MACV-SOG Pilot’s Top Secret Missions in Vietnam | Silver Star, DFC, 3 Purple Hearts

James “Sneaky” White enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1960 and served as a machine gunner until 1964. Enamored with aviation, White reelisted and, after years of training, deployed to Vietnam in 1966 with HMM-262. On March 21, 1967, while serving aboard a CH-46, he desinguished himself in combat while inserting a Marine recon team and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. After completing his tour, he left the Marine Corps and joined the Army to pursue an opportunity to become a pilot. But, due to an administrative error, White would spend three months in Vietnam as a rifleman before being plucked from the jungle and redirected back to the aviation program. He graduated from training and returned to Vietnam for a third time, flying combat missions in support of Special Forces and MACV-SOG, where would earn a Silver Star.

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Chapters:

0:00 - Distinguished Flying Cross
15:37 - Haunted by Friend’s Death
22:07 - Medal Ceremony
27:34 - Battle of Khe Sanh
32:38 - Transfer to the Army
34:55 - Jump School & Ranger School
38:18 - Infantry Tour in Vietnam
39:46 - Helicopter Pilot
47:38 - Shot Down 3X
55:18 - MACV-SOG
1:04:47 - The Legend of Billy Waugh
1:08:38 - Silver Star
1:11:36 - Lam Son 719
1:15:06 - Reflections

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