VC Serenade Wasted On Infantry
July 11, 1969
by Tony Swindell
11th BDE Information Office
July 11, 1969
by Tony Swindell
11th BDE Information Office
Hill 4-11 1970
Story Published in the Americal Division "Southern Cross" Newpaper July 30, 1969
It was a clear, peaceful night for the 11th Bde.'s A Co., 3rd Bn., 1st Inf. on their new firebase until the Viet Cong decided to hold an impromptu concert and propaganda broadcast for the Americal Division soldiers.
"It was about 9 or 10 p.m. when I began hearing the song `Where Have All the Flowers Gone?,' " explained 1LT Lewis D. Adams Jr. (West Point, Ga.), artillery forward observer for A Co. "Then this voice came on, asking us why we were fighting in Vietnam. It was really strange because the voice was very clear and spoke in excellent English."
SP4 James Shelton (Raytown, Mo.), radio telephone operator for the company commander, continued the story. "The first song was 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone,' followed by 'Oh Suzanna' and 'North to Alaska.' As far as I could tell, the songs were original American versions."
"Then this guy started telling us to come over to his side and help get rid of the 'trouble-makers' in Vietnam. He added that this was a special broadcast for all soldiers, officers, and ARVNs. They must have thought we had interpreters up on the hill because part of the time they spoke in Vietnamese."
"While the company listened in wonderment to the music and broadcast, 1LT Adams called for artillery to silence the talkative Communist PSYOP team which he estimated 800 to 900 meters northwest of the firebase."
"I must have directed over 100 rounds into the area," commented 1LT Adams, "and I was sure that we must have either gotten them or at least scared them away. But as soon as the noise subsided and the smoke cleared away, they were broadcasting again, chiding us for our poor marksmanship. They said if we didn't leave Vietnam we would be wiped out like we were in Korea. It was really something."
SP4 Shelton, who was listening closely to the broadcast and relaying what he heard to the battalion tactical operations center at LZ Bronco, added: "Whatever broadcasting system they were using was big enough to cover that distance so clearly. We think it was a portable PA outfit with a remote microphone so the VC could broadcast in a bunker or under cover, safe from the artillery."
After about 15 minutes, the Vietnam-style disc jockey and propagandist ended his message, apparently unharmed, but he would have been disappointed at the reaction from the amused soldiers. Several commented that the broadcast was "better than a show." (11th IO).
"It was about 9 or 10 p.m. when I began hearing the song `Where Have All the Flowers Gone?,' " explained 1LT Lewis D. Adams Jr. (West Point, Ga.), artillery forward observer for A Co. "Then this voice came on, asking us why we were fighting in Vietnam. It was really strange because the voice was very clear and spoke in excellent English."
SP4 James Shelton (Raytown, Mo.), radio telephone operator for the company commander, continued the story. "The first song was 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone,' followed by 'Oh Suzanna' and 'North to Alaska.' As far as I could tell, the songs were original American versions."
"Then this guy started telling us to come over to his side and help get rid of the 'trouble-makers' in Vietnam. He added that this was a special broadcast for all soldiers, officers, and ARVNs. They must have thought we had interpreters up on the hill because part of the time they spoke in Vietnamese."
"While the company listened in wonderment to the music and broadcast, 1LT Adams called for artillery to silence the talkative Communist PSYOP team which he estimated 800 to 900 meters northwest of the firebase."
"I must have directed over 100 rounds into the area," commented 1LT Adams, "and I was sure that we must have either gotten them or at least scared them away. But as soon as the noise subsided and the smoke cleared away, they were broadcasting again, chiding us for our poor marksmanship. They said if we didn't leave Vietnam we would be wiped out like we were in Korea. It was really something."
SP4 Shelton, who was listening closely to the broadcast and relaying what he heard to the battalion tactical operations center at LZ Bronco, added: "Whatever broadcasting system they were using was big enough to cover that distance so clearly. We think it was a portable PA outfit with a remote microphone so the VC could broadcast in a bunker or under cover, safe from the artillery."
After about 15 minutes, the Vietnam-style disc jockey and propagandist ended his message, apparently unharmed, but he would have been disappointed at the reaction from the amused soldiers. Several commented that the broadcast was "better than a show." (11th IO).