Content note: Photographs of severely emaciated men, said to be freed prisoners, and of them receiving medical care, as issued. This object is shown as it was published. Why

Những tù nhân đói khát của Việt Cộng được cứu sống!, 1966 US poster: A pink Vietnamese-language sheet (code SP-1482) shows

Những tù nhân đói khát của Việt Cộng được cứu sống! (Starving Prisoners of the Viet Cong Rescued!)

A pink Vietnamese-language sheet (code SP-1482) shows photographs of emaciated men, said to be Viet Cong prisoners freed by a unit of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division near Tuy Hoa, and of two named men and a ward receiving care. The captions say the prisoners were starved and had skin disease, swelling and ulcers while held and were treated by American and Vietnamese doctors. The sheet pairs photographs of suffering with named individuals and an account of rescue and medical care.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Testimonial Fear appeal Card stacking

Date: 1966
Period: Cold War
Made by: Joint U.S. Public Affairs Office (JUSPAO) printing section, Saigon
Region: North America
Country: United States
Medium: Poster
Issuer type: State
Regime: Johnson Administration
Leader: Lyndon B. Johnson
Audience: Mixed
Purpose: Demonize
Theme: War and the military
Event: Vietnam War
Source: Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
Source: U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 306, Psychological Warfare Posters, Vietnam War (NAID 561393), retrieved October 3, 2026
Rights: NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
Joint U.S. Public Affairs Office (JUSPAO) printing section, Saigon. National Archives and Records Administration, 306-VP-01-1482.

Text on the object

Original (Vietnamese) · read from the image, not independently checked

NHỮNG TÙ NHÂN ĐÓI KHÁT
CỦA VIỆT CỘNG ĐƯỢC CỨU SỐNG!

Mười một tù nhân bị Việt Cộng giam giữ tại một trại giam trong rừng gần Tuy Hòa đã được một đơn vị thuộc Sư Đoàn Nhảy Dù Mỹ 101 cứu sống. Sau khi được các bác sĩ Mỹ và Việt chữa trị cấp thời, họ đã được đưa đến các bệnh viện để tiếp tục cuộc chữa trị.

Anh Lê Văn Thân đã bị tù và bỏ nhịn đói vì tội toan trốn khỏi hàng ngũ Việt Cộng.

Ông Trần Văn Dinh bị đau ngang bao tử đang được một nhân viên Mỹ săn sóc.

Những tù nhân được giải thoát này đang lần hồi phục sức. Khi bị Việt Cộng giam giữ, họ đã bị nhịn đói và chịu đủ các thứ bệnh ngoài da, bị ung nhọt và sưng phổi.

SP-1482

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

THE STARVING PRISONERS OF THE VIET CONG RESCUED!

Eleven prisoners held by the Viet Cong in a prison camp in the forest near Tuy Hoa were rescued by a unit of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division. After receiving emergency treatment from American and Vietnamese doctors, they were taken to hospitals to continue treatment.

Mr. Le Van Than was jailed and left to go hungry for the crime of trying to escape from the Viet Cong ranks.

Mr. Tran Van Dinh, suffering a stomach illness, is being cared for by an American serviceman.

These liberated prisoners are gradually regaining their strength. While held by the Viet Cong, they were starved and suffered all kinds of skin diseases, ulcers and swollen lungs [pulmonary swelling].

SP-1482