Montagnard tribesmen, who were often left alone behind enemy lines after helicopter insertions.
Members were told that their activities would be denied by the United States if they were captured.
The unit adopted the tiger stripe camouflage worn by South Vietnamese forces and eliminated visible identifiers to blend in.
The headquarters for MACV-SOG was in Saigon, with subordinate commands and units in various forward operational bases.
By late 1967, it had matured and split into three subordinate geographical commands:
Command and Control North (CCN)
Command and Control Central (CCC)
Command and Control South (CCS)
The first reconnaissance teams were called "Spike Teams," usually consisting of 3 U.S. Special Forces personnel and nine indigenous personnel.
Despite facing numerical disadvantages that sometimes exceeded 1:1000, MACV-SOG operators carried out some of the war's most impressive special operations, often relying on guerrilla tactics and air support.
They sustained high casualty rates; for example, in 1968, every MACV-SOG reconnaissance man was wounded at least once, and about half were killed, leading to recon casualties exceeding 100%.
Despite these losses, MACV-SOG boasted the highest "kill ratio" in U.S. military history.
The unit's history has been preserved and honored, acknowledging the efforts of its soldiers who fought valiantly.
Notable operators include Henry L. "Dick" Thompson, known as "Dynamite," who led over 20 high-risk "black operations" into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam.
The unit's story remained largely untold until long after the war due to its secret nature.
MORE: https://sogsite.com/about-sog/
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