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USARV-SOG operating in Cambodia.

Episode 3377 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story by Mack Payne about Project Gamma and the long gone spy.

Payne reported that Project GAMMA and the Long-Gone Spy is one of the most secretive and controversial stories of the Vietnam War, involving the legendary U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets, MACV-SOG, and a South Vietnamese intelligence agent named Thai Khac Chuyen.

Operating in the shadows of the Vietnam War, Project GAMMA was a highly classified intelligence operation focused on gathering information about North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong activity, particularly Communist operations connected to Cambodia. The mission demanded extraordinary courage, secrecy, intelligence gathering, and unconventional-warfare skills.

The Green Berets of the 5th Special Forces Group were uniquely prepared for this dangerous environment. These highly trained Vietnam veterans served as intelligence specialists, advisers, reconnaissance experts, guerrilla fighters, and unconventional-warfare professionals. Working alongside Vietnamese personnel and indigenous forces, they developed intelligence networks and gathered information deep inside enemy territory.

The case surrounding Thai Khac Chuyen, who became known as the “long-gone spy,” eventually led to a major military controversy. Concerns about double agents, disappearing intelligence sources, and the security of the GAMMA network resulted in the arrest of Colonel Robert Rheault and seven other Special Forces officers. The case ultimately collapsed after the CIA declined to testify, and the charges were dropped in September 1969.

But the controversy does not erase the remarkable service of the men who served in U.S. Army Special Forces, 5th Special Forces Group, and MACV-SOG.

These Vietnam Green Berets fought a different kind of war—one where intelligence could be as important as firepower and where trusting the wrong person could cost American lives. Their missions required courage, discipline, sacrifice, intelligence, and extraordinary resourcefulness.

The story of Project GAMMA and Thai Khac Chuyen provides a rare glimpse into the secret war in Vietnam and the incredible men who served in America’s Special Forces. Their service and sacrifice deserve to be remembered and honored.

Listen to episode 3377 and discover more about Project Gamma and the long gone spy.

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Stolen Valor (AI image)

Episode 3376 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the person who stole valor and VA funds. The featured story is titled: DOJ: Man pleads guilty to stolen valor and defrauding VA out of $124K in benefits. It appeared on the Fox News website and was submitted by Mark Richardson.

Richardson reported that The Vietnam War produced generations of courageous American heroes who served their country under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Our Vietnam Veterans deserve lasting respect and recognition for their military service, sacrifice, courage, and dedication. This story, however, concerns a Missouri man accused of falsely claiming that he was one of them.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, James Lyon, 80, of Independence, Missouri, pleaded guilty to charges involving stolen valor and fraudulently obtaining VA disability benefits. Federal prosecutors say Lyon admitted that he refused Marine Corps training in 1966 as a conscientious objector, but later falsely claimed that he had completed three separate periods of Marine Corps service, including combat service during the Vietnam War.

The DOJ says Lyon also falsely claimed that he had earned prestigious military decorations, including the Bronze Star and Silver Star, despite never having served in combat. These allegations are particularly significant because such medals represent the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of American servicemen and women who actually served in Vietnam.

According to prosecutors, Lyon also admitted falsely telling the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that he had been diagnosed with ALS, while using fabricated medical records to support his claim for disability compensation. The DOJ says those fraudulent claims resulted in Lyon receiving more than $124,262 in VA disability-related payments to which he was not entitled.

For the millions of Americans who served during the Vietnam War, stories involving stolen military service can be deeply troubling because they can diminish the accomplishments and sacrifices of genuine Vietnam Veterans. Their service, whether in combat, support, aviation, logistics, medical units, or other military roles, remains an important part of American military history.

The DOJ says Lyon faces up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. His sentencing will follow a federal pre-sentence investigation.

The greatness of our Vietnam Veterans is found in those who truly served, sacrificed, and carried out their duty with honor.

Listen to episode 3376 and discover more about the person that stole valor and VA funds.

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A tunnel rat at work in Vietnam.

Episode 3375 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the dangers of tunnel rats in Vietnam. The featured story is titled: These were the terrifying dangers of being a ‘Tunnel Rat’ in Vietnam. It appeared on the We are the Mighty website and was submitted by Tim Kirkpatrick.

Kirkpatrick reported that during the Vietnam War, few missions demanded more courage, determination, and mental toughness than the dangerous work of the Vietnam Tunnel Rats. These extraordinary Vietnam Veterans volunteered to enter the enemy’s underground tunnel systems, often alone, with little more than a flashlight, pistol, or knife. Their mission was to search for Viet Cong soldiers, weapons, supplies, documents, and valuable military intelligence hidden beneath the jungles and villages of Vietnam.

The Viet Cong tunnel networks were an important part of the enemy’s underground warfare strategy. Beginning during the conflict with the French, these tunnels expanded dramatically during the Vietnam War. Some tunnel systems stretched for miles and included hiding places, command posts, hospitals, storage areas, living quarters, and concealed entrances known as spider holes.

For the American soldier entering one of these tunnels, the danger was almost unimaginable. Tunnel Rats faced darkness, extreme confinement, booby traps, enemy soldiers, snakes, insects, and the constant possibility of ambush. Many carried only a handful of ammunition because maneuvering through the narrow tunnels was extremely difficult. Every step could mean encountering a deadly trap or an enemy combatant at extremely close range.

Former 25th Infantry Division Tunnel Rat Carl Cory described the psychological challenge of preparing to enter a tunnel, emphasizing that the fear of not knowing what awaited underground could be overwhelming. Yet these brave soldiers pushed forward and performed their missions.

The story of the Vietnam Tunnel Rats is ultimately a story of extraordinary Vietnam Veteran courage, sacrifice, bravery, and dedication to duty. These men confronted danger in some of the most unforgiving conditions of the Vietnam War and helped gather critical battlefield intelligence.

Their service deserves to be remembered alongside the countless other great Vietnam Veterans who answered their nation’s call. Vietnam Veterans were courageous American servicemen who faced extraordinary dangers in Vietnam, and the legacy of the Tunnel Rats remains a powerful part of Vietnam War history.

Listen to episode 3375 and discover more about the dangers of tunnel rats in Vietnam.

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The Montagnards of Vietnam became Special Forces allies, but are now being forgotten

Episode 3374 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Montagnards story. The featured story is titled: The Montagnards of Vietnam became Special Forces allies, but are now being forgotten. It appeared on the We are the Mighty website and was submitted by Terry Lloyd.

Lloyd reported that the Montagnards of Vietnam were a collection of Indigenous mountain peoples, including the Hmong, Rhadé, and Nung, who lived throughout the rugged Central Highlands of Southeast Asia. With a deeply rooted warrior culture, many Montagnards became steadfast allies of the United States Special Forces during the Vietnam War, fighting courageously to defend their ancestral homelands against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong.

Working alongside American Green Berets, Montagnard warriors served as scouts, advisors, guides, and combat partners. Their knowledge of the mountains and jungles made them invaluable in Special Forces operations, clandestine raids, reconnaissance missions, and efforts to disrupt communist activity along the borders of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

The partnership also connected to America’s secret war in Southeast Asia, including Air America, CIA-supported operations, and critical installations such as Lima Site 85 in Laos. The site provided important radar and navigation support for the Vietnam War air campaign against North Vietnam. During the battle for Lima Site 85, American Air Force personnel and numerous Hmong defenders were killed or reported missing.

The story of the Montagnard people and Vietnam Veterans is ultimately one of extraordinary courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. After the American withdrawal and the fall of South Vietnam in 1975, Montagnards who had fought alongside the United States faced severe persecution and reprisals. Many lost their homes, villages, land, and cultural heritage.

In 1989, U.S. legislation opened a path for persecuted Montagnards to relocate to America, with many eventually settling in North Carolina, home of Fort Bragg and U.S. Special Forces. In 2022, North Carolina Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis introduced a resolution recognizing the heroic actions of Montagnards who fought loyally alongside American Special Forces.

The history of the Montagnards, Green Berets, and Vietnam Veterans deserves to be remembered. Their battlefield courage and sacrifices represent an important chapter in the history of the Vietnam War and America’s military heritage.

Listen to episode 3374 and discover more about the Montagnards story.

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Marine Sgt. Charles ‘Chuck’ Mawhinney is credited with 103 confirmed kills and 216 probable kills in Vietnam. (Photo courtesy of Sgt. Charles ‘Chuck’ Mawhinney)

Episode 3373 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Chuck Mawhinney – The Best Marine Sniper. The featured story is titled: How the Marines’ greatest sniper killed 16 enemy soldiers in 30 seconds in Vietnam. It appeared on the We are the Mighty website and was submitted by Stephen Ruiz.

Ruiz reported that Charles “Chuck” Mawhinney stands among the remarkable United States Marines and Vietnam Veterans whose courage, skill, and dedication helped define the extraordinary generation that served during the Vietnam War.

Raised on an Oregon ranch, Mawhinney learned to shoot a rifle from his father, a World War II Marine Corps veteran. He eventually followed his father into the U.S. Marine Corps, attending Scout Sniper School at Camp Pendleton before deploying to Vietnam. After serving as a rifleman and machine gunner, Mawhinney deliberately sought a place on a sniper team after witnessing fellow Marines killed. His determination eventually earned him a position as a Marine sniper.

Serving with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, Mawhinney became one of the most accomplished snipers in Marine Corps history. Marine records credited him with 103 confirmed kills and 216 probable kills during the Vietnam War.

One of his most extraordinary combat experiences occurred on Valentine’s Day 1969, near the Thu Bồn River outside Da Nang. With no air support available because of a monsoon, Mawhinney and his spotter volunteered to observe enemy activity. Using an M14 rifle and night-vision scope, Mawhinney engaged approaching North Vietnamese forces. In approximately 30 seconds, he fired all 16 rounds in his rifle, with every shot striking an enemy combatant.

Despite his extraordinary record, Mawhinney was not a braggart. After leaving the Marines in 1970, he lived quietly in Oregon and worked for the U.S. Forest Service for nearly three decades. His remarkable Vietnam War service remained largely unknown until his story appeared in a published book.

Mawhinney’s M40A1 sniper rifle is now displayed at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. His story represents the courage, sacrifice, discipline, and determination of Vietnam Veterans, a generation of American servicemen who answered their nation’s call and served under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

Listen to episode 3373 and discover more about Chuck Mawhinney – The Best Marine Sniper.

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Montagnards in Vietnam

Episode 3372 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the snake eaters of Vietnam. The featured story is titled: How Green Berets earned the nickname ‘snake eaters’ and how it helped them in Vietnam. It appeared on the We are the Mighty website and was submitted by Team Mighty.

It was reported that The U.S. Army’s Special Forces soldiers are some of the most capable troops in the world. They might even be the most capable people. Putting on the coveted green beret means being able to handle yourself in almost any situation at any time, and coming out on top.

For those working in Special Forces, it comes with varying degrees of difficulty. Today’s Special Forces soldier works in counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, hostage rescue and other potentially classified operations. But the primary mission of those who wear the green beret is to wage unconventional warfare against a hostile, possibly occupied nation.

This often means turning a population or oppressed minority against its occupiers. They often find themselves training an undermanned, underequipped fighting force. In Vietnam, where the Green Berets cut their teeth, this often meant surviving in the jungles for long periods of time.

In Vietnam, the Military Assistance Command – Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) was a joint CIA-Army operation used to collect intelligence and fight the covert war happening in the dense jungles of the country. The oppressed minority in this case were the Vietnamese tribes of Montagnards.

To the rest of Vietnam, the Montagnards were called savages. The similarities didn’t stop there. The U.S. soldiers loved the Yards prowess in combat. They were natural soldiers, brave and trustworthy. They knew they could count on the Montagnards to watch their flanks.

All good things must come to an end, however. When the United States was forced to leave South Vietnam to its own defense, things didn’t fare so well. The Montagnards fought well, but they couldn’t defend the whole country on their own. When the South Vietnamese government fell, they accepted the result.

But they didn’t fare well. The North Vietnamese did not forget the Montagnards’ work with the U.S. Army Special Forces and the communists made life especially hard for the mountain tribes in the years to come.

Listen to episode 3372 and discover more about the snake eaters of Vietnam.

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A SOG operator poses with his indigenous teammates in an undated photo. (U.S. Army)

Master Sgt. Jerry ‘Mad Dog’ Shriver went missing in action in Cambodia in April 1969. (U.S. Army)

Episode 3371 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the MACV-SOG. The featured story is titled: Green Beret ‘Hatchet Forces’ terrorized the communists during the Vietnam War. It appeared on the We are the Mighty website and was submitted by Friedrich Seiltgen.

Seiltgen reported that MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam–Studies and Observations Group) was one of the most secretive and dangerous American military units of the Vietnam War. Established on January 24, 1964, SOG brought together elite U.S. Army Special Forces, Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Air Force aircrews, Marine Corps Force Recon, South Vietnamese forces, and intelligence personnel for highly classified missions.

These extraordinary Vietnam veterans operated not only in Vietnam but also across the borders into Laos and Cambodia, conducting secret reconnaissance missions, intelligence operations, sabotage, psychological warfare, prisoner rescues, combat operations, and enemy interdiction. Many missions took place deep behind enemy lines, where capture could mean death and where the United States could deny their presence.

SOG reconnaissance teams, often composed of a handful of American Green Berets and indigenous fighters, faced overwhelming enemy forces while gathering critical intelligence. When teams became trapped, Hatchet Forces could be deployed for rescue, reinforcement, or combat.

Among SOG’s legendary warriors was Master Sgt. Jerry “Mad Dog” Shriver, who disappeared during a 1969 mission in Cambodia after moving toward enemy fire. Another legendary SOG soldier, Master Sgt. Dick Meadows, conducted dangerous reconnaissance missions and later helped lead the assault team during the Son Tay Prison Raid, searching for American POWs.

SOG played important roles in operations including Steel Tiger, Tiger Hound, Daniel Boone, and Lam Son 719, while gathering vital intelligence on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

The accomplishments of MACV-SOG Vietnam veterans represent extraordinary courage, dedication, sacrifice, and professionalism. Their secret missions helped shape modern U.S. Special Operations Forces and military reconnaissance. Nine SOG operators received the Medal of Honor, and the unit received the Presidential Unit Citation.

The story of MACV-SOG reminds us of the greatness, bravery, sacrifice, and determination of our Vietnam veterans, many of whom served in silence while carrying out some of the most dangerous missions of the Vietnam War.

Listen to episode 3371 and discover more about the MACV-SOG.

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Army 1st Lt. Paul R. Longgrear, the Mobile Strike Force company commander at Lang Vei, is helped to a Marine aid station at Khe Sanh Combat Base, Feb. 7, 1968. (U.S. Army)

Medal of Honor recipient Eugene Ashley gave his life trying to break through the NVA at Lang Vei. (U.S. Army)

Episode 3370 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the battle at Lang Vei. The featured story is titled: Special Forces fought North Vietnamese tanks for the first time at Lang Vei. It appeared on the We are the Mighty website and was submitted by Friedrich Seiltgen.

Seiltgen reported that The Battle of Lang Vei was one of the most intense and heroic battles of the Vietnam War, demonstrating the extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and fighting spirit of Vietnam Veterans. On February 7, 1968, during the Tet Offensive, U.S. Army Green Berets and Vietnamese CIDG forces at Special Forces Camp Lang Vei, near Khe Sanh, faced a massive North Vietnamese Army (NVA) attack supported by tanks.

The Battle of Lang Vei 1968 became a historic Vietnam War battle when approximately a dozen Soviet-made PT-76 tanks, NVA infantry, and combat sappers attacked the isolated Special Forces camp. The defenders were heavily outnumbered, but the Green Berets refused to surrender. American Special Forces soldiers and their Vietnamese and Montagnard allies fought desperately with .50-caliber machine guns, 106mm recoilless rifles, M72 LAW rockets, claymore mines, grenades, and small arms.

The battle was fought during the larger Tet Offensive of 1968, while the Siege of Khe Sanh was also underway. With artillery and air support limited, the defenders of Lang Vei faced overwhelming enemy forces while trying to hold their position and survive.

One of the greatest heroes of the battle was Sgt. 1st Class Eugene Ashley Jr., who repeatedly led attempts to rescue the trapped defenders. Ashley directed artillery and air strikes against NVA positions and ultimately gave his life while fighting to save his fellow soldiers. His extraordinary Vietnam War heroism earned him the Medal of Honor.

The Green Berets at Lang Vei, along with their Vietnamese and Montagnard comrades, demonstrated the greatness, bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice of our Vietnam Veterans. Their story deserves to be remembered as an unforgettable chapter of Vietnam War history, Special Forces history, and American military heroism.

Listen to episode 3370 and discover more about the battle at Lang Vei.

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Sgt. Sammy Lee Davis receives the Medal of Honor from President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House, November 19, 1968. (Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library)

Medal of Honor recipient and retired U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Sammy Lee Davis renders a salute to a passing U.S. flag during the Independence Day parade at Arlington Heights, Illinois, July 4, 2013. (U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Anthony L. Taylor)

Episode 3369 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how ‘the real Forrest Gump’ got his stolen Medal of Honor back. The featured story is titled: How ‘the real Forrest Gump’ got his stolen Medal of Honor back. It appeared on the We are the Mighty website and was submitted by Stephen Ruiz.

Ruiz reported that U.S. Army Sgt. Sammy Lee Davis represents the extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and heroism of America’s Vietnam Veterans. His incredible story began on November 18, 1967, in the Mekong Delta, when approximately 1,500 Viet Cong attacked a U.S. fire support base.

Despite suffering severe wounds when enemy fire destroyed a howitzer, Davis refused to quit fighting. Injured in his back and legs and briefly unconscious, he returned to the artillery weapon and continued firing at the enemy. Then he heard a wounded American soldier across the river calling for help.

Knowing that his fellow soldiers desperately needed him, Davis made the extraordinary decision to cross the river despite his injuries and intense enemy fire. Unable to swim, he used an air mattress to reach the opposite bank. There he found Jim Deister, critically wounded, along with Billy Ray Crawford and Gwendell Holloway.

Davis carried Deister on his shoulders and helped the other wounded soldiers toward safety while enemy bullets struck the water around him. After rescuing all three men, Davis returned to the fight and continued serving with a howitzer crew until the Viet Cong withdrew.

For his incredible Vietnam War heroism, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Sammy Lee Davis with the Medal of Honor at the White House on November 19, 1968. Video from that ceremony was later incorporated into the movie Forrest Gump, leading many to call Davis the “real Forrest Gump.”

In 2005, thieves stole Davis’ Medal of Honor from his vehicle. Fortunately, his briefcase was recovered from a river several days later, and the medal was returned.

But to Davis, the Medal of Honor belonged not only to him, but to the 31 men from his unit who died in Vietnam.

The story of Sammy Lee Davis reminds us that Vietnam Veterans were courageous American heroes who displayed extraordinary bravery, loyalty, and devotion to their brothers in combat. Their service and sacrifice deserve our lasting respect, honor, and gratitude.

Listen to episode 3369 and discover more about how ‘the real Forrest Gump’ got his stolen Medal of Honor back.

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The North Vietnamese shot down Air Force pilot Kenneth Cordier’s F-4C Phantom II aircraft in early December 1966. (U.S. Air Force)

A total of 591 U.S. prisoners of war returned home as part of Operation Homecoming in 1973. (U.S. Air Force)

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Kenneth Cordier delivers a speech at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 16, 2022. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Thomas Karol)

Episode 3368 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the incredible story of Air Force POW Kenneth Cordier. The featured story is titled: How this Vietnam POW stayed strong during more than 6 years in captivity. It appeared on the We are the Mighty website and was submitted by Stephen Ruiz.

Ruiz reported that Air Force Maj. Kenneth Cordier represents the extraordinary courage, sacrifice, resilience, and patriotism of America’s Vietnam Veterans. An experienced military aviator and F-4C Phantom II fighter pilot, Cordier was flying his 176th combat mission over North Vietnam in December 1966 when a North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile (SAM) struck his aircraft at approximately 24,000 feet and 575 mph. Forced to eject, Cordier watched his burning Phantom explode as he descended by parachute into enemy territory.

Captured approximately 85 miles north of Hanoi, Cordier began a brutal six-year, three-month imprisonment as a Vietnam War POW. He endured interrogation, torture, beatings, starvation, isolation, and horrific living conditions at several prisoner-of-war camps, including the infamous Hanoi Hilton. With a broken back, he was forced to sleep on a hard wooden bed inside a tiny cell with almost no ventilation, limited food, constant lighting, and relentless enemy propaganda.

Yet Cordier and his fellow American POWs refused to surrender their spirit. Forbidden to communicate, they developed a secret tapping code to maintain contact, share information, and preserve morale. Even after severe punishment and torture, the prisoners continued communicating. Their determination demonstrated the incredible mental strength and bravery of Vietnam Veterans.

Cordier was finally released on March 4, 1973, during Operation Homecoming, when 591 American POWs were returned from North Vietnam. His first hot shower after years of captivity became a powerful symbol of freedom regained.

After recovering, Cordier returned to his U.S. Air Force career and ultimately retired as a colonel in 1985. His story is a lasting reminder that Vietnam Veterans were never defined by defeat or captivity—they were defined by courage, honor, duty, sacrifice, and an unwavering love of America. Maj. Kenneth Cordier and all of our Vietnam Veterans deserve our deepest respect and gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

Listen to episode 3368 and discover more about the Incredible story of Air Force POW Kenneth Cordier.