In December 1966, Robert A. Burns was a special forces sergeant. He just completed two tours of duty in Asia. Now he wanted out. But the Central Intelligence Agency’s Studies and Observation Group (SOG) wanted him to go to work for them as a light equipment operator. He would be charged with eliminating military targets while infiltrating the politics and economy of South Vietnam.
But what did that mean? In 1967, the year of the ram, it meant tracking an infamous Soviet-trained sniper known as the “Shooter”, removing a province chief whose opium cartel funded enemy activity against American GIs, cornering a rogue colonel tied to the 1963 assassination of President Diem, and killing a general who worked as a double agent for the North.
He set up shop in South Vietnam’s red-light districts. He recruited madams who worked for both sides during the war, and he slowly pieced together intel for his operations.
But what did that mean? In 1967, the year of the ram, it meant tracking an infamous Soviet-trained sniper known as the “Shooter”, removing a province chief whose opium cartel funded enemy activity against American GIs, cornering a rogue colonel tied to the 1963 assassination of President Diem, and killing a general who worked as a double agent for the North.
He set up shop in South Vietnam’s red-light districts. He recruited madams who worked for both sides during the war, and he slowly pieced together intel for his operations.
