The Case of the Vietnam "SOG" Seiko - 6119-8100/6119-8101

[bradurani]

I went back and bought the watch and I'm over the moon right now. It's a 6619-8060

I almost missed this watch because it looked like nothing special. If I hadn't googled it last night and found this thread, it probably would have languished at a cheap antique store for eternity.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to this thread and thank you for serving our country!

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[bigbluekyle]

Congratulations on your Seiko 6619 SOG! $40 Dial and Hands look to be in great shape. With a New Crystal the Irridescent Charcoal Grey Dial should really PoP!

[bigbluekyle]

MACV SOG Recon Team Idaho 1968. Top Row: Left - James Davidson, Center - Don Wolken, Right - John Stryker Meyer

[bigbluekyle]

[bigbluekyle]

Vintage Seiko 7005-8030 Automatic 17J MACV SOG Military Issue Men's Wrist Watch

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sei...-/223720169846

Fake Seikos are turning up everywhere and it was only a matter of time before the counterfeiters turned their attention to the Seiko SOG Watch. This Fake SOG recently showed up from a seller from India. According to the seller:

"ORIGINAL DIAL - PROFESSIONALLY REPAINTED BLACK COLOR."

Everything about this Dial is Wrong including the Lume that looks like it was applied with a toothbrush.

[850champion]

C'mon now . It was professionally repainted

Originally Posted by bigbluekyle

Vintage Seiko 7005-8030 Automatic 17J MACV SOG Military Issue Men's Wrist Watch

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sei...-/223720169846

Fake Seikos are turning up everywhere and it was only a matter of time before the counterfeiters turned their attention to the Seiko SOG Watch. This Fake SOG recently showed up from a seller from India. According to the seller:

"ORIGINAL DIAL - PROFESSIONALLY REPAINTED BLACK COLOR."

Everything about this Dial is Wrong including the Lume that looks like it was applied with a toothbrush.

Sent from my B15Q using Tapatalk

[850champion]

Question Kyle..

Have read.a lot.about.Jack Harrell and the MACV compound at Ben.Tre. and the famous battle during Tet which produced the quote, destroy it in order to save.ot. Jack was MACV but.not SOG? Sorry .

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[SC-Texas]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F223720169846

As noted above. This is a bad one

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[Seiko Shepherd]

A big “Thank You” @bigbluekyle for the (CCS) patch you gifted me. I appreciate your generosity, but more importantly, your counsel and friendship. It’s pictured below, alongside my 6619-8280 dated February of 1967. I just acquired a 6119-8101. Pics to come.

Command and Control South (CCS) was the smallest of the MACV-SOG field commands and was engaged in classified special unconventional warfare missions inside VC-dominated South Vietnam and throughout Cambodia from May 1967 until March 1971.

[LongBike]

Aloha
Agreed-ed with Shepard on this one.

Note:
These are original 1968 Vietnam Pictures from my album.

MACV ... was part of the Mekong River Command for a while after they were Unloaded
by 3 - LDS Ship to travel up into the Mekong River entrance and continue on till they reached ...
Ben Thuy / Ben Tre / My Tho.

These MACV Units Crafts were not connected or affiliated with any ..... MACV-SOG Units in the area.

From being unloaded in .....Vung Tau they stayed there for ... 2 whole days
tied up along side these two ship because the entrance was being cleared of Mines in the
river entrance.

This was the unloading of the SK Hover Crafts and also .... 8 PBR Patrol Boats that were also
along side these ships.
1- Was the ....U.s.S. Belle Grove LSD-2
2 - The U.S.S. Gunston Hall
3 - U.S.S. Epping Forest
These LSD Ships unloaded them and returned to California and back again ... 3 more times
to get all of these Units to Vietnam. Mean whole they were all anchored to ... 2 LST's
stationed in Vung Tau Bay till the operation came about

They were loaded up in ..... San Diego just out side of Coronado Beach.
They were taken by these Landing Crafts to Vung Tau and unloaded there.
The MACV SK Hover Craft was also unloaded there but stayed inside the ships well decks
( Picture showing the rear of the ships gate down ), because of the rough coastal waters
until they were ordered to go up river.

Altogether there were ....12 SK.5 Hover Crafts there for service.
Two more were sent there and they were ... New Up Graded Experimental .... SK.6's

The River Forces were in charge and connected to the ..... ( 9th & 5 Army and that was the ....
MACV Command ), in the entrance of the river.

This was all done in ....1968 when they were brought there.
_______________________________________________
Website Information :
https://medium.com/war-is-boring/u-s...a-b36b1dd8aff1

_______________________________________________

These Hover Crafts were made by Bell Air Craft ..... 2 - years before they were sent there.

These were the MACV SK 5&6 ACU Unit Air Cushion Vehicle Test Units / Armor Platoon Air Cushion Vehicles
Also with them was the assigned ....
The Support Unit:
The 39th Calvary Platoon and they were to only patrol the Mekong River itself....... 24 hours a day.
The 39th Calvary was out only support on the river and in the jungle most of the time and
these guys were superb to work with.

These were .... Belle SK5's and SK.6's
Last pictures are ..... The 5th Army River Monitor Boats and they also had ....WWll Flame Throwers
mounted on them for fire power.
They were taken out of Vietnam in 1968-70 because a Soldier fell into one off the fans and got
killed so they detached them from Vietnam services.
one SK.6 model was badly damage by rocket grenade and was scrapped. They were quite good but
too noisy to be near or on them constantly.

Hope this helps a little
Aloha
Louis

[LongBike]

Added Picture
Remember ....Vung Tau was totally destroyed by the V.C. before the
U.S Military came in and it was totally on the ground when they arrived and
then they built this base there.

[bigbluekyle]

Originally Posted by Seiko Shepherd

A big “Thank You” @bigbluekyle for the (CCS) patch you gifted me. I appreciate your generosity, but more importantly, your counsel and friendship. It’s pictured below, alongside my 6619-8280 dated February of 1967. I just acquired a 6119-8101. Pics to come.

Command and Control South (CCS) was the smallest of the MACV-SOG field commands and was engaged in classified special unconventional warfare missions inside VC-dominated South Vietnam and throughout Cambodia from May 1967 until March 1971.

You are Very Welcome. Stunning Photograph Looking forward to seeing your 6119-8101

[850champion]

Originally Posted by LongBike

Aloha
Agreed-ed with Shepard on this one.

Note:
These are original 1968 Vietnam Pictures from my album.

MACV ... was part of the Mekong River Command for a while after they were Unloaded
by 3 - LDS Ship to travel up into the Mekong River entrance and continue on till they reached ...
Ben Thuy / Ben Tre / My Tho.

These MACV Units Crafts were not connected or affiliated with any ..... MACV-SOG Units in the area.

From being unloaded in .....Vung Tau they stayed there for ... 2 whole days
tied up along side these two ship because the entrance was being cleared of Mines in the
river entrance.

This was the unloading of the SK Hover Crafts and also .... 8 PBR Patrol Boats that were also
along side these ships.
1- Was the ....U.s.S. Belle Grove LSD-2
2 - The U.S.S. Gunston Hall
3 - U.S.S. Epping Forest
These LSD Ships unloaded them and returned to California and back again ... 3 more times
to get all of these Units to Vietnam. Mean whole they were all anchored to ... 2 LST's
stationed in Vung Tau Bay till the operation came about

They were loaded up in ..... San Diego just out side of Coronado Beach.
They were taken by these Landing Crafts to Vung Tau and unloaded there.
The MACV SK Hover Craft was also unloaded there but stayed inside the ships well decks
( Picture showing the rear of the ships gate down ), because of the rough coastal waters
until they were ordered to go up river.

Altogether there were ....12 SK.5 Hover Crafts there for service.
Two more were sent there and they were ... New Up Graded Experimental .... SK.6's

The River Forces were in charge andconnected to the ..... ( 5 Army and that was the ....
MACV Command ), in the entrance of the river.

This was all done in ....1968 when they were brought there.
_______________________________________________
Website Information :
https://medium.com/war-is-boring/u-s...a-b36b1dd8aff1

_______________________________________________

These Hover Crafts were made by Bell Air Craft ..... 2 - years before they were sent there.

These were the MACV SK 5&6 ACU Unit Air Cushion Vehicle Test Units / Armor Platoon Air Cushion Vehicles
Also with them was the assigned ....
The Support Unit:
The 39th Calvary Platoon and they were to only patrol the Mekong River itself....... 24 hours a day.
The 39th Calvary was out only support on the river and in the jungle most of the time and
these guys were superb to work with.

These were .... Belle SK5's and SK.6's
Last pictures are ..... The 5th Army River Monitor Boats and they also had ....WWll Flame Throwers
mounted on them for fire power.
They were taken out of Vietnam in 1968-70 because a Soldier fell into one off the fans and got
killed so they detached them from Vietnam services.
one SK.6 model was badly damage by rocket grenade and was scrapped. They were quite good but
too noisy to be near or on them constantly.

Hope this helps a little
Aloha
Louis

Thank you Louis. I read the Vietnamese called the PACVs "monsters" so the black berets took it one step up and painted eyes and teeth on the bow. Also read they were pretty effective in the Plain of Reeds but not very much any where else as they were too noisy (although it was also said they were capable of 50 knots or faster and thus compensated speed for surprise)

[bigbluekyle]

@LongBike and 850champion - Thanks for the photos and information. Amazing Machines. I would like to see a painted "Monster" Thanks for Sharing!

[LongBike]

Aloha Sir,
Hi Kyle
Yes they were really Big and quite Dangerous too.
The noise they made drove every one crazy when they came near.
Only good for Swamps and open areas but not up the river.
The Personnel that ran them did not really like them at all but when you in
the Military you got no choice.
I doubt they are still in use any more or might be but who knows.
Glad to be of some help for the research.
Aloha
Louis

[bigbluekyle]

Time to Take a Short Break in the Action for a Musical Flashback

Jimi Hendrix Short Clip of "Machine Gun" recorded Live at the Isle of Wight Festival UK 1970

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3w8SMavasQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3w8SMavasQ

[SC-Texas]

Working on my watch. I'm saving the original case to go with the watch if I ever sell it for authenticity and the history of it.

What do yall think about the case swap?

Re uploaded the video with the new and old cases

YouTube (Short URL)

YouTube (Short URL)

[laostol]

https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/79776381


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[SC-Texas]

I wonder who got that one?

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[laostol]

https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/78101228 how about this one you got it


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[bigbluekyle]

The following 2 Extremely Rare photographs courtesy Jason Economos - MACV SOG Historian and Author of "Gentle Propositions". Thank You Jason for all your Fantastic Research and Incredible Photographs!

[bradurani]

In Secret Commandos by John Plaster, the author mentions being issued a Seiko watch upon joining the SOG in 1968. That's consistent with everything discovered in this thread about the 6119.

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[LongBike]

Originally Posted by bradurani

In Secret Commandos by John Plaster, the author mentions being issued a Seiko watch upon joining the SOG in 1968. That's consistent with everything discovered in this thread about the 6119.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Bradurani Sir,

Sargent Delima by nationality he was .... Portuguese from here.

As for the ..... 6619 Watch if it was also worn by any Vietnam Veteran
and he saw action in Vietnam we should also give it some credit.
After all if it was worn there that also gives it a lot of History even if it was not a said issued watch.
But what I am saying is this:
If he has Authenticated Purchase Information and or Spoken History that came with it, then it makes the watch ...... Officially Worn by that Certain Veteran Individual.

Not Knocking ....... The 6619 or 6119 Watch:
We just can not come out and always say .... ,
This was a ...... MACV-SOG Vietnam Watch actually worn by Veterans in Vietnam.
If it has been ...... Officially Spoken OFF and Veteran Use and Authentication then that makes it a
...... Vietnam War Worn Watch and it would be more of a ........ " Official Good Collectors Piece ".

Added Note:
We just do not know with so many of these watch's around now if they were actually in the
Vietnam War. But it is nice to have .... A Authentic One and also those that did not make
it to .... The War Zones.

[bradurani]

Originally Posted by LongBike

Bradurani Sir,

Sargent Delima by nationality he was .... Portuguese from here.

As for the ..... 6619 Watch if it was also worn by any Vietnam Veteran
and he saw action in Vietnam we should also give it some credit.
After all if it was worn there that also gives it a lot of History even if it was not a said issued watch.
But what I am saying is this:
If he has Authenticated Purchase Information and or Spoken History that came with it, then it makes the watch ...... Officially Worn by that Certain Veteran Individual.

Not Knocking ....... The 6619 or 6119 Watch:
We just can not come out and always say .... ,
This was a ...... MACV-SOG Vietnam Watch actually worn by Veterans in Vietnam.
If it has been ...... Officially Spoken OFF and Veteran Use and Authentication then that makes it a
...... Vietnam War Worn Watch and it would be more of a ........ " Official Good Collectors Piece ".

Added Note:
We just do not know with so many of these watch's around now if they were actually in the
Vietnam War. But it is nice to have .... A Authentic One and also those that did not make
it to .... The War Zones.

Certainly, Sir. I don't like bursting people's bubbles, but these watches don't seem to be that rare judging by the number that pop up on eBay and forums. By that observation alone, I think it's safe to conclude these circulated widely outside SOG and were possibly even sold in the civilian market.

Here's, I think, a new discovery though that I haven't seen mentioned in this thread. Plaster tells about SOG missions planting anti-truck mines on the Ho Chi Minh trail in Cambodia, then explains that the most high value missions performed by the SOG were ones in which they captured enemy prisoners for interrogation. It seems any native team member who participated in a successful capture was awarded a Seiko for his effort, though he doesn't mention what model

[bigbluekyle]

Brad,

Thanks for posting the John Plaster "Secret Commandos" references. Very interesting that MACV SOG were given/issued a Seiko watch but the native indigenous troops working alongside in the Recon Teams had to "earn" their Seiko.

I would like to learn more about the Seikos that were awarded to indigenous troops for a successful Prisoner Snatch.