During World War I, soldiers carried song books in their kit bags. In World War II, some soldiers had access to radios and could hear Glenn Miller and the Army-Air Force Band perform. Others were lucky enough to catch Bob Hope headline a USO show. During the Korean War the military set up its own radio network, Armed Forces Radio (Korea). Vietnam had all these outlets and more. Its GIs brought their own radios and instruments from home. They bought records and swapped tapes of their favorite music. They listened to official outlets as was as pirate stations and Radio Hanoi – which would play American popular music as an enticement to get soldiers to tune in. Whether they preferred Country, Soul or Rock & Roll, music was their soundtrack to the war. Vietnam was the first war fought to a soundtrack, with over 4000 war-related songs written and recorded between 1965-73. The lyrics were patriotic, controversial and often protest centered and were the essential to America. Join WHRV host Jae Sinnett as he takes you on a journey, celebrating the best music of the Vietnam era and focusing on the stories and artists behind the music.

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