MACV-SOG in Vietnam | Jim Shorten | Ep. 266

I joined the US Navy in 1964. After training I served at Naval Air Station, Litchfield Park, just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. After a year there I was sent to the USS Arlington AGMR2 for pre commissioning of the ship. The time went on so I served on Yard Tug boat's in Norfolk, Virginia, then I served for a couple of month's on the USS Denebola AF56 (Refrigeration ship) When I returned to Norfolk I decided to put in for Vietnam and was sent to DaNang, Vietnam. After 22 month's I was discharged and then joined the US Army, Special Forces. I went through Basic infantry, then advanced infantry (graduated as the honor student) then I went to jump school in Ft. Benning, Georgia. Then up to Ft. Bragg for Special Forces training. I asked to go back to Vietnam and did. I was sent to A-502, 5th SFGp Abn, out of NaTrang, Vietnam. I was the NCOIC of a CIDG camp 554, Sui Dou. Then after after 6 month's or so, the camp closed down so I went to SOA-CCC (MACV-SOG) I was 1-1 of Rt. Delaware for one mission then became the 1-0 (team leader) I ran 7 mission's (4 linear recon and 3 brightlight missions) in Laos or Cambodia. After my 7th mission I was asked if I wanted to go to SOA-B53 and teach Special Op's mission's. I said ok and went to B-53 for an additional 6 month's. Then I was discharged and came home and joined the 12th SFGpAbn (reserves). In 1978 I did a cross service transfer to the 129th ARRS, USAF Pararescue. I left the Army as an E-8 and dropped to E-6 in the USAF. After completing Pararescue school, I was a PJ. I was a rescue, parachuting paramedic for the first 3 launches of the Space Shuttle (STS-1, 2 and 3) also for the Mt. St. Helens Volcano eruption. President Carter and Senator Ted Kennedy. Also did 2 parachute rescue mission's for ship's at sea and a few hoist mission's. After an injury parachuting, I was medically discharged from the service. I had 20 year in service so I got out and went to college to become a Doctor (Radiologist) I did this for 20 years and now I hunt, sell and collect meteorite's.