Congress only awards a few gold medals a year, as it is the highest award for appreciation that Congress can give to individuals or institutions. In recent years congressional gold medals have been awarded to outstanding military units such as Darby's Rangers and Merrill's Marauders who fought in World War II.
Now the push has begun behind the scenes to have MACV-SOG awarded a congressional gold medal. Military Assistance Command Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) was a classified unit during the Vietnam War that fused CIA intelligence with the unconventional warfare abilities of Special Forces.
Green Berets assigned to SOG conducted perhaps the hairiest missions of the entire war, penetrating deep behind enemy lines in Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam during secret missions that remained classified for decades. Six-man recon teams consisted of two Green Berets and four or five indigenous soldiers, usually Montagnards or Chinese Nung mercenaries.
A SOG soldier who survived a half dozen operations was considered an old salt in the unit, where nearly every member was wounded, if not killed in action.
Members of the Special Forces community, to include family members have begun drafting legislation and petitioning congress, including circulating the one page background brief below:
Congressional Gold Medal Nomination: Military Assistance Command Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (SOG)
SOG Background
● Included members of all branches of the military and civilians.
● Fought an 8-year secret war deep behind enemy lines while reporting directly to the While House during Vietnam.
● Primary mission was to gather intelligence, conduct reconnaissance, sabotage, and direct-action raids against enemy targets in North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
● Conducted rescue missions for downed pilots, POW snatches, bomb damage assessment and wiretaps.
● Became one of the most secretive and controversial units of Vietnam.
● Conducted missions without any traditional support elements from artillery, tanks, or regular army units.
● 50 of the 1,581 missing-in-action Americans from the Vietnam War are SOG.
● The unit’s casualty rate exceeded 100%.
Congressional Gold Medal
● Highest civilian award in the United States that is awarded by Congress to individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to the nation.
Why has it not happened before?
● Many SOG missions and its operations remain classified.
● These types of operations were not acknowledged by military leadership or decision makers until after partial declassification beginning in 1994.
● SOG members signed long-term non-disclosure agreements and were threatened with prosecution if information leaked.
● The SOG community is discreet.
● Post-traumatic stress has affected many SOG members.
● Veterans groups have not successfully navigated the complex procedural and political process of the Congressional Gold Medal to date.
Related
What it would mean?
● Recognition of SOG members’ extraordinary service and sacrifices.
● Acknowledgement of the critical roles they played in the war effort.
● Full, public honor for families of unit members whose lives were lost.
● Respect of the unique nature of the unit's service and the dangers they faced.
Connecting Vets will continue to post updates to the progress of this effort as it typically takes years to get a congressional gold medal pushed through. In the meantime, those interested in supporting it should consider contacting their congressional representatives.
Want to get more connected to the stories and resources Connecting Vets has to offer? Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Reach Jack Murphy: jack@connectingvets.com or @JackMurphyRGR.