FOB-4 – Da Nang

Command and Control North (CCN) was formed by MACV-SOG in late 1967 as an expansion of its Da Nang Forward Operations Base (FOB) which included launch sites established as early as 1964 at Hue – Phu Bai, Khe Sanh and Kham Due. CCN, always the largest of the three MACV-SOG field commands, was command- ed by a lieutenant colonel. It was assigned conduct of classified special unconventional warfare missions into Laos and North Vietnam. CCN was organized along the lines of CCC and was composed of Spike recon teams (RT), Hatchet forces and lettered SLAM companies. Missions into North Vietnam were initiated as early as I February 1964 under Operation Plan 34A. Operations into Laos commenced in September 1965 as part of Operation SHINING BRASS, renamed PRAIRIE FIRE in 1968. By this time MACV-SOG had at its disposal two battalions of American-led Nung tribesmen as reaction forces capable of performing large combat missions. CCN often operated in conjunction with the CIA-trained Meo tribesmen of Gen. Vang Pao. In 1971 the Laotian operations were given the code name PHU DUNG, and in March of that year MACV-SOG created Task Force I Advisory Element to replace its three field commands. This task force was located at Da Nang.

Seabees from NMCB 12 built sea huts on the base in 1968.

23, August 1968

: FOB 4 CCN

: Part of RECON Company, CCN, Da Nang, 1971

: Marble Mountain FOB-4 Da Nang

: ML 367th Marine AH-1G gunships returning from a mission, flying over Marble Mountain with SOG’s Command and Control North’s (CCN) and the North Vietnamese Prisoner of War Camp in view

: FOB-4 CCN Da Nang

: FOB-4 CCN Da Nang

: FOB-4 CCN Da Nang

: CCN, POL, POW, MARINE BASE AND AREA TOWARD DANANG INCLUDING BAY-

: Photo Apr 69, CCN, from left: Ron Podlaski, myself, Mark Gentry and Lynne M. Black Jr. By: John “Tilt” Meyer

: Photo from CCN, April 1969. From left: me standing, Rick Estes, squatting, and Lynne M. Black Jr. The photo was taken in Recon area of CCN, the camera is facing north. By John “Tilt” Meyer

: CCN, Apr 69-Myself & Mark, standing next to US Mess Hall, camera is facing east toward Recon Com. Area. By John S. “Tilt” Meyer

: CCN recon area, April 1969, from left: Rick Estes, Me, Mark Gentry & Lynne M. Black Jr.

: ACM Presentation by Col. Warren to Paul Christensen MACVSOG

: Paul Christensen – Da Nang 1968 MACV-SOG

: Paul Christensen – Da Nang 1968 MACV-SOG

: Radar and Comm Da Nang

: Paul Christensen looking towards Monkey Mountain MACV-SOG

: Paul Christensen FOB 4 MACV-SOG

: Paul Christensen FOB 4 CCN MACV-SOG

: Paul Christensen FOB-4 Sapper Attack August, 23, 1968 MACV-SOG

: Paul Christensen FOB-4 His Hooch Behind him MACV-SOG

: Max Recod 1968 CCN

: Jesse Simmonds 1968 CCN

: Dave Taylor 1968 CCN

: Don Valentine 1968 CCN

: Don Valentine 1968 CCN

: Unknown indigenous members of SOG at FOB4

: David Carr with Gen Don Blackburn on the helo pad at CCN Feb 1970

: Dune Buggy CCN FOB-4

: Sweet Home CCN FOB-4

: CCN FOB-4

: Extraction Training CCN FOB-4

: Sp4 Thompson

: CCN FOB-4

: RT Sidewinder FOB-4

: Sid Shafer

: Marty Arbeit

: Sgt Craig Stephenson

: Shelly Kluck

: RT Chi Lang

: Ken Bute

: Carl Manning

: Commo Bunker CCN FOB-4

: The main entrance to Recon Company, Command and Control North (CCN), MACV SOG. DaNang 1969

: Maggie talks to the troops. Cletis Sinyard (Babysan) wearing the boonie hat. Larry Trimble standing next to Maggie with a mustach. Also Randy Givens and SGM Nameth. Closest to the camera is Jim Lamotte. That night after the festivities Maggie took some of the Recon guys up to the officer’s club and she drank vodka and talked the rest of the night.

: Maggie with CCN troops & Seabees

: Maggie meets SCU Recon Team member in CCN club

: Randy facing the camera, behind Maggie. SGM Tom Nameth is the guy on the far right, in profile.

: This one is of Maggie, singing to our CCN guys, CCN’S CLUB, DEC 31, 69

: James E. Morton Signal Section CCN

: James E. Morton Signal Section CCN

: James, either receiving or presenting a SOG knife.

: Michael C. Heinricy (SGT) CCN – RTs Python and Virginia and Phu Bai Launch Site 8/1970 to 8/1971

: Heinricy & Tommy Thompson outside a hootch at CCN compound.

: Larry Green and Hoang that appears to have been made in Isolation as we have no insignia

: Larry Green and Hoang that appears to have been made in Isolation as we have no insignia

: Larry Green and four of the team members made at the Phu Bai launch site in February 1970.

: CCN’s Nung Jump School. 1968.-BILL PEARSON

: CCN’s Nung Jump School. 1968.-BILL PEARSON

: CCN’s Nung Jump School. 1968.-BILL PEARSON

: CCN’s Nung Jump School. 1968.-BILL PEARSON

: CCN’s Nung Jump School. 1968.-BILL PEARSON

: CCN’s Nung Jump School. 1968.-BILL PEARSON

: McGuire Rig Training at CCN Photo’s by Bill Pearson 67-68

: McGuire Rig Training at CCN Photo’s by Bill Pearson 67-68

: McGuire Rig Training at CCN Photo’s by Bill Pearson 67-68

: McGuire Rig Training at CCN Photo’s by Bill Pearson 67-68

: McGuire Rig Training at CCN Photo’s by Bill Pearson 67-68

: Recon Company CCN Da Nang 1971

: Frank Cuddy, USMC SOG Pilot

: Ken Bird Hatchet Team Company A CCN Feb Mar 69

: CCN Vietnamese Commander and staff 1968.

: CCN Vietnamese Commander and staff 1968.

: Hacket Force 1969

: CCN China Beach

Recon Company CCN made in early 1970, somewhere between late January and early March. I believe it was made the day that GEN Abrams came to the camp and pinned medals on the team memberS of ST Alabama and there may have been someone else. The original is very grainy and it was probably made with a Olympus PenEE but I am not sure. In the photo CPT Stewart was Recon Co CO, SGT (SSG??) Fitzgerald was the guidon bearer. MSG Bob Cole is at the head of the far right rank. I am at the head of the third rank from the left. I recognize other faces but have forgotten names. ALL THE WAY ——Larry Greene