MSG John M. Slover A-113

[Hacksaw]

I am the nephew of MSG John M. Slover aka : Big John Slover and I am looking for anyone who knew him from 1960, 1961 Okinawa, and from Feb 1962 thru Dec 1973 in Vietnam. In his 11 yrs over there I am sure somone would remember him. I know he was on the first SF mission that took place in Vietnam as the team leader for the VDP training Rahdes at Ban Me Thout with a Capt Ron Shakelton. I know he was also with many other A and C teams with the 5th and was also with MACV SOG. He was my hero growing up. I used to tell all my friends that my uncle could kill VC just by looking at them beacause he would scare them to death. I remember hanging off his arm with 6 other kids and he would launch us through the air. He was definately a big guy.

[IMG]

[Hacksaw]

I also forgot to mention that he was in the Buon Enao project that went in to Vietnam on Feb 13, 1962 as the Team Sgt with Cpt Ron Shackleton.

[bartbrown]

I was with CSM Slover while assigned to the II Corps Mike Force in Pleiku South Vietnam in 67 - 68 durning the Tet Offense. He helped turn back the NVA in down town Pleiku when they attacked. In fact he did not have an M-16, so he asked if he could take mine, he only had a 45 cal pistol. I had just gotten back from a 37 day Black Jack Operation and we were on standown in the compound.

Brown
D587L, Chapter 1/18

[Hacksaw]

I was with CSM Slover while assigned to the II Corps Mike Force in Pleiku South Vietnam in 67 - 68 durning the Tet Offense. He helped turn back the NVA in down town Pleiku when they attacked. In fact he did not have an M-16, so he asked if he could take mine, he only had a 45 cal pistol. I had just gotten back from a 37 day Black Jack Operation and we were on standown in the compound.

Brown
D587L, Chapter 1/18

I knew that he did some great things for his men but he would never talk about any of it. I am intrested in finding more pictures of him to show my sons. Thanks for the reply. I have to say that you sir are also my hero.

[sfrvn]

You will find picture of John on my website. We served together at A-103 in late 1966. John was Team Sgt. There are several other guys from A-103 on-line and they may have additional pictures.

http://www.sfrvn.net

Use Nav Menu on left:
Click "...the SF Vietnam experience"
Click Team A-103 Gia Vuc
Click Members

gary b
garyb at sfrvn.net

[Paul F. Campbell]

I am the nephew of MSG John M. Slover aka : Big John Slover and I am looking for anyone who knew him from 1960, 1961 Okinawa, and from Feb 1962 thru Dec 1973 in Vietnam. In his 11 yrs over there I am sure somone would remember him. I know he was on the first SF mission that took place in Vietnam as the team leader for the VDP training Rahdes at Ban Me Thout with a Capt Ron Shakelton. I know he was also with many other A and C teams with the 5th and was also with MACV SOG. He was my hero growing up. I used to tell all my friends that my uncle could kill VC just by looking at them beacause he would scare them to death. I remember hanging off his arm with 6 other kids and he would launch us through the air. He was definately a big guy.

[IMG]

CIDG PROJECT;

contact Steve Sherman at RADIX Press 2314 Cheshire lane, Huston TX 77018, 713- 683-9076. His reference resource,"US Army Special Forces Participation in the CIDG Program Vietnam 1957-1970".It is pretty complete and he has almost all of the DET and there names and dates. Also a CD. Hope this helps

MSG Slover's team replaced me in B.ENAO PROJECT.

Paul F, Campbell
asfbacsi@aol.com

[Paul F. Campbell]

I am the nephew of MSG John M. Slover aka : Big John Slover [IMG]

Prior Posting This Thread; Looking for members of A-133,


The CIDG Article " Civilian Irregular Defense Group" has now been published in Veritas, Journal of Army Special Operations History, PB-31-05-2 Vol5,No4,2009.

For a more indepth reading of the development of the CIDG Program ( B.Enao Project) I recommend you read Broken Promise, published by Steve Sherman with;
Radix Press, 2314 Cheshire Lane Houston TX 77018
Tel ( 713) 683-9076

Posted By
Paul F. Campbell
asfbacsi@aol.com

[Hacksaw]

I found a book about the Buon Enao project in which My uncle served as the Team Sargent under Ron Shackleton. The book is called Village Defense. I have been finding out many things that he never would speak of as he just said "OpSec" when anyone asked him anything about what he did. I knew that he was a Command Sargent Major but I had no idea that he was in Pleiku. He was a very soft spoken man and he was very sure of himself however he was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back. I know that he did a few tours training Vietnamese Rangers in the late 50's and he was on the first Special Forces mission in Vietnam which was the Buon Enao project. I also know that he did not come home until 1972. I remember seeing a picture of him getting something from General Westmoreland although I don't know what it was. It was a medal of some sorts. He never mentioned anyone by there name but he had a great respect for all the men who he served with and said that many times over.

[perry2nyc]

For Hacksaw: I was John Slover's A team CDR at A-103 Gia Vuc , March 1966. I met John in mid 1965 at Fort Bragg when we formed an A Team packet to train for VN deployment. John helped select the members of the team from people he new from earlier deployments.We had a great bunch of guys. We left Bragg in Mar 1966 originally scheduled for Minh Long but ended up in Gia Vuc. After A-103 John came to C-1 in Danang as a Operations SGM .I was in the asst. S-3 Operations office with him. My memory is a bit fuzzy "when"( maybe my 2nd tour 1968) but we visited when he was at the Pleiku C-det and I saw him the last time when he was with PAE VN as a civilian. I have many pictures of John and great memories of a soft spoken, brave and dedicated soldier. As a young Captain he taught me , in his firm and direct manner, how to be a better SF officer. He also beat me regularly on the handball court at Ft Bragg. I saw a posting done by John Slover's son last year and responded. We were supposed to meet here in DC before his Afghanistan posting but we missed connections. I gathered some photo's of John for him. I can be reached at stephen.perry@dc.gov.