MACV SOG interview with a warriors son. The Gary Hollingsworth story.
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- It is a moving story about one mans search to know more about his Special Forces father who was killed in action during the Vietnam war. One evening Jim posted on a Special Forces blog if anyone had known his father. There was a reply and a request to call this new contact. After debating and gathering the nerve to call this person he finally did. The events that followed were an eye opening experience. He had been invited to a gathering of MACV SOG spec ops Vietnam Vets in Las Vegas. A door had been opened, he sat quietly and just listened to the these warriors revisit lands far away and stories of his father. FYI to this day Jim still does not know who was at the end of that phone call that began this journey......But in Jims own words "I would love to know who you are"
I was on the "BrightLight" (One-One of Recon Team HABU). That recovered: Hollingsworth and Dale Dehnke's bodies. Glad to have been able to provide Gary & Jason, with my recollections, of that mission.
Jim. Thanks for doing this story. I am Sonny (Virgil) Raines originally from Paris, Missouri. I was an Army aviator and was serving on Vietnam when I last saw your dad. We knew each other from school, though I was a few years older. I had stopped at a small airfield near Can Ryan Bay and made a quick stop at a snack bar for a soft drink and snack. Your dad was there and we chatted for a few minutes and I remember him saying he was getting ready to head north, exact destination not mentioned as we were in the public. We went on our ways and went on with business. A few weeks later, my wife sent me a letter and told me of your father’s death. After I comprehended that fact for a few minutes I realized that he was likely killed just a few days after our meeting. I suppose I was the last Monroe County person to cross parts with him. My wife, the former Emma Jo Painter of Paris knew your mother as she lived in Paris while I was in RVN. I think during our last meeting, your dad mentioned to me his possible intentions to attend Officer Candidate School after his ETS. He knew that was how I obtained my commission and was seeking advice on doing this. I encouraged him doing this. Since, I have had the occasion to talk to other soldiers that knew your dad at special training. Again, thanks for doing this story.
Here is my email jcollins101@outlook.com message me please.
Thank you for sharing your story. My Dad was a tank mechanic in Europe in WWII. I wished I had shared more time talking with him about his experience. My Vietnam time was no where near what your father experienced.
Thank you Jim for sharing your story. Your Dad was a hero. This is a perspective that’s almost never heard and it needs to be. Much love.
A sad reality to war. I found it informative. Thank you for sharing.
In a brilliant series this is a beautiful and courageous interview this highlights the hidden casualties of war - the bereaved families of those soldiers who never got to come home. To hear of the loyalty and affinity between the veterans and those families is very powerful and comforting - military families looking out for each other👍👍👍
That was very on point my friend. I am very lucky to be on the inside circle as much as a non SF vet can be. I have become friends with Jim and felt this angle of a man searching for information about who his father really was important. Look up SGM raymond echevarria who is still MIA - i hope to have his son on soon.
The sogsite write up on SGM Echevarria's last reported sighting is hard reading but it's still outstanding to see a unit Remember their brothers-in-arms with such active passion. Interviewing the relatives of those KIA/MIA gives real context to the sacrifices that were made - thank-you for that. My interest in SOG is complicated, spurred by my knowing Dave Dean of the 101st who I think worked with Billy Waugh in Vietnam and later on in 1990s Yemen. Dean became one of the 22/day on 8 January 2020 and I know Waugh passed on recently too.
@@anthonycheaford1962 i am friends with the family -
@@interviewswithwarriors I worked with Dave Dean between 1988 & 1997, when he was the US salesman for my family's British engineering firm JM Heaford Ltd. It was Dave & my own parents who setup my business trip to Yemen in September 1997, where I met 'the Engineer' (Khalid Sheikh Mohammed) & visited 'the Base' by Al Qaidah town. I knew Dave's girlfriend Joanne & met a few of his friends (Baron, Mario & Irene) but I didn't know his family.
Another interesting angle of the war from another perspective.. Enoying your work and interaction with Bud on the recon cast and the whole MACV chronicles... Loved the Pucka Factor series Jason... Keep this stuff coming 👌
Drop me a email jcollins101@outlook.com i will give you a preview of the next PF !
Brave Men.
Coward Politicians.
Please leave feedback - did you enjoy the interview?
interesting, a different side of story
Glad you think so!
@@interviewswithwarriors I am the son of Richard R Gross, "Moose"
do you want to do an interview!
@@FeWolf
@@interviewswithwarriors i would say yes, not for myself but for others sons and daughter