RT PURPOSES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY BILLY WAUGH

I’ve been reading you site for the past couple of days and was wondering if you had any info on RT Dakota.  I haven’t been able to look at everything on the site yet but plan on reading the entire body of work.  I was not old enough to know much about what went on in the war being born in 1961 but I had a cousin in the Marines at Khe Sanh I believe in 1968, and a couple of other friends who were in the army during the war.  Anyway, I’m from South Dakota and just had an interest in what the RT Dakota group did.  I realize they were not from either of the Dakota’s but just interested because of the name.  If you have any info or can direct me to any I would greatly appreciate it.  Thank you for your time and your service.

Steve Hatt

Sioux Falls, SD

BILLY'S RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE EMAIL:

Good morning Steve Hatt.  As you see I routed this through Robert Noe, the fine Special Forces Officer who keeps Special Forces men / families informed with his daily information sheet he sends out.
 
    Steve H., my name is Billy Waugh.  I was with SOG Operations for quite some time, and would like to explain what the Recon Teams (RT). including RT Dakota, did in the war of Vietnam during the period of which you speak.
    
    During the period 1966-1971, the organization called Studies and Observation Group (SOG), formed to counter the invasion of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) moving from North Vietnam to South Vietnam through the countries of Laos and Cambodia.  There intention of the North Vietnamese was to:
                1.  Take over South Vietnam by force, and to rule South Vietnam (which the United States had made decisions many years earlier - to defend the Vietnamese Govt. of South Vietnam.
                2.  The NVA moved overland through Laos, down through Cambodia, and then back into South Vietnam (SVN) to overrun villages, and cities of SVN.
 
        The US Government authorized a Top Secret Unit, SOG, to form small teams called RTs or Recon Teams.  These RTs were named after US States, such as Dakota, Texas, Virginia, while other RTs were named after snakes, such as Bushmaster and Cobra, etc.
 
        The RT's - Recon Teams were small groups of men (3 US Army SF and up to 8 or 9 indigenous personnel - from the local areas in the mountains of SVN.).
        The US Special Forces members of these RTs were US Army Special Forces types, who were trained in parachuting, or rappelling into the highland target areas, via aircraft of helicopters, into the border areas of Laos and Cambodia, near the border of South Vietnam, to repel these infiltrations of the NVA groups. 
        After infiltration, these small RTs moved through their designated target areas, as directed, carrying the following:
                1.  Communications gear to speak to US Aircraft flying above.
                2.  Much ammunition and many weapons in attempt to interdict the movement of the North Vietnamese into South Vietnam.
                3.  Devices such as cameras, etc., to gather proof that the North Vietnamese were moving into South Vietnam through these neutral countries (Laos and Cambodia).
                4.  The RT moved by stealth, and slowly, through the jungles and hills of Laos and Cambodia, and were assisted from above, by means of the team radio - with contact to US supporting aircraft.
                5.  The Mission of each of the RTs usually was to
                        a.  Interdict traffic, either foot or vehicle, moving from North Vietnam through Laos or Cambodia, and to destroy these personnel and vehicles or storage areas used by the North Vietnamese.
                        b.  To gather proof that the NVA were moving into South Vietnam in huge numbers in order to defeat South Vietnam (who the USA was backing).
 
        The RTs Team Leader was called a One-Zero (1-0) his second in command was the One-One, and the third US was the One-Two.  The indigenous were designated by number, from the Zero-One (Indigenous Team Leader) to the One-Eight or One-Nine - indigenous team members..
        The Special Forces men on the RTs were well trained in the art of small-unit warfare, and did battle with large groups of North Vietnamese moving south through the jungles. 
        The Special Forces men were able to call US tactical air strikes against the formations or sites of the North Vietnamese, by using the radio from ground to air.  The TACAIR, as it was called, used 20mm to 30mm guns, or HE bombs to destroy the enemy that the small teams were viewing on the ground.  The US SF Recon Team member would adjust the bomb strikes by viewing the NVA formations as they were being attacked from the air.
 
        The RTs were not large enough to fight a standing battle with the large groups of NVA troops, weapons, and vehicles moving into South Vietnam, but did damage by means of striking these NVA formations by way of tactical US Air strikes, as the RTs stood off from the moving NVA. 
        Many, many times, the NVA overran the RTs, and killed the men of the RT.  In emergency, the RT members were lifted out via emergency evacuation by helicopter.  The RT members wore special STABO harnesses, at all times, during their five day or so movement in the jungles, and could be lifted out in emergency, right through the trees of the jungle. 
        One hell of a mission, completed by one hell of a fine bunch of US Army Special Forces Soldiers.
 
    Now RT Dakota was one of these teams, Steve Hatt, and this is what RT Dakota did.
 
    Billy Waugh sends and good luck to you, sir. 
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