Codename Dynamite: SOG Team Training LTC Dick Thompson MACV SOG

Dick Thompson served as a recon team leader with MACV SOG in 1968-70 at FOB1/CCN, Republic of Vietnam. He led 20 black operations deep into enemy territory, and lived to talk about it. In this video, Dick describes combat behind enemy lines in Laos, while serving with MACV SOG. In parts it is graphically described, so viewer discretion is recommended. Dick explains how he trained and developed his recon teams to adapt and overcome the extreme combat and endurance challenges they faced on the ground in Laos.

Dick's book SOG Codename Dynamite (part 1) is out on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Henry-L...

Biography

LTC (Ret.) Henry (Dick) Thompson enlisted into the Army in 1967 at Fort Jackson, SC, as an 11B Infantryman. After completing Basic and Advanced Infantry training, he attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Infantry in January 1968.

After commissioning, Dick’s first assignment was as an Instructor, US Army Special Warfare School, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, NC, in February of 1968. In September of 1968 he was selected to be a team leader with MACV- SOG, 5th Special Forces Group, in the Republic of Vietnam. In January 1970, after finishing his combat tour (which included 20 recon missions with RT Virginia and RT Alabama), he was assigned as an instructor in the US Army Infantry School Ranger Department and stationed at Camp Frank D. Merrill, Dahlonega, GA. Dick served in several command and instructional and research roles until being assigned as the Professor of Military Science at the University of Georgia Army ROTC department in June 1986.

He retired from the US Army in January of 1988 after 21 years of military service. Dick’s military awards and decorations include 4 Bronze Star Medals, 2 with a “V” for heroism, 2 Meritorious Service Medals, 2 Air Medals for aerial combat, one with “V” for heroism, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for Heroism. Now a senior executive, and psychologist, with over 30 years of leadership experience from the battlefield to the boardroom, Dick is an internationally recognized leader, consultant, scientist, educator and speaker who helps leaders and organizations move into the High Performance Zone.


00:01:18  Introduce Dick Thompson and his book
00:03:21  Skills that still apply
00:05:03  Being a Ranger
00:08:00  Being SOG doesn't make you perfect
00:08:30  Being a officer and giving advice
00:09:51  Treated differently for still running recon
00:10:49  Information and learning
00:13:17  Teams survived better
00:14:52  VR flight saving the pilot
00:17:03  Bleeding is a problem
00:17:55  Stand out lessons
00:21:56  SOP’s and RON’s
00:25:10  Training with full weight = stronger men
00:26:31  Equipment and layout
(00:29:57 Loud noise)
00:31:07  All 1-0’s are different it's a slow transition
00:32:46  Keeping calm in combat
00:35:29  Work with veterans
00:39:33  How Arsenal works
00:44:12  After action reports