Reading reports on what the American Forces Radio service was like during the Vietnam War, and also reading reports of clandestine stations popping up playing what the troops really wanted to hear via taped letters from home containing music the Army had banned during the time, I was curious what exactly constituted “cleared music” being offered to the troops stationed around South Vietnam and what possibly the “grunts” in the field had available to them via their transistor radios.
My question was answered a few years ago when I got a collection of tapes in labeled simply “American Forces, Saigon”. Expecting to hear “Good Morning Vietnam” or its equivalent over these several reels, I was surprised to find out “Easy Listening” was just as prevalent in the battle field as it was at home.
I suspect there was a therapeutic component at play – soothing and quiet music to counter sudden mortar attacks. But I also imagined Easy Listening appealed to Commanding Officers because of the age difference between Officers and troops. Not to mention the fact that this music was a staple in most elevators and office buildings around the States and this may have represented a “slice of home” to some.
At any rate, this is a sample of what was being played around Vietnam, beaming from Saigon via an automated station, running 24 hours a day, providing some respite from the firefights and ground action just a few miles away. Another side of war that gets skipped over at times. The tape indicates it was a Friday night, but for the sake of argument, we cheated.
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