Chieu Hoi 2855029 225263145 2008-07-12T19:36:25Z DHN 32104 dubious translation [[Image:M16MagCover.jpg|right|thumb|150px|A Chieu Hoi Bag]] [[Image:Safe conduct.jpg|thumb|right|Safe conduct pass.]] The '''Chiêu Hồi''' Program (pronounced 'Choo Hoy', literally translated as "Open Arms"<ref name="wherewewere"/>{{dubious}}) was an initiative by the South Vietnamese to encourage [[defection]] by the [[Viet Cong]] and their supporters to the side of the Government during the [[Vietnam War]]. Defection was urged by means of a [[propaganda]] campaign, usually leaflets delivered by artillery shell or dropped over enemy-controlled areas by aircraft, or messages broadcast over areas of South Vietnam,<ref name="wherewewere">{{cite book| last =Kelley| first =Michael P.| title =Where We Were In Vietnam| publisher =Hellgate Press| date =2002| pages = p. F-13 | id = ISBN 1-55571-625-3}}</ref> and a number of incentives were offered to those who chose to cooperate, along with [[psychological warfare]] to break enemy morale. To further this aim, invitations to defect, which also acted as safe-conduct passes, were printed on clear plastic waterproof bags used to carry ammunition for the US soldier's [[M16 (rifle)|M16 assault rifle]]. Each bag held one magazine, and was sealed up to prevent moisture from the jungle's humid climate from damaging the contents. When the magazine was needed during a firefight with the enemy, the bag would be torn open and discarded, in the hope that it would be discovered by enemy troops who would read the text and consider defection. However, in practice this method was of little value as littering the jungle with these bags would signpost the movement of US troops to the enemy, and Viet Cong would not be keen to retain them as it would indicate their intentions and indict them as traitors; and according to the testimony of Seargant [[Scott Camil]] during the 1971 [[Winter Soldier Investigation]], the passes were sometimes rejected anyway, and their holders shot.<ref>Testimony of Scott Camil, [[Winter Soldier Investigation]]</ref> Overall, the Chieu Hoi program was considered to be successful. Those who surrendered were known as "Hoi Chanh", and were often integrated into allied units as [[Kit Carson Scouts]], operating in the same area where they had been captured. Many made great contributions to the effectiveness of U.S. units, and often distinguished themselves, earning decorations as high as the [[Silver Star]].<ref name="wherewewere"/> The program was relatively inexpensive, and removed over 100,000 combatants from the field. ==See also== *[[Kit Carson Scouts]] ==Notes== {{Reflist}} ==References== ====News==== *{{cite news | title =Moving Forward | publisher =[[TIME]] | date =1966-09-23 | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,842793,00.html | accessdate = 2007-09-30}} *{{cite news | title =Allies' Aims & Hopes, In War & Peace | publisher =[[TIME]] | date =1966-11-04 | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,842925,00.html | accessdate = 2007-09-30}} *{{cite news | title =Charlie, Come Home! | publisher =[[TIME]] | date =1967-02-10 | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,840822,00.html | accessdate = 2007-09-30}} *{{cite news | title =Coming On Over | publisher =[[TIME]] | date =1967-04-14 | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,836946,00.html | accessdate = 2007-09-30}} *{{cite news | title =After Crossing Over | publisher =[[TIME]] | date =1968-08-23 | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,838610,00.html | accessdate = 2007-09-30}} *{{cite news | last =Jenkins | first =Brian Michael | title =Strategy: Political warfare neglected | pages = | publisher =[[San Diego Union Tribune]] | date =2005-06-26 | url =http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050626/news_mz1e26jenkin.html | accessdate = 2007-09-30}} *{{cite news | last =Gerwehr | first =Scott | coauthors=Nina Hachigian | title = In Iraq's Prisons, Try a Little Tenderness | pages = | publisher =[[New York Times]] | date =2005-08-25 | url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E4DB1E3EF936A1575BC0A9639C8B63 | accessdate = 2007-09-30}} *{{cite news | last =Andrade | first =Dale | title =Too Soon To Rule Out Amnesty | pages =A21 | publisher =[[Washington Post]] | date =2006-11-03 | url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/02/AR2006110201600.html | accessdate = 2007-09-30}} ====Reports==== *{{cite book | last =Carrier | first =J.M. | coauthors =C.A.H. Thomson | title =Viet Cong Motivation And Morale: The Special Case Of Chieu Hoi | publisher =[[RAND]] | date =May 1966 | url =http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_memoranda/2006/RM4830-2.pdf | id = RM-4830-2-ISA/ARPA}} *{{cite book | last =Kellen | first =Konrad | coauthors = | title =Conversations With Enemy Soldiers In Late 1968/Early 1969: A Study Of Motivation And Morale | publisher =[[RAND]] | date =September 1970 | url =http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_memoranda/2005/RM6131-1.pdf | id = RM-6131-1-ISA/ARPA}} *{{cite book | last =Koch | first =J.A. | title =The Chieu Hoi Program in South Vietnam, 1963-1971 (DECLASSIFIED) | publisher =[[RAND]] | date =January 1973 | url =http://rand.org/pubs/reports/2006/R1172.pdf | id = R-1172-ARPA}} *{{cite book | last =Long | first =Austin | coauthors = | title =On 'Other War': Lessons from Five Decades of RAND Counterinsurgency Research | publisher =[[RAND]] | date =2006 | url =http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2006/RAND_MG482.pdf | id = ISBN 0-8330-3926-1}} ==External links== *[http://www.psywarrior.com/ChieuHoiProgram.html The Chieu Hoi Program of Vietnam] *[http://www.hill4-11.org/memorabilia/chieu.html Chieu Hoi Leaflet Collection] *[http://www.psywarrior.com/VNFlagSCP.html Vietnam War "Flag" Safe Conduct Passes] *[http://www.vietnamgear.com/kit.aspx?kit=227 Vietnam War Chieu Hoi] [[Category:Vietnam War]] [[Category:Psychological warfare]] [[Category:Counter-insurgency]] [[Category:Military operations of the Vietnam War]]