P.A.T.H.: Vietnam

October 27, 1967 · AFVN Saigon · PATH Remix

Listener Top 20 · Saigon

With Charlie Mercer and Milo Taggart · 1:28:01 · 20 records

On the dial from October 27, 1967 in your tour

This programme plays inside P.A.T.H.: Vietnam. The running order and the DJs’ scripts are here to read; the broadcast itself waits on your dial in the game.

Running order

The script and running order as produced for the game.

  1. DJ

    From A F V N Saigon, this is the listener Top Twenty! Twenty records, two microphones, and one ranking guaranteed to start arguments wherever radios have volume knobs. I am Charlie Mercer.

  2. DJ

    And I am Milo Taggart. Charlie counts quickly. I count accurately. The ballots have been counted twice, once correctly. At number twenty, the Market Squares step out with Saturday on the High Street.

  3. RecordSaturday On The High Street — The Market Squares
  4. DJ

    Saturday on the High Street at number twenty. That record walks into town like it owns the pavement.

  5. DJ

    And apparently owes the pavement money. Number nineteen belongs to the Blue Room Assembly with Two Cups on the Table. First, a fellow with a missing raincoat and a dangerous relationship with locks.

  6. Service spot

    Hey, man, may I borrow your raincoat? Somebody took mine. They got my poncho too. How come you are always losing things? Do you ever lock them up? Well, sure. Most of the time. I have only lost two hundred thirty-seven dollars and sixty-nine cents worth this year. Make it two hundred thirty-nine. I am keeping this lighter. Get a lock for your locker, and use it.

  7. RecordTwo Cups on the Table — The Blue Room Assembly
  8. DJ

    Two Cups on the Table at nineteen. One table, two cups, and enough trouble left over for the whole mess hall.

  9. DJ

    At eighteen, Jesse Cade and the Highballers ride the Coldwater Line. Before they pull out, a finance reminder for anybody planning to spend future money in advance.

  10. Service spot

    Are you returning to the land of the girl watchers soon? Lucky man. But girl watching can become more involved than a spectator sport. When you go out for that expensive stateside night, you do not want to end it doing K.P. for civilians. Be prepared. Think ahead. Now, the serious part. Before departing Vietnam, arrange with the Division Finance Office for the money you may need. Remember: advance pay reduces your monthly pay for six months... or until the entire advance is refunded.

  11. RecordColdwater Line — Jesse Cade and the Highballers
  12. DJ

    Coldwater Line at eighteen. It dropped the studio temperature half a degree and raised the speed limit by twenty.

  13. DJ

    Number seventeen is Ruby, Don't Answer the Telephone, by the Switchboard Saints. But first, the smallest fellow in Vietnam with the largest personnel file.

  14. Service spot

    The mosquito is probably the smallest foe you will encounter in Vietnam. He spreads malaria and encephalitis. These diseases can be dangerous if they are not treated early. Do not wait until you get sick to protect yourself. Take your anti-malaria pill weekly. Spray repellent on exposed skin. Sleep under your mosquito net. Spray enclosed areas with an aerosol bomb. Do not become a casualty of a pesky mosquito.

  15. RecordRuby (don’t answer the telephone) — The Switchboard Saints
  16. DJ

    Ruby at seventeen. She did not answer, and the motor pool has been holding ever since.

  17. DJ

    You are listening to A F V N Saigon, the American Forces Vietnam Network. Number sixteen is Rafe Hollis and the Redclay Riders with Red Dust Saturday Night. First, a quiet word about the local wildlife.

  18. Service spot

    Snakes creep. Usually, they do not bother you... unless you do some creeping yourself. To get bitten, all you have to do is sneak up and try to grab one. The snake is sometimes faster than the hand. If bitten, kill the snake if possible, and bring it to the nearest medic or doctor. It can help determine the serum. Best advice? Do not get bitten in the first place.

  19. RecordRed Dust Saturday Night — Rafe Hollis and the Redclay Riders
  20. DJ

    Red Dust Saturday Night at sixteen. Boots red, road red, laundry man requesting reassignment.

  21. DJ

    Number fifteen, the Milepost Three with Three More Miles. Before the road begins, clean water, clean gear, and two feet you would probably like to keep.

  22. Service spot

    Field reminder. Drink only water from an approved source. When ordered, use purification tablets exactly as directed. Keep canteens and mess gear clean. Change wet socks. Dry your feet whenever the mission allows. Report sores before they become a casualty. Clean water and dry feet are not luxuries in the field.

  23. RecordThree More Mile — The Milepost Three
  24. DJ

    Three More Miles at fifteen. The last mile is always three miles long; Army surveying has confirmed it.

  25. DJ

    At fourteen, the Redline Sons come through with Blood Brothers. Before the needle drops, remember that a letter home is not an operations briefing.

  26. Service spot

    Command information. A letter home is not a situation report. Do not write troop movements... operation dates... flight schedules... radio frequencies... unit strength... or defensive positions. The enemy only needs one loose detail to complete a picture. Keep friendly information in friendly hands. Think before you talk. Think before you write.

  27. RecordBlood Brothers — The Redline Sons
  28. DJ

    Blood Brothers at fourteen. Subtle as a deuce-and-a-half entering a library through the front window.

  29. DJ

    Number thirteen is the Unmeasured Hours with The House Where Yesterday Lives. First, a bargain is not a bargain when the black market sends the bill.

  30. Service spot

    Military payment certificates and government equipment are not trading stock. Selling rations, fuel, weapons, ammunition, uniforms, or scrip to unauthorized buyers helps the black market... and can help the enemy. Keep issue gear with your unit. Spend military currency only where authorized. If a deal looks too easy, walk away... and report it through your chain of command.

  31. RecordTHE HOUSE WHERE YESTERDAY LIVES (take 1) — The Unmeasured Hours
  32. DJ

    The House Where Yesterday Lives at thirteen. Six minutes upstairs, and every floorboard knew your name.

  33. DJ

    A F V N Saigon, counting the twenty records chosen by the listeners. At twelve, Caleb North and the Even Breaks insist Nobody's Keeping Scores. Before that denial, a word from the Army career counselor.

  34. Service spot

    For the man who is going places, a second term in today's Army offers specialized training for the job you want... assignments worldwide... and the chance to move ahead as a specialist or leader. You make choices in education, job, or place of duty. See your brigade career counselor for complete information.

  35. RecordNobody’s Keeping Scores — Caleb North and the Even Breaks
  36. DJ

    Nobody's Keeping Scores at twelve. Somebody was, but he lost the pencil and blamed the humidity.

  37. DJ

    Number eleven is June Hollow and the Red Letters with Friday Wears Red. First, West Point may be a long road, but every long road starts at the information desk.

  38. Service spot

    The Army needs qualified enlisted men to fill roles as cadets at West Point. If you are a United States citizen, unmarried, between seventeen and twenty-two years of age, and have completed a college-preparatory secondary school... you may qualify. For entrance examinations and other requirements, contact your local Big Red One reenlistment office.

  39. RecordFriday Wears Red — June Hollow and the Red Letters
  40. DJ

    Friday Wears Red at eleven. Strong color, sharp record, terrible choice for a white shirt.

  41. DJ

    The top ten begins with Nora Vale and the Paper Matches. Matchbook Heart. Before we strike it, here is a useful place for some of your pay.

  42. Service spot

    Let your tour in Vietnam count for something. The Uniformed Services Savings Deposit Program pays ten percent interest on authorized deposits. You may arrange a regular amount from your pay and go home with money in the bank. For eligibility, limits, and deposit instructions, see your unit finance office.

  43. RecordMatchbook Heart — Nora Vale and the Paper Matches
  44. DJ

    Matchbook Heart at number ten. Burns slowly, leaves a mark, and should not be stored near the fuel dump.

  45. DJ

    At nine, the Harbor Kings hit the water with Red Tide Run. If R and R is on your horizon, make sure your shot record is travelling with you.

  46. Service spot

    R and R can be seven fine, lazy days. But without an up-to-date shot record, your trip can be stopped before it starts. You may not be allowed on the aircraft. Check your record before departure day. Get required inoculations in time. Be prepared for your R and R.

  47. RecordRed Tide Run — The Harbor Kings
  48. DJ

    Red Tide Run at nine. Fifty-four seconds of pure forward motion; even the turntable had to catch its breath.

  49. DJ

    This is A F V N Saigon. Number eight belongs to the Unmeasured Hours and The Boy at the Edge of Noon. First, the ballot that matters outside this countdown.

  50. Service spot

    You are old enough to vote. So what are you going to do about it? Sit on your duff until after the election, and then complain about how everyone else voted? The Armed Forces has made an all-out effort to help you vote: announcements, printed instructions, commander's calls, and voting officers. Do not wait until election day and say nobody told you. Your voting officer is only a few minutes away. See him. Find out how to register and request your ballot. Then use it. Either take part, or stop complaining about the men who do.

  51. RecordThe Boy at the Edge of Noon — The Unmeasured Hours
  52. DJ

    The Boy at the Edge of Noon at eight. A long record with the good sense not to hurry its own shadow.

  53. DJ

    Number seven is the Brass Lanterns serving MacArthur Pie. Before that full field kitchen falls down the stairs, some useful planning for civilian life.

  54. Service spot

    Your military service can benefit you long after you leave active duty. The G.I. Bill may provide education and training assistance, and eligible veterans may qualify for a guaranteed home loan. Benefits depend on your service and your plans. Check now with your education adviser or Veterans Administration representative.

  55. RecordMacArthur Pie — The Brass Lanterns
  56. DJ

    MacArthur Pie at seven. Not a song so much as five minutes of glorious trouble with a pastry crust.

  57. DJ

    At six, the Unmeasured Hours send The Visitor. Before we open the door, a straight message about drugs and the life waiting on the other side of a bad decision.

  58. Service spot

    I have seen what drugs can do, and it is a frightening, terrifying experience. Believe me. You may think I am simply another fellow from another generation, reading another set of words. I am not. I know. I have watched lives fall apart because somebody wanted a few quick kicks. I have seen a man lose his health, his work, the trust of his friends, and finally the respect he once had for himself. Do not be taken in by anyone who claims to have every answer, because he has not. The truth does not come out of a pill, a cigarette, or a hypodermic needle. It begins inside your own judgment, with the people who care about you, and with the choice you make before the damage is done. If you want a brighter tomorrow, do not use drugs today. That may sound like a commercial. It is. It is a commercial for your life, and you had better save that life by shaping up. This is a man telling you the truth exactly as he sees it.

  59. RecordThe Visitor (take 9) — The Unmeasured Hours
  60. DJ

    The Visitor at six. Came a long way, stayed over six minutes, never signed the guest book.

  61. DJ

    The top five opens with the Amber Signals and Lanterns in the Tree Line. Before those lights appear, keep both hands ready and let the road make fewer decisions.

  62. Service spot

    A vehicle does not care whether you are tired, angry, late, or thinking about tomorrow. It goes exactly where you point it. Keep your eyes on the road, keep both hands ready, and leave the radio controls alone until you stop. In rain, dust, convoy traffic, or blackout conditions, slow down before the road makes the decision for you. Drive as if the other fellow has not seen you. He may not have.

  63. RecordLanterns in the Tree Line — The Amber Signals
  64. DJ

    Lanterns in the Tree Line at five. Fine record for anyone who prefers mystery with a rhythm section.

  65. DJ

    A F V N Saigon, four records left. The Unmeasured Hours hold number four with The Last Broadcast from Earth. First, if your unit and duty permit, a little information about China Beach.

  66. Service spot

    The sun, the surf, and a change of pace. If your unit and duty schedule permit, ask about three-day in-country rest and recreation at China Beach. Eligibility, transportation, and available dates are handled through your unit. Do not make private arrangements and do not assume a date until the orders are approved. A short break can do a man good. Make sure the paperwork gets there before he does.

  67. RecordTHE LAST BROADCAST FROM EARTH (take 2) — The Unmeasured Hours
  68. DJ

    The Last Broadcast from Earth at four. Big record. After that ending, even the transmitter sat quietly for a second.

  69. DJ

    At number three, the Unmeasured Hours report to The Ministry of Hours. First, a club notice for anybody whose wrist has been wondering what time it is.

  70. Service spot

    Happy Radio, thirteen-thirty. The Third Brigade E.M. and N.C.O. Clubs now have a special Big Red One wristwatch for members of the Iron Brigade. It has seventeen jewels. It is waterproof and antimagnetic, and carries the Big Red One insignia on the face. The price is seventeen dollars and fifty cents. This club purchase does not require a ration-card authorization. If you need a watch... there you go.

  71. RecordThe Ministry Of Hours — The Unmeasured Hours
  72. DJ

    The Ministry of Hours at three. Six minutes of clocks, forms, and one drummer refusing to initial the proper box.

  73. DJ

    One step from the top. Number two is the alternate complete performance of The Visitor, take eight, by the Unmeasured Hours. It came a long way to reach the runner-up slot.

  74. RecordThe Visitor (take 8) — The Unmeasured Hours
  75. DJ

    The Visitor, take eight, at number two. Different flight path, same strange passenger, beaten by one ballot mountain.

  76. DJ

    Every vote is counted, every argument is officially unresolved, and here is number one. Mara Quinn and the Night Jars with Fireflies.

  77. RecordFireflies — Mara Quinn and the Night Jars
  78. DJ

    Fireflies, the listener's number one record. Small lights, enormous finish. Charlie Mercer thanking every unit, club, shop, office, and listener who sent a ballot.

  79. DJ

    Milo Taggart closing the A F V N Saigon Top Twenty. Keep the set five by five, take care of the man beside you, and remember: if your favorite finished number twenty, you still heard it first. This is the American Forces Vietnam Network, the voice of home.