SOG

Acronym for Special Operations Group, a unit created by the Military Assistance Command-Vietnam (MACV), tasked to perform various unconventional warfare missions in conjunction with the CIA. Its personnel were assigned from Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, Marine Recon, and other units depending on mission requirements. Missions included deep reconnissance, direct action, downed pilot retrieval, enemy cadre capture and assasination, and any other mission assigned by higher authority. Members carried a card, called a 'get out of jail free card', stating that the bearer was acting under direct orders of the President and all personnel, regardless of rank, were to give the bearer their full cooperation. During the later stages of the conflict, the name was changed to Studies and Observation Group in order to mask the unit's true nature from inquiring reporters. The unit was the most highly decorated unit in the war, as well as one with the highest casualty rate, due to the highly dangerous and sensitive nature of the missions.