Military

MACV-SOG Veteran Releases Audiobook of Vietnam War Experience

January 23, 2020Luke Ryan
Coffee or Die Photo

The Military Assistance Command, Vietnam — Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) conducted clandestine missions during the Vietnam War, working in Vietnam as well as the neighboring Laos and Cambodia. Their exploits are legendary, and few have recorded their experiences in such detail as John Stryker Meyer, also known by his nickname, “Tilt.” He has been a guest on the Jocko Willink podcast four times, and he recently shared with Coffee or Die his experience conducting a mission on Thanksgiving Day in 1968.


The totality of Meyer’s experience, however, is detailed most thoroughly in his book “Across the Fence.” Seventeen years after its publication, it is now available on audiobook, read by the author himself. 


In front of GB Lounge at FOB 1 Phu Bai November 1968. Photo courtesy of John Stryker Meyer.

“The process took much longer than I thought it would take,” Meyer told Coffee or Die during a recent phone interview. “Fortunately, I worked with a patient and talented audio expert, John Biethan. After we recorded the book, John went back and edited it over several hours, tightening the silent gaps between pauses, removing any lip sounds from me.”


Meyer said that it was the podcasts with Willink where “revisiting the written word of our SOG missions hit home.” After four podcasts, he was ready to dive into the audiobook and get his most articulate retelling of these stories on the airwaves.


After admitting his own bias in the subject, Meyer said that “when you hear the author, it adds an element of authenticity and dramatic nuance that a paid, professional reader can’t capture.” The reality is that by listening to this book, you’re listening to some of the most harrowing missions of that time read by the soldier himself. It’s a unique time in history, when technology harkens back to the days when warriors sat around campfires and told stories of their exploits. Oral traditions pre-date the written word, and as more warriors record their stories, it’s as if the methods of recalling war have come full circle.


Photo courtesy of John Stryker Meyer.

Even during the Vietnam War, the men used to tell each other stories verbally. “At FOB 1, we’d sit around the Green Beret Lounge comparing notes from every mission, especially the young team members, in an effort to learn from that team’s previous missions,” Meyer said. “And we had a few highly respected NCOs, such as Robert J. ‘Spider’ Parks, Pat Watkins, and John McGovern, who took time to share their experiences in the secret war with us.” 


The audiobook of “Across the Fence” allows the listener to step into that Green Beret Lounge and listen like a fly on the wall. After finishing up the audio for his first book, Meyer has begun laying down audio for his second book, “On The Ground.” These are not the lavish stories of politicians in their offices or generals from their command vehicles — these are the tales of a man who trudged the swamps of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia at the forefront of the Vietnam War.



Luke Ryan
Luke Ryan

Luke is the author of two war poetry books, The Gun and the Scythe and A Moment of Violence, and a post-apocalyptic novel, The First Marauder. He grew up in Pakistan and Thailand as the son of aid workers. Later, he served as an Army Ranger and deployed to Afghanistan on four combat deployments. Now he owns and operates Four Hawk Media, a social media-focused marketing company.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Coffee Or Die Photo
Get Your Viking On: The Exclusive 30 Sec Out BRCC Shirt Club Design

Thirty Seconds Out has partnered with BRCC for an exclusive shirt design invoking the God of Winter.

Grizzly Forge BRCC shirt
Limited Edition: Grizzly Forge Blades on an Awesome BRCC Shirt

Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.

BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

Ouija Board aircraft carrier
Low-Tech ‘Ouija Boards’ Have Helped Aircraft Carriers Operate for Decades

Since the 1920s, a low-tech tabletop replica of an aircraft carrier’s flight deck has been an essential tool in coordinating air operations.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2024 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved