The South was officially aided by six Free World nations that sent men, money
and material to support the government and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). In
addition, a number of other nations sent along small contingents of medical,
transportation, construction and other experts. I will leave it to a Russian to write the
story of the Communist support. In this article we will discuss and depict the
psychological Warfare leaflets and operations used to convince the people of the Republic
of Vietnam that with the help of their many allies, victory was guaranteed.
Psychological warfare makes use of various themes to destroy the enemy’s
confidence in ultimate victory. One of the major themes of the American and Vietnamese
PSYOP specialists during the Vietnam War was the overwhelming strength and power of the Republic
of Vietnam and its allies. These leaflets enforce that theme, showing the enemy that a
host of nations all around the world is on the side of the Republic of Vietnam.
It is difficult to know if the numbers of peak troop strength and deaths are
accurate, and they do vary according to source, but according to official statistics, the
numbers for peak Allied forces during the Vietnam War are: the United States - 543,400
troops deployed and 57,702 deaths; South Korea - 48,869 troops deployed and 4,407 deaths; Thailand
- 11,568 troops deployed and 350 deaths; Australia - 7,672 troops deployed and 520 deaths
and New Zealand – 550 troops deployed and 35 deaths. Taiwan quietly deployed 31
troops and Spain deployed another 13, neither nation losing any of its members.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos requested Congressional approval to send a
combat engineer battalion to South Vietnam in February 1966 after the government of South
Vietnam asked the Philippine government for aid. This force eventually totaled more than
2,000 men. Marcos said that the Philippines had a long-standing commitment to SEATO, which
could no longer be ignored. The Philippines were traditionally anti-Communist and faced an
immediate threat at that time from the Hukbalahap (pro-Communist) guerrillas within
the Philippines itself. This may have contributed to Marcos’ rationale for commitment
to South Vietnam.
The Republic of Vietnam had a peak force of 1,048,000 and lost 185,528 troops.
Leaflet 2429
This leaflet depicts a map of the world with all of the nations helping the Republic
of Vietnam. The text on the front is in part:
WE DO NOT FIGHT ALONE
In the struggle against Communist aggressors, the South Vietnamese people
have been wholeheartedly helped by 31 countries of the free World in various aspects such
as economic, military, agriculture, medicine, education, etc.
The back is all text and lists the countries aiding the Vietnamese:
Afghanistan, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Ecuador,
Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Laos, Liberia,
Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia,
Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, United States.
Having the wholehearted support of the peace-loving countries in the world,
we will surely win. The Communists will surely be defeated.
Australia
Leaflet 2725 Front
This leaflet depicts an Australian nurse caring for a Vietnamese patient and
crates of milk shipped from Australia. The text says in part:
An Australian nurse is inquiring about the health conditions of a child
patient.
Thousands of cases of sweetened-condensed milk for the newly-born babies.
Leaflet 2725 Back
The text says in part:
Well-drilling machines are sent by the Australian people to improve the
living conditions of the people of the Republic of Vietnam.
Leaflet 246-273
This 246th PSYOP Company leaflet explains the Australian presence in Vietnam. 10,000
copies were printed to be disseminated by aircraft and hand. The text says in part:
We Australian soldiers, along with other Allied and Vietnamese Army forces, are
working together to destroy the Viet Cong and their bases. We are here in a mutual effort
with you to defeat the Viet Cong and to help build up your country. We are your Australian friends, who have parted
from our homes and families in order to come here and fight and die beside you to stop
Communist aggression. While some of our units are fighting the Viet Cong, others will
assist you in your villages and hamlets. We are glad to be able to help you…
Australian support for South Vietnam in the early 1960s was to help stem the
spread of communism in Europe and Asia. In 1961 and 1962 the Government of South Vietnam,
repeatedly requested security assistance from the US and its allies. Australia eventually
responded with 30 military advisers, dispatched as the Australian Army Training Team
Vietnam (AATTV), also known as "the team". Their arrival in South Vietnam during
July and August 1962 was the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. In
August 1964 the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) also sent a flight of Caribou transports
to the port town of Vung Tau. By early 1965, it was clear that South Vietnam could not
stave off the communist insurgents and their North Vietnamese comrades. The US government
requested further support from friendly countries in the region, including Australia. The
Australian government dispatched the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) in
June 1965 to serve alongside the US 173rd Airborne Brigade in Bien Hoa province. In March
1966 the government announced the dispatch of a taskforce to replace 1RAR, consisting of
two battalions and support services (including a RAAF squadron of Iroquois helicopters),
to be based at Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy province.
All nine RAR battalions served in the taskforce at one time or another, before
it was withdrawn in 1971. At the height of Australian involvement it numbered some 8,500
troops. A third RAAF squadron (of Canberra jet bombers) was also committed in 1967 and
destroyers of the Royal Australian Navy joined US patrols off the North Vietnamese coast.
The year 1968 began with a major offensive by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army,
launched during the Vietnamese lunar new year holiday period, known as “Tet.”
For Australian troops, the effects of the offensive were felt around their base at Nui
Dat, where a Viet Cong attack on targets around Baria, the provincial capital, was
repulsed with few casualties.
By late 1970 Australia had begun to wind down its military effort in Vietnam.
The 8th Battalion departed in November but, to make up for the decrease in troop numbers,
the Team's strength was increased and its efforts, like those of the taskforce, became
concentrated in Phuoc Tuy province. The withdrawal of troops and all air units continued
throughout 1971. The last battalion left Nui Dat on 7 November, while a handful of
advisers belonging to the Team remained in Vietnam the following year. In December 1972
they became the last Australian troops to come home, with their unit having seen
continuous service in South Vietnam for ten and a half years. Australia's participation in
the war was formally declared at an end on 11 January 1973.
From the time of the arrival of the first members of the Team in 1962 some
50,000 Australians, including ground troops and air force and navy personnel, served in
Vietnam; 520 died as a result of the war and almost 2,400 were wounded.
Korea
Leaflet 2845
Leaflets 2843 to 2845 are a series labeled “The Vietnamese-Korean
Friendship.” Each leaflet depicts the Koreans helping the Vietnamese in either
farming or construction.
Some of the text on leaflet 2843 is:
These Korean soldiers are helping our peasants reap their paddy crop during
harvest time. This beautiful gesture indicates the strengthening solidarity between the
Korean and Vietnamese people…
The Lai Thieu hospital in Binh Duong Province was constructed by the Korean
Army.
Some of the text on leaflet 2844 is:
When not engaged in operations to destroy the Communists to insure the
safety and welfare of the Vietnamese people, Korean soldiers help peasants reap paddy
rice, so that a timely harvest of the crop can be made…
This Korean soldier is giving a haircut to a Vietnamese child. This is only
a very small act, but it embodies the feeling of a kind heart.
The text on leaflet 2845 is:
The last two waves of Communist attacks on the capital city of Saigon and
other cities and town in South Vietnam resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands
of civilians who became homeless and have crowded into temporary refugee camps for
shelter. For the sake of humanity, Korean soldiers expedite construction of houses to
promote more comfortable shelters to our people.
School children who walk on the A-Ri-Rang bridge to school every day can
never forget the service of the Korean soldiers. Besides fighting the enemy to insure the
safety of these children, Korean soldiers develop communication means, making it
convenient for the children to go to school.
Leaflet 3301
This leaflet depicts a hospital and medical personnel donated by South Korea. The
text on the front is:
RETURN IN FRIENDSHIP
The back is all text and says in part:
FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM AND THE RIGHT CAUSE
The South Korean troops in Vietnam do more than just fight against the Communist
invaders. They also suffer due to the Northern Communists. Here is a hospital built in
Phuoc Tuy by the Korean troops whose purpose it is to give medical treatment to the people
of the Republic of Vietnam, Allied and even wounded Communist soldiers left behind on the
battlefield by their comrades…
When I saw this leaflet I thought of the Australians who were also in Phuoc Tuy. I
asked one of their veterans if he recalled this Korean hospital. He did:
In Vung Tau there was an Australian Field Hospital (1 Australian Field Hospital)
and a Korean (ROK) hospital. If an enemy soldier was wounded and ‘dusted off’ to
an Australian hospital they (South Vietnamese military) tried to as quickly as possible to
allow some of the treatment in the Australian hospital, then discharge them to the ROK
Hospital. The Vietnamese complaint was that the Australian looked after them too
well. The Koreans were tougher. In Vung Tau there were two South Vietnamese prisons
where ongoing wounded had very little medical treatment. I went there a few times to
interview prisoners and convicted Viet Cong suppliers and others involved in the Viet Cong
Infrastructure. Their conditions were quite bad.
I worked a couple of times with the Korean and Thai forces in village
‘cordon and searches.’ The Korean soldiers were very tough with the civil
population. It was just a reflection of their own society at home.
Thailand
Leaflet 246-215-68
75,000 copies of this 4 x 5-inch leaflet were prepared in 1968 by the 246th
PSYOP Company. They were distributed by aircraft and by hand. The leaflet depicts a Thai
soldier and a Vietnamese civilian. The text is in part:
Your neighboring country is coming to work with you. We, the Royal Thai
Volunteer Regiment, representing the people of Thailand, which is your close neighbor and
a member of the Free World, is now here to give you a hand and collaborate with you.
You need not worry; you can count on us. We are ready to devote every bit of
effort, even our lives to cooperate with you in order that the Vietnamese people, who love
freedom, will live in happiness. This is the reason we volunteered to come here.
Leaflet 2781
Leaflet 2781 reassures the people of Vietnam that they are not fighting alone. It
depicts members of Thailand’s Black Panther Division deploying to Vietnam. The text
on the front is:
You Have no Hope if You Expect to Win
The text on the back is in part:
…The first elements of the “Black Panther” Division of Thailand
have arrived in Vietnam. By the end of this year their strength will reach 12,000 men. You
have no hope if you expect to win in South Vietnam…
Spain
Leaflet 2724
This leaflet depicts Spanish doctors treating Vietnamese patients. The text is:
Spain, which is thousands of miles away from Vietnam, also provides
assistance to South Vietnam in genuine friendship.
The photos show medical team members sent by the Spanish government
examining Vietnamese patients in South Vietnam.
The Philippines
Leaflet 2724
This leaflet depicts Philippine politicians and medical personal. The text is:
HERE THE SUPPORT OF THE WORLD FOR THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Here is a moving sight – a Philippine Congressman is visiting an
elderly patient on sick bed.
The Government and peoples of the Philippines deeply sympathize with the
tragic war in the Republic of Vietnam, and have sent many medical teams to alleviate the
agonies and sufferings of the South Vietnamese people.
Poster 1317
This 17 x 22-inch poster is entitled MEDICAL AID FOR THE VIETNAMESE. I have
placed it here in the Philippine section, but the five photographs depict medical aid
being given by Vietnamese, Australian, Iranian, American and Philippine doctors. The text
for the Philippine doctor at the lower right is:
A Philippine doctor checks an elderly man who has never had modern medicine or
treatment before.
Iran
Leaflet 2732
This leaflet depicts Iranian Medical aid given to the Vietnamese people. Some
of the text is:
Iran is a country in the Middle East which is also actively helping
the victims of Communism in South Vietnam. An Iranian surgical team is working in a
hospital in the Republic of Vietnam. Iran, one of the 31 countries which have provided
assistance for the Republic of Vietnam.
West Germany
Leaflet 2732
This leaflet depicts West German medical aid to Vietnam. Some of the text is:
Technical assistance of West Germany for the Republic of Vietnam is a very
precious thing because the South Vietnamese people have to quickly rebuild the destruction
caused by the Communists.
Here is the Vietnamese-German technical school donated by the people of West
Germany. South Vietnamese youth who graduate from this school will be the nation-builders
n the future.
Leaflet 2726
A second leaflet depicts buses donated by West Germany to Vietnam. The text is:
To provide facilities in emergency treatment of patients in South Vietnam,
the people of West Germany donated a number of specially equipped ambulances to the Republic
of Vietnam which symbolizes the strengthened friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and
Germany.
Nationalist China
Leaflet 2726
This leaflet depicts plows and machinery donated by Nationalist China. The text
is:
To assist in the improvement and development of agriculture in South Vietnam,
the people of Nationalist China donated a number of improved plows to raise higher the
national economy of the people of South Vietnam.
Japan
Leaflet 139
Leaflet 139 was dropped over North Vietnam during the period when the United States
bombed the North. It depicts Japanese doctors and nurses caring for Vietnamese citizens
that have been injured by Viet Cong attacks. Some of the text on the leaflet is:
43 NATIONS ARE GIVING AID TO SOUTH VIETNAM
The Communist regime in Hanoi attempts to hide its aggression
against South Vietnam by talking loudly of a war of “Liberation” against
Americans. Actually, the United States is only one of 43 nations giving various forms of
aid to the people of South Vietnam in their struggle against Communist aggression.
A Japanese surgical team helps to ease the suffering of civilians wounded by the
Communists in their attacks.
Montagnard victims of the Communists receive gifts from a British organization.
Canada
Although Canada did not officially sent troops to Vietnam, many of its citizens
came south to the United States to join in the fight against international communism.
There are no official records of their number, but we have unofficial estimates. Roderick
Engert, chief of the reference branch of the Center of Military History of the Pentagon,
said the number might be 2,500 to 3,000. Christopher S. Wren said in a 24 January 1985 New
York Times article that he doubted that more than 5,000Canadians had served in Vietnam.
Marci McDonald said in a 29 April 1985 article for Maclean’s, “The war
also lured an estimated 5,000 Canadians to enlist in its jungle hells.” Fred Gaffen,
Chief Historian at the Canadian War Museum said in an August 1991 Vietnam Magazine,
“I estimate that of the many thousands who served in the U. S. Vietnam-era military,
some 12,000 Canadians actually served in Vietnam itself.”
The United States
Leaflet P-08
There are thousands of leaflets that show U.S. power, troops, tanks and bombers. In
this article we are not going to spend a lot of time on the military aid to Vietnam.
Instead, we will talk about the general aid, the services to the people and how it was
explained. A good example is leaflet P-08 which depicts an American helping on a
Vietnamese construction site and explains in depth to the Vietnamese people why the
Americans are there and what they are doing. The text on the front is:
IS THIS IMPERIALISM?
The Back is all text:
The United States is the richest and most powerful country in the world. What
does it need from Vietnam? NOTHING. In fact, it is now giving Free Vietnam 40,000,000,000
piasters in food and economic assistance a year. Is this a new form of
“imperialism” as propagandized and distorted by the North Vietnam Communists?
Why is the United States helping Free Vietnam economically and militarily? It is
helping Free Vietnam resist Hanoi’s Lao Dong imperialist aggression. It is doing
this because history shows that such aggression can cause a large war which would threaten
all mankind. The Communist imperialists in Hanoi and Peking would not stop after taking
free Vietnam and Laos; they would try to conquer all of Asia. That would bring a large war
and tragedy to the whole world. This is why the Americans are in Vietnam…
Poster 2198
This 17 x 22-inch poster was developed in October 1967 to explain the American
presence. It says in part:
WHAT DO THE AMERICANS WANT HERE?
DO THE AMERICANS WANT OUR RICE AND LAND?
America is rich and powerful, and every year grows more food than
her people can eat. She has surplus rice and other grain which she gives to other
countries around the world, including Vietnam. She has no need for our land or food.
DO THE AMERICANS WANT OUR MARKETS FOR THEIR GOODS?
The billions of dollars that America has spent to support our fight against
Communism and to provide things that the people of Vietnam need – schools, hospitals,
roads, bridges and the like – could not be repaid from Vietnam’s economy for
many decades…
DO THE AMERICANS WANT MILITARY BASES IN VIETNAM?
America has many times solemnly reiterated its pledge to remove its
troops from the bases they occupy in Vietnam as soon as our peace and freedom are assured.
America has plenty of bases throughout the Pacific, from Hawaii to the Philippines, to
assure its own security. America does not want or need bases on Vietnam’s land.
THEN WHAT DO THEY WANT HERE?
America’s help to Vietnam, like that of 30 other free nations comes at the
request of the Vietnamese government.They have asked for help to defend their country
against Communist aggression….
Conclusion
There are dozens, if not hundreds more leaflets that show the various nations
that supported the Republic of Vietnam in its fight against Communism. This article will
never be complete. From time to time I will add new items that add to this PSYOP theme of
the brotherhood of free nations aligned against North Vietnam and its Communist
supporters.
The author invites
comments. Readers are encourages to contact him at sgmbert@hotmail.com.
