Ace Toys 1/6th scale US (Mobile Strike Force Command) MIKE Force “Baron” 12-inch figure

The Mobile Strike Force Command, or MIKE Force, was a key component of United States Army Special Forces in the Vietnam War. They served with indigenous soldiers selected and trained through the largely minority Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) and were led by American SF and Australian Army Training Team Personnel AATTV. MIKE Force was a force multiplier, operating what is today called a Foreign Internal Defense mission.

MIKE Force was active under MACV, Army Special Forces, from 1964 to 1970 and under ARVN until 1974. MIKE Force waged special warfare against the Viet Minh, NLF (Viet Cong), and PAVN (North Vietnamese Army) liberation forces in various detachments, volunteering in support of MIKE Force missions. MIKE Force's mission was to act as a country-wide quick reaction force for securing, reinforcing, and recapturing CIDG A Camps, as well as to conduct special reconnaissance patrols. Search and rescue and search and destroy missions were also assigned. The conventional unit alternative to Special Forces detachments like MIKE was Tiger Force, which was primarily tasked with counter-guerrilla warfare against enemies from behind their lines that emphasized body-count rather than force multiplication.

ace new product (#13032) MIKE Force “Baron” 12-inch figure features: Head sculpt, Man Mk I body, Painted bare hands, Beret, Advisor's type sparse pattern - ADS (Golden Tiger) boonie hat (short brim), Advisor's type sparse pattern - ADS (Golden Tiger) combat jacket, Advisor's type sparse pattern - ADS (Golden Tiger) combat trouser, MIKE force scarf, OD green tee, GI trouser belt, Patches (MIKE force & name tab), US spike protective jungle boots 3rd pattern DMS spike sole, Suspenders for BAR belt, M1937 BAR belt, M1956 compass pouches x 2, M1942 carlisle bandage pouch x 2, Jungle first aid pouch, 1 quart canteens x 2, M1956 1 quart canteen covers (modified) x 2, M1961 combat field pack "butt pack", CIDG rucksack, M16 A1 rifle “three prong flash hider vision”, Rifle sling, 20-rd magazines x 12 + 1 pc, Ka-bar combat knife w/ sheath, White phosphorus smoke grenade, M18 smoke grenade violet, INCEN TH grenade, M26 grenades x 2, MX-991/U flashlight, USGI carabineer, GI watch, Dog Tags

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The head sculpt seems to resemble a young Sean Penn who starred as Sergeant Tony Meserve opposite Michael J. Fox as Private First Class Max Eriksson in the 1989 American war drama film "Casualties of War", based on the actual events of the incident on Hill 192 in 1966 during the Vietnam War. An article written by Daniel Lang for The New Yorker in 1969, and a subsequent book were the movie's primary sources.

Related posts:
Vietnam War, 1959 to 1975 posted on my toy blog HERE
Action Figure Review of Soldier Story 1/6th scale US MACV-SOG 12-inch military figure posted HERE and HERE
Toy Soldier's 7th Anniversary figure - a USMC Force Recon Rifleman/Corpsman in Vietnam 1970 reviewed HERE