S O G
(Studies and Observation Group)
Chapter 1
S O G 1962
Okinawa
A suspected temporary POW compound was reported by an aircraft.  I was on the team to be sent in to recon the site.  At our briefing, we were told it would be a night insertion from altitude.  The brass had chosen an abandoned landing strip for the drop zone, as it was the only clear area near the site.  Pictures showed cultivation, a few huts, and a road.  Since we were to come and go undetected we were told to avoid those areas. We were also told to expect enemy patrols.
After landing we would conceal our parachutes and marshal at where an old road entered the airfield, then proceed to the coordinates of the suspected compound and do our “study and observation.”  We would return using a different route to the landing strip for a helicopter extraction at 0400 hrs.  Since this was to be an in and out operation we would travel light.  Just water, radio, ammo, frags, and smoke.  We were told to fall out at 1800 the next evening having had. (dinner)  A simple, straight forward exercise.  Should be fun.
We spent departure day studying the map, planning our route, washing all clothing and field gear with fresh water, showered the same and had no smokes.  Weapons were cleaned, inspected and oil removed.  All this was done to make us as odorless as possible.  At 1600 we drew ordinance, at 1700 ate our evening meal of rice and fish.  We put on our makeup and fell out at 1800, were inspected, then loaded a duce and a half truck and headed for the airfield.
By the time we got to Naha airbase, collected our parachutes and put them on, it was almost dark.  We took off heading out into the growing darkness over the China Sea and began our climb to cruising altitude.  Ceiling and visibility were unlimited, with no moon, a beautiful night for a high altitude low opening jump.  As we approached the drop zone the C-130 descended to 10,000 feet, our jump altitude. We checked equipment and the crew chief lowered the loading ramp.  Standing on the ramp looking into the darkness, as we waited for the green light, I thought about what I was doing.  Civilian life seemed so shallow and frivolous. I yelled, “Yes!” I was 21 years old and I owned it! We rechecked our altimeters and stopwatches.  “Green light!” The five of us dove out into the night.
I soon reached terminal velocity, the cool wind buffeted me.  I could barely make out the slightly darker area of ground that was the landing strip, our drop zone.  I watched my stopwatch and altimeter.  At 2500 feet I pulled my main and felt the opening shock. The harness dug in and my head whipped forward.  Then silence…. I gently swung beneath my canopy.
As I got closer to the ground I could see what appeared to be a  cleared circle.  I thought it was a potato patch. Using my risers I guided my parachute for it.  The air was cool and calm so I set up for a standing landing in the middle of the circle.  As my feet touched down I mentally complimented myself on my accuracy.  Exuberance suddenly changed to shock as I sank up to my chest in the muck.  My circle wasn’t a potato patch at all, but a honey bucket.  (Honey bucket:  a hole used to store human and animal waste to be used as fertilizer.)  At our rendezvous point, I was greeted with gags and “What the hell happened to you?  You smell like shit!” I replied with, “Odor camouflage. let’s move out.”
Leaving the landing strip we immediately entered the dense jungle.  I was miserable, but after an hour or so my clothes were crusted and I got used to the smell.  We came to the old road again.  It had curved around and now cut us off.  It had to be crossed.  I strained to see and listen, nothing.  Crossing the road in three strides I dropped out of sight in the jungle.  McComber, from Deer Lodge, Montana, was next.  He stepped out and was greeted by a yell from down the road.  He had been spotted.  Instantly Mac dove back into the jungle. I could hear them rapidly moving away as the patrol came running up the road.  As they looked for the spot Mac had entered the jungle one of them turned around and walked over to my side of the road.  Stopping two meters from me he sniffed the air, put his hand to his nose and walked back to the other side.  Then they cautiously moved into the dark jungle in pursuit.
Alone now I was determined to finish the mission.  As the stars crept across the night sky I crept through the jungle.  Two hours later I broke out.  Waist high saw grass ran to the coral shoreline of the China Sea about 600 meters away.  The shoreline curved to my left forming a shallow bay.  On the far side, maybe two klicks away, I could barely see a couple of dim lights.  That was my objective.
It was dark enough that I decided to stay outside the tree line in the saw grass so as to make better time.  Jogging along in the tall grass the ground suddenly disappeared.  I crashed heavily into the far side of a concrete drainage ditch.  My rifle and helmet went flying.  Rolling around in agony I felt sure my shins were broken.  Time passed and the pain subsided.  Feeling my legs I was much relieved to find nothing broken.  Searching blindly in the grass I recovered my rifle and helmet and began limping toward the dim lights.
Giving the place a good looking over I drew a diagram and made some notes.  Mission accomplished I began my painful walk back to the extraction point. Mac and the others were already there and were busy picking leeches off each other. I didn’t have any on me.   The Huey arrived right on time.  I popped smoke and as the Huey hovered we scrambled aboard amid flying debris.
Back at base I reported to the Platoon leader, Lt Tersek and Platoon Sergeant Amada.  I gave them my written report and briefed them on the mission as they held their noses and mumbled something about “good job.” I saluted Lt. Tersek, he reluctantly removed his hand from his nose and returned my salute.
In time my shins healed and my squad members moved back into their bunks over and next to mine.  I heard nothing more about the SOG mission. I think I should have gotten the Purple Heart for being “Stinked in Action.”

 Chapter 2
S O G 2013
Gustavus, Alaska

I told my grand kids about the Studies and Observation Group and suggested we form one and go exploring.  They loved the idea and roped in a couple of cousins.  So, SOG 2013, another mission.
I assembled my team, Observers 1st Class Jesse, Stephanie, Cody and Fisher.  “All right team,” I said in my best military voice, “we have a mission.  We are to move to the Jump Creek area, find a suitable location, establish a base camp and build a bridge across Jump Creek.”  I continued with the briefing, “Our departure area will be the end of Trudy Lane at 0900 hrs tomorrow.  Uniform will be for cold rainy weather.  Equipment to be full packs including all your camping gear, tents, sleeping bags, air mattress, if you have one, food for two days, hatchet, knives, etc. and etc.  Transportation to the DA will be by Mamaw’s minivan.  Any questions?  Good, let’s get started packing our gear.”
We left Trudy Lane at, well, close to 0900 hrs.  Leaving most of our gear in the van we went looking for an appropriate site for base camp.  We crossed the drainage ditch at what is now Martha’s house and followed the park line until it hit Jump Creek.  (Jesse had named this nameless creek “Jump Creek” because we had to jump it to go moose hunting out passed the tree farm.)  We then scouted up and down the creek until we found the perfect spot.  It was on a small peninsula formed by a sharp “U” of the creek.  A tree had fallen across the creek just downstream from our campsite making a great place to play.  Militarily speaking.
By this time I was tired.  Since my last SOG mission (over 50 years ago) my physical condition had deteriorated a little, so I sent the team back for the remainder of their gear and mine.  By noon all our gear was in place.  While the rest of us gathered wood Ob 1st Jesse started work on a fire.  Not an easy task in this land of wet wood, but he finally managed.  We all sat around the fire and had lunch.  No “C” rations here.
For the next couple of hours the kids, I mean my Studies and Observation Group, reconnoitered the area while I took a nap.  When I woke up I joined them on the other side of the creek.  They had found a neat open grassy area that was bathed in sunlight(the sky had cleared).  The eerie sounds of Snipes on the wing filled the air as we explored.  The field had several round pools about fifteen feet in diameter filled with crystal clear water.  The team was tempted to go swimming in one, but Ob 1st Fisher pointed out the squiggly little white worms on the bottom and they decided it was to cold to swim.  The team continued to study and observe for a while then went back to finish setting up camp.
We pitched our tents, stored our gear and began to get things organized.  Fixing up the campsite is the fun part.  Ob 1st Stephanie and Ob 1st Fisher said they were going to build our toilet facility, so they gathered up hatchet and shovel and moved out.  Ob 1st Jesse loves organizing the cooking area.  A place for everything.  He dug steps in the creek bank and made a little landing to stand on where we could do dishes or collect water.  This activity, along with more recon (goofing around), took up the rest of the afternoon.
By 1800 hrs we had a roaring fire going and a kettle of water boiling, so we gathered around it for dinner.  After saying a prayer we had pork and beans, vegetable and noodle cups(the kind you pour hot water in) and of course peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  I also had a ham sandwich and topped the meal with a steaming cup of tea.
As the sun set and we watched a porcupine rustle by on the other side of the creek Ob 1st Fisher decided he had better go back home, he being our youngest member at seven years old, we understood.  Ob 1st Stephanie and Ob 1st Cody volunteered to escort him home.  The rest busied themselves with camp chores and I visited the outdoor privy.  Ob 1st Stephanie had done a good job.  The hole was neatly dug and well concealed with a spruce branch wall.  She had even driven a stick in the ground next to the hole for a toilet paper holder.  I later commended her on the Latrine construction.
It was just starting to get dark when Ob 1st Cody and Ob 1st Stephanie got back.  I had begun to worry, we had seen bear signs so was relieved to see them.  We sat around the fire talking until 2100.  We were all tired so off to our tents we went.  I had put a tarp under my tent to protect me from the damp moss.  The tent was small so I put my pack outside under the tent fly.
I don’t know what time it started, but it poured.  My little tent was warm and dry, but unfortunately the tarp under the tent filled with water.  It was like sleeping on a water bed.  I squished my way through the night.  Next morning it was still lightly raining.  My pack was sitting in three inches of water, everything in it was soaked.  I had forgotten how much fun camping was. A fire was out of the question so I got out my one burner Coleman camp stove and boiled water for tea.  Crouching under a spruce tree Ob 1st Jesse made watery pancake mix and one pancake at a time we had a pancake breakfast followed by bacon.  It tasted wonderful!
By the time we finished cleaning up the rain had stopped, well almost.  After much work and coaxing Ob 1st Jesse got a smoky little fire going.  We all helped find burnable dead branches and after a while, by golly, we had a real fire.  That cheered us all up.  Ob 1st Jesse, in good spirit now, made a running jump across the creek.  That started it.  We all started jumping back and forth across the creek.  After that passed we hiked up the creek beyond where we had been before.  We found another “perfect” spot for a campsite.  All of us agreed, next time we would camp there. By lunchtime, I was beat.  The building of the bridge would have to wait for another SOG mission. 
And in fact we did go back and camp at the new site and build the bridge. I’m looking forward to adding great grand children to the team.  SOG’s forever!
   
Marshall Warren