RARE.2022.0005: Purchased, 2022 March
[identification of item], United States Army 10th Psychological Operations Battalion Guidebook/Media Catalog, SPEC.RARE.MMS.0204, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University
Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.
Processed by Rachel Hammer, 2022 March; Finding aid written by Rachel Hammer, 2022 March
The United States Army 10th Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Battalion started as part of the Army's 19th Psychological Company when the 19th was formed in 1962. Throughout the Vietnam War, the 19th Psychological Company helped carry out twenty-six operations before the United States determined its Psychological Operations in Vietnam needed to expand. Because of this, the 10th Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Battalion was formed out of the 19th Psychological Company in 1967. It operated in the IV Corps Tactical Zone in South Vietnam at the main headquarters, Can Tho, although it would provide support to different areas of the United States Army in all of the Tactical Zones throughout the country. The 10th Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Battalion operated through 1971 when it left Vietnam. However, the group was renamed Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Psychological Operations Battalion and reactivated as part of the Army Reserves in 1975.
The main purpose of the United States Army’s Psychological Operations was to provide psychological support to troops on the ground. In Vietnam, this formed into the Chieu Hoi Program (Vietnamese for “Open Arms,” and is also referred to as Hoi Chieu and Hoi Chanh). This involved the 10th Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Battalion printing leaflets against the Viet Cong in North Vietnam, and distributing them among members of the group and other citizens of North Vietnam. The purpose was to convince the members and citizens to defect to South Vietnam (and United States authority), where the two countries hoped to use them to gain information and demoralize North Vietnam and the Viet Cong.
The United States Army 10th Psychological Operations Battalion Guidebook/Media Catalog contains a manual created by the 10th Psychological Operations Battalion as a guide for other areas of the Army to understand how to create and effectively use the same tactics they had established for Chieu Hoi program leaflets. The first part of the manual explains the Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Battalion’s purpose, its missions so far in Vietnam, and how to request its services (such as how to order leaflets, instructions on what should go into the content of a leaflet, and other practical instructions like identifying a clear photo and templates to use for leaflets). The second part, which takes up most of the binder, is an inventory of the leaflets the 10th Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Battalion used in previous operations and are divided into seven themes: the GVN (Government of the Republic of Vietnam or South Vietnam), Chieu Hoi [Program], “Revolutionary Development,” “Voluntary Informant Program/Weapons Rewards,” US/FWMAF (Free World Military Assistance) Image, Public health and safety, and “Exploitation of Enemy Vulnerabilities.” Although the leaflets are printed in Vietnamese, there are typed English translations on the back. Lastly, there is a section similar to the first, but instead of printed leaflets, it is for loudspeaker announcements.