War In The Shadows

Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) is a designation for American military advisers sent to other countries to assist in the training of conventional armed forces and facilitate military aid. Although numerous MAAG's operated around the world throughout the 1940s-1970's, the most famous MAAG's were those active in Southeast Asia before and during the Vietnam War.

There were no other units in Vietnam like the LRRPs. You probably had to go back to the American Revolution and the Civil War to find small units fighting a guerrilla war in enemy territory. To fight this war small, highly mobile reaction forces needed to be on the ground. To this end Colonel David Hackworth helped organize two volunteer platoons. Their goals: Track 'em, find 'em, and kill 'em.

In 1962, President Kennedy established SEAL Teams One and Two from the existing UDT Teams to develop a Navy Unconventional Warfare capability. The Navy SEAL Teams were designed as the maritime counterpart to the Army Special Forces "Green Berets." They deployed immediately to Vietnam. The SEALs were so effective that the enemy named them, "the men with the green faces."

The Phoenix Program was designed to identify and neutralize the infrastructure of the National Liberation Front of Vietnam. The Studies and Observation Group was the largest project of its kind and its personnel were engaged in all aspects of the war.

This is the story of the last years of American involvement in Vietnam, 1973-1975, and the fall of Saigon.