Civil Affairs – Psychological Warfare Activities

Section X

1. General
2. The Command’s Civic Action program consists primarily of Medical Assistance, development of local Village governments and both joint and self-help projects.  Civic Actions are conducted in three villages, Ky Ha, Ky Hoa and Ky Xuan.
3. Ky Ha Village has an active government which plays an important part in the people’s lives, providing them with leadership and an organized means of communicating their needs to higher authority for assistance.  The village has an active PF Platoon, a well-organized Self Defense Corps (Home Guard) and can all but be considered secure.
4. The government of Ky Hoa Village has grown from a rough beginning into a well-functioning organization, due primarily to the leadership of an enthusiastic Village Chief.  One PF Platoon is present in the village and the Self Defense Corps is active and effective in all hamlets.  The people of Ky Hoa are very responsive to the programs and projects initiated by Company B and have a definite desire to help themselves.
5. Ky Xuan, under the leadership of the Village Chief, has a fairly effective government which is beginning to become an increasingly important part of the people’s lives.  The people are quite friendly and have confidence in the Marines on the Island as well as being responsive to their programs.
6. See Daily Civil Affairs Situation Reports (attached)
7. Significant Events.
8. The Battalion Civic Action Outpatient Clinic and Company Corpsmen held scheduled treatment (MEDCAP) in all three villages.  The doctors and Corpsmen treated a total of 5,192 villagers during the month.  In addition, dentists provided treatment in the three villages, treating a total of 30 people.
9. In Ky Hoa Village a second health clinic was established at Hoa Trung Hamlet.  The Villages two clinics are staffed by village health workers, volunteer hamlet health workers and Corpsmen from Company B.  A 24-hour emergency service is provided in addition to the regular hours of operation.
10. The Battalion Educational Development Section conducted and supervised 71 hours of instruction for 159 English language students in Ky Ha and Ky Hoa Villages.  In Ky Xuan, the Village Staff and Hamlet Officials are enrolled in an English class.
11. The Village Staff in Ky Hoa moved operations into the Village Headquarters at Hoa Trung Hamlet.  It had not been occupied since the Viet Cong attack on the Junk Fleet Base in July 1965.  The Village Headquarters now functions on a regular schedule and PF security is present 24 hours daily.
12. During the month several indications of the people’s confidence were seen.  Among these indications were a marked increase in GVN flags being displayed, especially in Ky Xuan Village where the effects of VC domination have not been completely forgotten.  A second indication was the movement of the Hamlet Chiefs to the two western hamlets of Ky Hoa back into their own homes.  The two chiefs have been living in the eastern part of the village since the attack on the Junk Fleet Base in July.
13. On 7 December soap was distributed to approximately 400 persons in Ky Xuan village.  The soap was distributed at the village school.  In connection with the distribution, the village nurses conducted instruction in personal hygiene.
14. On 15 December approximately 350 villagers in Ky Hoa received clothing through the Project Hand Clasp Program.  The village and hamlet chiefs distributed the clothes to the needy people within the village.
15. On 17 and 18 December CARE School Kits were distributed in Ky Hoa and Ky Xuan.  School children in the two villages received a total of 375 kits.
16. On 17 December CARE food supplies plus quantities of rice, were distributed to approximately 500 people in Ky Hoa village.  The recipients were primarily refugees in Hoa Long Hamlet.
17. Civic Action Projects
18. The Midwife dispensary in Ky Ha Village was cleaned and painted.  The work was accomplished through the coordinated efforts of Vietnamese and Marines with paint and materials provided by both.
19. Marines installed urinals at the schools in Ky Xuan.  In connection with this installation the village nurses conducted classes on personal and public hygiene and sanitation.
20. A bridge in Ky Ha Village which washed out during an unusually high tide in November, was repaired during a lull in the rains.  Repairs were started in November, but heavy rains hampered completion of operations until late December.
21. On 10 December, and again on Christmas Day, Catholic Mass was held for villagers in Ky Xuan Village.  There is a small Catholic Church in the Village and about 30 villagers attended the mass.
22. Christmas parties were held for the children in the villages.  Candy, clothing and a few toys were distributed.  Games and talent shows were the highlights in the Christmas programs.
23. Problem Areas
24. The absence of a PF Unit in Ky Xuan hinders the development of effective local security within that village.  A PAT Platoon has been assigned during the interim period until a PF Unit can be committed to the village.  However, the PAT’s basic mission does not include public security.  Accordingly, this further delays the development of a Self Defense Corps in the village.
25. The lack of transportation for material goods to the Chu Lai Enclave continues to hamper the entire Civic Action program.  The lack of required materials necessitates delays and often prevents the timely completion of needed local projects and improvements.
26. Plans
27. Continue rural reconstruction activities in the villages of Ky Ha, Ky Hoa and Ky Xuan.  Emphasis placed on further development of local governments and self-help type projects, de-emphasizing the Marine role in government activities.  Respond wherever possible to the needs and requests of the local populace.  Civic Actions such as Medical Assistance and Educational Development will continue.
28. Development of Self Defense Corps in Ky Xuan Village.  This is dependent upon assignment of a PF Unit.
29. Develop increased confidence in the people of all three villages in their ability to defend against local VC agents, primarily through increased emphasis on local Vietnamese activity in this area.
30. Psychological Operations
31. A total of 6,943 leaflets (numbers 6, 10, 16, 18 and 19) were distributed throughout the TAOR in the villages of Ky Ha, Ky Hoa, Ky Xuan and Hoa Xuan.  Distribution was affected by Marine combat patrols, coordinated Marine/Popular Forces patrols and by village and hamlet chiefs.  Generally, the people accepted the leaflets and read them.
32. Leaflets were obtained from Ly Tin District Headquarters and the 4^th Marines Headquarters.
33. A Province Medical Team was sent to Ky Hoa Island by the Province Chief when 12 cases of smallpox were reported.  Upon inspection by the Battalion Surgeon the smallpox was diagnosed as chicken pox.  The Medical Team while on Ky Hoa vaccinated a number of the people against smallpox.
34. Christmas parties were held in Ky Xuan for the Vietnamese children of the Island.  The parties were enthusiastically accepted by the children and villagers alike.
35. Several significant incidents have occurred on Ky Xuan during the last month.
36. On 3 December 1965 the first Anti-Government propaganda leaflets were found since 13 October on Ky Xuan.  The leaflets were directed against the people and the GVN forces.
37. On 2 December 1965 the VC abducted four villagers one of which was a Hamlet Chiefs father, two family leaders and one elderly man.
38. The Vietnamese Village Officials disseminated their own psychological warfare banners, which read as follows: We must seek out and destroy covert communism and rebuild the village.
39. On 22 December 1965 Company D discovered anti-American propaganda leaflets directed against the American participation in the War in Viet Nam.  The leaflets were printed in English.  The open letter allegedly from Army Special Forces Sgt. Claude D. McClure denounced with vigor the U. S. involvement in Viet Nam.
40. A newsletter (800 copies) written by Mr. Chow, the Ky Xuan Village Chief was printed and distributed on 21 December to the villagers of Ky Xuan.  The newsletter contained information of general interest to the people of Ky Xuan.
41.    On 2 December 1965 in the hamlet of Hoa Trung on Ky Hoa Island, the GVN flag was flown in front of the Village Headquarters for the first time since the VC launched an attack on the island in July 1965.
42. 800 copies of Huong Que number 16, 580 copies of Huong Que number 18, and 270 copies of the Gioi Tu-do were distributed on 31 December to the various rifle companies to be disseminated to the villagers of Ky Ha, Ky Hoa, and Ky Xuan.

This page last corrected 18 September 2011