Songs and poetry of Soviet servicemen deployed to Vietnam

Songs and poetry of Soviet servicemen deployed to Vietnam is a number of music and lyrics, created by Soviet militarymen deployed to Vietnam in the 1960s, during escalation of Vietnam War. Mostly of no authorship, appeared to be informal or rather dubious kind of creativity, but is not an unambiguous one. Consists of memorial songs, love songs, nostalgy songs, buddy songs, pro- and anti-war songs, sometimes with absolutely polar attitude towards United States and Vietnamese allies.

Brief overview

Though, only one Soviet military unit, 260th Anti-Aircraft Defence Regiment, has been deployed entirely, variety of other military units were deployed in parts, and a huge number of Soviet military specialists, mostly military advisors, were deployed there on individual missions or as a members of joined task force. Over 6000 Soviet troops and unknown number of Civil service specialists, has been deployed during Vietnam War.

Songs and poetry

Along with official music, such as ‘1965 hit Kentucky Kid or ‘1968 Hands Off Vietnam!, or Vietnamese songs, such as Liberate the South, which Soviet militarymen use to sing along with their Vietnamese colleagues,[1] there been vast amount of songs and poetry in Russian language, written by unauthorized poets, militarymen appear to be.[note 1] These are:

Wandering The Swamps Of Vietnam

Love ballad, written by unknown Soviet military advisor in the late 1960s. Partly appeared in journals and books, issued by the official Soviet print since 1969. In official publications it has been presented as a song of Soviet geologists, but as it was revealed later, Soviet Civil service specialists in Vietnam, including geologists, were quiet often deployed along with their wives, while protagonist of the song yearns for beloved woman, who is far away from the swamps of Vietnam. Besides of that, swampy terrains are more typical for southern parts of the country, geological activities there most likely might be of no result. Being written by some infantryman, i.e., that one who, participated in ground missions, the song evidences that Soviet servicemen were involved not only in Air Defense, Logistics and Military Transportations, as been thought previously. However, song contains no hatred towards Americans, nor a single mention of any foreign military power, invaded Vietnam.

Wartime Friendship

Semi-official unit march of 260th Anti-Aircraft Defence Regiment, written by Soviet AAD Officer Alexander V. Gusev, after Soviet Anti-Aircraft Defense specialists’ two-month ground-to-air stand versus United States Air Force, occurred at Thái Nguyên and its neighborhoods, during April–May 1966. Text of the song consists mostly of survivor experience. The song itself is a remake of 1963 Soviet movie soundtrack On the Unknown Hillock.

The Road of Life
The Road of Life
"Road No. 1" rewritten by Yevgeniy Dolmatovsky and narrated by himself
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A short war poem written by unknown military transportation officer, could be described as clearly denoted pro-war poetry. Lyrics are mostly about the Ho Chi Minh trail, heavily bombed by Americans. But depiction of Americans in the lyrics has been made in such epithets as “Yankees”, “Satan’s black spawn”, “The vulture”, framing the poem as anti-American as well. The poem inspired later works of well known Soviet poets Yevgeniy Dolmatovsky (1967) and Yevgeny Yevtushenko (1972) to write lyrics, labeled with the similar name, but written in more peaceful style and containing no anti-American attitude.

Phantom
Phantom
"Phantom" performed by Chizh & Co
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A rehash of the 1950s Korean War guitar song. Perhaps, the most known Soviet song, which never been written down during Soviet Era. Told from the imaginary point of view of an average American military aviator, the tone of the song is totally unfriendly for Vietnamese allies of Soviet Union. Being initially created by Soviet military pilots in Korea, it induced controversial speculations about Soviet engagement in Vietnam War aerial dogfights. However, this point have not been confirmed yet, only number of Soviet aerial casualties has been revealed recently.

In The Name Of John
In The Name Of John
"My Dear Johny" performed by Dubl' Dwa
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A lament, supposed to be composed by Soviet anti-aircraft defense specialists in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Metre of the song and the song itself is performed in the manner of Comin’ in on a Wing and a Prayer, a famous World War II song by Harold Adamson and Jimmy McHugh. As well as Phantom, it's being told from imaginary point of view of an average United States Air Force bomber crewman, whose aircraft was hit by Anti-aircraft cannons during bombing mission, and streamingly going down. Presence of Soviet military have not been mentioned in any variation of the song. Vietnamese resistance mentioned simply as “guerrillas, who are shooting down every man”. However, higher ranks of United States Armed Forces, Government officials and even President of the United States (in some text variations), being strongly criticized, what makes this song an anti-government one.

Fierce Fight

A song written by unknown author, presumably an Yamal Peninsula inhabitant (Russian Far North). Author mentions Ob River, and some other distinguishing features of the Russian North, the places he belongs to. Then he explains his understanding, that there exists another world, without permanent alarm, rockets and bombers, the world of truth, happiness and sunlight. But he is needed to do his commitment. He feels the urge to help those, who are oppressed. He knows, that if he will stand and fight, with no retreat, no break, he will eventually bring the happiness to those, whom he defends.

I Want The Snow To Fall

A nostalgic song about the Russian soul, melting in the tropical Vietnam, desiring to see the snow. Author moons about cornflower-blue skies, frosty air to breathe in deeply, ice-flowers on winter window glass, snow to fall on the chest, birch trees, boundless snowfields, crane flying wedges, summarizing it all with the question: “Oh, dear Homeland! How should the northerner do live in Vietnam?”

No Sleep For Me In Hanoi

A short three-verse song. Author finds himself standing at night, gazing at stars, shining bright far away, Red River flowing, trees swaying by wind. No sleep for him in the Capital of Vietnam. Anxiety and nostalgia over his thoughts. And far away from here, boundless homeland covered up with snow, shining in glare of the old Kremlin.

For Many “War” Is Just A Word

A song of unknown author, discovered by Stanislav Batayev. Author points that for many people, “war” is nothing more than just a word, and word of the times, which passed long time ago. It’s a reference to the Great Patriotic War, Soviet people usually mean while saying “The War”. For those Soviet guys, who have seen burned earth, ruined cities and villages of Vietnam, it seems absolutely clear what is “war”.

Farewell To Vietnam

Another song discovered by Stanislav Batayev. Tour of duty is now running up for author of the song and his fellows, suitcase is packed, imaginary war-plan seems to be accomplished. Good luck to those, who will continue their endeavor. Friends and relatives anticipating for them up there, at home, and they have the honor to report to them, that "the vultures" were met with fierce rebuff, both in the skies and on the ground. Deployment terms are not the same for all, some arrive, and some are leaving. Now, they have experienced how it feels like, to be given a send-off. They swear to prevent themselves from empty promises, but to obey one rule, if they will ever met each other, they will stand up for the third toast and honor those who did not come back, those who partly came back, and those who spent his unforgettable youth down there.

Một Trăm Gam

Let's một trăm gam is an inaccurate Vietnamese translation of the most common Russian toast “Let’s drop 100 grammas”. The song has been written in 2000 by retired Soviet military expert, Sr. Lieut. Alexander Anosov, who himself been to Vietnam in 1967–1968. Song is an overview of great events which unfolded in Vietnam over thirty years ago, written by living eyewitness of those events. Song tells about “hit & carry” task groups, whose purpose was to hit hostile aircraft and then carry up catapulted pilots and fallen hardware and weaponry, about Soviet surprise bombings by usage of unexploded U. S. bombs and shells, and about daily war-life. Song summarizes that it’s been a long time ago, and not all survivors came to join their war-brotherhood anniversary, and author’s closing words are:

“

We’ll honour them, by staying silently upright,
And then, for all what took place down there,
For our young years in Hanoi,
Let’s “một trăm gam”!
Let’s “một trăm gam”!

     

Мы их помянем, молча стоя,
Потом, за всё, что было там,
За нашу молодость в Ханое
По «мот чам гам»!
По «мот чам гам»!

 ”

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Only authorized creativity was accepted in former USSR. I.e., song writers and composers were obliged to be members of Union of Soviet Writers or Union of Soviet Composers respectively. Otherwise, their activities would be considered as sponging (felony) up to the war propaganda (crime)

References

  1. ↑ Belov, A. M. (2005). "Заметки старшего группы СВС в 278 зенитно-ракетном полку Вьетнамской народной армии" [Daily notes of superior officer of the Group of Soviet Military Specialists in 278th Air Defence Regiment of Vietnam People's Army]. In Glazunov, E. P. Война во Вьетнаме: Как это было. 1965-1973 [Vietnam War. How it was. 1965-1973] (in Russian). Moscow: Examen. p. 323. ISBN 978-5-472-00800-6. OCLC 60540267.

Sources

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