Jerry Shriver

Jerry Michael Shriver
Nickname(s)Mad Dog, Digger
Born(1941-09-24)24 September 1941
DeFuniak Springs, Florida, U.S.
Disappeared24 April 1969
Memot, Cambodia
Died10 June 1974 'Presumptive Finding of Death'
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1962–1969
RankMaster sergeant
UnitMACV-SOG
5th Special Forces Group
Battles / warsVietnam War
AwardsSilver Star (2)
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star Medal (7)
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal (3)
Air Medal[1][2]

Jerry Michael Tate Shriver (24 September 1941 – 10 June 1974), also known by his nickname "Mad Dog", was a master sergeant in the United States Army who served in Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) in the Vietnam War.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][excessive citations] He 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.[10][11]

Shriver was born in DeFuniak Springs, Florida,[12] and moved to Sacramento, California, while still in school. In 1962,[13] 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.[14] 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.[12]

  1. ^ "Jerry Shriver – Awards by date of action". The Hall of Valor Project. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  2. ^ Moore, Stephen L. (2018). Uncommon Valor (1st ed.). USA. ISBN 9781591145745.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link), 364
  3. ^ Schultz, Richard H. (1999). The Secret War Against Hanoi: The Untold Story of Spies, Saboteurs, and Covert Warriors in North Vietnam (1st ed.). HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060932534.
  4. ^ Gillespie, Robert M. (2011). Black Ops, Vietnam: The Operational History of MACVSOG (1st ed.). Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781591143215.
  5. ^ Moore, Stephen L. (2018). Uncommon Valor (1st ed.). USA. ISBN 9781591145745.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ "Jerry Michael Shriver : Master Sergeant from California, Vietnam War Casualty". www.honorstates.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  7. ^ Accounting for U.S. POW/MIA's in Southeast Asia. Hearing Before the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the Committee on National Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourth Congress, First Session, Hearing Held June 28, 1995. Vol. 2 (1st ed.). U.S. Government printing office. 1996. p. 479.
  8. ^ Vietnam, when Will We Get a Full Accounting, Hearing Before the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourth Congress, First Session, July 12, 1995. Vol. 4 (1st ed.). USA: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1995. p. 493. ISBN 9780366901975.
  9. ^ Hearing on Americans Missing Or Prisoner in Southeast Asia, the Department of Defense Accounting Process Hearings Before the Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Second Congress, Second Session, on the U.S. Government's Efforts to Learn the Fate of America's Missing Servicemen, June 24 and 25, 1992 (1st ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office. 1992. p. 77.
  10. ^ "TogetherWeServed – MSG Jerry Michael Shriver". army.togetherweserved.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  11. ^ "Shriver, Jerry". www.macvsog.cc. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  12. ^ a b "Jerry M. Shriver – MACV-SOG". 2023-12-23. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  13. ^ "Shriver, Jerry Michael, MSG | TWS". army.togetherweserved.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  14. ^ Plaster, USAR, Maj. John L. THE UNTOLD TRUE STORY OF MAD DOG SHRIVER (PDF).