Original Item: One-Of-A-Kind. The Counterinsurgency Support Office was established on Okinawa in 1963 to supply clothing, weapons and equipment to Special Forces operating in Vietnam. Principally run by Ben Baker, the office issued standard and untraceable (sterile) gear as well as locally developed items such as the bolo knife, the indigenous rucksack, tiger stripe fatigues and Viet Cong style black pajamas.

The SOG Bolo was sourced by Conrad B. (Ben) Baker of the Counter-Insurgency Support Office also known as CISO. Baker was named the Deputy Chief of CISO in June 1963. He also designed the famous SOG Bowie Knife. The Bolo was a shorter replacement for the US Issue Machete and was based on traditional Asian designs, sometimes called a banana knife. The Bolo was often worn stuffed in the rucksack along the spine to protect the wearer.

This bolo itself was never used as an intended weapon or tool, this was simply used as a presentation award. This was awarded to Staff Sergeant Gary M Douglas of the Special Operations Augmentation (SOA), Command and Control Central (CCC), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), as indicated on the blade:

IN APPRECIATION
SSG GARY M. DOUGLAS
SOA (CCC) 5th. SFGA
KONTUM, VIETNAM

MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - Studies and Observation Group) was an unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The U.S. Army's Special Forces (Green Berets), Air Force Combat Controllers, Navy SEALs and other units channeled personnel into MACV-SOG through Special Operations Augmentation (SOA), which provided their "cover" while under secret orders to MACV-SOG. The teams performed deep penetration missions of strategic reconnaissance and interdiction which were called, depending on the time frame, "Shining Brass" or "Prairie Fire" missions.

Unfortunately we have not been able to locate any service information for Staff Sergeant Douglas due to sharing the same name as an author. The blade is in very good condition and is still extremely sharp so handle with care. The unit insignia located on both sides of the engraving appears to have been attached via glue and there is residue present around the borders.

This is a wonderful example of a seldom seen presentation award! Comes more than ready for further research and display.

Dimensions:
Blade length: 11 1/4”
Blade Style: "Bolo" Machete
Overall length: 16 1/8”

Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) was a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War.

Established on 24 January 1964, it conducted strategic reconnaissance missions in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), Laos, and Cambodia; took enemy prisoners, rescued downed pilots, conducted rescue operations to retrieve prisoners of war throughout Southeast Asia, and conducted clandestine agent team activities and psychological operations.

The unit participated in most of the significant campaigns of the Vietnam War, including the Gulf of Tonkin incident which precipitated increased American involvement, Operation Steel Tiger, Operation Tiger Hound, the Tet Offensive, Operation Commando Hunt, the Cambodian Campaign, Operation Lam Son 719, and the Easter Offensive. The unit was downsized and renamed Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team 158 on 1 May 1972, to support the transfer of its work to the Strategic Technical Directorate of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam – part of the Vietnamization effort.