John “Tilt” Stryker Meyer was a pioneer within the particular operations group who served two excursions as a MACV-SOG operator (what many would possibly name the unique Tier 1 unit) and crew chief in Vietnam. John led small covert Spike Groups “throughout the fence” on clandestine operations into Laos and Cambodia in what many now confer with as the key struggle within the Vietnam battle.
John shares what it was like becoming a member of this covert world, signing a 20 12 months secrecy settlement, and the way the plane that introduced him to his first FOB then loaded a small particular ops crew that was by no means heard from once more.
It was an ominous begin, to say the least. In a single unbelievable battle, John describes the enemy stacking lifeless our bodies in an effort to get an elevated firing place on John’s crew. In one other, the enemy makes use of a tactic the place they get so near the U.S. positions that aircrews gained’t have the ability to drop napalm rounds.
John has three books that chronicle each his tales and people of his fellow SOG operators (listed beneath) and he’s been featured in numerous interviews, together with a number of with Jocko Willink, and is at present constructing his personal podcast with Jocko to inform the tales of different members of the SOG group (cannot wait!). John and Jocko are additionally collaborating on a online game based mostly on SOG missions.
It’s superb John lived via the experiences he shares with us and he’s a dwelling testomony to the braveness so many confirmed in Vietnam.
Books
Throughout the Fence (https://tinyurl.com/8x6vmcx6)
On the Floor (https://tinyurl.com/s4rh8n74)
SOG Chronicles (https://tinyurl.com/ae3updt7)
Interview with Jocko Willink (one in every of many)
Episode 180 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNyo7DZ0QBY
#MACV-SOG #Tier1 #SpecialOperations
Present Notes
0:00 – Intro
3:53 – “Pushing issues a bit of bit” as a child. The ebook, The Inexperienced Berets (https://tinyurl.com/3af6sb6m) by Robin Moore influenced John’s determination to affix Special Forces.
6:21 – How a watch physician modified John’s life trajectory and despatched him from being a pilot to being a SOG operator.
9:51 – Glad he missed the Korean Battle as a result of it was so onerous. Referenced Pork Chop Hill (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053183/).
12:45 – John’s path from enlisting straight to Special Forces.
14:57 – An “supply” to affix the elite.
16:55 – “We go to the protected home that night time…” (Reference to MIKE Pressure https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIKE_Force and Mission DELTA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_DELTA)
22:55 – First “intestine test” whereas flying in a South Vietnamese H-34 helicopter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_H-34) into his FOB. Spike Group Idaho will get on the helo as John will get off.
27:11 – Description and composition of a “Spike Group” and the “One-Zero” name signal.
31:20 – The mission set for John’s unit in Vietnam, beginning with going throughout the fence.
41:24 – The significance of Situational Consciousness in fight.
44:11 – First contact in Vietnam at “Echo 4” that features hours-long firefights towards an enemy stacking lifeless our bodies, calling at risk shut air strikes, and having shell casings from CAS burning your neck.
55:55 – First confirmed kill.
58:10 – What’s a “Covey” on this struggle?
59:46 – Carrying a grenade as a final resort to keep away from being taken prisoner.
1:02:10 – John shares his appreciation for the Vietnamese pilots who confirmed superb bravery.
1:07:55 – Blacking out whereas hooked up to a rope hooked up to a helicopter in flight.
1:13:47 – The connection with the indigenous forces.
1:20:00 – Being so near the enemy that they “touched” John’s boot in the course of the night time.
1:22:07 – “The recon gods smiled on me.”
1:23:44 – A Thanksgiving mission to search out THREE NVA Divisions.
1:32:25 – Did you ever return to Vietnam?
1:36:05 – A Colonel grew to become the explanation John left SOG. It’s an important story of talking reality to energy but additionally so unhappy on the identical time.
1:42:57 – What did John carry for good luck?
1:43:56 – Would you do all of it once more?
1:46:34 – Thrilling information for what John is engaged on now, together with a brand new podcast hosted by John to interview different SOG members that Jocko will then share on his social media. Additionally a online game popping out based mostly on SOG.
supply
