Targeting Vietnam vets: How foreign actors exploit our heroes online

Vietnam War veterans, who returned home to a nation divided and were often denied the respect they deserved, now face a new and insidious threat: targeted misinformation campaigns by foreign actors. A 2019 report by the Vietnam Veterans of America revealed that countries such as Russia and China have been specifically targeting Vietnam-era veterans through fake social media accounts and even by hijacking the accounts of deceased veterans.

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According to the report, these efforts prey on older veterans who may lack familiarity with internet security and modern misinformation tactics. The goal of these campaigns is to exploit divisions and spread conspiracy theories, often radicalizing veterans or creating rifts between those who can discern factual information and those who fall victim to disinformation.

This trend has alarmed many younger veterans, who are calling for vigilance to protect their older counterparts. Experts recommend verifying information through multiple sources, questioning sensational headlines, and using reliable fact-checking websites like Snopes and PolitiFact to discern truth from fiction.

“This is a horrible thing to happen to our Vietnam vets, and it’s up to younger vets like us to protect them,” said a concerned veteran.

Veterans are encouraged to share tools and information that can help safeguard their community and maintain its strength and unity.