Original Item: Only One Available. Psychological operations (PSYOP) are operations to convey selected information and indicators to audiences to influence their motives and objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of governments, organizations, groups, and large foreign powers.

The purpose of United States psychological operations is to induce or reinforce behavior perceived to be favorable to U.S. objectives. They are an important part of the range of diplomatic, informational, military and economic activities available to the U.S. They can be utilized during both peacetime and conflict. There are three main types: strategic, operational and tactical. Strategic PSYOP includes informational activities conducted by the U.S. government agencies outside of the military arena, though many utilize Department of Defense (DOD) assets. Operational PSYOP are conducted across the range of military operations, including during peacetime, in a defined operational area to promote the effectiveness of the joint force commander's (JFC) campaigns and strategies. Tactical PSYOP are conducted in the area assigned to a tactical commander across the range of military operations to support the tactical mission against opposing forces.

This pack of leaflets is just one of the millions dropped by all agencies during the war. We aren’t sure exactly how many are present in the pack but it is well over 100 by the looks of it. The front of the leaflet shows a stealth bomber “turning and burning” as it bombs an enemy Iraqi position. The back shows the U.S. Marine Corps seal reading in arabic as "United States Naval Infantry," and the following text (translated):

"Follow these procedures to cease resistance. Pull your ammunition magazine from your weapon. Put your weapon on your left shoulder and aim the barrel at the ground. Raise your hands over your head and walk slowly. Wave with a white cloth or raise this leaflet to show you are willing to surrender. All Allied soldiers know this initiative shows that you are willing to surrender."

This leaflet was known as “Strategic Air – Marines” by the Coalition. Internal codes were “3F” and “14-08-01.” This Marine leaflet was dropped extensively and is known in numerous minor variations where the Marine emblem on the back is printed anywhere from the extreme left to the extreme right. The original request was for 360,000 leaflets on 24 January 1991. There was a second printing of 1,860,000, 1,320,000 were dropped during the war and another 900,000 were still in inventory at the end of the war. There is a variation that Johnson calls V57. The back of the leaflet is printed in red. I have placed it in a section I call “CIA Leaflets.” This leaflet was designed by 4th PSYOP Group artist Tim Wallace. He was asked to show how with “stealth” The Iraqis would never see the aircraft coming.

Tim Wallace of Linglestown was an Army Illustrator assigned to the 1st Psychological Operations Airborne from 1987-1991. In addition to his responsibilities as a soldier, he created a weekly cartoon on Army life and it quickly caught on with the troops. He has now compiled the comic strips into a book G.I. Bill 1987-1991, a cartoon collection.

A wonderful example of how a piece of paper aided in winning wars.