Psychological Operations

PSYOP - The NVA was more sophisticated than reported; they routinely used Psychological Operations (PSYOP) attempting to wear us down. We were on Hill 4-11 for less than a week with Mike Dankert and I sitting at our position, talking, and drinking Cokes while John Meyer was on guard duty. I was about to say I was ready for bed when, out of nowhere, we heard songs playing from the jungle 800 meters away. Everyone on the Hill got quiet. The three songs played were “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” by Peter, Paul and Mary, “Oh, Susannah” by James Taylor, and “North to Alaska” by Johnny Horton. The sound quality was good.

Then the broadcast changed to someone speaking in excellent English asking us why we were fighting in Vietnam. He told us to surrender, come over to their side, or get wiped out. Our unit gave its response, with our artillery opening fire toward the music and voice, making us duck for cover. They fired more than 100 artillery rounds to silence the NVA. Once the artillery ceased firing and through the rising smoke and dust, the voice came back and taunted us for poor marksmanship.
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Below is the article written by SP4 Tony Swindell assigned to the 11th Brigade Information Office (IO)