#193 John Stryker Meyer - MACV-SOG: The Secret War in Vietnam

John Stryker Meyer's path to becoming a Green Beret showcases a transformation from a Trenton-born sports enthusiast to an elite Special Forces soldier ready to face the challenges of the Vietnam War.

Meyer Grew Up In Trenton, Nj, With Devout Christian Parents Who Introduced Him To Music and Sports

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, John Stryker Meyer was raised in a Christian household with strong ties to the church. His father worked as a milkman and his mother was a talented church organist, choir director, and piano teacher. The family's faith was deeply ingrained, leading them to complete their milk route early to get to church on time, a discipline that Meyer carried into adulthood.

Meyer recalls playing cowboy with a cap pistol, a gift from his grandfather, despite his home's anti-gun rule. Baseball was a shared passion between him and his father, and he was actively involved in church activities.

In high school, he took part in various groups, including the marching band, JV soccer, and sang in vocal groups. His senior year saw him on the football team—albeit more on the sidelines—and despite not being academically inclined, he pursued his love for music, a skill taught to him at an early age by his mother.

Meyer's Special Forces Training Readied Him For the Vietnam War and Macv-Sog Challenges

In College, Meyer Struggled but Was Inspired by the Green Berets to Enlist, Eventually Joining the Elite Special Forces

After flunking out of college, where he initially studied music and then physical education, Meyer's course dramatically changed while working at Yosemite National Park. Reading "The Green Berets" ignited his desire to enlist with the goal of receiving comprehensive military training that could prepare him for high-stakes environments like Vietnam. Foregoing a potential draft with limited preparation, Meyer opted for the elite path, inspired by a Green Beret recruiter's presentation during a rain-induced indoor career session. He enlisted, completed airborne training, and achieved an expert marksmanship badge with the M14 rifle.

Special Forces Training Is Demanding Physically and Mentally, but It Provides Skills and Camaraderie For Combat, Meyer Described

Meyer’s account of his Special Forces training emphasizes both its grueling nature and its comprehensive approach to soldiering. He tackled physical and psychological tests, endured early morning wake-up calls, and completed the demanding jump school at Fort Benning, embracing the challenge with mental toughness and physical strength. His experience with harassmen ...

Macv-Sog Teams Were Tasked With Missions Behind Enemy Lines: Inserting Sensors, Conducting Reconnaissance, and Capturing Enemy Prisoners

John Stryker Meyer shares his experiences as part of MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group), including harrowing operations behind enemy lines in Southeast Asia.

Meyer Recounted Harrowing Firefights and Close Calls in Covert Operations, Where His Team Relied On Training, Indigenous Support, and Close-Air Support to Survive

Meyer's narratives include intense operations such as a critical mission up to Mugiye Pass in Laos to disrupt the enemy supply line from Hanoi and the immense firefight his team encountered against a large NVA division in the Ashau Valley. The team faced harrowing conditions and fought with resourcefulness, calling in air support like the A-1 Skyraider and coordinating with pilots like Captain Tin, who showed remarkable bravery under fire. He recounts details like calling in a "prairie fire emergency" for air support, linking personnel to ropes for extraction, and the dedication of the opposing forces who went as far as stacking bodies to gain a fighting advantage.

Challenges For Macv-Sog Teams: Compromised Landing Zones, Enemy Ambushes, Dense Jungle Terrain

Meyer detailed the practical challenges of MACV-SOG operations, such as compromised landing zones that often placed teams under direct enemy fire. His descriptions of operations in the dense jungles of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia convey the terror and urgency that characterized these missions. Meyer's team experienced situations where extraction by helicopters was fraught with risks of enemy attacks and potential captures, with landing zones frequently coming under heavy fire.

Meyer Detailed Innovative Macv-Sog Tactics Like Modified Weapons, Helicopter Rope Extraction, and Creative Detection Avoidance Techniques

MACV-SOG teams were known for their innovative tactics and Meyer's descriptions paint a picture of a group forced to adapt quickly to the realities of covert warfare. Modified weapons, such as sawed-off M79s for extra firepower and customized M16s for jungle combat, were part of their arsenal. Moreover ...

The harsh realities faced by the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) during the Vietnam War are recounted by veteran John Stryker Meyer.

Meyer Was Shocked by the Viet Cong and Nva's Cruelty and Ruthlessness, Mutilating and Executing Captives

Horrific Tactics Witnessed by Macv-Sog Teams

Meyer recounts the brutal tactics employed by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army (NVA). He shares that a revered team member, Paul Villarosa, was tortured and killed during his first mission out of FOB4. Meyer continues to describe the shocking acts of violence committed by the Viet Cong and NVA against American soldiers including mutilation and disembowelment. Such horrific acts highlighted the ruthlessness faced by the MACV-SOG teams and underscored the enemies’ sometimes barbaric approach to the conflict.

Psychological Toll of High Casualty Rates and Constant Danger on Meyer and Teammates

Despite Combat Trauma, Meyer and his fellow Green Berets maintained a strong sense of camaraderie and purpose. The psychological toll of combat, including the necessity to kill for survival, is illustrated through Meyer's reflections. He recalls a teammate reminding him of the grim yet essential reason behind their actions. The narrative brings to light the tension and psychological stress experienced by these soldiers, with Meyer recalling a particularly harrowing incident when an NVA soldier touched his boot, yet he had to remain still to avoid detection.

The high-stakes ...

John Stryker Meyer provides a first-hand account of the strategic and chilling nature of the war in Vietnam. Meyer captures his experiences and insights during one of the most intense periods of conflict, reflecting on the geopolitical implications and the personal toll it took on him and his comrades.

Meyer Grasped the Vietnam War's Geopolitical Context, Including U.S. Fears of Southeast Asian Communism and the Domino Theory

During his training, Meyer was educated about the mission to combat communism, seeing firsthand the impact it had in countries like Hungary, Russia, China, and Cuba. Throughout this period, Meyer felt they were combating the "forces of darkness," propelling their sense of purpose and commitment to their training.

Macv-Sog Teams Recognized the Strategic and Political Importance of Their Covert Operations to Disrupt Enemy Supply Lines and Morale

The political backdrop of the Vietnam War was significant to Meyer. Both the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong were driving communist ideology into Vietnam, and the domino theory, as articulated by President Eisenhower, instilled in many Americans a legitimate fear of communism. This perspective led to a substantial portion of the American population initially supporting the war effort.

Meyer explains how neutral countries such as Laos and Cambodia were utilized by the North Vietnamese to construct and utilize the Ho Chi Minh Trail, despite international agreements to the contrary. The trail facilitated the transport of manpower and materials from the North to the South, making MacV-Sog's mission critical in disturbing these supply lines and the morale of the enemy forces.

Tet Offensive 1968: Macv-Sog Teams Respond To Nva Attacks

1968 was marked by the Tet Offensive, a significant point in the Vietnam War that led to the highest U.S. casualties. Meyer’s observations reflect his awareness of the intensifying conflict during this period, especially the uptick in NVA activity. The Tet Offensive served as a harsh introduction to combat for Meyer, who, alongside Johnny McIntyre, believed they would not survive when they arrived in Vietnam due to its timing and ferocity.

Each revelation about the Tet Offensive—whether it was the brutality of the Viet Cong in Hue, the mass graves, or the NVA's overwhelming troop presence—added to the perceived danger of their deployment. Meyer recounts harrowing incidents, such as an attack on their base camp in Da Nang, which led to the worst Special Forces casualty rate, indicating the intense adversities they faced.

Desp ...