Did the US military really blast rock music from speakers on the huey helicopters in Vietnam?

2018-12-19T12:26:52-05:00

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Dec 19 at 2018 12:39 PM

2018-12-19T12:39:45-05:00

It's called psychological warfare.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2018 12:58 PM

2018-12-19T12:58:29-05:00

PV2 J M I never saw it done.

https://www.quora.com/During-the-Vietnam-Conflict-did-the-US-military-actually-blast-music-from-helicopters-Or-is-this-Hollywood-fantasy-propaganda

During the Vietnam Conflict, did the US military actually blast music from helicopters? Or is...

I was a member of the 1/9th Cav, 1st Cavalry Division in 1967. That was the Cav unit portrayed in “Apocalypse Now”. We wore the Cav Stetsons, for ceremonies only, did not water ski behind the helicopters, but we did have speakers on some birds and sirens on some. We used them to scare and befuddle the enemy ground troops, but wasn’t very effective and was additional weight and drag that wasn’t worth the trade off.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 19 at 2018 1:35 PM

2018-12-19T13:35:10-05:00

There was music everywhere, mostly because the troops wanted it and the brass decided it reduced the drug use. If you were grooving to music, it usually deferred the next needle. I remember sitting on my tin can getting fire missions from "VCCS" (Viet Cong Co... Suc.."). He would play very loud rock over the FC net, occasionally interrupted by actual work. We'd play the ship's theme song "Good, Bad, and Ugly" whenever we lit all four off for in close shoots. Part of the culture at the time.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Dec 19 at 2018 2:27 PM

2018-12-19T14:27:11-05:00

I seem to remember a physiological warfare use of the sound of babies crying playing from speakers of choppers, it was rumored this was a CIA Phy/Op trick,this was in 1967 in the Tuy Hoa area,I would have enjoyed rock music though.

Response by Brad Powers made Dec 19 at 2018 3:36 PM

2018-12-19T15:36:36-05:00

There is something to be said about Rhythm and focus

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2018 4:46 PM

2018-12-19T16:46:32-05:00

This was part of the PsyOps used against the NVA. It drove them crazy and knew (in some cases) the 1st Cav was coming to get them.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Dec 20 at 2018 12:08 AM

2018-12-20T00:08:36-05:00

Current PSYOPS play all kind of things on speakers across the battlefield.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 made Dec 20 at 2018 12:12 AM

2018-12-20T00:12:27-05:00

PV2 J M Welcome back to Rally Point!

How is your career intent progressing?

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Dec 20 at 2018 12:57 AM

2018-12-20T00:57:18-05:00

Certain songs had effects .. usually the blaring and squealing of instruments .. horns and String instruments., Jordan. During the Korean
War the Chinese blew their bugles.. back in the day the Irish and Scots have bagpipes.. a
Eery effect...

Response by PO3 Michael L made Apr 23 at 2019 2:28 PM

2019-04-23T14:28:53-04:00

According to my 3 uncles......no they didn’t.. it just looked cool in movies

Response by Lt Col Scott Arnott made Jan 13 at 2020 10:49 PM

2020-01-13T22:49:52-05:00

Occasionally! I did hear it a few times.

Response by CPL Dennis Bodofsky made Jan 25 at 2020 8:16 AM

2020-01-25T08:16:55-05:00

Always in the flight helmets at certain times 45 Dust Off

Response by Ro Modd made Mar 23 at 2022 9:14 AM

2022-03-23T09:14:11-04:00

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