(a).
ARVN soldiers printing leaflets
10 ft

(b).
Captain Smyk looking at leaflet
5 ft

(c).
ARVN soldiers passing out leaflets and foodstuffs to villagers of Long Dinh
18 ft

(d).
Close up of box of rolled oats with PSYOPS leaflet attached
1 ft

(e).
PSYOPS leaflets being passed out
12ft

(f).
ARVN handing out leaflets to villagers at Ap Trung
8 ft

(g).
Vietnamese culture group singing for villagers
7 ft

(h).
Close up of girl singer
5 ft

(i).
Foodstuffs being given to villagers
18 ft

(j).
Close up of "Hands Across the Sea" symbol
2 ft

(k).
Sick call conducted by ARVN medical personnel
20 ft



Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Keeping Highway Four open from Saigon to the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam is one of the mission of the 7th ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) Infantry Division's PSYOPS (Psychological Operations) units. Highway Four is a major resupply route used by ARVN and U.S. Army units in the delta.

Using two printing presses captured from the Viet Cong, soldiers of the ARVN division print leaflets urging the people of the area to cooperate in keeping the road secure for free traffic by both civilian and military vehicles.

Captain Rostyslaw R. Smyk, U.S. advisor and coordinating officer for the ARVN PSYOPS elements, checks over the printed material to be handed out to the local villagers during civic action and PSYOPS activities.

In the village of Long Dinh, approximately 30 miles southwest of Saigon, members of the ARVN 403rd Political Warfare Company conducted a civic action mission. Cooking oil, cereals, and clothing, donated by the U.S government were passed out to the villagers. Leaflets were also given to the villagers explaining the advantages of keeping Highway Four open and secure.

The next day, in the nearby village of Ap Trung, Captain Smyk members of the political warfare company were accompanied by a Vietnamese culture drama group on another civic action project. The soldiers gave out leaflets as the culture group sang patriots songs for the entertainment of the villagers. After the festivities were over, food treats were distributed and a sick call was conducted by the ARVN medical personnel.

This type of activity by the ARVN 7th Infantry Division PSYOPS teams encourages the villagers to support the government of South Vietnam and other Free World Forces in their country.