SOG Medic: Stories from Vietnam and Over the Fence

by Joe Parnar, Robert Dumont

Overview

“Parnar’s recollections of his Army enlistment are replete with self-examination and lessons he learned. That’s reason enough to read this book.” — ARMY Magazine

Elite units carried out many dangerous operations during the Vietnam War, the most secret and hazardous of which were conducted by the Studies and Observations Group, formed in 1964.

In the years since the Vietnam War, the elite unit known as SOG has spawned many myths, legends and war stories. Special Forces medic Joe Parnar served with SOG during 1968 in FOB2/CCC near the tri-border area that gave them access to the forbidden areas of Laos and Cambodia. Parnar recounts his time with the recon men of this highly classified unit, as his job involved a unique combination of soldiering and lifesaving. His stories capture the extraordinary commitment made by all the men of SOG and reveal the special dedication of the medics, who put their own lives at risk to save the lives of their teammates. Parnar also discusses his medical training with the Special Forces.

During his tour with SOG, Parnar served as a dispensary medic, chase medic, Hatchet Force medic and as a recon team member. This variety of roles gave him experience not only in combat but in dealing with and treating the civilians and indigenous peoples of that area. There is a graphic account of a Laotian operation involving America’s most decorated soldier, Robert Howard, during which Parnar had to treat a man with a blown-off foot alongside nearly fifty other casualties. It is a reminder of the enormous responsibility and burden that a medic carried.

This new edition of SOG Medic makes this highly-praised and sought-after book available again once more, with additional photos and maps.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781636243207
Publisher:	Casemate Publishers
Publication date:	04/20/2023
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	482,709
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Joe Parnar served in the U.S. Army Special Forces from August 1966 - April 1969. After military service he became involved in several veterans' organizations. He is a lifelong member of the American Legion and served as Commander of Gardner Post 129 in 1989 and 1990. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Special Forces and Special Operations associations.

Robert Dumont was born in Oklahoma in 1947 and graduated from Tulsa University before moving to Brooklyn, NY. He worked in the General Research Division of The New York Public Library before retiring in 2010. He co-authored Bac Si: A Green Beret Medic’s War in Vietnam (Casemate 2014) with Jerry Krizan and has also written two fiction collections, "Borough of Churches" and "NYC Transit[s]."

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Foreword Frank Greco xi

Acknowledgments xv

Glossary xvii

Introduction xxiii

1 Airborne Infantry 1

2 Special Forces Training-Medic 5

3 Vietnam Assignment 11

4 7th SFG, Vietnam, and MACV-SOG 17

5 FOB2/CCC Kontum 25

6 The Loss of John Kedenburg 39

7 ST Texas, June-July 1968 49

8 ST Ohio, July 1968-First Mission 63

9 ST Ohio, July 1968-Second Mission 75

10 ST/RT Ohio, July 1968-Third Mission 83

11 ST/RT Ohio, August 1968-Fourth Mission-West Near Plei Trap Valley 89

12 Promotion Board 99

13 ST/RT Ohio, September 1968-Fifth Mission 103

14 ST/RT Ohio, September 1968-Sixth Mission-Camp Perimeter Recon 107

15 Back to Chase Medic 111

16 SOG SLAM VII-Medic Assigned to SLAM Company 127

17 After the SLAM-November Missions; The Loss of Ben Ide, December 19, 1968 159

18 RT Florida, December 30, 1968-January 3, 1969-Christmas Eve Alert and a Prisoner Snatch Attempt in Cambodia 175

19 Huey Crash-January 8, 1969 193

20 Wiretap Recovery with a Hatchet Platoon-February 1969 205

21 SLAM Replacement Mission-March 1969 211

22 Final Missions, March 1969-Attack on CCC Headquarters at Kontum, Extraction of James Ripanti, and Medevac of Burned Montagnards 217

23 Other Lasting Memories of a SOG Medic 227

24 Leave, R&R, and Home 243

Postscript 251

Index 255

Editorial Reviews

An impressively informative and inherently interesting combination of memoir and history, this new edition…is further enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of additional photos and maps.

Midwest Book Review

"...provides continuous even-handed descriptions of everyday life in camp as well as what happened during his ground and aerial experiences. He also provides detailed annotated maps of the operations in which he served. This allows readers to go along on an operation as a recon team is extracted from combat.

On Point: The Journal of Army History Online, Volume 25 Issue 1 - Colonel John B. Haseman

The book includes a story that exemplifies how determined Parnar was to serve in Vietnam. He visited the Pentagon in an effort to speak with a staff member who was in charge of overseas replacements, and he successfully got himself on the list to go to Vietnam.

The Gardner News

"Parnar recounts his experiences in missions where he had to triage and treat numerous casualties while under fire or surrounded by the enemy. His account is a timely reminder of the enormous responsibility and burden that a medic carries."

ARGunners.com

Parnar’s recollections of his Army enlistment are replete with self-examination and lessons he learned. He made mistakes and was smart enough to recognize them when they happened—taking corrective action to ensure they didn’t happen again. He recognized good leadership when he saw it and emulated it when he could. That’s reason enough to read this book.

ARMY Magazine

"Clearly and powerfully written, this gripping true-life narrative will give readers an education into the experience of clandestine warriors."

Vietnam Magazine