Nick Brokhausen - MACV-SOG on Vietnam War, Hand-to-Hand Combat and a Crazy Pet Monkey | SRS #276
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Special Forces selection in the late 60s involved three phases: basic patrolling, survival, woodcraft, followed by intensive foreign and domestic weapons training, and finally team-based unconventional warfare exercises.
- ❖The original MACV-SOG TOE (Table of Organization and Equipment) had only 1,174 Americans, with a small fraction (around 48) directly engaged in ground combat operations.
- ❖A white paper by Kevin O'Connor proposed abolishing current special ops structures and returning to an OSS-like model, centralizing purchasing, and making all operators warrant officers to increase autonomy and efficiency.
- ❖Brokhausen's first MACV-SOG recon mission involved immediate, intense firefights upon insertion, requiring the team to expend nearly all ammunition within minutes to break contact.
- ❖The psychological impact of combat, including PTSD (then called 'battle fatigue'), was often managed through heavy drinking and self-suppression, with formal recognition and treatment coming years later.
- ❖Brokhausen describes the devastating effectiveness of a custom 12-gauge shotgun load, using brass coins (five dong pieces) to create a 'saw blade' effect at close range.
- ❖His post-military career included diverse ventures like environmental waste treatment (converting pig waste to methane and fertilizer), rescuing kidnapped individuals, and supplying armored vehicles in Mexico.
- ❖Brokhausen went back to Vietnam twice after the war, once for a business project and once to find former Montagnard allies, discovering some had lost limbs due to North Vietnamese retribution for their 'SCU' tattoos.
Insights
1Evolution and Proposed Reform of Special Operations
Brokhausen details the historical lineage of US Special Forces from the OSS, emphasizing the original intent for operators to be self-sufficient, long-term assets in foreign countries. He discusses a recent white paper advocating for a return to an OSS-like structure, consolidating all special operations units (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force) under one umbrella, making all operators warrant officers, and centralizing purchasing to eliminate redundancy and foster independent action.
The guest explains the OSS's origins, Donovan's battle with Hoover, and how it recruited businessmen and natives for clandestine intelligence. He then references Kevin O'Connor's white paper, suggesting a new OSS model with different divisions, centralized purchasing, and all operators as warrant officers for optimal operational rank and independent action.
2The Brutal Reality of MACV-SOG Recon Missions
MACV-SOG recon missions were characterized by extreme intensity and close-quarters combat. Teams often faced overwhelming enemy forces immediately upon insertion, requiring them to 'fight through' with massive firepower to create space and break contact. Survival depended on rapid adaptation, aggressive tactics, and the ability to leverage air support effectively.
Brokhausen describes his first mission where his team came under immediate fire upon insertion, expending nearly all ammunition within minutes. He recounts using 'claymores on coat hangers' and a custom 12-gauge shotgun load with brass coins to 'cut them in half' at close range, emphasizing the need for devastating firepower to deter the enemy.
3Long-Term Psychological Impact of Combat and Unconventional Healing
The episode highlights the profound and lasting psychological toll of combat, particularly the experiences in MACV-SOG. Veterans of that era often dealt with 'battle fatigue' (now PTSD) through self-medication and suppression, leading to long-term issues. The discussion touches on the emerging recognition of psychedelic-assisted therapy (e.g., psilocybin, 5-MeO-DMT from Sonoran toad) as a highly effective treatment for PTSD and addiction, offering a path to healing that traditional psychiatric approaches often failed to provide.
Brokhausen describes recurring nightmares about a 16-year-old NVA soldier he killed, and the general suppression of trauma in his generation. Shawn Ryan shares his personal experience with 5-MeO-DMT, stating it 'changed his life' and helped him stop drinking effortlessly. Brokhausen mentions Al Mullen, a medic who understands these treatments, and the VA's slow acceptance of them.
Bottom Line
The US military's current command structure, with regional commands hoarding Special Operations assets, creates artificial shortages and misallocates resources away from active conflict zones.
This structural inefficiency means critical, highly trained units are deployed to static, low-threat areas (e.g., Germany during Middle East wars) instead of being concentrated where they are most needed, hindering rapid response and effectiveness.
Implementing a unified, centralized Special Operations command, as proposed by Kevin O'Connor, could streamline asset allocation, reduce inter-service competition, and ensure elite units are deployed strategically based on global priorities, not regional command preferences.
The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) implemented brutal tactics against Montagnard allies of US Special Forces, specifically amputating arms of those with 'SCU' (Special Commando Unit) tattoos as a form of retribution.
This reveals the extreme and targeted nature of enemy retaliation against indigenous populations who collaborated with US forces, highlighting the severe risks taken by these allies and the lasting physical and psychological scars they bore.
Understanding such historical betrayals and their consequences is crucial for current and future foreign policy, emphasizing the moral imperative and strategic necessity of protecting and supporting local allies post-conflict to maintain trust and influence.
Opportunities
Biogas and Organic Fertilizer Production from Animal Waste
Develop and implement anaerobic digestion systems that convert large-scale animal waste (e.g., pig collectives) into methane for electricity generation and high-nitrogen organic fertilizer. This addresses waste management, provides renewable energy, and creates a valuable agricultural product, especially in regions with high livestock density or reliance on chemical fertilizers.
Specialized Kidnapping Rescue and Extraction Services
Establish a private security firm specializing in the intelligence, negotiation, and physical extraction of kidnapping victims, particularly in high-risk international zones. This requires deep intelligence contacts, operational expertise, and a willingness to operate in complex, often politically sensitive environments, leveraging unconventional methods like tracking via dosed medication or specialized tactical teams.
Custom Armored Vehicle Manufacturing and Supply
Operate a facility for designing, manufacturing, and supplying custom-armored vehicles for high-net-worth individuals, government officials, or security forces in volatile regions. This business would cater to clients needing enhanced protection against kidnapping, assassination, or general security threats, often integrating with personal bodyguard services.
Lessons
- For military leaders: Re-evaluate current Special Operations force allocation and command structures to prevent asset hoarding and ensure optimal deployment to active conflict zones, potentially by adopting a centralized, OSS-like model.
- For veterans struggling with trauma: Explore emerging, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies for PTSD and addiction, consulting with trusted medical professionals or specialized clinics, rather than relying solely on traditional psychiatric methods.
- For anyone facing profound life changes: Recognize that decompression from intense experiences takes time; seek out environments and relationships that provide purpose, challenge, and understanding, rather than forcing immediate reintegration into 'normal' life.
Notable Moments
Brokhausen's first encounter with MACV-SOG's Recon Company Commander, Larry T. Manus, who assigned him to RT Habu without an interview after Brokhausen questioned if it was a 'voluntary unit,' stating he 'hated quitters.'
This vividly illustrates the unconventional, no-nonsense culture of MACV-SOG, where leadership was often earned through raw capability and intimidation, setting the tone for the extreme environment.
The story of RT Habu's pet spider monkey, which would scream at dogs, throw feces, and specifically target Cook's belongings. Cook and Brokhausen eventually fed the monkey Darvon and screwdrivers until it passed out and was 'ripped to fur and bones' by the dogs, then covered up the 'crime' by setting the pole on fire.
This anecdote provides a darkly humorous glimpse into the extreme coping mechanisms and camaraderie of men operating under immense stress, showcasing their irreverence and tight-knit bond.
Brokhausen's attempt to reconnect with his estranged daughter, sending her a note on the internet saying he might be her natural father, only for her to take her site down the next day. Years later, his eldest grandson called him, but the call was cut short by a woman's yelling in the background.
This moment highlights the deep, personal, and often unresolved consequences of a life dedicated to military service, revealing the lasting impact on family relationships and the poignant struggle for connection.
Brokhausen's 'healing process' in Berlin, which included buying a Messerschmitt car, leading police on a high-speed chase through a park, and accidentally driving it into the Havel River. His German friend, Gunter, surfaced from the water yelling, 'I hate you!'
This illustrates Brokhausen's continued need for adrenaline and unconventional living post-Vietnam, showcasing his unique approach to coping with trauma through high-stakes adventures and humor.
Quotes
"I really don't need the insurance policy if you don't leave any witnesses."
"I'm cured for life of ever dating red-headed women or even making eye contact with them. It isn't that I'm bonkers over them. They find me as some sort of training aid. I just don't have the deranged state in body fluids for that exercise anymore. I run from them."
"You can call me sir, you can call me f***ing sir, or you can just hide when I'm looking for you."
"You know, you're lucky I just don't tell Mayus what you two are really up to."
"It won't be communist because that's the law. And it won't be western either, but one thing it will be is Russian. Totally Russian."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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