Interview #2 with Terry Cadenbach, MACVSOG Hatchet Force, CCC Co.B, 1968-1970

In this interview with Terry, we start off a Q&A session of questions written by students, the intense training Terry underwent in Group Training, Terry's first taste of combat, dealing with death in the world of SOG, the wide variety of weapons that SOG members had access too, an in-depth explanation of the Ho Chi Minh trail, and some humorous tales of Terry and fellow SOG members.

[@CandC68]

The SF training for officers was different. As an officer, you were given a tiny percent of the various specialty courses. A little engineer, medical, commo, etc. The logic being that an officer "should" have a clue what the team could do. Terry was correct that the late 60s there was a need for warm bodies. I went there in 66-67, we got chicken, no goat.
Almost all the SF folks were encouraged to cross train. For skill overlap. One guy might be the primary weapons, but he was also trained for commo, for example.

[@zachwood1218]

Question for you Parker, did you have a training that you preferred? Engineer, medical, commo, etc?

[@CandC68]

@@zachwood1218 I was an officer. Went through the SFOC. Being immature I leaned towards engineering and explosives. lol. In reality engineering is/was a strong point.
And weapons. After service was a gunsmith apprentice a couple times.
Prior to going in the service I had taken a SCUBA class. So, when I had the choice, while waiting for my TS clearance, I took the SF UWO (Underwater Operations course).
Terry hinted at it, but back then there was assorted military training that was not SF specific. Ranger, HALO(I think), languages(at he Presidio), etc. The MOS courses were within SF. But you could, time permitting, go to lots of courses. All free (except for adding time to your enlistment.)
Also, before deploying we had a pre-mission course, a couple weeks. We got some Vietnamese language, latest maps, and most current intel on activities.

[@paulprigge1209]

Very very good thank you

[@joycecogdill9797]

Great info!! Thank you!!! And welcome home!

[@mike-fe9wj]

Terry is a great story teller.
Welcome home and thank you!

[@stephenmcgraw8871]

Bud`s a real good,respectable guy....and he`s got his own different way of interviewing which is endearing and I`m glad he`s doing what he`s doing on his Reconnaisance Cast vlog(or whatever it`s called-I`m 52,so it`s all still new to me--lol)....

[@stephenmcgraw8871]

Greetings from the coast of Downeast Maine....Talkin` about Martha Raye--Miss Polident to me,remembering her TV commercials--and she was such a patriot,a"man`s man"-type of woman,if that makes any sense.....And Shit On a Shingle,my Dad,who ate it while on the USS Pulaski Sub from `65-`69,used to almost force my brother and I every once in awhile--my god,that was terrible,chipped beef,some type of milky sauce on top of toast(I hate even thinking about the stuff)......I`ve heard a few of Mr.Cadenbach`s interviews and could listen to him all day.........

[@jasonholmes6578]

Terry is great! Very awesome to know SOG is being taught in the classroom. Great work

[@zachwood1218]

Thanks, Jason! It's awesome to incorporate my interviews into the classroom, the students really enjoy it!

[@subcreecha]

Thank you terry sir and the other school i thinnk was radioman .

[@falconmoose5435]

Carry on sir.

[@user-ov6vi6ct5u]

❤