Born Twice

Memoir of a Special Forces SOG Warrior

By: Dale Hanson

Narrated by: Dale Hanson

Dale Hanson takes us from a northern Minnesota boyhood to the incredible stresses of US special operations during the Vietnam War, the deadly world of MAC-V-SOG, the top-secret Special Forces project that conducted America’s secret war against the Communist forces on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Shrouded in mystery and equipped with exotic weaponry, SOG operators suffered casualty rates in excess of 100 percent for three successive years.

Dale Hanson served with Recon Team Florida during one of the legendary missions of SOG, the killing of an enemy colonel who was carrying super-secret documents of enormous importance to the American war effort. After intense fighting, those documents were brought back by the team. Dale survived and went on to serve three tours with the legendary special operations group.

©2022 Dale Hanson (P)2023 Dale Hanson

Critic reviews

“Fifty years after the eight-year secret war ended in Vietnam, well-written non-fiction books by SOG recon men are surfacing. Add Born Twice by Dale Hanson—who served three tours of duty during the war—to the growing list of SOG books. Hanson’s Born Twice is actually a story within a story. He brilliantly sets the stage for being hunted by communist soldiers on the ground in Laos in the dark of night, casually mentioning the damage his fingers sustained following face-to-face combat with three AK-47-firing enemy soldiers. Then he deftly shifts gears, taking you through his childhood in Ojibway country in northern Minnesota and his coming of age before joining the Army. Both aspects of this proud Green Beret’s history make for a fascinating read. This isn’t his first book and I hope it’s not his last.” (John Stryker Meyer, author of Across the Fence: The Secret War in Vietnam, On The Ground, and SOG Chronicles: Volume One)

Great story from start to finish

The author/narrator has brought me around with him growing up In Minnesota and across the fence on missions and sightseeing in the Dark Continent all without me having to break a sweat. Fantastic listen and I hope it’s not the last we hear from Dale. His life after the military is equally fascinating I’m sure. I will get the actual book just to have as there are many parts you could go back to and get something new from each time.

A note on the narrator

This book is read by the author himself. Although his age comes through in his voice, so does his anguish, fear, and resolve. In my opinion these traits enhance the story in a manner no professional narrator could. The only way these emotions could show themselves is by being spoken by the man who was there.

Great book and loved the author read the book!

Loved this book listened to it twice now and it got better the second time. The author reading the book puts real emotion into the book.

Excellent Book

this was an incredible listen! While under ordinary circumstances, the narrator would have been a distraction, the fact that the narrator was the author who experienced everything written, eliminated any issues there. This is an incredible story of a life devoted to his Creator.

First hand account of SOG operations

Listening to the author speak the words of his book made all the difference in my enjoyment of this experience.

Best SOG Book I’ve Read

This is the eighth SOG book I’ve listened to, along with all of the SOGCast episodes, the most recent episode with the author, which is why I got the book. This is by and far the best SOG book I’ve listened to. Dale Hanson’s writing paints every detail so vividly and draws emotion in every aspect of his book. No event, even as simple as a sunrise or a breeze blowing across the tall grass is left to the imagination. I greatly enjoy these books as read by the author as I appreciate the first hand account. Can’t recommend this book enough.

Honest

Totally enjoyed it
A very good listen
Total bravery
I enjoyed listening to the author read
God bless Sir

humbling

As. a vet , this bio humbles me to the point of ashameness for myself. This man and his teams, have experienced and survived situations/experiences most would never be prepared to deal with. I sure as hell couldn't. Thank you and all for serving, and allowing us the freedoms we enjoy. prayers -SPC-4 Oram, 2nd ACR.

Love of country and of fellow soldiers.

Description of people involved, their devotion to duty, their courage and willingness to die for what that held dear.

humble, incredible, hero

with an uncanny ability to recall details of both his early life and wartime experiences, Hanson is a credible witness to the Special Forces SOG operations.