Book Review

SOG Codename Dynamite: A MACV-SOG 1-0’s Personal Journal
By Henry L. (Dick) Thompson
Independently published
Book 1—270 pages, July 5, 2023, ISBN-13 979-8399424354
Book 2—324 pages, March 30, 2024, ISBN-13 979-8321019597

The information above applies to the paperback issues. Both books are also available in Kindle on Amazon.

By How Miller

Let there be no doubt, SOG Codename Dynamite: A MACV-SOG 1-0’s Personal Journal, Books 1 and Book 2, are a great pair of books.

Henry “Dick” Thompson has written a non-fiction thriller, while creating a manual on how to do deep recon, all from his personal experience. He shares the importance of each facet of small-team, deep recon preparation, operations and After-Action Reviews. Though his teams spent most of their ground time in the jungles of Southeast Asia, the principles can be used anywhere.

The authenticity of the book had been thoroughly verified by a host of operatives, from SOG veterans MG (Retired) Ken Bowra to John Stryker “Tilt” Meyer.

“Dynamite” shows with gripping action sequences the steps he took to succeed in one of the highest stress environments in the world. Small SOG teams were inserted inside large units of hard core enemy and often had to fight their way out.

He shows a variety of mission types and what they entailed. From recon missions where they would observe and direct Allied firepower on large formations of enemy, to physically blowing up infrastructure such as bridges, to attempts to capture enemy POWs, and subterfuge missions where they would plant enemy munitions which would blow up when used. Following this review is a sample of the latter.

The importance of After-Action Reviews (AAR): leads to lessons learned, allows each team member to say what bothered him about the situation, the leadership, or individual hardship— an invaluable tool for leaders to gauge team member’s state of mind and to self-reflect on his own leadership. Review what worked, what didn’t, and what needs improving. Usually, the sooner this is done the better, often doing the AARs on the extraction helicopters flying back to base. Each team member’s contribution can be recognized and his self-worth can grow into better team play. This also helps to relieve stress, as does staying meaningfully busy between missions.

Dick began to seriously hone his skills in dealing with stress while a SOG 1-0, across the fence, utilizing breathing techniques and even anticipating what the enemy would typically do. He adopted viewpoints such as the higher the stress the lower the quality of your decisions; the best stressful decisions are made beforehand; and practice, practice, practice. He used and continued to build on those skills in the rest of his military career and in his civilian career, developing an approach to teamwork where lessons about how people tend to behave can be anticipated and used to mutual benefit.

Click here to read the excerpt from SOG Codename Dynamite Book 1 about one of the less hairy missions.