vulcan 5 (2017) 64-88 brill.com/vulc The Secret of Seeing Charlie in the Dark The Starlight Scope, Techno-anxiety, and the Spectral Mediation of the Enemy in the Vietnam War Richard A. Ruth Department of History, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, md 21402, usa
[email protected] Abstract The introduction of night vision technology during the Vietnam War transformed how u.s. military men and their communist enemies fought at night. The starlight scope’s seemingly miraculous light-amplifying powers made hitherto unseen targets easier to see. And as sole possessor of this new technology, American soldiers had a profound tactical advantage operating at night. But they also paid a price for this new edge. Bur- dened by the scope’s weight, untested technology, and extreme secrecy, these service- men suffered. They endured physical, psychological, and emotional stress unforeseen by the military leaders who pushed for the scope’s development during the Cold War. The new rifle-mounted scope figuratively transformed night into day, and, paradoxi- cally, made it harder for many American soldiers to pull the trigger. Keywords starlight scope – night-vision technology – Vietnam War – sniper – psychological effects In 1965, the United States military committed its first combat troops to South Vietnam. It sent along with that first wave of American soldiers and marines a new technological marvel that allowed its troops to see their guerrilla en- emy in the dark. The “starlight scope,” as it was soon christened, amplified ambient light, mostly from starlight, moonlight, and sky glow. Along with this heavy piece of machinery—one of the first models weighed more than forty pounds—the u.s.