I’m sad to report that Ron Hood (of “Hood’s Woods” fame and editor of Survival Quarterly) passed away on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, after battling prostate cancer. Through Ron is gone, his videos and writings will be a lasting legacy. He was a consummate outdoorsman who used his teaching skills (a Bachelors in History, A Master of Science in recreation management and an Ed.D. in Institutional Management) to relate them to others in a unique way. The great thing about Ron is that he was an absolute expert in many things, yet he wasn’t at all puffed up or a braggart. In watching his many films, you get a real sense of his quiet competence. Ron was a great man, and he will be missed by many.

To Ron’s wife Karen and son Jesse, my sincere condolences.

Like me, Ron was an Army Security Agency (ASA) veteran, so even though I never met him, I feel a special sense of loss. Ron served at ASA Field Station Sinop (in Turkey), and was on a Target Exploitation (TAREX) team, serving 18 months in Vietnam. The significance of his tactical ASA time doesn’t register with most folks, but it commands great respect among ASA vets. These guys were the “go anywhere, do anything” heroes of the ASA, and their exploits are legendary. It wasn’t unusual for a handful of them to be dropped off at remote mountaintop intercept site “with a pallet of C Rations and a case of Scotch” and be expected to generate reams of useful intelligence entirely on their own, for months at a time. This meant everything from fueling and repairing gensets to doing their own cooking and providing their own security. That truly was living life on the edge. The TAREX guys even went a step further: They analyzed captured radio equipment and went with Special Forces teams to probe VC and NVA sites and conduct direction finding (to pinpoint transmitters). They even surreptitiously photographed antennas to help identify radios and their associated units. This was serious boondocking, often deep behind enemy lines.

I lost my wife two years ago, and even though by God’s grace I have since remarried, I still feel the loss of Linda. (“The Memsahib.”) So I can truly say to Karen that I know how you feel. Karen and Jesse: You are in our prayers!

Hat tip:  Chuck at MIA Today.