---
title: Open Letter from the Commanders of the 25th Infantry Divisions
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/open-letter-25th-division-1965-1969/
description: A text-only sheet in red and blue carries the unit insignia of the South Vietnamese 25th Infantry Division (left) and the U.S. 25th Infantry Division
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. Open Letter from the Commanders of the 25th Infantry Divisions

[![Open Letter from the Commanders of the 25th Infantry Divisions, 1965 US poster: A text-only sheet in red and blue carries](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/open-letter-25th-division-1965-1969.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/open-letter-25th-division-1965-1969.jpg)

# Open Letter from the Commanders of the 25th Infantry Divisions

A text-only sheet in red and blue carries the unit insignia of the South Vietnamese 25th Infantry Division (left) and the U.S. 25th Infantry Division (right) above an open letter addressed to the local population. The letter offers a welcome under the Chieu Hoi policy to young people forced to follow the Viet Cong and asks families to call their relatives back 'before it is too late'. The tell is the paired insignia and joint signature, with abstract goals (justice, freedom, independence) and a deadline in one appeal.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/) [Fear appeal](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/fear-appeal/)

## Text on the object

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

```
BỨC THƯ NGỎ CỦA

TƯ LỆNH SƯ ĐOÀN 25 BỘ BINH VIỆT-NAM          TƯ LỆNH SƯ ĐOÀN 25 BỘ BINH HOA-KỲ

KÍNH GỞI
TOÀN THỂ CÔ BÁC - ANH CHỊ EM
THƯA ĐỒNG BÀO,

TRONG TINH THẦN CHIẾN ĐẤU VÌ CÔNG LÝ VÀ TỰ DO CỦA CON NGƯỜI ĐỂ CHỐNG LẠI BỌN CỘNG SẢN XÂM LĂNG VÀ CHỐNG LẠI MỌI BẠO LỰC, KHỦNG BỐ, SÁT HẠI VÀ CƯỚP BÓC MÀ BỌN VIỆT CỘNG ĐANG THI HÀNH ĐỐI VỚI NGƯỜI DÂN TẠI NÔNG THÔN, CÁC CHIẾN SĨ THUỘC SƯ ĐOÀN 25 BỘ BINH VIỆT NAM VÀ HOA KỲ CÙNG NHAU SÁT CÁNH KHÔNG NỀ GIAN NGUY, KHÓ NHỌC QUYẾT XÂY-DỰNG NỀN AN NINH NÔNG THÔN, BẢO ĐẢM TÍNH MỆNH TÀI SẢN VÀ SỰ TỰ DO CỦA ĐỒNG BÀO.

THI HÀNH CHÁNH SÁCH KHOAN HỒNG CỦA CHÍNH PHỦ VIỆT NAM CỘNG HÒA, CHÚNG TÔI SẴN SÀNG CHÀO ĐÓN TOÀN THỂ CÁC ANH CHỊ EM THANH NIÊN BỊ BỌN CỘNG SẢN VIỆT GIAN BẮT BUỘC THEO CHÚNG, NAY MONG MUỐN TRỞ VỀ VỚI CHÍNH NGHĨA.

VỚI TINH THẦN HIỆP MỘT NỖ LỰC CHÚNG TÔI CHẮC CHẮN SẼ CHIẾN THẮNG VIỆT CỘNG. ĐỒNG BÀO HÃY KÊU GỌI CON CHÁU CỦA MÌNH HIỆN ĐANG CÒN Ở TRONG HÀNG NGŨ VIỆT CỘNG TRỞ VỀ PHÍA CHÍNH PHỦ QUỐC GIA TRƯỚC KHI QUÁ TRỄ. CHỈ CÓ CÁCH ẤY MỚI CÓ THỂ CỨU ĐƯỢC MẠNG SỐNG VÀ ĐỒNG THỜI GÓP PHẦN VÀO VIỆC GIỮ GÌN NỀN ĐỘC LẬP TỰ DO VÀ DÂN CHỦ CỦA XỨ SỞ VIỆT NAM.

SP-1454
```

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

```
OPEN LETTER OF

COMMANDER, 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION, VIETNAM          COMMANDER, 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION, UNITED STATES

RESPECTFULLY SENT TO
ALL UNCLES AND AUNTS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
DEAR COMPATRIOTS,

In the spirit of fighting for human justice and freedom, against the invading Communists and against all the violence, terror, killing and plundering that the Viet Cong are carrying out against the people in the countryside, the soldiers of the Vietnamese and American 25th Infantry Divisions, shoulder to shoulder, not shrinking from danger and hardship, are determined to build rural security and guarantee the lives, property and freedom of our compatriots.

Carrying out the lenient policy of the government of the Republic of Vietnam, we are ready to welcome all the young brothers and sisters who were forced by the Communist traitors to follow them and who now wish to return to the just cause.

In a spirit of united effort we will surely defeat the Viet Cong. Compatriots, call on your children and grandchildren who are still in the Viet Cong ranks to return to the National Government before it is too late. Only in that way can lives be saved and a contribution be made to preserving the independence, freedom and democracy of the land of Vietnam.

SP-1454
```

Printed in blue and red with the two divisional shoulder patches; no signature names are printed. The body text is transcribed as printed, including the hyphenated 'XÂY-DỰNG'; diacritics were read at image resolution and a few may be imperfect.

[← Một mục tiêu của ấp đời mới là: tổ chức đoàn ngũ nhân dân và cơ sở dân chủ (One Objective of the New Life Hamlet Is: Organize the People and Establish a Democratic Organization)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/one-objective-of-the-new-life-hamlet-democratic-organization-1965-1969/) [Partners in Crime →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/partners-in-crime-undated-1965-1969/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Gypsum alabaster slab inscribed in cuneiform, from Nimrud (Kalhu), reign of Ashurnasirpal II](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/nimrud-slab-ashurnasirpal-ii-inscription-883bce/) (Neo Assyrian Empire · 0000 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Colour lithograph of the Latin text of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti on the wall of the temple of Roma and Augustus at Ancyra, with the heading in large letters (Perrot, Guillaume and Delbet, 1872)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/lithograph-res-gestae-ancyra-heading-0014/) (Roman Empire · 0014 · Card stacking, Glittering generalities)
- [Bronze sestertius of Trajan, reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C, the emperor on horseback riding down an enemy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-trajan-optimo-principi-0103/) (Roman Empire · 0103 · Testimonial, Glittering generalities)
- [Gold solidus of Constantine I, reverse RESTITVTORI LIBERTATIS](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/solidus-constantine-i-restitutori-libertatis-0313/) (Roman Empire · 0313 · Glittering generalities)
- [Gold solidus of Justinian I, reverse VICTORIA AVGGG with Victory holding a Christogram staff](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/solidus-justinian-i-victoria-avggg-0538/) (Byzantine Empire · 0538 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I (Royal Museums Greenwich version), oil on panel](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/armada-portrait-elizabeth-i-greenwich-1588/) (England · 1588 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Medal of Elizabeth I: portrait in a ruff, reverse an ark on stormy waves with SAEVAS TRANQVILLA PER VNDAS (18th-century aftercast of a 1588 model)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/elizabeth-i-ark-medal-aftercast-1588/) (England · 1588 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Frontispiece to Eikon Basilike, The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings (Hollar, 1649)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eikon-basilike-frontispiece-hollar-1649/) (Dutch Republic · 1649 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)