Scope and Contents

The collection consists of approximately 0.75 linear feet of materials documenting 1st Lieutenant William Pollock's U.S. Army service with the 351st Psychological Operations Company (Tactical) and with MACV Saigon as Printing and Publications Advisor to Major Chin and the ARVN General Political Warfare Directorate (GPWD) from 1969-1970. The materials include a propaganda banner and other artifacts; propaganda posters; propaganda postcards; training materials; booklets; safe conduct passes; photographs and images; a Presidential Christmas card from President Nguyen Van Thieu and other holiday greeting cards; certificates; newsletters; a Counterparts reunion handout; electronic media; website printouts; calendars; and slides. The materials are dated predominately 1963-1970.

Biographical / Historical

1st Lieutenant William J. Pollock began his military career as a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in January 1967. He joined the 351st Psyops Company (Tactical) in Bronx, NY while attending graduate school at City College New York and teaching Graphic Arts and Printing at the School for the Deaf on 23rd Street in New York City. He completed the Psychological Operations Reserve Component Course at U.S. Army Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, NC in July 1967 and Infantry Officer Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA in April 1968. His permanent duty station assignment was the JFK Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg, NC in May 1968 as a Printing Officer and an Infantry Unit Commander. From 1969-1970, he completed a tour of Vietnam assigned to MACV Saigon as Printing and Publications Advisor to Major Chin and the ARVN General Political Warfare Directorate (GPWD) among others. He was awarded the Vietnamese Technical Service Medal 1st Class and the U.S. Army Bronze Star while assisting his Vietnamese counterparts in all four Corps areas. As a junior officer (Co Van Mi) with ARVN GPWD, he assisted in the monthly printing and publication of 30 million leaflets, 800,000 Tien Tuyen newspapers (The Frontline Daily), 100 banners, 600,000 booklets, and 10,000 miscellaneous documents. He was honorably released from active duty in May 1970 and was honorably discharged from Ready Reserves in January 1976. After his military service, he enjoyed a career as a high school teacher and principal and held various other roles in educational leadership.