https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/309d9132-8da7-4b1f-8373-7f8205dae009 This U.S. Marine Corps film from the Vietnam War in 1968 documents the Chieu Hoi / Chi'u H i Program (loosely translated as "Open Arms"), a psychological warfare and counterinsurgency effort by the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) and the United States to encourage Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers to defect. 0:11-0:21: The film sets the context, describing the conflict as "aggressive subversion of a country by its neighbor" (North Vietnam attacking South Vietnam). 0:22-0:56: The scene shifts to a celebration in Tom Ky, Vietnam, marking the success of the Chieu Hoi ("Open Arms") Program after a North Vietnamese Army Captain defects, bringing weapons and hope. The program's goal is to win back people exploited by hostile voices from the North and help build a new nation. 1:24-1:47: The program offers a road to freedom through surrender, turning insurgents into loyal citizens. The film states that 50,000 insurgents have returned and been rehabilitated through Chieu Hoi, claiming that removing this threat under combat would have cost over 9,000 American lives. 1:48-2:10: Ralliers are taken to an interrogation center where they are voluntarily asked to furnish immediate tactical information on the enemy, which has proven "extremely helpful." Saigon guarantees safety and good treatment regardless of cooperation. 2:20-3:08: Further information on background, skills, and reasons for rallying is obtained. The rallier's new identification papers do not reflect their former status as an insurgent . They are educated on the legal government's goals: freedom, self-determination, peace, harmony, and uniting the people to protect their spiritual heritage. 3:41-5:39: Nation-building starts at the grassroots level. Former insurgents ( Hoi Chanh ) can work at ancient crafts in their hamlets or choose to live in more populous villages. An opportunity to learn a new trade is a "prime incentive," turning them back into useful, contributing citizens. 5:45-6:19: Many former enemy personnel choose to join the government's counterinsurgency efforts. Lightly armed, they travel to villages to relate firsthand experiences of life with the VC versus life with the South Vietnamese government. 6:20-7:18: Marine Captain Bill McIntyre uses the ralliers' knowledge of the VC infrastructure and techniques. The enemy responds to the success of pacification (including Chieu Hoi) with assassination, kidnapping, and terror , often leveling entire villages and slaughtering people who support the legitimate government. 7:39-9:27: Captain McIntyre and the ralliers start a mission to reinforce villagers' support for the Saigon government and ask them to divulge VC activities. The ralliers speak to the people about the kidnappings and assassinations, emphasizing that the people "must help us" (the U.S. and Vietnamese government) to help themselves. 9:47-11:28: A rallier proves invaluable by pointing out booby traps. The film acknowledges that the people are "torn between both" sides but are subject to the terror of the VC, whom the narrator dismisses as "little more than roving bandits." The hope is that by listening to those who have lived on both sides, the villagers will make a firm choice for the legitimate government, as they want only peace. 12:03-12:15: The South Vietnamese government hopes to win the people's total allegiance by cultivating their trust, securing their villages, and improving their lives; Chieu Hoi is presented as proof of this sincerity. 12:39-13:32: Statistical Update: In 1967, over 20,000 VC and NVA joined Chieu Hoi. While the overall number of returnees was down in the first quarter of 1968, the "caliber" of ralliers had improved: the percentage of NCO and field-grade military personnel was two and a half times greater, providing valuable intelligence regarding enemy locations, morale, and infiltration channels. Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. We collect, scan and preserve 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have films you'd like to have scanned or donate to Periscope Film, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the link below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcwL2FCzc2g Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:26:06 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/309d9132-8da7-4b1f-8373-7f8205dae009 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.