Henry Dick Thompson - MACV-SOG Operator, Codename "Dynamite" | SRS #227

Henry L. (Dick) Thompson, Ph.D., is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and legendary MACV-SOG operator known by the codename "Dynamite." Serving as a recon team leader from 1968 to 1970, he led over 20 high-risk black operations deep into enemy territory in Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam during the Vietnam War's secret campaigns, earning a reputation for bravery in brutal firefights and hand-to-hand combat. After 21 years of military service, including roles in Special Forces, Airborne, and Ranger units, Thompson founded High Performing Systems, Inc. in 1984, where he serves as President and CEO, providing leadership solutions, training, and assessments for corporate, military, law enforcement, and firefighters in high-stress decision-making. A psychologist, Mensa member, and Ironman triathlete, he authored, among other books, the bestselling "SOG Codename Dynamite" series, including "A MACV-SOG 1-0's Personal Journal" (2023), sharing firsthand accounts of combat psychology and spiritual warfare. Thompson advocates for mental resilience, veteran support, and applying combat lessons to everyday leadership. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkoujZQZatbqy4KGcgjpVxQ/join Shawn Ryan Show Links SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ShawnRyanShow Sign up: https://shawnryanshow.com/pages/newsletter Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/VigilanceElite Download Free Content: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lF-8_5jwRc5eAhzDkqqCOp-6yvd05vAw?usp=sharing Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shawn-ryan-show/id1492492083 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5eodRZd3qR9VT1ip1wI7xQ?si=59f9d106e56a4509 Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnryanshow Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on X: https://twitter.com/ShawnRyanShow SRS Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4pqo9Uoh0WuUKxw0BmaK1yrg9Kd7E4lk #vigilanceelite #shawnryanshow Henry Dick Thompson Links: Website - http://www.hpsys.com IG - https://www.instagram.com/hps_ceo X - https://x.com/HPSys SOG Codename Dynamite: A MACV-SOG 1-0's Personal Journal - https://www.amazon.com/SOG-Codename-Dynamite-MACV-SOG-Personal/dp/B0C9SB8JGP Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://mypatriotsupply.com/srs https://patriotmobile.com/srs https://rocketmoney.com/srs https://helixsleep.com/srs https://bruntworkwear.com – USE CODE SRS https://bubsnaturals.com – USE CODE SHAWN 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 03:08 Honoring Veterans and Their Service 07:59 Combat Stories and Survival Tactics 18:07 Escape and Jungle Survival 35:26 Childhood and Early Influences 49:26 Sleep Deprivation Experiments and Cognitive Effects 54:35 Military Applications of Sleep Studies 01:01:27 Enlisting and Ranger Aspirations 01:12:28 Volunteering for SOG 01:31:41 First Mission: Combat Reality Sets In 01:45:19 Intense Jungle Firefights 02:06:05 Taking Command and Team Leadership 02:25:23 Emergency Rescue Mission 02:38:45 Helicopter Ambush and Extraction 02:42:10 Solo Operations and Survival Skills 03:21:31 Honoring Fallen Comrades 03:35:58 Final Missions and Close Calls 03:56:10 Returning Home and PTSD 04:19:50 Life After the War 04:26:25 Final Reflections and Closing Thoughts