The real war however, is being fought not for the bodies but the minds of the Vietcong.
– Congressman David S. King 1966
In late 1967, U.S. Military Assistance Command-Vietnam (MACV) placed a 50,000-watt AM radio transmitter in Pleiku to broadcast to the northern provinces of South Vietnam. “The Voice of the Army and the People of Vietnam” became one of the most powerful radio transmitters in the country
Our objective is to provide our listeners with truthful information and enjoyable hours of entertainment.
The ARVN [The Army of the Republic of Vietnam] personnel were responsible for all radio programming, while the US provided the equipment and supervised the technical operation of the station. The station began daily broadcasting on 20 January 1968 under Operation Yellowbird with six hours of news, music, and PSYOP messages to Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army troops, their dependents, and sympathizers throughout the Central Highlands.
[snip]
The Chief, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces General Political Warfare Department, has recognized the desirability of motivating and indoctrinating the Montagnards to support the Government of Vietnam and decided to use Radic Pleiku as one of the principal means of accomplishing this task. Plans were underway to procure the added personnel and funds to increase broadcasting from 6 to 11 hours daily. The increased time will include programs directed primarily toward the Montagnard audience. Programs in the Montagnard dialect are scheduled to begin 1 September 1969.
– Employment of U.S. Army Psychological Operations Units in Vietnam 1969 Jun 07
While it was in an ideal location for broadcasting, the site was remote and tactically exposed. The radio station was essentially an outpost—it was not inside any unit’s defensive perimeter. As such, the small compound was very vulnerable to attack. Only barbed wire and concertina fences surrounded the outlying compound. A single wooden guard tower provided early warning. It was guarded by a Vietnamese Army (ARVN) squad. The 23rd ARVN Division was responsible for outer perimeter security in Pleiku. What distinguished the compound from the other American facilities in Pleiku was the 250-foot radio antenna. It quickly became a Viet Cong (VC) rocket and mortar aiming post and rounds were received almost daily
Broadcasting terminated from the radio station on 31 July 1971. Transmitter operation for the month totaled 2 hours 25 minutes at low power, and 245 hours 25 minutes at high power.
– the 4th PSYOP Group Monthly Operations Report of July 1971
Eastward Ho! 