Jerry Shriver

Jerry Michael Tate Shriver (24 September 1941 – 10 June 1969), also known by his nickname "Mad Dog", was a master sergeant in the United States Army, Green Beret, and served in MACV-SOG. Shriver served in the Vietnam War and took part in operations along the Ho Chi Minh trail, Cambodia and Laos from 1966 to 1969. He also served in West Germany as part of a long range patrol unit and in Taiwan. He was described as a "warrior" by his peers and earned many medals and awards. He was known for being a brave, effective soldier, often successful in classified special operations missions in North and South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Shriver was born in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, and moved to Sacramento, California, while still in school. In 1962, at the age of 21, he joined the U.S. Army and attended United States Army Airborne School. Shriver then joined the United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets). He spent a short time serving in the 101st Airborne Division but then was sent to Europe as a part of a long range Patrol company; he also served in Taiwan in 1964. After spending a few years there he was sent to Vietnam around 1966 where he started building a reputation for being a devoted fighter. Assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group, he later joined MACV-SOG and took part in classified and covert special operations again, along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and other denied areas. Shriver frequently served with Montagnard soldiers, developing a close friendship and respect for their people and donating money and supplies.

Early life
Jerry Michael Tate Shriver was born on 24 September 1941 in DeFuniak Springs, Florida to Dale Leroy Shriver and Dorothy Madelyn Shriver. Shriver had 3 sisters and 2 brothers, Shriver's family moved to Sacramento, California while he was still in school where he enlisted. His father who also served in the military had fought in the Korean War and also served in the Philippines; he persuaded Shriver to join and he enlisted in the army at age 22.

1962–1966
In 1962 Shriver enlisted in the United States Army. After finishing basic training he attended Airborne School and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, but only spent a short time there. He joined the 7th Army's Long Range Patrol Company and was sent to West Germany to serve as a patroller near the border with East Germany. After serving in Germany he was sent to Taiwan, Shriver served as a patroller until 1966 when he was sent to Vietnam. Shriver joined the 5th Special Forces Group.

First and second tour in Vietnam (1966–1967)
Shriver was put into a unique platoon called the "Hatchet Force". It was made up of about 3 American soldiers and 25 to 30 handpicked Montagnards who fought alongside the soldiers. Shriver immediately showed dedication to the war. He devoted a lot of his time not only to taking part in any mission he could but also to supporting his fellow soldiers financially and with supplies. Shriver often spent all his money buying weapons, food and supplies to support them and their families. Shriver also often stayed with the Montagnards; he lived in their barracks and deeply respected them as the Montagnards revered him. The Montagnards were very helpful as they were natives of the Vietnamese highlands; they were the best at scouting and Reconnaissance. Shriver would lead his platoon into long shootouts and would not retreat or clear out until every man had been rescued. On one occasion his platoon was surrounded by NVA soldiers and Shriver famously said in a radio transmission with his base: "No, no…I've got 'em right where I want 'em – surrounded from the inside". Shriver was known for using short barrelled shotguns and Submachine guns but refusing to use long rifles like the M16. When Shriver was given a break and told not to go on a mission he would sneak out to another base or camp to join another mission. On one occasion he asked his superiors for a break but sneaked out to the Plei Djereng Special Forces team to fight for several weeks, Shriver took part in a battle that happened on 10 August 1967, Shriver and his team were infiltrating enemy bases and called in airstrikes after which they were attacked and fought against waves of machine gun fire from NVA forces.

On 8 October 1966, Shriver was operating in the jungle and passing through, two rifle shots were heard nearby and he contacted a supporting aircraft and the teams base that the mission was likely compromised. Shriver found a rail intersection and sent two men to guard it while he and the rest of his crew proceeded down one of the routes. Soon after, the security personnel noticed a Viet Cong unit trailing behind and opened fire, injuring one rebel and driving the others from the area. Shriver moved quickly to follow the injured soldier, leading his troops back into the woods. He saw the soldier turning away from him and made a full 360-degree turn to seize him without firing a shot. He manoeuvred his troops rapidly in the direction of a landing zone, but two sizeable enemy groups advanced from opposing directions. The prisoner heard his units troops approaching and hurried into the forest to alert the rest of the unit. Shriver again chased after the prisoner before he could indicate the positions of the team, in an effort to apprehend him. The prisoner outran him, but Shriver's precise gunshot brought him to a stop. Then, when the enemy forces encircled the team, he turned back and put his men in reserve. The rebels were driven away by the swiftly approaching Attack helicopters, allowing for a secure escape.

Leading a recon team, Shriver crossed into Cambodia on 23 October 1967 and proceeded to the Fishhook area in Cambodia, where they discovered an abandoned company-sized bivouac camp. It was moved from the original site under emergency circumstances to an area farther into the country than the crew had to travel. Unknown outcomes emerged from four armed helicopter missions that were flown to assist with the ex-filtration. While commanding a reconnaissance mission deep into enemy-controlled territory on the afternoon of that day, Shriver distinguished himself by acting with extraordinary bravery. A small hostile force saw the platoon shortly after it was resupplied. In an attempt to apprehend a prisoner, he tried to entice them to approach. An additional enemy soldier approached from a different route and identified the reconnaissance party as such. Shriver set off an alarm by firing, and the others soon joined in. Shriver and his group tried to break contact with the enemy element, which was now the size of a platoon, by giving orders for his members to throw hand grenades so as not to reveal their exact location. The crew was suddenly backed up against a sizable lake, preventing them from moving farther after being surrounded on three sides. Informing the Forward Air Controllers (FAC) of their current precarious situation, Shriver said he was in contact with an enemy platoon and that the enemy was shouting that the rest of the company would soon join them. Two USAF gunships were committed by the FAC to provide support, and Shriver oversaw their rockets launched and minigun rounds into the opposing NVA soldiers, which were barely thirty meters apart and preparing for an attack. During the intense battle, Shriver steadily moved the supporting fire to be within twenty meters of his location until the enemy started to retreat. For most of the year in 1967 Shriver and his platoon were going on several missions at a time, the platoon went on missions deep within the NVA's territory in the "Fishhook" area in Cambodia, on several occasions they were surrounded by NVA forces but escaping with Shrivers covert tactics. On May 13, 1968, Platoon Leader CPT Walter A. Hess and Shriver participated in a reconnaissance and ambush patrol as part of Omega Recon and Reaction Patrol Team "Stud". Shriver, wounded, took command of the patrol and exposed himself to hostile fire to organize a defensive perimeter. His courageous actions resulted in 12 enemy casualties and minimal casualties on his side. Radio Hanoi knew about Shriver and his activities, they mentioned him in propaganda broadcasts and announced whenever he would finish a battle and provide details, at one point the station announced a $10,000 Bounty on him ($85,000 in the present day). By the end of 1967 it was reported that Shriver had a kill count of more than one hundred soldiers.

Third tour (1968–1969)
For most of 1968, Shriver was still in Vietnam and serving, from January to May he was conducting operations but he took a mandatory Leave and returned to the US for the summer, while there he spent time with fellow green beret Larry White, Shriver bought weapons and sent them back to his base for future use, he bought a lever action rifle that used a .444 Marlin cartridge and mailed it.

After returning, Shriver took part in a B-50 Omega recon team mission on November 4, 1968. When Shriver's recon team was placed on a landing strip, they encountered an opposing force believed to be the size of a battalion. Shriver led his squad of three soldiers and launched a heavy fire attack on the enemy, resulting in four deaths and twenty-six injuries. Shriver guided the gunship aircraft fire while also providing cover to his radio operator and making contact with the gunships. A Bell UH-1 helicopter that was landing to retrieve the team at the point came under machine gun fire. To a different landing zone, Shriver guided his soldiers. While travelling to the landing zone, he continued to fire gunship strikes against the attackers. Rope ladders were dropped from the aircraft for extraction when the squad arrived at the new Landing Zone. While his squad was getting into the helicopter, Shriver physically shielded them from hostile fire. To speed up the extraction, he used a snap link to attach himself to the ladder after every team member was on board. Shriver fired on the enemy from his hanging position while being exposed to enemy fire until the aircraft got clear of the enemy fire.

Disappearance and presumed death
On April 24, 1969, Shriver and a team of US and South Vietnamese troops were inserted by helicopter into Kampong Cham province, Cambodia, and came under heavy fire as they approached their initial rallying point. During the ensuing firefight, Shriver was seen moving towards the treeline, and the team lost radio contact with him after a few minutes. The team was forced to evacuate without him. He was declared MIA and later promoted in absentia to master sergeant. Subsequent search efforts remained inconclusive, and the Army issued a presumptive finding of his death in 1974. His remains have not been found as of 2024.

Medals and decorations