| The "Secret War" in Laos | |
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December 2004
Bio of: Steven R. Schofield |
Steve joined the US Army in 1966, volunteered for the Special Forces and was trained as a medic. While in the Army he served in Okinawa, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. As a sergeant in Vietnam, he served with the top secret Studies and Observations Group (SOG). SOG conducted cross border operations into Cambodia, Laos and North Vietnam. As a result of an operation in Laos near the Ho Chi Minh Trail he was awarded the Purple Heart and decorated for valor. | While still a member of the 1St. Special Forces Group in Okinawa, he was recruited by the US Agency for International Development to serve as the public health advisor for Military Region II (MR-II) in Northern Laos. He headed up, the village health program in MR-II from October 1969 until May 1975, when he was among the last Americans evacuated from Laos. While in Laos he worked with the Hmong and other Hill tribes who lived in Northern Laos. |
 Okinawa 1968 |  Laos 1973 |
| Following his return to the US he completed his BA and joined the US Army Reserves.
During his time in the USAR he commanded a special forces "A" team and was a company commander in the 12th. Special Forces.
He was awarded a direct commission to second lieutenant and retired in 1994 as a major. Since returning from Laos Steve has pursued a career in medical marketing and sales and is currently a founding partner of a "start up" pharmaceutical company. He is active within the Special Forces Association and within the Hmong community, especially with Hmong veterans. |  Steve and Yasuko Schofield, January 2005 |
 Aberdeen, Scotland 1994 |
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