Jerry Shriver – the MACV-SOG Operator Radio Hanoi put a $10,000 Bounty on
BY Herschel Smith
1 week, 1 day ago
Shriver was an interesting character for sure. He used a combination of pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and even a .444 Marlin.
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On September 1, 2026 at 7:41 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
Many historians of the Vietnam War now believe that if the war had been waged how MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Advisory Group) waged it, the outcome would have been far different. MACV-SOG and elite counter-guerilla fighters like Jerry “Mad Dog” Shriver – beat the NVA and V.C. at their own game.
There were other militaries and forces which had success along similar lines, including those of Australia, the U.S. Navy SEALS and U.S. Army Special Forces, as well as certain regular Army and Marine Corps units.
The Australian military had done extensive jungle warfare and counter-insurgency work in the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), so when their troops arrived in S. Vietnam, they had already experienced the kind of warfare they were expected to wage, or had been trained by Malaya veterans, or both.
The U.S. Marine Corps probably adapted quickly to the kind of war being fought because of its extensive experience fighting “small wars” during the first half of the 20th century, all over Latin America and in the Caribbean.
U.S. Army Special Forces are, by definition, experts in insurgency and counter-insurgency and guerilla and counter-guerilla warfare.
The U.S. Navy SEALS and UDTs were well-adapted by training and inclination to riverine warfare
of the kind being fought in the Mekong Delta.
Certain regular U.S. Army units, led by seasoned fighters like Lt. Colonel David Hackworth, also acquitted themselves well. “Hack” was famous for turning the men of 4th Infantry Battalion, 39th infantry Regiment, 9th Division into seasoned guerilla fighters who could beat the V.C. at their own game.
The men of the 1st Cavalry (Air Mobile), under the command of Lt. Colonel Hal Moore, acquitted themselves well against NVA regulars at the Battle of Ia Drang in 1965, despite being significantly out-numbered and cut-off behind enemy lines at certain times during the battle.
These troops were not classic airborne parachute troops, but ones taken into battle in choppers and removed from the AO in the same manner.
“Big Green” a.k.a. the regular Army under General William Westmoreland, had a much more mixed record in Vietnam than its specialized forces. They won the set-piece battles but found operations against guerillas a much tougher challenge. Every Vietnamese male behind an oxen, plowing his land – could potentially be a V.C. – or not. Fighting an enemy who appeared each night but disappeared each day was something with which most of the men had no experience.
Wars are dirty things and Vietnam was one of the dirtiest. The U.S. soldier did his job the best he could under very difficult and trying conditions.
That conflict was significant for a whole host of reasons, but one of the most-enduring is that it supplied insurgents, terrorists and irregulars all over the world a template to follow when fighting the United States military.
On September 2, 2026 at 6:52 am, dave in pa. said:
that war was all about making money. nothing more. we where never allowed to “win it”
listen to L.Flecther Pourty (?) and what he has to say about the whole mess.
companies got rich off any war. regardless of what many believe it was WW2 that pulled us out of the depression and not anything FDR ever did.
lots of people got rich off that war and they wanted another.
as far as it was a teaching for later day Terrorists, no really. that box was opened back in WW2 by the SOE and OSS guys and gals. they where the ones that taught others how to look at ways to strike back at a much bigger and better armed force and stay hidden at the same time. if one looks at the time AFTER WW2 you see many times this happened.
that is when most colonies start to revolt against the European masters/overloads
but what do I know. maybe 1984 was right on after all. read the “arms of Krupp” for another good look at the people who profit off wars. anyway.
On September 2, 2026 at 11:11 am, Tiger Stripe said:
The most dangerous man in Viet Nam, what a champ!
On September 2, 2026 at 12:55 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
@dave in pa. – Re: “Terrorists, no really. that box was opened back in WW2 by the SOE and OSS guys and gals. they where the ones that taught others how to look at ways to strike back at a much bigger and better armed force and stay hidden at the same time.”
Yes, that’s true but it is verified historical fact that many revolutionaries, terrorists, and mercenaries have used the Vietnam template as a means of fighting the U.S. and the U.S. military (and other foes as well) … and that doesn’t even take into account the entire nations which have learned from that episode in our history. It’s a matter of historical record.
An almost contemporary example was Gulf War Two, the invasion of Iraq. The conventional phase of the operation was almost a walk-over, but the real challenges came during the occupation. Why? Because Saddam Hussein’s advisors in the Republic Guard Corps and elsewhere told him that was the formula which would inflict the most-harm on the U.S. and its partners.
Don’t fight the U.S. conventionally and in the open; fight them unconventionally and via guerilla warfare methods. That’s what the Iraqis et al. did.
On September 4, 2026 at 6:28 am, Wes said:
That was one pure warrior SOB. There were many in MACV-SOG, who remain unknown, undecorated.