Sgt. George C. Green Jr. was a rifleman assigned to Special Operations Augmentation, 
Command & Control Detachment, MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies
and Observation Group).  MACV-SOG was a joint service high command unconventional 
warfare task force engaged in highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia.
The 5th Special Forces channeled personnel into MACV-SOG (although it was not a 
Special Forces group) 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.

Green's long range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) was operating in Attopeu Province, 
Laos, about 20 miles west of the South Vietnamese city of Dak Sut on December 4, 1970.
At 0920 hours that day, the enemy assaulted the team at a landing zone (LZ) with rifle
fire and rocket propelled grenades.  Green was hit three times and was instantly 
killed.  Because of the intensity of the enemy attack and fire, the recon team had to
leave Green's remains behind.

Later aerial searches were made of the area, but Green's body was not seen.  Bacause 
of enemy control of the area, no ground search was possible.  Green is one of nearly 
600 Americans lost in Laos.  Although the communist government of Laos stated publicly
that they held American prisoners, they insisted the POWs would be released only from
Laos.  The U.S. would not negotiate with the communist faction, a "government" they
did not offically recognize, and as w result, not one American held in Laos was ever
released.

For every insertin like Green's that were detected and stopped, dozens of other
commando teams safely slipped past NVA lines to strike a wide range of targets
and collect vital information.  the number of MACV-SOG missions conducted
with special Forces reconnaissance teams into Laos and Cambodia was 452 in 1969.  
It was the most sustained American campaign of raiding, sabotage and intelligence-
gathering waged on foreign soil in U.S. military history.  MACV-SOG's teams
earned a global reputation as one of the most combat effective deep-penetrating 
forces ever raised.

The missions Green and others were assigned were exceedingly dangerous and of
strategic importance.  The men who were put into such situation knew the
chances of their recovery - if captured - were slim to none.  They quite
naturally assumed that their freedom would come by the end of the war.  
For 591 Americans, freedom did come at the end of the war.  For another 
nearly 600 lost in Laos, however, freedom has never come.