V. Develop a national and democratic culture and education.
1. Combat all forms of culture and education enslaved to Yankee fashions;
develop a culture and education that is national, progressive, and at the service of the
Fatherland and people.
2. Liquidate illiteracy; increase the number of schools in the fields of
general education as well as in those of technical and professional education, in advanced
study as well as in other fields; adopt Vietnamese as the vernacular language; reduce the
expenses of education and exempt from payment students who are without means; resume the
examination system.
3. Promote science and technology and the national letters and arts;
encourage and support the intellectuals and artists so as to permit them to develop their
talents in the service of national reconstruction.
4. Watch over public health; develop sports and physical education.
Viet Cong on Patrol
VI. Create a national army devoted to the defense of the Fatherland and the
people.
1. Establish a national army devoted to the defense of the Fatherland and
the people; abolish the system of American military advisers.
2. Abolish the draft system, improve the living conditions of the simple
soldiers and guarantee their political rights; put an end to ill- treatment of the
military; pay particular attention to the dependents of soldiers without means.
3. Reward officers and soldiers having participated in the struggle
against the domination by the Americans and their servants; adopt a policy of clemency
toward the former collaborators of the Americans and Diemists guilty of crimes against the
people but who have finally repented and are ready to serve the people.
4. Abolish all foreign military bases established on the territory of
Viet-Nam.
VII. Guarantee equality between the various minorities and between the two
sexes; protect the legitimate interest of foreign citizens established in Viet Nam and of
Vietnamese citizens residing abroad.
1. Implement the right to autonomy of the national minorities: Found
autonomous zones in the areas with a minority population, those zones to be an integral
part of the Vietnamese nation. Guarantee equality between the various nationalities: each
nationality has the right to use and develop its language and writing system, to maintain
or to modify freely its mores and customs; abolish the policy of the Americans and
Diemists of racial discrimination and forced assimilation. Create conditions permitting
the national minorities to reach the general level of progress of the population:
development of their economy and culture; formation of cadres of minority nationalities.
2. Establish equality between the two sexes; women shall have equal
rights with men from all viewpoints (political, economic, cultural, social, etc.).
3. Protect the legitimate interest of foreign citizens established in
Viet Nam.
4. Defend and take care of the interest of Vietnamese citizens residing
abroad.
China's Mao Tse Tung meets with Ho Chi Minh
VIII. Promote a foreign policy of peace and neutrality.
1. Cancel all unequal treaties that infringe upon the sovereignty of the
people and that were concluded with other countries by the servants of the Americans.
2. Establish diplomatic relations with all countries, regardless of their
political regime, in accordance with the principles of peaceful coexistence adopted at the
Bandung Conference.
3. Develop close solidarity with peace-loving nations and neutral
countries; develop free relations with the nations of Southeast Asia, in particular with
Cambodia and Laos.
4. Stay out of any military bloc; refuse any military alliance with
another country.
5. Accept economic aid from any country willing to help us without
attaching any conditions to such help.
IX. Re-establish normal relations between the two zones, and prepare for the
peaceful reunification of the country.
The peaceful reunification of the country constitutes the dearest desire of all
our compatriots throughout the country. The National Liberation Front of South Viet-Nam
advocates the peaceful reunification by stages based on negotiations and through the
seeking of ways and means in conformity with the interest of the Vietnamese nation.
While awaiting this reunification, the governments of the two zones will, based
on negotiations, promise to banish all separatist and warmongering propaganda and not to
use force to settle differences between the zones. Commercial and cultural exchanges
between the two zones will be implemented the inhabitants of the two zones will be free to
move about throughout the country as their family and business interests indicate. The
freedom of postal exchanges will be guaranteed.
X. Struggle against all aggressive war, actively defends universal peace.
1. Struggle against all aggressive war and against all forms of
imperialist domination; support the national emancipation movements of the various
peoples.
2. Banish all warmongering propaganda; demand general disarmament and the
prohibition of nuclear weapons; and advocate the utilization of atomic energy for peaceful
purposes.
3. Support all movements of struggle for peace, democracy, and social
progress throughout the world; contribute actively to the defense of peace in Southeast
Asia and in the world.
With all this print propaganda by the NFL, one would think it was a large
organization. That is not what American intelligence discovered. In the book Slow Burn
– The Rise and Fall of American Intelligence in Vietnam, Simon and Schuster, New
York, 1990, former CIA Chief of Military Region Three in Vietnam Orrin DeForest discusses
the NFL after interviewing thousands of prisoners and building immense files. He says in
part:
In June 1969, the NFL announced the establishment of the Provisional
Revolutionary Government…But what we were discovering was that the NFL itself, let
alone its new creation were simply a skeleton organization. We would identify committees
that apparently duplicated the Communist Party committees…but whereas the Party
Committee might have eight or ten or even fifteen people, the NFL Committee would have a
chief and perhaps one other man…The National Liberation Front was a paper
organization, a magician’s conjuring trick. It was total baloney. We would interview
25 or 30 cadres from a district and each of them would tell us the same thing. The NFL? It
was a laugh.
The Republic of Vietnam certainly knew it was all propaganda. In January 1968 the
Prime Minister issued a directive in the Chinh Luan newspaper that only certain
words could be used when describing the Communists, their government and organizations. It
was an attempt to delegitimize them all. In other civil wars and guerrilla uprisings the
insurgents had been called “terrorists,” “criminals” and
“gangs.” These are the terms the Vietnamese were ordered to say in regard to the
Communist enemy and their allies:
Do not use the terms Viet Cong or NLF. Instead use:
The North Vietnamese Communists and their supporting forces or their auxiliary
units.
Communist North Vietnam and their auxiliary forces in the South.
The North Vietnamese Communists and their front organizations in the South.
The North Vietnamese Communists with the Communist dominated organizations or
groups.
The aggressors from Communist North Vietnam; the Communist aggressors.
Do not use the name “The North Vietnamese Government” but say instead:
North Vietnamese authorities; Hanoi regime; and North Vietnam’s Communist
regime.
The Viet Cong had their own rules and terms to be used against the
Americans. One captured Viet Cong document was addressed to Section B.V.U2.
It said in part, edited for brevity:
We send you a list of slogans and propaganda words to proselyte the U.S.
soldiers. Set up small signs made from metal or wood at the foot of trees or
walls. For long slogans use several signs at intersections or the edge of
the forest written by a good writer. You can print by typograph or
lithograph on small pieces of paper and disseminate as butterflies. Those
units that cannot print could type or write by hand. You could write on
walls, rice containers, water containers, or barns and stables. Use paint to
write slogans on trees. Don’t use slogans which have the same meaning in one
place. For example, these could be used:
Stop immediately US aggressive war in South Vietnam.
No to suffering and deadly operations! Demand to be sent to the rear.
Oppose the war! Demand repatriation and peace.
Don’t destroy houses and properties of civilians.
Let the Vietnamese people settle their own affairs.
U.S. soldiers do not destroy these slogans; they gather and look at them.
Some of them take pictures of nicely written slogans. These slogans have
good effect on US soldiers. Many of them stop and refuse to move forward.
Organize the people, associations, agencies, armies, and guerrillas to write
and place slogans everywhere in order to push forward the political
offensive against the US soldiers and their satellites that are confused and
have anti-war thinking before our great victories.
A Viet Cong sign outside a U.S. Base at Cu Chi
The Viet Cong document seems to have been right. Here an American
soldier photographed this sign and saved the photo for posterity. So, in
this case it is true that rather than destroy the signs, soldiers collected
them, kept them as souvenirs and took many pictures of them. This sign says:
Stop
war immediately. The U.S. troops must be sent back home. Vietnam affairs
must be settled by the Vietnamese themselves.
A second captured document gives the Viet Cong 54 slogans, some of them long
enough to make a propaganda leaflet. I will mention a few of the more
interesting ones, but just take a line out of each paragraph:
The Vietnamese people are doing what the Americans did in 1776.
Weapons factories make profits while GIs die.
Why do you sacrifice yourselves for the Saigon puppet traitor clique?
Don’t misuse our women!
Don’t kill pigs, chickens, buffaloes, and oxen of civilians,
Black GI’s! Oppose the racist US authorities; your enemies are not the
Vietnamese people.
Black GI’s! Your compatriots in Detroit and in the States are victims of US
racist segregation.
Black GI’s and the Vietnamese people have the same enemy, US segregation.
80,000 GI’s have been killed and wounded during the dry season of 1966-1967.
Viet Cong Code of Discipline
Viet Cong Tax Receipt Bond
Notice that the code states that the Viet Cong will never take anything from the
people. So, how were the people compensated when the VC came to their village and took
their rice and livestock? The people were paid with bonds that were to be bought
back by the Communist government after the glorious revolution. The bonds were very
attractive and colorful, but worthless. This method of payment allowed the Viet Cong to
take from the people but pretend instead that they were buying foodstuffs. There are about
a half dozen different such bonds known. In all cases the VC cadre would fill in the
information on how much was taken, its worth and then sign the form. He kept the stub; the
farmer kept the bond. Of course, he quickly hid it because South Vietnamese troops finding
it would believe that the farmer was helping the Viet Cong. The farmer was in a lose-lose
situation. The bond above was issued by the Ministry of Finance and National Liberation
Front Committee.
A Captured Viet Cong Document
Public Appeal by the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam
It is interesting to see the gradual change in Viet Cong statements as the war went
on. Both sides went to great pains to gather information written by the enemy. These
documents were used for intelligence purposes. By studying what the enemy said, it was
sometimes possible to identify their current strategy, needs and weaknesses. One
American comment about Intelligence states:
From the Cloak and Dagger boys comes this message (and plea). WE ARE NOT GETTING
ENOUGH GOOD INTELLIGENCE AND SOMEONE SITS TOO LONG ON MUCH OF WHAT WE DO RECEIVE. Some of
you may not realize the value of what you see end hear, yet it may be just the piece
needed to complete the puzzle. Remember that intelligence must be timely, so please don't
delay it. If in doubt, write it up and let the next higher level decide on the importance
of the information. See that reports come thru both the RVN and MAAG channels. Don't worry
about being another James Bond. If your stuff answers who, when, what, where, how and why,
it will be good.
In the case of the Americans, every enemy document was important. A “Propaganda
Work Sheet,” MAAG Form 934 was prepared by Headquarters, U.S. Military
Assistance Advisory Group Vietnam, dated 6 December 1962. It asked U.S. troops to fill out
the some of the following data:
Type of propaganda (Leaflet, Poster, Loudspeaker).
Location
Length of time or quantity.
Method used (how distributed, by whom)
Date and time of occurrence.
Who observed or picked up.
Brief estimate of effectiveness.
Examples enclosed?
Remarks.
The top secret 1966 CIA Report: “Vietnamese Communists Will to Persist” Says
about Viet Cong propaganda (and remember this is 1966 and the war and ways
to transport materials is still in its infancy):
The U.S. military buildup and the increased pace of military action have
created significant problems for the Communists, partly because the prospect
of early victory could hardly be proclaimed as convincingly following the
buildup in 1964 and early 1965. After 1965, the emphasis was on the
inevitability of victory. This line may not be going over well in those
areas most affected by the war.
In mid-1965 they found it necessary to dampen down their propaganda directed
against the wealthier farmers and landlords since the production of these
people and their lands had become so essential to the Communist war effort.
As the war went on and the Communists got better at propaganda they would never
mention a loss or weakness. However, in these very early documents found about 1962 you
can see that they are simply trying to survive and beg the people to help. One document
confiscated by American troops says in part:
Public Appeal by the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam
Use enemy weapons to kill the enemy!
Dear Fellow citizens!
Armed struggle needs weapons and ammunition. The revolution, in this present
critical situation with shortages, has cleverly solved this problem by the motto: Use
enemy weapons to kill the enemy!
Nowadays, due to the military increase of the United States and Diem bunch, our
liberators are valiantly facing unexpected difficulties. More than 50% of the
liberator’s weapons and ammunition are gone…Try to persuade the Civilian Guards
and Civil Defense Corps and young men guarding the hamlets to stand by the revolution by
supplying weapons and ammunition…Stand by the revolution to the bitter end. Remember
that one cartridge is now equivalent to one rifle….
This communist
poster is supposed to be from the “Worker’s Party” but notice the hammer and
sickle. It says in part:
DEAR
COMPATRIOTS, WORKERS, PEASANTS, TRADERS AND SERVICEMEN, DEAR INTELLECTUALS,
COMPATRIOTS, CIVIL SERVANTS, DEAR STUDENTS, SCHOOL BOY AND GIRLS, ARTISTS &
WRITERS, DEAR PATRIOTS,
American
Imperialism and Ngo-Dinh-Diem its servant, are striving to undermine the
Geneva Accords; plotting to divide our land for a long time; transforming
the South into an American Colony and military base; preparing a resumption
of war in Indochina; and threatening peace in Southeast Asia and the world.
During 5 years
under the American-Diem yoke, Thua Thien and Hue people have been living the
most painful lives they've ever known: land, buffalos, cows, that our blood
was shed to conserve during Resistance times, have been seized; taxes,
forced labor, oppression by landlords, the draft, unemployment, poverty, and
business monopoly, bear heavily on every group of our people. They strove to
kill, deport, and terrorize ex-resisters, and progressive patriots. They
maltreated savagely tallies of our servicemen who were regrouped to the
North and moreover, they killed unborn children "to eradicate the seed of
Communism." They propagate decadent pornographic and cowboy culture, etc.,
to lead 1oung people of ours into obscurantism to exploit their war and
exploitation purpose.
Ngo-Dinh-Diem's gang is the group that has destroyed national and familial
sentiments, divided marital union; they are robbers, savage head cutters,
they live happily on the blood of our people and force our people to be
slaves under American imperialism....
This document certainly tells the Allies that the Viet Cong are facing a terrible
shortage of weapons and ammunition. It is very valuable and would certainly lead to
increased military action against VC strongholds. On the other hand, the message is so
dire and threatening that one almost suspects this is a black document produced by the
allies to frighten the “unarmed” Viet Cong. A second similar document attached
to the MAAG document says in part:
Stand for the Heroic Combat of the Southern Emancipators!
Our Dear People!
During the last few months, the “Hunting Dog Southern Army,” Civilian
Guard and Civil Defense Corps have been armed and trained by the American Empire, so they
have gained a number of temporary victories. In the battlefield they have used the most
brutal measures in order to eliminate our emancipators and the Idolized Revolution of the
Southern People.
Our people! Hold onto your belief in the clear-sighted guidance of the Southern
liberating movement and the talents of the commanding cadres of our emancipators. Turn a
deaf ear to the propaganda argument of Diem and the American Empire.
Hold onto your convictions and continue standing for the righteous fighters of
the Southern liberating movement.
Knock down Diem and the American Empire.
Long live the heroic combat of the emancipators!
Stand for the heroic combat of the emancipators.
Once again, this is a rather strange document. In the later stages of the war such
statements were always extremely positive and forecast victory. This document points out
that the VC have been beaten a number of times but promises a better future if the people
will just have faith. We know it is a genuine VC statement, but once again it is so
negative in tone that it could almost be an American disinformation document.
Another Viet Cong document captured in 1970 discusses the activities of security and
armed elements of the Republic of Vietnam and the United States in Quang Da Province
during the first few months of 1969. The 36-page report indicates that the Viet Cong
acquired massive data on the security and intelligence services, police, psywar and
pacification organizations, political and religious parties and the Phuong Hoang (Phoenix)
and Chieu Hoi (Open Arms) campaigns. Notice that the tone is now far more positive. Even
though they admit some set-backs and defections, the overall theme of the document is that
they will eventually achieve victory. We will quote a little of what they say about PSYOP
activities:
The enemy has doubled his PSYWAR and Chieu Hoi activities, resorted to bribery
and persuasive and oppressive measures, and employed many technical facilities to spread
propaganda…From strongholds, the enemy used loudspeakers to spread propaganda all day
long. He even used ralliers and defectors to appeal to Viet Cong cadre over the Da Nang
radio station and dropped different types of leaflets by means of aircraft. These leaflets
were designed to arouse the people’s sentiment and undermine national solidarity.
The enemy has used ammunition and bombs to massacre people and cadre…Such
enemy activities made a number of cadres, soldiers and families lose their vigilance.
Since the beginning of this year, 19 cadre, 29 guerrillas, 15 local troops, 28 youth group
members, and 135 families in Duy Xuyen District have moved to enemy controlled areas.
He resorted to demagogic measures and bribery in conjunction with terrorism,
massacre, looting, and destruction of crops and houses…then he organized
“relief” activities, issued rice and clothes to them to win their hearts and
minds.
In general, the enemy was unsuccessful in his rural pacification, Chieu Hoi and
PSYWAR activities. The people came to realize the true face of the U.S. and Puppet
Governments. However, at various times and places, the enemy succeeded in relocating a
number of local inhabitants in the cities and sowing confusion among others thus forcing
them to move to controlled areas.
A Viet Cong Threatening Letter
This threatening letter is interesting because it implies that the Viet Cong had a
regular series of form letters sent to those they considered traitors to the cause. Note
that this letter says that a previous letter had already been sent. We can surmise a third
letter would be sent after this one, perhaps stating that a court had been held, the
recipient was tried and convicted and sentenced to death. The original is in Vietnamese of
course. This is an official U.S. Army translation.
The Special Operations Research Office of the American University (SORO) published
the classified A Short Guide to Psychological Operations in the Republic of Vietnam in
1965. Authors Jeanne Mintz, Herbert Silverberg and James Trinnaman discuss the Viet
Cong propaganda tactics:
The Viet Cong place great emphasis on face-to-face contact with the individual
peasant, where this is possible. In less secure areas they use leaflets, but only as a
last resort. Normally they attempt to infiltrate a five-man team into the village. The
team stays overnight, circulating from house to house, holding mass meetings, and
distributing printed matter.
And how were the Viet Cong propagandists trained to interact so well with the
people? One way was to found propaganda schools throughout South Vietnam. A classified
document from the 135th Military Intelligence group details the interrogation of Le Tai, a
Viet Cong intelligence agent captured 21 April 1967. Le Tai speaks of the “Four Area Training
School.” This was a Viet Cong ideology and propaganda school located near Ba Thap
Hamlet in Ninh Truan Province. Students spent one full week in the school being trained
in the latest VC ideology before going forth to propagandize and seek coverts.
An advantage that the Viet Cong had was a direct line of command and a guidance
policy for propaganda that left no room for error. I have read numerous American PSYOP
after-actions and they depict a lack of strong guidance, communication, training,
equipment and repair. Some examples are a PSYOP After-Action Report by Colonel
William E. Linn, Chief of Policy, Plans and Research and later the Assistant Director for
Field Operations of JUSPAO from March 1968 to April 1969.
COL Linn is particularly disturbed that JUSPAO was never warned in advance about
major policy shifts, and if given advance notice, was not allowed to utilize the
information for PSYOP. He gives as example the bombing halts of March 1968 and October
1968. On both occasions JUSPAO was ready to tell the Vietnamese people why the bombing was
halted. Because they had no guidance or permission they were unable to do so. As a result:
Hanoi propagandists had a field day pounding all Vietnamese target audiences that
they had won a total victory; to fight on until the U.S. aggressors are forced out of
Vietnam; that the North Vietnamese regime had not conceded anything to the United States
at Paris; and that the United States was required to admit defeat due to U.S. and world
public opinion; and that the bombing halt was proof that the communists’ fight in the
Republic of Vietnam was just and right.
Colonel Taro Katagiri commanded the 4th PSYOP Group from 4 October 1968 to 13 March
1970. He discusses some of his unit’s problems in the declassified Senior Officer
Debriefing Report. He says that there needs to be better method of coordinating and
unifying the PSYOP message. The army needs senior officers to understand what PSYOP can
do. He gives an example of a brigade commander who boasted that his Chieu Hoi program
consisted of two howitzers, one named “Chieu” and the other “Hoi.” He
tells of pilots not wanting to drop leaflets because “That is mixing politics with
war.” He wants an appreciation of PSYOP taught to all officers from early in their
training.
While some Americans were arguing with each other about the value of PSYOP, the Viet
Cong were holding village meetings, singing and putting on plays, and gathering
converts.
A Vietnamese interpreter and Australian
Army Private David Bannister inspect a Viet Cong propaganda leaflet found during Operation Pinnaroo. It consisted of a
clearing operation in the village of Long Dien and then a search and destroy action in the
Long Hai hills south of Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province in March 1968. Photo courtesy of the Australian
War Memorial.
Speaking of
Australians, When I asked my Australian friend Sergeant Derrill DeHeer,
who was a member of the Australian 1st Psychological Operations Unit what
he thought of Viet Cong leaflets he told me:
The Viet Cong
also engaged in leaflet propaganda against the Australians and Americans.
They seemed to work on the principle of telling the ‘big’ lie. They
exaggerated the truth especially where there were numbers of people killed
or wounded and losses of tanks (the VC generally labelled armored vehicles
and APCs as tanks) and aircraft. Their claims were inaccurate and
exaggerated. They produced these leaflets in jungle camps or may have had
them printed by sympathizers in the major centers where printing
facilities may have existed. They were generally printed on poor quality
paper with many grammatical mistakes. The grammar used in some leaflets
was poor. These leaflets were dropped by Viet Cong or Viet Cong
sympathizers along jungle trails where United States and Australian troops
were thought to be operating. At times they were also dropped outside
Vietnamese Government buildings, compounds, bases and in village
marketplaces. These were places where they were likely to be picked up and
given to Vietnamese, US and Australian authorities.
Faked Photo of General William Westmoreland
Since we are mentioning photographs, I should point out that many of the propaganda
photographs published by the communist forces and sent around the world were bogus. This
subject is discussed by Dino A. Brugioni in Photo Fakery, Brassey’s, Virginia,
1999:
During the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese carefully monitored public opinion
in the United States, especially the American public’s reaction to any massacre of
innocent civilians. Sensing sympathy, they began to orchestrate a program to denigrate the
U.S. military by showing that the killing of the innocents was not accidental but a policy
deliberately fostered by the U.S. High Command in Vietnam. General William Westmoreland
was singled out for condemnation. To foster this idea, the North Vietnamese combined a
Newsweek cover photo of the general with a massacre scene and circulated the result as
proof that the United States military had embarked on a deliberate policy of killing
innocent civilians.
There are a number of high-quality leaflets that were obviously made in North
Vietnam. They attempt to disguise that fact by bearing identification such as "South
Vietnam NLF" but it is doubtful that anyone was fooled. The leaflets were carried
down the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos and Cambodia for dissemination in South Vietnam.
The NLF did not have the ability to disseminate their leaflets by air. They carried their
leaflets by hand and placed them in bars, restaurants, and along jungle trails where the
Americans and their Allies were sure to find them. They varied in size and shape. Most
were single sheets of paper, but rarely leaflets were designed to fold out to reveal
longer messages inside.
People show me beautiful full-color leaflets on fine paper and cardboard and tell me
they were found in the jungle. I tell them that the VC usually had poor printing,
sometimes hand-printing, and generally used terrible paper from note books or whatever
they could find. The fancy leaflets were made in Hanoi.
The official U.S. Army Europe booklet PSYOP Quarterly of January 1966 might
say it best:
Although the highly successful Viet Cong propaganda operations are conducted at
the grass-roots, person-to-person level, the Viet Cong have not ignored the use of
leaflets and other more modern devices in their efforts to win support of the Vietnamese
people. Most of the Viet Cong leaflets are crudely printed on rough paper to increase
credibility among the Vietnamese people who are not used to high-quality printed matter.
Strangely, Viet Cong psychological warfare often disseminates the same poorly printed
matter to U.S. soldiers who are used to much finer quality printing.
A “Tunnel Rat” (usually a thin soldier with the ability to crawl down and
search Viet Cong tunnels) with two tours, one with the 25th Infantry Division and Military
Assistance Command Vietnam down south, and later with the 11th Light Infantry Brigade in I
Corps up north, said that he would constantly find propaganda stations below the earth
that printed Viet Cong documents. He said that the size of the printing operation depended
on the size of the tunnel or the bunker. When he was in the 25th Infantry Division and
assigned to MACV, the soil composition allowed for much more elaborate set ups, with more
printing material. He saw small hand cranked presses, but said in general the operations
were much larger. When he went to the 11th LIB, he said the tunnels and propaganda
stations were much smaller and more primitive, as the soil up north in I Corps wasn’t
as supportive for larger complexes. He was there a bit after 1968, and was still finding
printing presses and propaganda stations locally in tunnels.
According to a 1970 Chinese Xinhua News Agency report, this is a
photograph
of the Viet Cong printing a propaganda newspaper at some hidden
location.
In May 1968, a 5th Special Forces Team operating in Tay Nihn captured a small
Viet Cong printing press and presented it to the 4th PSYOP Group. The press included a
roller, handset type faces and a small quantity of dog-eared paper used by the enemy to
print Communist propaganda leaflets.
The 199th Light Infantry Brigade attacked a Viet Cong base 30 miles
northeast of Saigon and forced the enemy to abandon a silk-screen printing
machine, printer’s ink, and numerous sheaves of paper. According to the 15
July 1969 Stars and Stripes, the camp was believed to have been “the
nucleus of a small-scale Communist printing and distributing operation for
propaganda and military bulletins.”
In October 1969, the Americal Division found a Viet Cong propaganda factory
10 kilometers south of Kam Ty. The camp contained a crude printing press, a
Soviet flag, and stacks of enemy leaflets written in Vietnamese and broken
English. Leaflets mentioned leaders and places of political rallies in the
United States, medical care given American captives by the Viet Cong, and
statement allegedly made by freed American servicemen. The printing press
printed leaflets for use as far as 150 kilometers away.
Another Viet Cong printing press is mentioned in the investigation of the
Mai Lai massacre and how the Viet Cong printed leaflets in the bush:
Sir,
it was leaflets, crude leaflets, kind of a Sanskrit thing where they would
cut it into stone or something and then they'd run ink over it and run paper
of some type. It would be very crude. They were being handed out in that
area. I think they were produced on the south side of the Tra Khuc River in
Tu Nghia District. There wasn't a whole lot. There was some initially after
Tet. I'd say about, for about one month after Tet they did a pretty good job
of handling out leaflets in that area.
Communist Leaflet Mortar
This photograph from Hanoi claims that their troops were firing
propaganda
leaflet mortar shells at a U.S. base in Quang Tri Province in South Vietnam.
Although it is generally assumed that most Communist leaflets were distributed by
hand since the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong never had control of the air, the 1971
Associated Press photograph above indicates that on occasion they were able to leaflet
American outposts by mortar shell. The photograph was apparently sent to Warsaw from Hanoi
by radiophone where it was spotted by the Associated Press and forwarded to the United
States. The text on the back of the photo is:
18 February 1971 – Propaganda Power – This photo from Hanoi monitored
in Warsaw purports to show North Vietnamese in Quang Tri Thua Thien, South Vietnam, firing
propaganda leaflets in mortar shells into a base occupied by Allied forces.
We know more about the Communist use of mortars for leaflet dissemination from the Vietnamese
People’s Army Newspaper of 1 May 2017. It mentions the use of leaflet mortar
rounds in an article entitled: Unique and Effective Attack Spearhead. The story
indicates that the North Vietnamese ability to print propaganda leaflets was much greater
than we believed. We know that the Viet Cong in the bush had small portable printers.
However, the Enemy Proselyting Department in Hanoi was printing a higher grade leaflet and
they had plenty of printing capacity to do that. They could print 100,000 at a time and
that is the sign of a modern operation. The authors say in part:
During the resistance war against the Americans to save the nation (1954-1975)
the Enemy Proselyting Department was both a responsible agency of the General Political
Department and an action agency of the Military Proselyting Bureau of the Central
Unification Committee. The Enemy Proselyting Department paid special attention to
providing guidance for and arranging the introduction of many different methods of
conducting propaganda operations through the use of documents, leaflets, and various types
of printed materials and propaganda equipment.
The department constantly encouraged the writing and production of military-enemy
proselyting leaflets, drawings [cartoons], posters, and calendars along with dozens of
different publications to support our military-enemy proselyting propaganda operations.
During the first six months of 1968 alone the department printed a total of almost there
million copies of ten different leaflets and calendars and coordinated the design and
production of ten thousand leaflet artillery rounds (each round containing approximately
500-600 small leaflets), primarily targeted against American troops along with a small
number targeted against Lao puppet army troops.
During the Route 9-Tri Thien campaign, the Front printed three different types of
leaflets for use in separate, individual situations (attack, fighting the enemy after he
had fallen back to regroup, and fighting off enemy counterattacks). When the campaign
began the department printed 100,000 additional leaflets of three different types, and in
the middle of the campaign it printed 100,000 more leaflets of two different types. The
department provided staff advice for the General Political Department’s effort to
produce and ship hundreds of thousands of leaflets, consisting of 16 different types of
leaflets targeted on puppet army troops and four different types of leaflets targeted
against American troops and to ship to the front lines 560 leaflet rockets, 7,200
leaflet mortar rounds, 238 megaphones, and 19 loudspeakers.
The Summary of
Dong Nai Province Military Proselyting Operations During the Resistance War
Against the Americans, 1954-1975 mentions leaflets. I must admit that
the number of leaflets seems high and I suspect they are exaggerating, but
my job is to reprint the document, not critique it.
In late 1967 the
COSVN Military Proselyting Section sent three cadres to reinforce Sub-Region
4 in Bien Hoa, including one cadre who could speak, read, and write Thai to
help the section write and print propaganda leaflets…During protest
demonstrations, our military proselyting organization conducted almost 3,000
loudspeaker operations aimed at 2,500 enemy outposts and distributed 205,000
leaflets in the English or Thai languages and 108,000 Vietnamese-language
leaflets. The content of the
loudspeaker broadcasts and the leaflets clearly explained that the American
war of aggression was unjust and criminal and that our people’s resistance
war was just.
During the
struggles, the workers used these opportunities to give English-language
leaflets to American soldiers appealing to them to oppose the war and to
demand that they be sent back home. The Binh Son children’s unit were able
to become friendly with American and Thai soldiers, steal weapons and
ammunition from them, obtain intelligence, and distribute military
proselyting leaflets to those soldiers…
As for our work targeting U.S. and Thai
units and individual American and Thai soldiers, from the first of 1969 and
the end of 1972 we distributed 320,000 leaflets in the English and Thai
languages (170,000 English-language leaflets and 150,000 Thai-language
leaflets). The English-language
leaflets and posters were used primarily in Bien Hoa City, Long Khanh City,
and Vinh Cuu, and the Thai language leaflets were used primarily in Long
Thanh and Nhon Trach districts.
Bobby Lee Horton wrote a master’s degree thesis titled, A
Content Analysis of Viet Cong Leaflets as Propaganda, 1963-68, at Texas
Tech University. He looked at Viet Cong leaflets archived in Texas Tech. He
saw most of the same things we have depicted in this article. I should point
out that the American PSYOP and Intelligence troops also collected and
catalogued Viet Cong leaflets. At the end of this article, I show the
National Liberation Front Propaganda booklet from my files.
Some of Horton’s comments are:
The clandestine leaflet. Douglas Pike said, was the major mass
medium of the NLF in its earliest days; the leaflet program reached its
zenith of utility in mid-1963. Leaflets usually took one of three forms: (1)
a two-to-four-page tract containing several thousand words of text, (2) a
small leaflet, about 3 by 5 inches, containing a much shorter message, or
(3) a slogan slip, which was a strip of paper on which a single slogan was
written.
The leaflets were usually the work of cadres, small squads that
were trained to carry out military and/or political actions in South
Vietnam. The slogan slip was meant to be the work of the people themselves,
usually as part of a struggle movement, and was a device highly prized by
the leadership.
This study analyzed the content of 114 items of written propaganda
distributed by the Viet Cong in South Vietnam between 1963 and 1968, a
period encompassing years of escalating military activities in the Vietnam
War. The items were typed, stenciled or hand-scrawled, mostly in Vietnamese
but sometimes in English. Their intended audiences were by turns religious
groups, students, women, intellectuals, Vietnamese government soldiers,
American servicemen, and others. Some of the messages directed at these
diverse targets were terse slogans or messages of one or two sentences;
others, in the form of handbills or leaflets, ran to a page or more of text.
A handful appeared to have been produced by professional printers; most did
not. For the most part, this was written propaganda originated and
disseminated in inhospitable areas including dense jungles or swampy delta
lands. Yet they survived in fairly good condition and are maintained now as
part of the Pike collection of Vietnam era materials in the Vietnam Archives
of Texas Tech University.
"Hey, Hey, LBJ" Leaflet
A favorite theme of these leaflets was the anti-war movement back in the United
States. One shows a group of marchers carrying banners that read "Get out of Viet
Nam" and "Stop the Bombing." Text at the upper left in bright red is:
Hey, Hey, LBJ, and the anti-war slogan: Hey, Hey, LBJ, How many kids did
you kill today?"
Some of the text on the back is:
Hey, Hey, LBJ. How many kids did you kill today? That's what everybody's saying all
over the US today. And millions of people all over the world who know no other English
shout it.
Marine Private First Class Randy Ware was stationed in Quang Tri Province when he
found some of these leaflets on the ground. Other members of his unit said they had been
fired from Viet Cong 82mm mortars. David Capps of the USMC Force Logistic Support Group
Alpha, told me about a mortar attack on Phu Bai combat base that happened on 22 December
1967 about 10 p.m. to midnight. The Viet Cong used about every third or fourth mortar
shell to explode in the air and distribute the leaflets “ Hey, Hey, LBJ” and
“I wish I was an Alabama trooper” over the Americans.
Another such story is mentioned in the 23rd Infantry Division’s
Southern Cross, 14 May 1941:
First Platoon found the leaflets when they returned to a bunker
complex to blow it up. Thousands of the papers were scattered in the sand.
There were two varieties of propaganda. Both illustrated pictures of protest
meetings in the United States. The leaflets employed smooth English, not
like many of their predecessors which read like a first-grade textbook. The
men were amazed at how well-done they were. This was not done by a
back-woods Vietnamese. They were made by some sharp characters. The literary
content of the leaflets used phrases like "Yankee, go home," and "Sit on the
fence" urging a feeling of apathy. The push was towards internal dissent and
surrender. They wanted the Gls to lay down their arms in the middle of a
firefight. Their reward was to be good treatment. Another plea in the
leaflets was for American soldiers was to seek asylum in countries such as
the Soviet Union, Sweden, Canada, and North Vietnam. The general attitude of
the soldiers was, "What the hell does North Vietnam have to offer me?"
People all Over the
World…
Since the leaflet above mentions "people all over the world" I
thought I would add this leaflet captured in June 1966 and filed VC.22. It
tells the GIs of anti-war demonstrations in Belgium, Italy, New Zealand,
etc.
An Anti-War Demonstration
A captured enemy anti-war document is a directive dated 28 April 1971,
that urges the addressees to motivate discussions among the people on recent antiwar
demonstrations in the United States. This document was captured on 12 May 1971 in South
Vietnam by Company A, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry division:
Strengthen the struggle movement of the people of all classes, step up the enemy
proselyting activities and the anti-Vietnam war movement of the Americans.
In cities, motivate the people to spread rumors. Use newspapers, news reports and
radio stations to spread the struggle movement of the American people to meet the
following requirements:
Win public opinion among all city dwellers to motivate the masses to back the
struggle movement of the American people by demanding an end to the South Viet Nam war,
rapid withdrawal of all US troops from South Viet Nam and restoration of peace in Viet Nam
as well as in Indochina.
Another document believed to from the Hoai Haong District Party Committee, Bin Tuy Province,
Viet Cong Region 6 adds:
The spontaneous antiwar movements in the US have received assistance and guidance
from the friendly North Viet Nam delegation at the Paris Peace Talks. Of the US antiwar
movements, the two most important ones are: The PCPJ (the People's Committee for Peace and
Justice) and the NPAC (National Peace Action Committee). These two movements have gathered
much strength and staged many demonstrations. The PCPJ is the most important. It maintains
relations with us.
Anti-War Activists hand out Propaganda Leaflets
The term “useful idiots” was coined by the leaders of the Soviet Union to
describe those in the West who naively promoted the cause of Communism when in reality
they were cynically used by the Communist hierarchy. The use of the term in political
discourse has since been extended to other propagandists, especially those who are seen to
unwittingly support a malignant cause which they naïvely believe to be a force for good.
This Bob Langer Chicago Sun-Times wire photo depicts American anti-war activists
handing out leaflets entitled “Vietnam Moratorium – No More,” on 15 October
1969.
Le Quang Vinh
On the subject of using Americans for anti-war purposes, the above leaflet mentions
the killing of a handsome young professor by South Vietnam. Notice that the back of the
leaflet is not signed by any organization though it is clearly from Hanoi or the Viet
Cong. Notice also that it is in English. Why would a North Vietnamese leaflet be in
English? Only to be used to gather support from the west. Notice also that there is no
mention of the crime of these four youths. Yes, the professor says, “I only regret I
could not kill all…” So, he seems to be admitting he killed some people, but not
as many as he wanted. He is clearly not a young intellectual idealist; he is a murderer.
The death penalty seems appropriate for such a crime. To make it even more interesting,
although the leaflet implies he was put to death, in fact he spent 15 years in prison and
was released when the North won their war for Vietnam. A very interesting use of words
that mean little but imply a lot.
The American people are struggling fiercely…
An example of how college students and others were used by the Communists is found
in this South Vietnam Liberation National Front leaflet that mentions three anti-war
actions. The first is a California University demonstration in May 1965, the second a
mother’s group sending a letter to President Johnson on 21 June 1965, and the third a
demonstration in San Francisco on 25 June 1965. Leaflets of this type were meant to
demoralize the American soldier by showing him that he had no support at home.
Carolyn Page mentions U.S. anti-war groups in U.S. Official Propaganda during the
Vietnam War, 1965-1973, Leicester University Press, London, 1996:
The U.S. anti-war groups and the arguments used to criticize U.S. involvement in
the conflict were of value to the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong. Here were ready-made
divisions to exploit and arguments to use in addition to their own propaganda lines. This
was probably doubly welcome in view of the vast differences in culture in society between
America and Vietnam, which would pose the first problem for a propagandist; understanding
the enemy environment in order to attack it most effectively.
YANKS COME HOME!
A leaflet with the same theme shows a group marching under a banner that reads:
International Days of Protest Against the War in Vietnam.
Some of the text on the back is:
YANKS! COME HOME!
That's what they are saying in the States. They're right! There's no
reason for you to be away from home.
YANKS! GO HOME!
The message on the back of this leaflet will be found again on the next three
leaflets.
YANKS COME HOME:
The same general message is found on this leaflet signed by the South Vietnam
Liberation Armed Front. The back calls the war “Johnson’s War” and claims
that it is being fought for profits; none of which will ever be seen by any of the men
fighting the war.
YANKS COME HOME
An interesting South Vietnam National Liberation Front leaflet depicts a soldier in a
tunnel moving toward a distant opening. It is clearly a satiric reference to General
Westmoreland’s comment about seeing light at the end of the tunnel; a reference to an
eventual victory in the Vietnam War. The text on the front of the leaflets is:
THE ONLY WAY OUT
COME HOME NOW
The back of the leaflet is all text. Some of the comments are:
YANKS COME HOME
That’s what they’re crying in the States. They’re right! There’s
no reason for you to be away from home.
YANKS GO HOME
That’s what they’re shouting all over South Vietnam. They’re right!
There’s no reason for you to be here where nobody except a few crooks who betray
their own people want you.
YANKS COME HOME!
YANKS GO HOME!
The message is signed by the South Vietnam National Front for Liberation.
YANKS GO HOME
Another
interesting version of the "Yanks go home" message depicts eight cartoons on
the front with Americans in different places seeing signs in different
languages all saying, "Yanks go home." The back is all text but uses
variations of the same slogan repeatedly.
PUPPET GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS
This is an
interesting crude cartoon depicting a Republic of Vietnam soldier killing
one of his American allies in the name of the glorious revolution. Since it
is addressed to the ARVN, it is in Vietnamese:
Our brothers
who are puppet government soldiers,
Turn your guns
around, kill Americans and lackey thugs to make contributions to the
revolution and return to the waiting arms of the people. Save
yourselves, save your families [or "homes"], and save our country.
BRING OUR BOYS HOME NOW!
This leaflet would seem to be from the same artist that did the one above. The image
of the GI and the use of color are similar. More interesting, the back has the exact same
message. The text on the front is:
BRING OUR BOYS HOME NOW
BACK HOME THEY’RE AGAINST THE WAR
AND YOU?
Like the one above, the message is signed by Like the
one above, the message is signed by the South Vietnam National Front for Liberation.
YANKS COME HOME!
Courtesy Major Hammond Salley
Another leaflet using the same title is this all-text leaflet printed on a thin pulp
paper in brown ink. This all-text leaflet has the same message as the three leaflets
above, but now on the front. Whoever wrote this message really thought it was powerful and
has used in four times. Some of the text on the back urges U.S. Troops to:
Support the present movement of the American people to demand the ending of
Johnson’s war in Vietnam and repatriation of American GIs.
Why?
This leaflet asks the Americans why they have come 10,000 miles to fight in a civil
war. In points out the injury done to the Vietnamese people by napalm, white phosphorous,
and poison gas. It compares American troops with German troops who committed atrocities on
the command of Adolf Hitler. It is an effective text.
We note that gas was used, but usually tear gas or CS gas, neither
of which is poisonous. And by the way, the Viet Cong also used it:
The use of CS gas is recommended when a Ranger team is unable to
break contact. When the situation dictates, the team (which carries CS in
the form of grenades and 40mm cartridges) should saturate the enemy location
with the CS gas and move to the pickup zone during the confusion and
distraction of the enemy. In extreme situations, the airborne command and
control officer (who carries up to 500 pounds of CS in 50-pound cannisters)
can drop them from the helicopter thereby saturating the area with gas.
Following the employment of the CS, gunships can provide suppressive fire on
all enemy locations.
CS agents either alone or mixed with other munitions are being
fired by the Viet Cong in I Combat Tactical Zone. Two further methods used
by the enemy have been the use of a small, black, plastic-covered,
cylindrical grenade in the II and III CTZ, and near Bien Hoa, RPG-7 rounds
with CS agents were fired. Alertness to the enemy's use of gas is a must.
Two other of Captain Salley’s leaflets brought back from Vietnam are printed in
orange ink with the title “Why?” and in black ink without title but with the
first line of text: “American servicemen will not fight in the war against the South
Vietnamese people and serve as cannon-fodder for U.S. monopoly capitalists.”
Whi?
We often talk about the problems the Viet Cong in the field had with the
English language. This leaflet’s grammar speaks for itself. I will let the
reader judge its quality.
This leaflet looks rather suspicious to me, and it could be genuine, but I
have no background on it so the reader should beware. I worry about the
cleanliness of the paper and the color. Without having found it in the
Intelligence records, and with no veteran to vouch for it, I am always
doubtful.
Safe Conduct Pass
I thought I would place this leaflet here under what might be a fake leaflet
because it also seemed suspicious to me. It was sent to me by a Vietnamese
friend, but he admitted that he knew nothing about it. It could be good but
it seemed rather clean. Also, some of the terms are strange. I never saw the
word "organ" on a leaflet before.
Because I had some doubts about this item, I decided to talk to a friend who
is an expert on North Vietnam and who was involved in many aspects of that
war. I told him about my doubts and asked for his opinion. Since he read
Vietnamese, he could look for errors of both the English and Vietnamese
text. Sometime the fakers make mistakes in the Vietnamese portion because
they do not speak it well. He believed it was genuine. He said:
This looks like a VC safe-conduct pass for allied (non-Vietnamese)
servicemen who might want to defect to the Communists. These would have been distributed by VC enemy proselyting cadres and
agents, in the same way that U.S. and South Vietnamese PSYOP types
distributed "safe conduct" passes in the effort to get Viet Cong cadres and
troops to rally (Chieu Hoi). The
term “organ” is an alternate translation into English of the Vietnamese term
“co quan” - the standard translation of the term is "agency," and it could
also be translated as "staff" or "organization" or "organ" (as in a
"government organ"). The abbreviation LAF stands for "Liberation Armed
Forces.
Why and Whom…
This leaflet also asks “why?” Some of the text is:
Why has the ruling circle sent you over here? Because they want the big dollar
profit from the Vietnam War….
The leaflet has Vietnamese text on the back and the code M-56919. The “M”
means “American.”
HANG ON TO YOUR HEAD
This National Liberation Front leaflet dated February 1967 depicts a rusting helmet on
the ground with a flower growing through it. The symbolism is good. It implies American
death and defeat, and the flower was a hippy symbol of peace, often placed in the barrel
of a soldier's rifle. The back is all text. Some of the message is:
HANG ON TO YOUR HEAD
GI’s in Vietnam now number over 400,000. GI’s killed, maimed or missing
– more than 131,000.
Lots of soldiers –
Lots of money –
Lots of hardware –
Lots of coffins!
Better make it out – before you’re pushing up daisies too.
GO HOME – ALIVE!
That’s what they’re shouting all over South Vietnam. They’re
right! There’s no reason for you to be here where nobody except a few crooks who
betray their own people want you.
One of these leaflets was sent home by Lieutenant Charles A. Brown of the 1st Air
Cavalry who found them in Quang Tri in 1967. It appeared in his local newspaper.
A December 1967 Military Assistance Command Vietnam J2 (Intelligence
document) adds:
Several hundred VC propaganda leaflets directed at U.S. servicemen
were recently discovered near Pleiku Air Ease. The leaflets were of four
types. Two emphasized the serviceman’s separation from his family at
Christmas and the fact that many of the many of the men would not enjoy
another Christmas. A third type urged the servicemen to join the anti-war
movement alleged to be spreading among U.S. troops. A fourth type,
lithographed in four colors, claimed that 131,000 GIs had been killed,
wounded, or were listed as missing in the var. It also listed names or
several major U.S. firms allegedly making profits from the war while GIs
were dying. The reverse side of this leaflet shows a photograph of a daisy
growing through a hole in a US helmet and the readers were urged to go home
“before you're pushing up daisies too.” The quality of printing and the
grammar used in the leaflets are superior to average VC/NVA propaganda and
suggest the leaflets may have been produced somewhere other than in North
Vietnam or the Republic of Vietnam. The type was obviously composed by
someone familiar with contemporary English and slang and reflects knowledge
of recent anti-war demonstrations in the U.S.
End the War in Vietnam
An occasional theme of the NLF was a demand for peaceful
negotiation. They produced a leaflet that shows a symbol of peace on the front, a female
holding a palm frond. Above her are the words "END THE WAR IN VIETNAM." There is
a long message on the back; some pertinent comments are, "Peace! Negotiations! Cry
the U.S. warmakers. But peace has not come yet. Because the Americans and their puppets
want no serious talks yet…"
Black Men Should Not Fight in Vietnam for Racist America
"I wish I were an Alabama trooper..."
Some of the NLF leaflets emphasized the racial problems at home. One depicts
black men holding a sign that says:
Black men should not fight in Vietnam for racist U.S.A." Some of the text on
back is, "I wish I were an Alabama trooper, that is what I would truly like to be. I
wish I was an Alabama trooper, cause then I could kill the niggers legally.
Lt. Charles A. Brown also sent this leaflet home where it appeared in a local
newspaper with the caption:
Negro target – Pictures taken during demonstrations in the U.S are used by
the Communists in an attempt to get Negro servicemen to desert or surrender. They are
promised amnesty.
Marine Private
First-Class Randy Ware was stationed in Quang Tri Province when he found
some of these leaflets on the ground. Other members of his unit said they had
been fired from Viet Cong 82mm mortars. Corporal David Capps of the USMC Force Logistic Support Group Alpha, told me about a
mortar attack on Phu Bai combat base that happened on 22 December 1967 about 10 p.m. to
midnight. The Viet Cong used about every third or fourth mortar shell to explode in the
air and distribute the leaflets “Hey, Hey, LBJ” and “I wish I was an
Alabama trooper” over the Americans.
Demand your Immediate Repatriation.
The Viet Cong
must have liked the picture above because as you can see, they used it
twice. The back of this one has a message titled "Black GI’s!"
Anti-war Protestors
A similar leaflet depicts another anti-War crowd carrying signs such as
“Weapons cannot win the people” and "Bring the troops home now.” Some
of the text on the back is:
AFRO-AMERICANS!
The Vietnamese are not exploiting you nor discriminating against you. No
Vietnamese shoots and kills Black freedom-fighters in the streets of America. The
Vietnamese are fighting for their own independence and freedom.
A similar all-text leaflet says in part:
AFRO-AMERICANS!
Over the past two months, more than a million of Black men in your homeland,
armed with weapons, have risen up against U.S. racial administration’s terrorism and
cruel suppression. This movement of struggle has been becoming ever more fiercer and
wider, prevailing throughout over 90 cities and provincial towns in 23 states of U.S.A.
Detroit of Michigan was especially considered the theater of combat. Being afraid of this
resolute and powerful struggle, The U.S racial capitalist authorities sent ten of thousand
policemen and soldiers to Detroit, tank and helicopters were applied to suppress it. Blood
is shedding, the black casualties were about one hundred killed and wounded, thousands
arrested.. But the endless shots were heard and their struggle for the rights of EQUALITY
and FREEDOM kept on going stronger all over U.S.A.
A third all-text leaflet with the same title said in part:
AFRO-AMERICANS!
Your leader, Martin Luther King was assassinated. Who has killed him? Where is
Luther King’s and all of Afro-Americans enemy? There enemy is not in Vietnam but in
the very U.S.A. Join in your comrade’s common struggle. US go home!
Afro American people…
This 10-page stapled booklet written in English and Vietnamese was prepared by the
Viet Cong on 31 July 1967. It is addressed to Afro-Americans and tells of riots in the
streets and the story of young Cassius Clay (AKA Muhammad Ali) who has refused to be
drafted and sent to South Vietnam and is being punished by the U.S. Government. It is full
of spelling and grammatical errors, and this detracts from its credibility as a propaganda
piece. Clay is mentioned on page 4:
To protest against unjust war in Vietnam, Cassius Marcellus Clay, a heavy weight
boxer of world champion, refuse to enlist and to be sent to South Vietnam.
Muhammad Ali
The story explains that he was punished by the loss of his ability to make money but
he was willing to give up his championship, a million dollars a year and his reputation
for his conscience.
History tells us that Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., changed his name to Muhammad Ali
in 1964 after converting to Islam. On April 28, 1967, with the United States at war in
Vietnam, Ali refused to be inducted into the armed forces, saying “I ain’t got
no quarrel with those Vietcong.” On June 20, 1967, Ali was convicted of draft
evasion, sentenced to five years in prison, fined $10,000 and banned from boxing for three
years. He stayed out of prison as his case was appealed and returned to the ring on 26
October 1970. According to the date on this leaflet it was prepared just three months
after the court case.
An Earlier Version?
Curiously, there is a much better version of this pamphlet that is just four pages
long. Because of the quality, one would think it was a later production with better
printing presses and paper. But, it does not mention Muhammed Ali so I assume it is an
earlier version. The date was not changed on either version so they both say “July 21
at 1967.”
U.S. Colored Armymen
Being really old I have lived through various names that Afro-Americans called
themselves. As a youth they were “Colored,” then the term “Negro”
became popular, soon followed by “Black” with the rise of the Black Panthers and
Black Muslims. Sometimes you hear “People of color,” but the current acceptable
term is “Afro-American.” I mention that because looking at the last few Viet
Cong leaflets we see the various words used. The first mentions “Black men,”
then “Afro-Americans,” and this leaflet uses “Colored.” Regardless of
the name, the aim is always the same; to motivate the minorities to rise up against the
whites in some kind of race war that will weaken their forces and help the Communists win
in Vietnam.
US ARMYMEN – NEGRO ARMYMEN
This leaflet is signed by the Central Trungbo Revolutionary Armed Forces. The leaflet
uses the assassination of Martin Luther King and the alleged violence of the military and
police in the United States against those blacks that rose up in protest as its theme. On
the back a Viet Cong radio station is mentioned for the American listener.
Special broadcasts for GIs in Vietnam are on the air daily. From 4:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Saigon time, from 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. Saigon time, on the 25 and 30 meter band.
You are not Alone…
This colorful folded “South Vietnam NLF” leaflet uses the color red to
catch the attention of the soldier. Lieutenant Charles A. Brown of the 1st Air Cavalry
found this one in Quang Tri in 1967. The text on the cover is:
You are not Alone in Hating this War
The leaflet opens up to show two photographs on the inside; three American
servicemen who refused to board a plane bound for Vietnam and an anti-War demonstration.
Some of the text is:
Vietnam has never attacked the US. The Vietnam War is a U.S. aggression just like
Hitler fascist aggression in the past.
GI Don't
A small printed Viet Cong leaflet says simply:
There is no hatred among the Vietnamese people and your own ones. So why are you
killing the Vietnamese?
G.I! DON’T take part in any operations – move forward – shoot. You
will return home safely!
Demand the war end
A second such piece has the text:
Demand the war end and your home repatriation! The Vietnamese affairs should be
settled by the Vietnamese themselves.
Indemnified
This short leaflet demands that Vietnamese peasants be compensated for any losses
caused by the South Vietnamese government of the Americans. Notice that they made two
words of indemnified:
Any damage should be indemni fied!
End the Vietnam War! US go Home!
This leaflet had a
similar message in Vietnamese for ARVN troops on the back.
Do not go on operation…
Often these small leaflets would just contain one line. The leaflet above has the
English-language text on one side and the same text in Vietnamese on the back.
An End to the war…
This is another small leaflet that seems to have been printed by the same Viet Cong
Unit. Once again, the back is in in Vietnamese.
I have seen a number of these small leaflets with short text messages and no images.
In one case, all were numbered. Some of the messages are:
No. 2 – U.S. Armymen in South Vietnam! Why should she wait for a man who is
coming back as an invalid, or an amputee or not coming back at all? The legal officer of
U.S. Headquarters in Saigon is processing ten divorces a day. If you still want that wife,
hurry home!
5
No. 5 –
Some
of the text is: WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU GI? McNamara says Americans will have to
learn to accept casualties. And that means you brother. You won’t find him sweating
in the jungle or going home in a coffin. There aren't any bombs planted in the Pentagon,
like there will be in your barracks, you base or the local bar.
6
This leaflet was captured in Phu Yen in October 1966 and filed as VC-95.
No. 6 –
Some
of the text is: SO WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? Combat pay and a Purple Heart if you
are one of the lucky ones. And what about the others? The Marines who don’t come out
of the jungle; the pilots who don’t make it back from their missions; the guys going
home that got hit in the Saigon airport. Their combat pay doesn't do them much good when
they go home in a box. Better think it over soldier…There isn't much in it for you!
Another small group
of slogan leaflets were found on trees in 1968 by members of the 11th Light
Infantry Battalion. As usual the English is not quite right and in one case,
I suspect they mean, "Not going to the battle"
Don't hinder
and let the Vietnamese people free to collect rice and till on their rice
fields.
Repression,
terror, massacre, house burning and woman raping…are not the democratic
American's ideals.
No destroying,
burning, and plundering paddies and houses of the Vietnames people.
Hands off the
Vietnames people's live and properties.
Unite and
refuse mopping up operations, going to the battles are the best way to
preserve your lives.
Refuse to go
fighting, commit no atrocities against the South Vietnamese people, urge for
your home return.
What will help you?
This leaflet depicts an American with wounds to his face and leg, and coffins being
shipped home. The text is:
What will help you?
Combat pay or a Purple Heart if you go home a cripple…
Or in a coffin
I did not select this leaflet because of the front. If you look at the six messages
above you will see that two of them use the line “What’s in it for you GI?”
The back of this leaflet is all text and uses the same line as a title.
Another leaflet says in part:
US ARMYMEN!
When you fight against foreign aggressors to defend your FATHERLAND and your
PEOPLE, your implementing your CODE OF CONDUCT is legitimate.
However, the present Johnson - McNamara’s dirty war of aggression against
the Vietnamese people, implementing your CODE OF CONDUCT does not make sense at all.
Two other Viet Cong leaflets bear similar titles. A second variety with the same
title says in part:
What profit does the Johnson, McNamara aggressive war in Vietnam bring to
American capitalists? Thousands of millions of dollars!
U.S. Armymen in South
Vietnam!
This leaflet is entitled "U.S. Armymen in South Vietnam!" It was
captured in Vinh Long in April 1966 and filed as VC.41. It mentions the
suffering of wives and mothers who have lost their loved ones in Vietnam.
The back is interesting because it has an image of a dead American soldier
and says:
A DEATH IN A "LOST CAUSE"
U.S. Armymen!
This leaflet shows wear and tear and I assume it was carried in some grunt’s
pocket through his entire tour in Vietnam. Once again, we see the same title but with a
longer message. It attacks Johnson and McNamara and the idea that the American invaders
are fighting North Vietnamese invaders. The back of the leaflet has the same message in
Vietnamese.
Another leaflet entitled simply “U.S Armymen!” Says:
What profit do you get by burning a house, killing a Vietnamese patriot? Nothing,
but more hatred for you from the S. VN People!
U.S. Armymen!
A similar leaflet with the same title bears the message we see on
the front of the above leaflet on the back. The back also has a different
title, "American armymen." This leaflet was captured in Thua Thien in June
1966 and filed as VC.26. The message on the front of this variation of the
leaflet begins:
The contention that “the Americans opposes the Vietnamese who
agress Vietnam, on the Vietnamese territory” is nothing but a farce…
U.S. ARMYMEN!
This last leaflet is on a blue paper and says:
US ARMYMEN!
Don’t sacrifice your honor and life for Johnson – McNamara’s dirty
aggressive war in SVN. Let the South Vietnam people settle themselves their own affairs.
OPPOSE THE US AGGRESSIVE WAR IN SVN!
REPATRIATE THE US EXPEDITIONARY CORPS!
PEACE FOR VIETNAM!
U. S. OFFICERS AND MEN!
Another all-text leaflet asks the soldier how would he react if anyone
invaded America. It says in part:
The South Vietnamee people love peace, but they love freedom and
independence more!
It is the reason why they are rising up, taking arms to oppose the
U.S. imperial aggressors and traitors to the nation.
If anyone invaded your country, massacred your compatriots,
plundered villages and properties, how would you react to all that?
U. S. OFFICERS AND MEN!
Another all-text leaflet reminds the Americans of their own fight for freedom
against the British. It says in part:
In former times, your ancestors heroically opposed British imperialism to realize
independence, freedom to the Americas. That was a just war, approved by the American
people and supported by the world’s people…
Apparently the Viet Cong were unaware of the vast number of Royalists who supported
the British during the revolutionary War, and the even greater number of Europeans who
though that the rebels were upstarts that should be beaten down.
U.S. Officer and
Men!
Notice that this leaflet is like the one above but the word
“Officer” is singular, not plural. This leaflet was found in Hau Nghia in
September 1966 and coded VC.50. The back is blank. The front of the leaflet
tells American troops they are fighting for a rotten regime. It asks them to
oppose the aggressive war.
To all U.S. Officers and Men!
Another leaflet using the same general title. It was part of a propaganda peace
movement where Vietnamese civilians egged on by Viet Cong sympathizers pleaded with U.S
forces not to use artillery near their homes and fields. The leaflet was handed to Second
Lieutenant Dan Moore, a United States Marine forward observer by Vietnamese farmers
pushing them to the Americans through the wire at Phu Lac, a Marine company combat base
about 20 miles southwest of Da Nang.
Second Lieutenant Dan Moore
Dan had this to say about the leaflet:<
About noon on Christmas Day 1967 we were alerted that a large group of unarmed
local Vietnamese villagers, accompanied by what had to be VC organizers, were approaching
the base on a dirt road. The crowd stopped outside the wire. We watched the group,
shouting slogans in Vietnamese, for about ten minutes. The group leaders handed us a
number of small leaflets.
From a letter I sent home from Vietnam on 9 January 1968:
“About 300 people brought to our base propaganda literature along with a
Peace Christmas tree. They pleaded for food and protection from artillery fire, which
prevented them from working their fields. This is probably true to a considerable degree.
The villagers did not speak English or know what the propaganda leaflets contained.”
This leaflet was handed to the American troops on Christmas Day 1967 and uses a
Christmas message and ends with:
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Peace for Vietnam!
U.S OFFICERS AND MEN!
I was not going to add this leaflet because we actually show the “Officers and
men” comment about 10 times in this article. However, the story makes this item
particularly interesting.
My friend SP4 Keith Klemba served in the 1st Squadron of the 1st Cavalry Division,
operating out of the Marine Base Camp on Hill 29 in I Corps. He served in Vietnam for 14
months from 1968-1969. On one occasion the men were camped near the Chu Lai Beach in the
summer of 1969. When they woke up they found the above leaflet on top of each tent. The VC
had somehow infiltrated during the night, perhaps from the water, got past the look-outs
and left each tent a leaflet. They could have just as easily cut some throats. Keith told
me:
We were lucky that night that we were not killed and only received this leaflet.
U.S officers and men!
Another
use of the same general title, but this one also mentions Robert McNamara who was often a
target of their insults. The back of this leaflet has the same message in Vietnamese.
U.S OFFICERS AND
MEN!
This leaflet with just a period after the “U” in “US” was captured
in August 1966 in Phong Dinh and filed as VC.20. The back bears the same
message in Vietnamese. This leaflet talks about all the peace-loving people
back home that are protesting the war…Prominent personages,
intellectuals, social and political militants, and a great many students.
The Viet Cong carefully watched anti-war demonstrations in the U.S.
US officers and
men!
The same title but without any periods. This leaflet was sent to
Intelligence in May 1966 filed as VC.18. The same message appears on the
back in Vietnamese. It mentions that the reader’s life is precious and his
wife and children need him back home.
US OFFICERS AND MEN!
The vast majority of the leaflets using this title are all text. This leaflet has an
image of President Lyndon B. Johnson on the front so I thought it was worth adding.
Johnson is deep in thought and we can see that he is thinking about armed troops in
Vietnam. The message on the back is in English and Vietnamese and says in part:
Johnson proclaims he wants peace negotiations without pre-conditions, but in fact
the US wants:
1. To partition VN permanently into two separate states.
2. To have US troops occupy permanently South VN…
US OFFICERS AND
MEN!
This one has a dot between the “U” and “S.” Its propaganda theme is
the Tet 1968 offensive where the people were supposed to rise and support
the Viet Cong. It gives totals for all the damage the Viet Cong allegedly
did. In fact, they were almost wiped out as a military force. The back of
the leaflet mentions President Johnson. Some of the numbers on the
front are:
150,000 enemy troops annihilated among them 45,000 IS aggressors.
200,000 puppet troops put out of action.
2,200 aircraft were shot down and damaged.
This title was a favorite of the Viet Cong. I have seen many such leaflets. Five
with identical titles talk of Viet Cong victories over U.S. forces; How precious American
lives are and why they should be protected; American anti-war movements; the rotten regime
in Saigon; and the fact that the Vietnamese are not the enemies of America and the war is
a Civil War.
U. S. ARMYMEN!
Another all-text leaflet says in rather bad grammar and spelling:
U. S. ARMYMEN!
The contention that “the Americans oppose the Vietnamese who aggrese Vietnam,
on the Vietnamese territory” is nothing but a farce!
Is it conceivable that you, a fair minded person, believe the deceitful
contentions of Johnson – Macnamara?
Why sacrifice your youthful days, bury your honor and life in the South Vietnam
battlefieds?
AMERICAN ARMYMEN!
Marine Lance-corporal Wayne Evans was stationed in Vietnam from February 1966 to
March 1967. He was a member of Whiskey Battery, 2nd Battalion of the 11th Marines attached
to Battalion Landing Team (1st Battalion/5th Marines)which offloaded from the USS
Princeton LPH-5 and set up a firebase about 12-15 miles northwest of Chu Lai on the west
side of Highway 1 and did helicopter assaults from firebases Red Hill and Hill 35. He was
wounded on 11 September 1966 at 0140 during a mortar and small arms attack on his
perimeter security position. He brought back the above poorly printed leaflet which he
found in a Viet Cong tunnel entrance on Operation Apache in June 1966. He says:
I was with my fire team and we came upon a tunnel within the village. I looked
down the vertical entrance of the tunnel (about 3 feet) and could barely see the writing
on this leaflet and it looked curious. After checking for booby traps I stepped into the
tunnel entrance and bent down to look closer. As I bent down to retrieve the leaflet a
tarantula the size of a Buick reared up it front legs to take me on. I'll never forget
that event.
This exact same message has been seen on a second leaflet without the fancy border
and bird design at the bottom. It was simply printed on a plain piece of paper in a
different font and style.
TO THE ANTI-WAR AMERICAN SERVICEMEN!
Another S.V.N.N.F.L. is a leaflet folded to make four pages. The outside two
are in English, the inside two are in Vietnamese. The leaflet mentions
Johnson and McNamara and warmly welcomes those American troops with the
“Correct Attitude,” which in the case means “defector.” The finder is asked
to fill out a “Bill for Special Fair Treatment” on the back and present it
to the first enemy fighter he sees as he surrenders.
OUR POLICY TOWARD U.S. AND SATELLITE PRISONERS…
This leaflet from the “High Command of the South Vietnam Liberation Armed
Forces” explains that the Viet Cong are really nice people that can be trusted. It
says that their policy is based on humanitarian and lenient policies, personal items will
not be confiscated, prisoners can write home and of course POWs will be well-treated.
Evidence seems indicate otherwise. This leaflet came directly from the Intelligence file
of the 7th PSYOP Group.
OUR POLICY TOWARD U.S. AND SATELLITE PRISONERS…
Apparently,
different Viet Cong units were sent the same propaganda messages and told to
print and disseminate them. In some cases, I have seen as many as four
different fonts for the same leaflet. This is a case in point. This is the
exact same message as printed above, but a different unit did it using a
different printing press and a different font. I add this to point out if
you find a leaflet that does not look exactly like one I depict, that does
not mean it is fake. The paper must still be old and of low quality, but if
it is aged and can be vouched for by a veteran that brought it back, it can
be genuine.
American GIs
Sometimes you just run across a leaflet you love because of the fractured English.
This leaflet is Vietnamese on one side and something similar to English on the other. The
Brown-water Navy types who found this leaflet were near Cu Chi and the Iron
Triangle and faced both NVA and Viet Cong. They were one of the first PBR units
on Operation Slingshot in December 1968. Three Navy taskforces in the Mekong Delta were
combined to form one force to combat the enemy on a single large front. This new force was
dubbed Operation SEALORDS and was designated Task Force 194. Some of the text of this
leaflet is:
American gis para christmas and new year have come! Your pariets your families
and. Your dead budkis are longing for and very much worried about you para every one is
praying to god for your afety from the sendekess and shameful deathin the usijust war
being waged byu…
AMERICAN GIS!
This leaflet
seems to be made by the same Viet Cong who made the one above. If anything,
the English is worse. On the back of the leaflet, we find the same message
in Vietnamese. Some of this fractured text is:
With in two
recent days (Decemder 27, 28, 1968) over Inf Div stationed at Dong Du base
camp (Cu-Chi) simultaneously rose up to oppose the war. The help high their
band roles and slogans demanding…
An immediate end to the war in Vietnam.
A with draw all of the U.S troops from S.V.N.
American G.I’s!
Another
leaflet with the same title. This one reads a bit better. It claims that
there is an almost week-long meeting of antiwar protestors.
We should add the U.S. Navy did PSYOP work along the shores and in the rivers and
streams of Vietnam using their Patrol Boats River (PBRs) for the length of the war. The
U.S. Naval Forces Vietnam After-action Monthly Reports tells us much more about
what the Navy did and how the Viet Cong tried to counter it:
In December 1967, along the coastline of South Vietnam and myriad waterways of the
Delta, 186,000 leaflets were distributed and 150 hours of surface and 58 hours of aerial
broadcasts were conducted by naval units. In addition 49,532 newspapers and 6,410
magazines were distributed to bring to the people the true news of the Government of South
Vietnam.
The Viet Gong continued extensive psychological operations against the PBRs during
September. The Tan Chau District Chief reported the Viet Cong were telling the populace
that PBR personnel would rape, kill and steal whenever they stopped boats. The
effectiveness of this was confirmed men one Sa Dec patrol stopped a boat containing young
girls, several of whom went into hysterics as the patrol approached. It appeared that the
Viet Cong PSYOP effort had spread to the northern areas of the Mekong Delta.
American G.I’s!
Another leaflet with the same title was found in 1970. As usual, the grammar and
spelling are all wrong but I leave it as is for the reader.
American G.I's!
Your loved ones back home don't want you are far away from home ten thousands of
miles to die uselessly for the selfish interests of a few men. They are struggling to
demand an end to the war in order to bring you home alive.
Why can you help being forced to be the last one killed in this war by a warlike
company in washington?"
Do listen to the angry voice of your people in the demons trations against the
Nixon's war on this october.
Rise up! Refuse to fight to demand an end to the war, peace for Vietnam
Repatriation of all u.s troops.
Quangnam National Front for Liberation
American G.I’s
A third leaflet with the same title. Funny that in every case there is no period
after the second “I.” This one is in English on the front and Vietnamese on the
back. It must have been printed around Christmas 1970 and is more political in nature,
mentioning Cambodia and Laos. This leaflet was found by Specialist Four Kevin Perrier
assigned to E-Recon, 2nd Battalion of the 7th Cavalry in early 1971 in War Zone D.
American G.I’s
A fourth leaflet with the same title. The Viet Cong clearly liked this heading or they
received orders from above to use it and followed those orders to the letter. This leaflet
has the same message in Vietnamese on the back and a code which indicates it was used
about fall of 1967.
Why the Struggle Movement…
This is a second leaflet from the Quangnam National Front for Liberation. I
only add it because the story is so damn good. A soldier from the 1st Infantry Regiment,
196th Infantry Brigade, the 23rd Infantry Division told me that his 14-man unit was
holding a position on a small crown along a ridgeline. This was in Thien Phouc in
early 1971. About mid-day, they were alerted that an estimated battalion of VC was coming
down a trail directly at them. The men got busy putting out trip flares and Claymore mines
and the Lieutenant sent a patrol to scout the area. They came back reporting nothing
unusual. They waited on full alert, watching and listening intently, but the VC battalion
never showed. After several hours another patrol was sent out and they weren't gone 5
minutes before they rushed back waving hands full of Viet Cong leaflets. Before they'd
even gone 50 meters, they found them scattered around on the ground and in the bushes.
They'd even mounted one on a forked stick and stuck it right in the middle of the trail so
we couldn't miss it. And, they'd done that in broad daylight and while the unit was on
full alert. That phantom VC battalion was still out there somewhere.
The unit decided caution was the better part of valor and un-assed the area the
following morning. They still wonder how a battalion could get up practically in their
wire and leave propaganda leaflets without being seen.
G.I.’S
Another Viet Cong leaflet with “G.I.’s” as a title. I chose this
leaflet because it shows a little knowledge of GI “speak.” The leaflet mentions
DEROS three times and I was surprised that they knew the word, an abbreviation of
“Date Eligible for Return From Overseas.” Almost every soldier knew his dates,
when his tour was almost over and he was “short,” and the date he could return
home. How odd that the Viet Cong should use that term three times in one leaflet. This
leaflet was found by Sergeant (E-5) Dennis Moore, an 11B infantryman of the Roadrunner
platoon, 1st of the 22nd, 4th Infantry Division. He found the leaflet sometime in
1969-1970. Note that the VC mention the 4th Division in their propaganda text so this
should be considered a tactical leaflet, one aimed at the enemy directly in front of you
and not a strategic leaflet that uses a more general propaganda.
A POEM FROM AN AMERICAN GI OF THE 4TH INF DIVISION
Since we mention the 4th Division and GIs above, here is a leaflet that mentions a
4th Division soldier. He is a poet and since this is Viet Cong propaganda he is confused
and does not understand why he is at war. It is also racial propaganda since it mentions a
1969 peace rally.
G.I.’s in the 4th Infantry Division
It is funny
that they mention Tet 1968 still pretending it was a great victory when in
fact they were almost wiped out. Notice the Communists claim to have shot
down 451 planes. By the end of the war their numbers are over 4000.
The leaflet is dated 5/1968, just a few months after the Tet
offensive.
Korean Officers and Soldiers
There were Korean military units helping the South Vietnamese, and the Viet Cong
knew it. Here they print a leaflet aimed at the Koreans. It was found at a construction
site of a new air base at Phu Cat on 17 June 1966. Other such leaflets were also found by
the Koreans. The 10,000-foot landing strip was being built by the Koreans and protected by
the Republic of Korea Capital Division. An American critique of the leaflet points out
that the Koreans don’t feel themselves racially allied to the Vietnamese, they would
be insulted by an attack on their leader Park Chung Hee, and the Viet Cong would have no
way to repatriate them. Some of the text of this leaflet is:
The people of southern Vietnam, under the leadership of the South
Vietnam National Liberation Front, are engaged in opposition to the
aggression of U.S. imperialism and its traitorous lackeys in the ancient
struggle to realize Vietnam as an independent, neutral, and neutral
country.
The people of the Vietnamese People's Republic and the Korean
People are also engaged in an aggressive struggle against U.S.
imperialism. Korean officers and soldiers, we are friends. We are all
Asians. Asians do not kill Asians. U.S. imperialism is our common enemy.
Vietnamese militiamen of North Korea. The people must unite to oppose U.S.
imperialism to save the country and the family! Oppose the U.S. imperial
aggression in South Vietnam.
Object to the revolutionary government of Park Chung Hee. Do not take part
in operations to kill Vietnamese, burn homes, sabotage, and attack
villages. Go back home. The liberation movement forces in South Vietnam
have a policy to return you to your home to be together with your
families.
I should add that it could have been North Korean PSYOP troops that wrote this
leaflet and others like it. The 1968 Vietnamese Ministry of Defense history of the
Vietnam War, mentions North Korean PSYOP:
Our enemy proselyting service coordinated with an operational cell from the
Central Committee of the Korean Workers Party to launch an ideological offensive aimed at
South Korean troops. During the period 1966-67, in accordance with an agreement between
the Central Committee of our Party and the Central Committee of the Korean Labor Party,
our North Korean allies sent a cadre team to Region V to proselytize South Korean
soldiers.
In addition, a 2010 article published in “People’s Army” mentioned
the presence in North Vietnam of a team of North Korean “specialists” who helped
to produce North Vietnamese Korean-language propaganda broadcasts directed against South
Korean troops fighting in South Vietnam.
North Korean intelligence/psychological warfare specialists were still operating in
South Vietnam as late as 1971.
North Korea sent a team to Vietnam to help in the propaganda effort
against the South Korean soldiers aiding the Vietnamese. A 20 October 1969
confidential report from the U.S. 4th Infantry Division reports capturing 23
audio tapes that were made at the Second Congress of Outstanding
Emulators held in September 1969. To the Communist, an “emulator” was
one that copied and acted just as some political or military hero had. They
had been the property of the North Korean Military Proselyting Group in Bihn
Dinh Province. The tapes were on many subjects such as: the achievements of
postal transportation and communications cadre, propaganda and music, Hanoi
Radio stations, female cadre distributing propaganda leaflets and acting as
guides for combat units, a female military Proselyting member who convinced
two South Vietnamese soldiers to defect, and many more. A letter from North
Korea was found to the unit that promised a new type of propaganda leaflet
in the climaxing phase of the battle. There were also 30 photographs
depicting the fighters moving through the bush armed with pistols and
rifles, resting, or getting a haircut. Three females were among the
photographs, all armed with pistols. The North Korean Military Proselyting
Group operated in Binh Dinh Province for eight months.
A May 1968 Military Assistance
Command Vietnam J2 (Intelligence document) adds:
The VC recently distributed
several propaganda leaflets in Da Nang City. Although most of the leaflets
contained the usual anti-Government of Vietnam and United States propaganda,
the Korean forces in Vietnam were the object of the enemy's most severe
propaganda. One leaflet attempted to influence RVN servicemen to cease all
support of the Thieu-Ky government and to support the "Liberation Forces" by
citing alleged atrocities inflicted by South Korean troops on the families
of servicemen.
U.S. Army Colonel Jiyul
Kim (Retired), was an intelligence officer and a Northeast Asia
Foreign Area officer with specialization in Japan and the Koreas. He said
about North Korean aid to North Vietnam on 1 September 2017, (edited for
brevity):
The decision to support North Vietnam was made in 1965 and
implemented in 1966. On 3 May 2012, North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency
(KCNA) reported on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, during an inspection
tour of North Korean air and air defense units, commenting on a photograph
of North Korean pilots who flew in the Vietnam War. Fighter pilots were just
the most dramatic element of North Korea’s military aid to North Vietnam.
Also dispatched were observers and PSYOP teams who operated in
South Vietnam with the National Liberation Front to observe South Korean
troops, who started deploying in late 1964 and whose numbers reached 50,000
by 1968, and to mount psychological and propaganda operations against them.
Later in his report he goes deeper into the North Korean PSYOP
campaign:
An unknown number of North Korean personnel, perhaps a few dozen,
were sent to South Vietnam to operate with the National Liberation Front
(NLF). They had two missions, to observe the tactics, techniques and
procedures of the South Korean army and marine units deployed to Vietnam
(1964-1967), and to assist the NLF conduct propaganda operations against
those forces. The Romanian embassy reported in a 6 July 1967 cable to
the Romanian foreign ministry in Bucharest, a conversation with Nguyen
Long, a member of the National Liberation Front delegation in Pyongyang,
who stated that “North Koreans had plenty of people active in South
Vietnam. They are active in those areas where South Korean troops are
operating, to study their fighting tactics, techniques, combat
readiness, and the morale of the South Korean Army, and to use
propaganda against South Koreans.” Nguyen stated that North Korea was
planning to send additional personnel to South Vietnam although they
were hampered by language difficulties.
An official Vietnamese history provides a bit more of the context
of the operation:
[In the middle of a section dealing with atrocities committed by
South Korean troops during 1966 and the Party's efforts to launch a
propaganda program about this subject]...The National Liberation
Front Committee for Central Vietnam issued an urgent proclamation
denouncing these atrocities over the radio. Local organizations
distributed tens of thousands of leaflets warning against the barbarous
killings of women and children by South Korean soldiers on orders from
the Americans and urged our three types of troops to exterminate South
Korean soldiers "to take revenge for the people." Our enemy proselyting
service coordinated with an operational cell [to Cong Tac] from
the Central Committee of the Korean Labor [Communist] Party to
launch an ideological offensive aimed at South Korean troops. (Footnote:
During the period 1966-67, in accordance with an agreement between the
Central Committee of our Party and the Central Committee of the Korean
Labor Party, our [North Korean] allies sent a cadre team to
Region V to proselytize South Korean soldiers.
Another official Vietnamese source provided the size of the PSYOP
detachment, “…a total of 384 North Korean Air Force troops (including 96
pilots) arrived in Vietnam, accompanied by 35 enemy proselyting and
radio broadcasting specialists.”
There are only anecdotal accounts of South Korean troops
encountering North Koreans on the battlefield, but never face-to-face.
One South Korean soldier from the 9th “White Horse” Infantry Division
distinctly remembered hearing Korean spoken with a North Korean accent
during a fire fight shouting at someone to “Shoot! Shoot!” The soldier
recalled being petrified with fear and feeling more scared about
encountering one North Korean soldier than a hundred Vietcong. Details
about these observer/PSYOP detachments remain unknown. North Korea has
never acknowledged or mentioned the observer/PSYOYP detachments. When
were they sent? How many? How did they operate? These questions remain
to be answered.
North Korean PSYOP
leaflets
Occasionally, South Korean forces captured material used by the
North Korean observer/PYSOP detachments indirectly confirming their
presence.
Captured North Korean PSYOP leaflets and tape
recorder
A North Korean
Propaganda Poster.
Why should you have
to die in a foreign land so far from home,
leaving behind your
parents, wife, and children?
Captured NLF arms and material including a
banner in Korean,
Long Live Vietnamese-Korean People’s
Friendship!
Surprise leaflet 0521
An American mother by the coffin of her dead son is a common sight
on Korean War Communist leaflets. So, I was looking through my folder of
Vietnam War leaflets and I see this one and
immediately
thought, "how did this end up in the wrong folder? That is obviously a
Korean War leaflet." Then I turned it over and find a message from the South
Vietnam National Liberation front. Son of a gun. The Viet Cong copied a
Korean War Communist leaflet on one side and then put their own message on
the back. That is a first for me. This leaflet was captured early in the war
in 1964 and filed as VC.73.
Nowadays is There Any Place in South Vietnam…
I was not sure where to put this folded leaflet that opens into
four pages. It was found in Kontum in June 1966 and filed as VC.28. I put it
here because it shows the same North Korean leaflet on the back.
PHILIPPINO SERVICEMEN!
I have seen leaflets in English, Vietnamese and Korean. I have seen leaflets that
targeted Hispanics and Blacks. This is one the first I have seen that targeted Filipinos
working with the Americans. The back of the leaflet has the same message in Vietnamese.
250,000 Expeditionary French…
I added this leaflet to drive home the point that genuine Viet Cong leaflets were
often printed from hand-carved wood or rubber blocks, always on cheap paper and generally
did not last long in the tropical climate of Southeast Asia. Compare this leaflet to all
the fancy full-color fakes on perfect paper or cardboard for sale today. The language is
also interesting. They seldom got it right. This leaflet says:
250,000 expeditionary French corpses were routed here. Don’t
follow their footsteps!
Don’t massacre innocent children, weak women!
Stop terrorist raids, massacre, plunder, house burning and wemen raping.
Don’t sow death and destruction then you will not be given any harm.
I assume they meant to say that 250,000 French soldiers were routed here, or 250,000
corpses were left here. They managed somehow to imply that they had routed the corpses.
They misspelled “woman” on the back as “wemen.” Finally, instead of
saying “you will not be harmed,” they say “you will not be given any
harm.” This is a perfect example of a guerrilla band in the bush trying to produce an
English-language leaflet.
Notice also the comments added by the American troops that found the leaflet and a
second comment perhaps from their officer or S2. Some of the (edited) comments are:
Three Viet Cong killed in action.
One United States soldier killed in action.
Other comments tell the date the leaflet was found, the general vicinity, the unit,
and point out that the leaflet was found “lying beside road.”
A veteran from the 199th Light Infantry Brigade said after perusing this leaflet:
Sir Charles tried to scare us with those things in the 199th Area of Operations.
It didn't work. Then again, I'm not sure how much good the Chieu Hoi pamphlets that we
dropped on them did either. It always freaked me out to walk thru an area where those
Chieu Hoi pamphlets were littering the ground.It kind of made you think that maybe it was
Charlie's country.Of course, it usually was. I found it kind of hard to accept a Chieu Hoi
after he had run out of ammo, defected, and your buddy was dead.
However, we did have an outstanding Kit Carson scout and that was where we got
him. He would use his Viet Cong sapper skills to come thru our perimeter at the firebase
and it was downright scary to watch.
Don’t Massacre
innocent Children, weak Women.
Looking through this article I see the word "massacre" mentioned by
the Viet Cong 18 times. We might as well go for a 19th. This was printed in
the bush on a homemade printer, perhaps made of wood, and printed with weak
ink on some terrible pulp paper, not unlike newspaper stock. The message is
simple. I wonder about the Viet Cong that delivered it close to the wire of
an American outpost. He knew there were people on guard with rifles, perhaps
even night vision scopes. He knew there would be Claymore mines in the
ground. Yet he quietly approached the American lines in the dead of night to
lay these leaflets on the ground, or perhaps stick them in the wires. He
would give his life to deliver this leaflet to some American who would laugh
at it and tear it up. It its on way, that is a very brave act. The back of
this leaflet is blank.
American Servicemen
There were a number of Viet Cong leaflets addressed to American Servicemen. This one
with red text is interesting because it accuses Americans of atrocities. Some of the text
is:
American Servicemen
Don’t fire at and spray suffocating gas into our people’s air and
cannon shelters. Don’t destroy crop, kill domestic animals and plunder our
people’s property. Repression, terrorism, massacre, house burning, woman
raping…are not the democratic American’s ideals. Stop spraying noxious chemicals
in Vietnam.
The leaflet is signed on the back by the “South Vietnam National Front for
Liberation” and has additional text:
Stop the war of aggression in South Vietnam! bloods of American and Vietnam youth
have been shed too much. Peace in South Vietnam and repatriation for all U.S. Troops!
American Servicemen
A second South Vietnam National Front for Liberation leaflet uses the same title but
has a longer message in black ink. Some of the text is:
American Servicemen
Show yourselves worthy children of the great American people: Act courageously as
your conscience and justice loving spirit tell you to do. Demand your immediate
repatriation to enjoy the sweetness at being at home again.
If Johnson, McNamara and the like want war, tell them to go to South Vietnam by
themselves. They will know what a guerilla’s blow is like...
American Servicemen
This version of the “American Servicemen” leaflet from the Quangnam
National Front for Liberation was found in 1970 and has the following text:
American service men!
Intellectuals, students and U.S. progressive people all over the United States
have no desire to support this war. They don't want their boys dead uselessly as 35,000
U.S. boys have laid down their lives in Vietnam for the selfish interests of Nixon. The
have absolutely condemned the Nixon's war and demanded an end to this war, Repatriation of
all U.S. troops.
As being the soldiers in the Vietnam battlefield why can yhou help being forced
to get killed in this dirty war of Nixon?
There are at least three varieties of a leaflet with the same title and the text
starting:
Why are your bloods shed too much in South Vietnam.
American Servicemen!
This leaflet is fairly well written and quotes a Congressman Koch who attacked
President Nixon about the waste of American lives and money.
The back of the leaflet has
the same message written in Vietnamese.
American
Servicemen!
The first
leaflet in this group of five accuses the Americans of "woman-raping." We
end with a leaflet that uses the same term, perhaps by the same writer. It
asks the troops to:
Stop terrorist raids, massacre, plunder, house burning, woman
raping.
Sometimes instead of “American Servicemen” a South Vietnam National Front
for Liberation leaflet would be addressed to “US Servicemen.” One such leaflet
not depicted here tells the finders that their real enemy is President Johnson and General Westmoreland who
have sent them to Vietnam to die to make profits for American capitalists.
American Servicemen in South Vietnam
This is another common title for Viet Cong leaflets. The language is pretty strong
though I doubt any American soldier would admit to the crimes stated by the enemy:
Stop terrorist raids, massacre, plunder, house burning and woman raping!
Don’t massacre innocent children, weak women!
The back goes on to mention the Korean War and 140,000 American lives lost and the
suffering of tens of thousands of American mothers. The letter is signed by “The
South Vietnam Liberation National Front.”
AMERICAN SERVICEMEN IN SOUTH VIETNAM
This leaflet was taken from the body of a Viet Cong guerrilla on 1 September 1966. The
leaflet is signed by the South Vietnam Liberation National Front and uses Christmas as a
theme to demoralize American troops and make them long for home. Some of the poorly
written text is:
Why you can’t enjoy Christmas eve besides your loved ones at home?
Because: the U.S. government has been waging the aggressive war in south Vietnam
which against Amrican interests. You are forced to commit these atrocious transgressions:
in the daily raids women, children are killed: poison gas is used to massacre honest
people; villages are burnt; churches are destroyed….in that situation how can
Vietnamese people have a happy Christmas?
There are handwritten comments on the back of this leaflet by the unit who
discovered it. Lieutenant Groom states that it was found on the body of a dead Viet Cong
on 1 September 1966, near map coordinate YA 850130, by the 1st Psywar Intelligence team.
American servicemen in South Vietnam
This is
another leaflet that mentions Christmas. The South Vietnam National Front
for Liberation tells the troops that they can have a happy Christmas if they
perform four acts. Of course, those four acts would be very beneficial to
the Viet Cong’s terrorist tactics.
AMERICAN SERVICEMEN
IN SOUTH VIETNAM
This leaflet was captured in June 1966 and Intelligence filed it as
VC-25. It has a different message on each side, so I show both sides. The
leaflet basically blames President Johnson for the war and says there is no
hatred between the American and Vietnamese people.
I also have this with a different font and without color found in
Bien Dien in May 1966.
To American servicemen in South Vietnam
The leaflet from the South Vietnam National Front for Liberation is printed on both
sides. It mentions the many anti-war demonstrations in the United States on the front. The
back demands that if Johnson and McNamara want a war, let them go to Vietnam and they will
quickly see what war is really like.
I also have this leaflet with the title in red, and note it was
found in Quang Diem on 24 July 1966 and filed as VC.47.
AMERICAN – SERVICEMEN
This South Vietnam Liberation Army folded leaflet has four sides. The front depicts
an anti-war demonstration in the United States. The 3-page propaganda text says that the
Americans have been tricked into fighting a war of aggression. It claims that the
Americans have used poison gas and noxious chemicals to kill crops. It claims that the
Americans are now hated more than Hitler was. It ends with the usual request that the
soldiers stop murdering and burning and demand peace and return
home.
AMERICAN SERVICEMEN,
DO YOU KNOW THIS?
This leaflet is folded in such a way as to have six pages. In was
captured in Hau Nhgia in September 1966 and coded by U.S. Intelligence
VC.66. The troops who found the leaflet wrote a brief message at the bottom
saying that it was found at 0400. The leaflet is too long to show more than
two of the three panels on each side, so understand that you are not reading
the text in order.
Afro-Americans!
Another NLF leaflet reported that blacks were given all the dirty and dangerous
jobs. The leaflet went so far to suggest that black GIs refuse to fight and surrender so
that they could be sent home. The leaflet reads in part:
In combat in Vietnam you are forced to:
- Go first
- Withdraw last
- Stay in the outer ring
- Do the hardest and the most dangerous jobs!
In Vietnam casualty rates for blacks are much higher than whites!
In the states you are called niggers! The Vietnamese people are not your enemy!
Refuse to obey all combat orders! Sit on the fence! Refuse to interfere in the internal
affairs of your Vietnamese brothers! Refuse to perpetuate crimes against them! When under
attack, lay down your weapons, let yourselves be captured: you will be taken alive and
will eventually be allowed to return home.
Cross over to the S.V.N.F.L.: you’ll be warmly welcomed and receive
all possible help to return to the United States or seek asylum in a foreign country.
Demand to be sent home immediately! Your true struggle is in the United States.
A 21 March 1970 report from Marine Combined Action Platoon (CAP) 4-1-1 tells of a
running gunfight with a number of Viet Cong. It ends:
The Patrol returned to the Area of Operations and conducted a sweep of the area,
producing one B-40 rocket and propaganda leaflets on racism.
We cannot determine which of the Viet Cong leaflets with a theme of racism was found,
but it could well have been one of the above.
"...we put you right up front".
How Democracy Operates
Another NLF leaflet featured the myth that minority troops were dying in
greater numbers than their white comrades did. The leaflet has a cartoon on the front
where a staff sergeant says to his assembled troops:
Back home in the States, negroes are at the end of the line, but here in Vietnam
it's different - we put you right up front.
False claims are made on the back that:
11 percent of the U.S. population are Negroes. 30 percent of the G.I.s in Vietnam
are Negroes. 40% of G.I. deaths in Vietnam are Negroes.
In reality, white troops died at a slightly higher percentage than in the general
population.
BLACK G.I. IN THE U.S. ARMY
Courtesy Major Hammond Salley
This leaflet speaks for itself. It tells the finder that blacks in the U.S.A are
being abused, oppressed, exploited, manhandled, and murdered by racist authorities. There
is a long propaganda text on both the front and back.
American Negro Soldiers!
This is another short leaflet from the South Vietnam National Liberation Front that
implies that the war of the Guerrillas from the north is identical to the war being fought
against black Americans at home. It asks black American soldiers to join with the North
Vietnamese to fight oppression.
Letter of a Colored P.O.W.
Bobby L. Johnson after his Release
This folded leaflet depicts U.S. soldier Bobby Louis Johnson and three pages of
English text. The back of the leaflet has the same text but in Vietnamese. We can see from
his identification number that he was drafted and is a Specialist Four which is the same
as a Corporal. He was a heavy truck driver for the 62nd Truck Company. His grammar is weak
and he does not capitalize many words. Johnson and Burt Kinzel were riding in a truck when
they were ambushed. They stopped and hid in a mud hut as the enemy was approaching from
all sides. Kinzel ran and escaped the Viet Cong. Johnson was captured and held until 1973.
He spent 1,633 days in captivity. Although his name appears on this leaflet, he was
presented with a Bronze Star at the end of the war for putting his own life in danger to
save the life of an Army Colonel while a prisoner. The text is:
LETTER OF A COLORED P.O.W. TO COLORED G.I’S IN S.V.N.
Colored GI’s in south vietnam
I am Bobby L. Johnson
US67152899 E-4 62TC 7th BN 48th groups
I am a colored man in detroit michigan. I was captured by the liberation army on
aug 25, 1968. When I was in the convoy going from Cu Chi to tay ninh. Lucky to be a pow,
alive and aware of the truth I think it is necessary to write you a letter.
Since I was captured I have been treated so good and given enough to eat and
drink. I’ve never been tortured nor mistreated. It is completely different from what
the US Administration says. You know that in the states we colored men are badly treated
by the white Administration Martin Luther King was trying to help our people but as you
know he was killed. Our colored youth are sent to south vietnam, forced to burn down home
and burn their food and kill little babies and their mothers. You know that colored GI s
killed in action are most than white. They work harder but make less money. Johnson and
the white administration make much money. The enemy of the colored is not the Vietnamese
peoples but the racists at home. We don’t have anything here to fight for we should
go home to fight racial discrimination and poverty.
To avoid useless death you should: Demand an end to the war. Refuse to go out on
operation by every means. When you are in cross fire lay down your arms give yourself up:
Cross over to the national liberation front; you will be alive and sent home to
your family
Sept. 30 – 1968
Bobby L. Johnson
This leaflet can be used as a passport
STATEMENT OF THREE G.I’s TAKEN P.O.W’s BY THE L.A.F.
Bobby Johnson appears on three other leaflets, each showing a group of three American
prisoners. The first is folded to make four pages. Three pages are in English and one in
Vietnamese. The propaganda message is signed by Thomas N. Jones SP4 519422963 86th
T.C. 6th BN. 48th G.P, Kenneth R. Gregory Sgt. RA 18708340 352nd T.C. 6th BN. 48th G.P,
and Bobby L. Johnson SP4 67152899 62nd T.C. 48th G.P 7th BN.
The Second leaflet is:
LETTER
OF 3 US P.O.W’s G.I’s IN SOUHT V.N
This leaflet is folded into four pages with the last page being written in
Vietnamese. The September 1968 leaflet has a letter signed by Sergeant Kenneth R. Gregory,
Specialist 4th Class Thomas N. Jones and Specialist 4th Class Bobby L. Johnson. The letter
explains that rather than torture and death, the Viet Cong have treated them very well. It
says in part:
We write this letter to you to tell of the treatment of the N.F.L towards us and
of our understanding of the war in Vietnam…We were captured August 25, 1968
when the convoy we were in was ambushed by the Liberation Army. We had been told by the US
army if captured we would be tortured and even Killed. We were and are not! Instead we
have received the best of treatment. The reason we are alive now is because we crossed
over to the L.A.F. at the first chance we had. We were immediately evacuated from the
fight to the rear where we were safe. Then we received clothing, food, water and
cigarettes…Demand to be sent home and an immediate stop to the unjust and aggressive
war in Vietnam waged by the Johnson administration.
Notice that the Viet Cong should have edited this letter a bit more.
“South” is spelled “Souht” and the men were apparently captured by the
National Football League because they write “N.F.L” rather than
“N.L.F.”
The Third leaflet Depicting the three captives is:
Letter of 3 U.S P.O.W’s to drivers in the U.S army in S.V.N.
Some of the text is difficult to read so I have guessed the meaning
of a few words. The first few lines are:
We were captured when the convoy we were in was ambushed on August
26, 1968, between Cu Chi and Tay Ninh. Since we were captured, we have
received very good treatment from the liberation army. We were given
mosquito nets, blankets, and hammocks, plenty to eat and clothing for the
climate. One of our guys was injured in the ambush received good medical
treatment before leaving the place we were captured. We are not mistreated,
tortured, forced to do hard labor, or made to go hungry as we were told by
the U.S. Army.
American truck, APC, and tank drivers in Vietnam! As we did in the
past, you face many dangers and difficulties while driving in Vietnam. The
roads we drive on are not secured at all. We have no protection and are an
easy target at all times for the Liberation Army. We must sleep on the
ground, go without enough food, and must drink dirty water…
The propaganda message is signed by Thomas N. Jones SP4 519422963 86th T.C. 6th BN.
48th G.P, Kenneth R. Gregory Sgt. RA 18708340 352nd T.C. 6th BN. 48th G.P, and Bobby L.
Johnson SP4 67152899 62nd T.C. 48th G.P 7th BN.
Thomas N. Jones
Thomas N. Jones is found on at least three different Viet Cong leaflets. He was
captured on 25 August 1968 and released on 1 January 1969, spending 4 months as a captive
of the Viet Cong. He received good treatment after being shot in both arms. On this
leaflet he mentions his good treatment by his captors and says in part:
I am Thomas N. Jones, E4 born on Sept. 19, 1947 in Evansville, Indiana…Since my
capture I have received good medical treatment from the S.V.N.N.L.F. and the People’s
Liberation Armed Forces…I plan to join the peace-loving people of America to protest
this unjust war, and to do everything in my power to end this U.S. aggressive war in South
Vietnam now….
James W. Brigham
This leaflet is so similar to the one directly above that we can assume it was made by
the same Viet Cong unit. It mentions Thomas Jones above, so they were certainly made as a
pair. This leaflet features Specialist Four James W. Brigham, who curiously identifies
himself as “colored.” He was captured on 14 September 1968 and released on 20
December 1968. He seems to have received excellent treatment. If we are to believe the
Viet Cong, he got a nice glass of warm milk (but apparently no cookies) when first
captured. They treated his head wound and gave him the “best of medical
treatment.” He plans to join the peace-loving people of America to protest this
unjust war and to do everything in his power to end this U.S. aggressive war in South
Vietnam now….
Rallied Man Nolan
SP4 McKinley Nolan
The story of Specialist Four McKinley Nolan is really interesting.He was awarded a
Combat Infantry Badge and a Purple Heart before going absent without leave for almost two
months, being busted to Private and sent to Long Binh jail. Upon release or escape he
apparently deserted on 9 November 1967. It is claimed that he was involved with PX thefts,
and beside his American wife, also had a Cambodian common-law wife. All sources seem to
indicate that Nolan went over to the Communist Vietnamese. He was a willing collaborator
and at one point broadcast propaganda for Radio Hanoi and wrote leaflets that were
circulated among American prisoners of war. When American POWs were liberated and sent
home, Nolan informed them that he had decided to stay and went with his wife to Cambodia.
He is one of just two confirmed American deserters. He worked with the Khmer Rouge for a
while, but it is believed that they eventually murdered him sometimes in 1974 or early
1975.
Richard Linnett spent 11 years researching Nolan and actually met with his
Vietnamese mentors. He said:
…we met with VC proselytizing members who lived with Nolan and they admitted
to writing all of Nolan’s propaganda. They said he could hardly spell. Nolan’s
motives were mixed and confusing. We’re still not sure if he defected or simply
deserted and was captured and then did the VC’s bidding in order to stay alive and
get to Battambang, Cambodia, where his Vietnamese/Cambodian girlfriend’s family
lived.
Above we show a four-page leaflet, three pages in English, and the last one a
translation in the Vietnamese language. We should note that in Vietnam, to
“rally” was to change sides. It is not an American term. The South Vietnam
government always asked the Viet Cong to “rally to the national cause.” In this
case the Viet Cong have used the term “Rally Man Nolan” to imply that the
soldier has voluntarily gone over to the VC. The text is:
RALLIED MAN NOLAN TO 1st AND 25th INFANTRYMEN!
G.I s of the 1st and 25th Inf. Div. My Name McKinley Nolan Corporal Serial Number
US64101802 1st Inf. Div.
I’m proud to have the pleasure to write and tell you why on November 12,
1967 I crossed over to the South Viet Nam National Libration Front.
After Nearly two years in South Vietnam I see that the war in Vietnam waged by
Johnson Government only brings harm to the lives and property of the vietnamese and
american people. I do not intend to let you add more crimes on the peace-and freedom
loving vietnamese people and try to prevent my friends from dying useless death.
Since I cross over to the South Vietnam National Liberation Front I have received
fair treatment physically and spiritually. I have never been forced to do anything against
my will.
During my stay in the Liberation Zone I see that the Vietnamese people warmly
welcome the american people’s movement against the war of Johnson Government in Viet
Nam and fully support the american people in their struggle for freedom and equality
You and I American know very clearly that the US War in Viet Nam is an aggressive
one. It is like the british making war on the American people Nearly 200 years ago. The
Vietnamese people are not our enemy. It’s those who force us to take part in this
dirty war.
The Vietnamese people are sure of victory. It is the same as the American defeat
of the British for their Independence and Freedom.
To contribute your effort to the American people’s struggle for an early end
to the dirty aggressive war to avoid useless death which is disaster to yourself. Your
wife and children and you family. You should demand for peace and end to the war! Demand
for your home return now! Not fire at or destroy those who rise up to overthrow Thue-Ky
puppet clique! Not take part in any operation! If forced to engage in a battle, lay down
your arms. Your life will be spared. You can cross over to the SVNNLF you will receive
fair treatment and be sent home if you desire.
McKinley Nolan
August 15, 1968
Another leaflet that is like the above depicts Ferdinand Rodriquez.
The leaflet is folded, and the first three pages have a picture of Rodriquez
and a letter he allegedly wrote. The last page is in Vietnamese. The old
leaflet is difficult to read so I have guessed at a few things. The letter
says in part:
P.O.W. FERDINAND TO 25TH INFANTRYMEN!
American GIs of the 25th Infantry Division. I am Ferdinand
Rodriquez, US67074464 [For the civilians
the “US” tells us he was drafted, the volunteers got an “RA” prefix], 3rd
Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Captured by the South Vietnamese National
Liberation Front on April 21, 1968, in Cu Chi.
The treatment towards me is all right. I am never beaten, tortured,
or humiliated. The food that they feed me is very good and I have enough to
drink. When I feel a fever, I ask for medical help and they have good
treatment towards me. The Liberation fighter’s treatment is very good. I
agree with the Vietnamese people welcome in the latter’s struggle for the
end of the war an equality rights for negroes and Puerto Ricans.
I wish to tell you that as a prisoner of war you will receive fine
treatment. Friends – Do not go on operations. Avoid being engaged. When you
are engaged you should not resist. You should demand peace and a quick home
return. If you are taken prisoner of war the South Vietnam Liberation Front
will treat you kindly.
Ferdinand Rodriquez
August 15, 1968.
Another leaflet shows a black man being arrested by a club-bearing white police
officer. A picture on the back depicts a black soldier crawling in a swamp. Some of the
text on the back is:
The Vietnam is 'a hell hole of racism for the Negroes GIs over and above the usual
hell of war' ( Philadelphia Independent).
Your real enemies are those who call you 'Niggers.'
Your genuine struggle is on your native land.
GO HOME NOW AND ALIVE!
What is particularly interesting about this leaflet is that copies were found in
2006 in the Ban Bac ammo dump along the Hoc Chi Minh Trail buried in a pit with
other war supplies and ammunition.
Although this is not the leaflet mentioned by retired Master Sergeant Gregory H.
Murry in his book Content with my Wages – A Sergeant’s Story - Vietnam,
No End to Publishing Co., Austin, Texas, 2013, the message is similar. He says:
One day when we were clearing the sides of Highway 13 I found a red piece of
paper on the ground near the road. It was printed in English and the message was aimed at
the black soldiers. It asked them why they were fighting and dying in Vietnam when the
country that sent them here wouldn’t let them enjoy the same rights as the white
soldiers. It mentioned the lynchings, bombings and murders that were a regular occurrence
in the south during the civil rights struggle that was taking place at this time.
Afro-Americans and Puerto-Ricans!
It was not only the Blacks that the Viet Cong spoke to, but also Puerto Ricans, the
Spanish speaking Americans that are natural-born citizens of the United States. This
leaflet advises both the Blacks and Puerto Ricans to quit the war in Vietnam because their
own people are being killed by President Johnson’s racist administration back in the
United States. The leaflet is in English on the front, Vietnamese on the back.
A November 1967 Military Assistance Command Vietnam J2
(Intelligence document) adds:
U.S. and Negro and Puerto Rican personnel were the object of nine
anti-U.S. propaganda leaflets recently discovered in III Combat Tactical
Zone. The primitive type leaflets were based on recent racial strife in the
U.S. and pictured the real enemy as the "U.S. Racist Authorities" and "U.S.
imperialists." A VC plan for the proselyting of U. S. servicemen in the Viet
Cong Tri Thieu Sub-Region (I CTZ) was outlined in Military Proselyting Plan
#171, prepared dated 6 September 1967. The problems of the language barrier
and lack of understanding of U.S. customs were mentioned, but it was noted
that assistance could be obtained using interpreters and individuals whose
jobs allowed frequent contact with U.S. soldiers. Some of the favorable
factors mentioned were the homesickness of U.S soldiers, their fear of
death, racial problems, and the righteousness of the VC cause.
You Go In....You Come Out
What's In Washington's War for You?
Another NLF leaflet claimed that the war in Vietnam was for profit. There was a
myth during the war that Vietnam was floating on a sea of oil and that was why the United
States had chose to take part. Other rumors claimed that LBJ and his wife were getting
rich from government contracts. A third rumor was that the United States was stripping Vietnam
of zinc. These rumors were all nonsense, but at the time many people were willing to
believe them. The leaflet depicts an American patrol in the bush at the left and the text
"You go in," while at the right coffins are depicted draped with the American
flag and the text "You come out." The back of the leaflet explains what the war
is all about:
For Herbert Fuller of New York (with 10 million invested in a sugar mill at Tuy
Hoa, South Vietnam) the answer is simple: 'I'm in it for the money," he says.
Gloating over your corpse, he adds: "Once you've cleared the land, we'll get back our
investment in two years."
Don't Support A Government without Supporters
Another popular theme of the leaflets was that Vietnam was a civil war and the
people should be allowed to settle their differences as had been done in the American
Civil War. One such leaflet depicted an anti-war demonstration with people holding signs
such as “Stop the killing.” The text on the front is:
Demand the Nixon administration immediately end its war of aggression in Vietnam
without posing any condition whatsoever. Demand immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops
and troops of other foreign countries in the U.S. camp. Let the South Vietnamese people
settle their own affairs.
There is a long message on the back. Much of the message attacks the legitimacy of the
government and its leaders, and that is a direct attack on the current leader:
You probably remember what the dictator Nguyen Cao Ky said at a press conference on
June 21, 1965: "I have only one idol, Adolph Hitler."
Other NLF leaflets simply wanted the Americans out and used a theme of sadness
and homesickness. One shows an anti-war demonstration on the leaflet front. An American
allegedly wrote the text on the back:
COMIN’ HOME SOON. There’s a mother in California, whose heart is aching
now. There’s a girl in Indiana who feels the same somehow. There’s a guy far
away at a place they call Da Nang, that’s the cause of all this pain.
Flag draped coffins
The photo in the above leaflet shows a number of flag draped coffins being
loaded onto planes for transport back home. The text on the reverse warned thatL
Escalators go up or down
But Johnson’s escalation can only take you one way…
…into a coffin of rough pine (if they can find your remains).
I have seen this leaflet in two versions. One on a photographic paper
as above, and one on a pulp paper with the image in green.
The green version is coded by American Intelligence VC.39, and was
found in August 1966.
Another colorful leaflet that mentions President Johnson depicts a question mark and
the title:
WHAT HOPES
Is President Johnson toying with
IN VIETNAM
Aren't You Sick Too?
Another leaflet showed a group of soldier on the front with the text:
You’re not the only one who’s sick of this war.
Private David Carnevale allegedly wrote the letter on the back of the leaflet. He
was killed in action just three days later, according to the NLF. Some of his comments
are:
I feel as if I were 100 years old. My luck is running out. Please do what you
can for me. Dad, I don’t want to die! Please get me out of here!
YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY
ONE WHO HATES IT.
This Leaflet depicts an anti-Vietnam War demonstration. The people
hold a sign that reads:
Withdraw U.S. Troops
Now.
The back is all text and says:
YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY
ONE WHO HATES IT.
Religious leaders,
Congressman, Widows and parents of men who died here…
They’re all talking
against this war.
In Danang Hell…
This remarkable folded leaflet has four pages of propaganda. The front shows a photo of
an American GI suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the magazine Paris
Match. The text goes on to tell of the 3rd Marine Division and Army 1st Infantry
Division in recent battles. Page two is entitled “It’s a Hell of a Life,”
and describes life inside the base camp; tropical heat, stress and disease. Outside the
base, it warns of Mosquitoes, ants, leeches, spike traps, mines, sniper fire and hand
grenades. On page three, the Viet Cong claim to have killed 139 Marines on the night of 27
May 1965. Another 95 Marines were allegedly killed on 5 June 1965. On 30 June 1965, the
Viet Cong brag of a great victory at Danang Airbase, inflicting 139 casualties on U.S.
troops. The back of the leaflet depicts a mother near her son’s casket. The leaflet
asks in part. “Why should you die in South Vietnam?” The leaflet is signed by
the “South Vietnam National Front for Liberation.”
The image of the mother with coffin above is also found on the back of a leaflet
entitled “American Servicemen in South Vietnam.” Some of the text is:
Try to avoid your families such grief as that has fallen to this mother, Carmen
Salcido.
He Lie Dead
Courtesy Major Hammond Salley
This Viet Cong leaflet seems to show a dead GI at the top, either covered or in a
body bag. The printing is so crude that I cannot see it clearly. Once again the VC show
their lack of English grammar. The text says in part:
He lie dead in Vietnam for whom?
For corrupt and power-hungry South Vietnamese leaders, whose own people do not
support them.
Some of the text on the back is:
Tell President Johnson: “We want to be brought home now – alive!”
Withdraw U.S. troops from South Vietnam and let the Vietnamese settle their own affairs
themselves!
The South Vietnam Liberation Army.
There is a second version of this leaflet, much larger, with all
the text on the front, and the back blank. This seems to be a corrected
version with the word “lie” changed to the correct “lies,” and the soldier
in the body bag shown more clearly.
FOR WHOl THAT YOU MUST BE A DIRTY DEAD IN VIETNAM
This leaflet seems to mean “For whom” like the leaflet above but there are
some problems in grammar. It depicts an American soldier looking at happy
civilians at home. The text on the back in English and Vietnamese is:
G.I!
The SVN people love PEACE, but they love FREEDOM and INDEPENDECE still more.
Its why they are rising up, taking to arms to fight Johnson’s and McNamara’s
dirty aggressive war!
Don’t get mixed with Washington’s crime in SVN!
Uphold the SVN’s people’s just struggle!
Repatriate the US Expeditionary Corps!
Peace for Vietnam!
The Key of Peace
You will notice that several of the leaflets in this article are blue. The Viet Cong
seemed to experiment a bit with color, but most of the leaflets were printed under
conditions where that was simply impossible. This leaflet depicts a hand holding a set of
keys and the text:
The Key of Peace in South Vietnam:
US Troops out of SVN!
I suspect that first line should be “the key to peace…” The back of
the leaflet has a message in English and Vietnamese telling the U.S how to get out of the
war immediately by withdrawing its troops and cease meddling in Vietnamese affairs.
MY OPINIONS ON THE VIETNAM WAR
A second leaflet by the South Vietnam Liberation Army is a tri-fold leaflet that
opens to show six pages. The cover is entitled “My Opinions on the Vietnam War”
and appears to be a booklet written by Captain W. F. Eisenbraun, an advisor to the 1st
Battalion, 51st Infantry. There is an interesting photograph of an anti-War rally on the
back and four pages of text. Some of the text is:
There is a war in Vietnam because of the aggressive policy of the U.S. Government
– The United States attempts to turn South Vietnam into U.S. military base. The U.S.
Government has joined hands with the Saigon lackeys in using armed force to suppress the
just struggle of the South Vietnamese people for freedom and independence….
I decided to
show the entire front and back. Notice that the picture in this version
seems different than the one above. Once again, I suspect that different
Viet Cong Units made the same leaflet in slightly different ways.
THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT IS INCREASING IN THE U.S FORCES.
Isn't it odd how often they drop the second period in "U.S." in Viet Cong
leaflets. This is another use of the "anti-war" theme on VC propaganda. I
have counted 34 mentions of that pair of words in this article. This leaflet
mentions mutinies by U.S. forces in Vietnam and tells the soldiers to demand
to be sent home.
Will they still be with you next Mother’s Day?
Specialist Fourth Class William Brewer picked up this leaflet about 1969 while a
member of the 4th Infantry Division. He carried it in his wallet during his entire tour in
Vietnam. It depicts two children on the front and asks in part:
Will they still be with you next Mother’s Day?
…and in the years to come?
Or will they be sacrificed for the growing war in Asia?
The back depicts an anti-war demonstration and the text with one noticeable spelling
error:
Son…Come back home!
Don’t make me saffer thinking you can die without
Glory in this dirty war.
Some Booklets and Brochures found on Viet Cong Troops
S.V.N.N.F.L’s POLICY TOWARD U.S. AND ALIEN OFFICERS AND MEN
Captain Watts Caudill was the Commander of B Company, 1st Battalion, 18th
Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968.
On 26 November 1967, his position in War Zone C, west of Highway 13 and 10
miles south of Loc Nin was attacked by North Vietnamese troops. After an
all-night battle that included American gunships and artillery the enemy
forces slipped away at dawn. As the Americans scouted the area the following
day, they found small, folded leaflets left by the enemy. This is a very
small 2-page booklet and filed as VC.54. The outside of the leaflet had
faded red text on the front and back of the poor-quality paper. The text on
the back is in Vietnamese and the English language text on the front is:
S.V.N.N.F.L. Policy towards U.S. and Alien Officers and Men
When opened, there is a longer text in black ink that describes the policy.
Some of the text is:
S.V.N.N.F.L'S POLICY
The Front protects the life and grants lenient treatment to U.S. and other
alien surrendered officers and men. It gives proper care to the wounded.
The Front takes care of the P.O.W's material and spiritual life, creates
conditions to give back freedom to them when conditions permit it.
Beneath each of the two paragraphs mentioned above are three explanatory
paragraphs.
It should be noted that the “S.V.N.N.F.L.” is the “South Viet Nam National
Front for Liberation.” The Communist front was founded in 1960.
This is a very small 2-page booklet taken from a Viet Cong fighter in
September 1966 and filed as VC.54. It could be carried in a shirt pocket or
wallet. It says in part:
The front protects the life of, grants lenient treatment to U.S. and other
Alien surrendered officers and men, it gives proper care to the wounded.
U.S AND ALIEN
OFFICERS AND MEN BEING SENT
TO SOUTH VIETNAM BY
THE U.S IMPERIALIST.
"Alien" is such a strange word to see on a leaflet. I would think
"Foreign" would be a better choice. This is the second leaflet I have seen
using the term. This is a two-sided leaflet so I will show the front and the
back. This leaflet was found in July 1966 in Vinh Long and filed by
Intelligence as VC-38.
Anti-War Activist Bertrand Russell
This 16-page booklet has the first eight pages in English, the last eight pages in
Vietnamese. Bertrand Arthur William Russell (1872 – 1970) was a British philosopher,
logician, essayist and social critic best known for his work in mathematical logic and
analytic philosophy. In 1920, Russell paid a short visit to Russia to study the conditions
of Bolshevism on the spot. In the autumn of the same year he went to China to lecture on
philosophy at the Peking University. In 1958 he became the founding President of the
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. In 1961 he was imprisoned for one week in connection
with anti-nuclear protests and in 1963 he established the Bertrand Russell Peace
Foundation. During his life due to his political activities he was fired from Trinity
College, Cambridge, and the City College of New York.
The booklet was captured in Hau Nghia in October 1966 and filed as VC-88.
Letter of the SVNNFL to U.S. Servicemen
This 15-page booklet dated 20 December 1965 tells American troops that they are
fighting a dirty, illegal war serving the interests of American monopoly capitalists. It
compares U.S. actions in Vietnam to British action in colonial America. It ends by asking
American troops to oppose the war and it claims the National Liberation Front has released
two prisoners in keeping with its policy of leniency. They are named as regular army
soldiers Claude McClure and George Edward Smith.
This booklet was captured in Hau Nghia in November 1966 and coded VC-87.
NORTH VIETNAM - A First-hand Account of the Blitz
This 16-page
booklet was printed in Australia and somehow made its way to Vietnam. Notice
that it has to word “Blitz” in the title trying to make the reader recall
the German bombing of London during WWII. The author wanders from place to
place and sees nothing but heroic Vietnamese smiling and singing about how
they will be victorious against the Yankee air pirates. Some of the text
is:
North Vietnam
under the American blitz is not a miserable place to be. It is an exciting
place – and not just because the American raids make life dangerous. It is
exciting above all because of the human qualities displayed by the
Vietnamese in the process of their resistance.
The children,
rising from their work in the thatched-roof classrooms, with their thick
rice straw hats within easy reach to protect them from the American steel
pellet bombs, sang me a song about fighting South Vietnam and thanked the
Australian people for what they have done against the war in Vietnam.
Two American
Prisoners of War Released…
This leaflet mentions the two prisoners released that were
mentioned in the booklet above. The leaflet was found or captured in Phong
Dinh in August 1966 and filed as VC.17. It mentions that the prisoners told
the press they were treated well, given medical treatment and even books to
read.
The South Vietnamese People are bound to win…
This is a 32-page patriotic booklet that contains an appeal by the presidium
of the SVNNFL Central Committee for determination to fight and defeat the
U.S. Aggressors in the 1966-1967 winter-spring. It is illustrated with
various pictures of Viet Cong troops attacking, and has a list of alleged
victories won by the Viet Cong. My favorite part is a patriotic song titled:
ON THE WINTER-SPRING FIRING-LINE
Brothers! It’s thundering and lightening on the winter-spring firing line.
Wave upon wave, our armed forces are marching forwards.
Guerrillas, youths, civilian workers, combatants; o the bright firing line,
Are killing the enemy to contribute their share to the motherland.
An Anti-Strategic Hamlets Song from the Viet Cong
This colorful
song brochure depicts a female Viet Cong fighter attacking the barbed wire
surrounding a government strategic hamlet. The song inside is in both
Vietnamese and English. The text on the cover is:
Music and Lyrics: Cuu Long
Blow up the strategic hamlet to smithereens
Liberation Publishing House
Statement of the
Podium of the South Vietnam National Front…
This four-page folded leaflet tells the story of three U.S.
citizens who allegedly burned themselves to death to protest the war in
South Vietnam. The leaflet was found or captured in May 1966 in both Vinh
long and Long Thanh and filed as VC.93.
Our Resounding Victories
The booklet is folded into eight pages. It bears one illustration which seems to be
of U.S. troops carrying casualties to a helicopter. The text inside is a dairy of battles
in which the Viet Cong claims that the U.S. forces were soundly defeated. The brochure is
signed by the Liberation Army. An example is:
June 18 – 26, 1966
1,402 U.S. troops of the 101st Division of paratroopers and the First Air Mobile
Cavalry Division were killed or wounded by the Liberation Army at Tuy An (Phu Yen Province).
A Second “Our Resounding Victories” Brochure in Red
The same 8-page booklet with the same title is also found in red. However, this version
has no photographs but instead is all text starting with the title “Armymen Belonging
to US Expeditionary Forces in South Vietnam” and ending with the Viet Cong flag. I
show the last page with flag above.
Proselytization lessons
The Viet Cong troops carried many patriotic and other booklets into battle.
The next three were all taken from captured or deceased Viet Cong. The First
is a 28-page all-text booklet taken by the U.S. 1st Infantry Division in
Binh Duong province on 16 January 1967. It was given the file number 00329
by the Joint U.S. Public Affairs Office. The title is:
Proselytization lessons.
Internal magazine of the proselytization service.
[Note] Proselytize comes from the noun proselyte, meaning “a new convert.”
When proselytize entered English in the 17th century, it had a distinctly
religious connotation and meant simply “to recruit religious converts.” This
meaning is still common, but today one can also proselytize in a broader
sense, recruiting converts to one’s political party, institution, or cause.
In this case it would be recruiting citizens to join the Viet Cong.
10 CARDINAL RULES…
The second booklet was captured in February 1966 and filed with code number
00547. This booklet is 13 pages, all text. At first glance it appears to be
a normal South Vietnamese booklet titled:
10 CARDINAL RULES OF THE SOLDIER OF THE POPULAR
FORCES
It appears to be a booklet a Vietnamese Army soldier would carry to tell him
how to act under certain circumstances. But that makes no sense. Why would a
Viet Cong soldier carry an ARVN booklet? It turns out to be a black booklet
containing communist propaganda. I found an American intelligence report on
this booklet. It says:
The booklet explains the policy of the NLF toward members of the Republic of
Vietnam armed forces. It compares the American Army with the French
Expeditionary Forces. It appeals to the soldiers to protest the treatment of
troops in the Vietnamese Army, offers leniency toward soldiers that desert
or are captured and aid to those soldier’s families.
The inside of the book discusses Viet Cong policy. I translate some of it
here:
The Communist Text Inside the Book
THE POLICY OF THE SOUTH VIETNAM NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT
Toward soldiers and officers in the South Vietnam Armed Forces.
Since the peace restoration
[1954 after Geneva Accords], South Vietnam fell into the hands of
American imperialism and the band of its puppets. Such a regime was truly
the new colonialism, the dictatorship of traitors brutally oppressing the
people. After the brilliant victories of our people’s brave resistance, the
government, established by the Americans, exposed the stubborn, belligerent,
unjust nature of the puppets. They have been gradually isolated. Even the
people who worked for them in the government or the army became upset and
lost their belief in the regime's future.
To avoid the collapse of the Ngo Dinh Diem, their puppet regime, American
imperialism rushed their weapons, and military supplies, and sent American
officers and soldiers to directly command the South Vietnam army, turning
them into the tools to carry out the invasion of South Vietnam. They
increased the military forces, using deceitful means to mislead, and forcing
young men into the popular forces, and self-defense groups, and forcing
civil servants to get military training. Tens of thousands of students had
to quit schools to join the officer candidate school.
Our motherland was covered by blood and firestorms. We witnessed the
Vietnamese soldier killing our fellow people by orders of the American
officers everywhere; on the streets, in the hamlets….
Strategic Hamlet
The final booklet of this small group is 11 pages, all text. It is in the
form of a long poem. It was confiscated in March 1966 and given the code
VCS-797. The title is:
General Department of Operation and Youth
Strategic Hamlet
Propaganda and Education Collection
The inside Cover, Depicting the Strategic Hamlet as a Prison
Once again, the inside of the booklet does not match the title. When opened,
we do see a strategic hamlet, but it has barbed wire implying it is a prison
camp. The text is a long poem, all of which is pro-Communist propaganda. The
poem says in part:
The dawn was just coming, then all black shadow.
The night was not yet over, the sky was covered by dark clouds.
After 9 years of war time,
the smile suddenly stopped as it had just begun.
Ngo Dinh Diem invited the American aggressors.
Soaked the South people in fresh blood.
Our people who were living in the fire, boiled pans,
would not keep calm and give in.
We use the Mekong water to sharpen our million swords.
We use the Truong Son fire to forge our thousand knives.
After 9 years of blood and bones,
we are determined not to waste our efforts....
We were tired, bitter; our hair turned gray.
Seeing mourning scarves on the children’s heads.
The enemy caused harm to the people.
Misery and partition to families.
The farmers worked hard on the rice paddies.
Only wishing to have a bowl of rice someday.
Unexpectedly, they looted every single grain of rice,
Taking them to fill their warehouses.
Their combat boots crushed our villages.
Tanks over the rice paddies and farms.
Villages were quiet like in the cemetery,
even the dead bones in the graves suffered.
LIBERATION WOMEN
Issue No. 13
Special Edition
1 June
Central [National] Organ of the South Vietnamese Women's Alliance
This 38-page children’s magazine shows a boy and girl on the cover. They
could be holding innocent farm items, but they could also be holding a
grenade, a weapon, and sharp punji sticks. Who knows? The inside is
illustrated showing a well-known picture of a young Jewish child in a ghetto
with an armed Nazi soldier behind, drawings of a Vietnamese child in the
bush with a rifle resembling my first issue M-1 carbine, and many pictures
of children in a schoolyard, sharpening sticks, etc. At first glance I see a
magazine dedicated to preparing children for warfare.
A Page Depicting a 13-year-old People’s Hero
The official markings on the front show that this magazine was confiscated
in December 1966 in Gia Dinh Province and filed by American Intelligence as
VCN-1301. And of course, I should mention that the South Vietnamese Women's
Alliance was a well-known front organization of the National Liberation
Front. Some
of the text on the page is:
Vietnamese Children Fight
13-Year-Old Boy Steals Guns
Tran Dinh Dung, 13 years old, lived with his mother and younger brother
right next door to the massive American military base in Danang. Enemy
soldiers killed his beloved father
- The story goes on to say how the young boy tells his mother that while he
isn't old enough to kill Americans, he was going to help the local
guerrillas to kill Americans. With his mother's wise counsel and advice,
during the last months of 1965 the boy steals five weapons, including three
light machine-guns, 8,000 rounds of ammunition, 282 hand grenades, and
twelve radios.
Ai Thang…
I decided to add this Viet Cong two-fold (six-page) booklet because of the
photograph on the cover. Notice the expression on the lead black soldier's face. His look
is of absolute terror. The Communists probably got this photo from some American newspaper
and made great use of it on this leaflet. The entire booklet is in blue with some touches
of red to highlight the images. On the back of the booklet is a picture of a United States
Air Force fighter aircraft which was apparently shot down in May 1965. The text on the cover
is:
On 1 February 1966 an American unit from the 1st Air Cavalry Division
that was conducting a sweep operation in northern Bong Son District, Binh Dinh Province,
was attacked by Liberation Army forces. The terrified soldiers turned around and ran for
their lives.
WHO IS DEFEATING WHOM IN SOUTH VIETNAM?
Specialist Ronni Guyer was in the 1st Bong Son Valley Offensive
Operation in 1966 as a member of the 1 Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry
Division. He told me:
This News Photo was taken by the Associated Press I believe. Early on, some
of our Sky Troopers raced under fire towards extracting HUEY Helicopters.
The photograph was seen around the World.
The people of Viet Nam will triumph!
We should note that the Communist Chinese printed hundreds of propaganda
magazines, postcards, and posters depicting the brave Viet Cong and North
Vietnamese struggle against the evil South Vietnamese and Americans.
That same photo of a black soldier running in panic is found in this highly-illustrated
54-page magazine along with many photographs of American bodies, American citizens
demanding peace, captured GIs, American fighters in flames, Vietnamese youth holding
rifles and of course, Ho Chi Minh. The magazine is written in Chinese and I don’t
know if it was printed for Chinese living in Vietnam or brought south by a Chinese advisor
or volunteer. At any rate, it was found in Vietnam by American troops and forwarded to
JUSPAO where it was filed in their archives. This magazine is volume four of a series with
the title:
The people of Viet Nam will triumph! U.S. aggressors will be
defeated!
A Newly Offered Vietnam/Chinese Leaflet series
There is a
small group of leaflets clearly written by the Chinese that suddenly
appeared in June 2023. On top is mimeographed text in Vietnamese, on bottom
is a hand-written message in Chinese. The author wrote below a typed message
to the Vietnamese in their language and added all the diacritical marks on
their section by hand. I am not sure about these alleged 1960 leaflets
because I never saw them in over 50 years of searching. I should tell the readers that there were at least four other
leaflets that I know to be genuine sold by the same dealer. The Chinese
volunteers in Vietnam mostly did manual labor keeping the Ho Chi Minh Road
open. I add these to keep my readers informed. I have seen four Vietnamese/Chinese leaflets so far. The texts are:
The closer we
get to victory, the more difficulties we face. The enemy is crazy to put up
a deathbed struggle, we need to join to give them a continuous hard hit and
strive for a bigger victory.
Justice is on
our side, all of one heart, we will get the final victory.
The war might
last 3 years, or 5 or longer. Hanoi, Haiphong, and other big cities might be
destroyed, but the Vietnam people never feel frightened. Nothing is more
precious than freedom and independence.
Our army is
loyal to the party and the people, can fulfill all tasks, overcome all
difficulties, and defeat all enemies.
The caption of the photograph in the Chinese magazine is:
Under the heavy blow of the Southern Liberation Armed Forces of Vietnam, the
US invading army fled in embarrassment and failed. No matter how many more
troops the US imperialists increase, and what kind of war "escalation" they
make, they will never escape their destiny of being passively beaten on the
battlefield in Vietnam and they will surely fail.
We depict two patriotic Viet Cong booklets that were captured in the Mekong
Delta in 1968. The first booklet has 18 pages, the second one 30 pages.
The first booklet (all in black) says on the cover:
Big Victory from
Patriotic Citizens and Soldiers of North and South Vietnam.
(Study
Document for Liberation Members; for guerilla members for the purpose of
public propaganda)
1968
Bureau
of Information Culture Education
Northwest Saigon - Cho Lon - Gia Dinh
The second booklet with the red text says on the cover:
Study Document for the Liberation Force for South Vietnam
37 Rules to Remember
Political Bureau F K II
Reprint
The F is code for division; the K for Region and the II is Corps. That
ends this booklet section on Part One of the Viet Cong propaganda.
Chinese silk Printed Cloths to Lift Morale
A friend and fellow researcher sent me a group of these fancy
cloths. They are about 11 x 17-inches in size on a printed silk cloth and
bear portraits of various Communist heroes like Marx, Lenin, Engels, Stalin,
Mao, and of course Ho Chi Minh. My friend who spent multiple tours in
Vietnam working in Intelligence told me They were handed out by Chinese
advisors in Hanoi to Vietnamese high-ranking politicians and military
officers to help keep up their morale. I have no idea how they were to be
used. Perhaps framed?
COMRADE HO CHI MINH
THE EAST IS RED silk weaving factory
This photo by AP photographer Henri Huet shows one captured in the
Mimot rubber plantation in Cambodia in May 1970. Randy Rabun added: “I
saw one that was the exact same just a bit smaller. It was brought back
by a USAF Air Commando member. It's silk and had a bullet hole. Taken
off a North Vietnamese Army KIA. My friend said It was found in a pouch
on the soldier. They figured it was a moral type thing. I believe it's
still at the Air Commando Association building in Mary Ester, Fl.
The portraits are found in both the Chinese and Vietnamese
language. Some have additional messages embroidered on the silk such as,
To our compatriots in Tinh Khe from Hanoi. One other portrait cloth was
captured by an American ambush, found sewn onto the Viet Cong unit’s flag.
Embroidered
picture of the late North Vietnam President Ho Chi Minh was found in a
provincial capital from communist forces who have held it since late April.
AP wirephoto 1972
Another correspondent added:
I have purchased several of those during my years in Vietnam. To me
they are official portrait that were used in the North, but also as part of
the communist spreading in the South. Here is a photo dated 1972, where you
see the portrait used in the countryside, as part of Viet Cong propaganda.
All American captured…
The Viet Cong mention captured American soldiers and how they will be treated in many
of their propaganda leaflets. This small leaflet specifies all of the rights the American
who surrenders to the Viet Cong will have.
Bill for Special Fair Treatment
In this leaflet the Viet Cong offer lenient and humane treatment to anyone going over
to their side. What is interesting and not often seen is the space at the bottom for the
soldier to write his family’s name and address so they can be notified if he dies.
The back of the leaflet bears the same exact message but written in the Vietnamese
language. Andrew Chernak of Charlie Company, 4/12th of the 199th Light Infantry Battalion
found this leaflet in a bunker complex about November 1969.
...Lenient and Humane Treatment…
The Viet Cong seems to have liked this phrase. I find it on three other
leaflets in this study. This two-side South Vietnam N.F.L. leaflet makes
life look quite comfortable in a Viet Cong prison camp. The back has short
messages signed by Claude D. McClure-Ra, Floyd J. Thompson, and Richard G.
Burgess.
A January 1968 Military Assistance Command Vietnam J2 (Intelligence
document) adds:
There has also been increased use of VC propaganda leaflets in
Quang Nam Province directed toward US Negro military personnel. The Negroes
are being urged to oppose being sent to Vietnam, to refuse to fight in
Vietnam, and to demand to be sent home to participate in the ''Afro-American
Struggle" in the U.S. One leaflet stated that if they crossed over to North
Vietnam, they would be helped to return home "as was Claude McClure,
RA14703075, the Negro sergeant who was released not long ago."
Don’t Worry about your Fate!
On the subject of how American captives will be treated by the Viet Cong, this leaflet
seems to offer a very legal and logical system. Of course, this did not turn out to be
exactly how it worked in reality. The leaflet is printed in English on the front,
Vietnamese on the back. It is coded M2 – 767.
Oddly, three decades later in Operation Desert Storm the Americans produced a similar
card to be given to Iraqi POWs. The card handed to Iraqis prisoners to explain their
situation. The card is printed in Arabic on one side and English on the other. The text
is:
You are a prisoner of war. You will not be hurt or injured unless you try to escape.
You must remain quiet and do what you are told. You will be respected and treated fairly.
You will be searched. You may be temporarily deprived of your personal property, but it
will be returned to you.
Another terribly-written all-text VC leaflet is signed by the Programme Politique of
the South Nation Force Liberation and mentions surrender and says in English on one
side and Vietnamese on the other:
Through the Front’s lenient policy behaves with surrenders, U.S. prisoners, and
satellites of the U.S. For your part surrender of Yankees and satellites troops. The Front
are very kind. It there are on conditional, you will be soon arrange your coming back
home…
The Viet Cong produced a number of English-language propaganda brochures. Two of them
are; Antiwar Demonstrations and Solidarity with Vietnam Grows in the United States,
and U.S. Imperialists – Number 1 Enemy to the progressive Peace-loving Peoples
Throughout the World.
Leaflet 0549
This bi-fold leaflet has four photographs on one side; a cemetery, a downed American
aircraft, flag-draped coffins and war protestors. The other side is all text, signed by
the South Vietnam National Liberation National Front. There are some grammatical errors.
It says in part:
AMERICAN SERVICEMEN IN SOUTH VIETNAM!
In November 1962, ex-President Eisenhower admitted that after years of fight in South
Vietnam, the United States has realized that the wars carried in Asia by the U.S.
expeditionary forces will never be victorious.
In December 1962, the late President Kennedy also said that the anti-guerrilla
war in South Vietnam is a hard thing and the United States are engaged in a tunnel the end
of which cannot be seen.
Don’t you ever think over and ask yourselves…
This leaflet depicts a GI thinking about the war and wondering if it is worthwhile.
One interesting word is “Fatherland,” used by the Germans to some extent, but
hardly ever by Americans. This is a folded leaflet and inside and on the back is further
anti-war propaganda text attacking the Saigon government and Johnson and McNamara in both
English and Vietnamese. Some of the comments are:
