The American supersoldier conspiracy

World War II was a tremendous opportunity for the American government and military to assess the training and subsequent action of troops in the field. Based on the work of Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman in his seminal psychological work “On killing” only 15 to 25% of combat infantry troops in WWII were able to take kill shots when opportunity presented. This research, carried out both in field and in subsequent training led to a decision by the American military to address training issues and increase this percentage. By the Korean War the figure had risen to 60% and by the Vietnam War to an impressive 90%. One of the key issues raised by anti-war protesters through the Vietnam era was the incredible level of brutality seen throughout the military units deployed in theatre. The reasons for this success in military terms have been thoroughly analysed and the official story is that a combination of Pavlovian operant conditioning and enhanced selection processes created an environment in which infantry troopers could be developed to effectively kill on command. The truth is somewhat more challenging and in part at least explains the increase in the incidence of post traumatic stress disorder, and the increased difficulty that veterans experience in re-integrating with mainstream society.

Through the 1950's there was a program sponsored by the CIA and US military and run by Princeton University to develop chemical stimulants that would alter the brain chemistry of frontline soldiers. The chosen drug was a combination of LSD, amphetamine and a cocktail of endorphin triggers. As a side note, variants of these cocktails entered the mainstream drug market in the 1980's and 90's as ecstasy or MDMA and produced an opposite effect, but that is a story for another article. Returning to the supersoldier program, designated top secret black by the Pentagon, and trialled through covert operations in South and Central America under the codename Project Hollowpoint there was a move to enhance the infantry intake through a secret project of drug stimulation. As a matter of course, recruits to the US military are given a full suite of inoculation injections against major diseases, and within this program the designer chemicals created to enhance aggression and controllability were administered in addition. It is interesting to note that post 1956 there was a marked increase in “training accidents” on US military training posts. This was the direct result of attempts to create more aggressive, more lethal soldiers.

The program was a success as far as the aims of the military are concerned. The natural “Gung Ho” attitude of the American soldier has been enhanced and his aggression increased to the point that he is truly a lethal killing machine. There have been numerous attempts to bring this information into the mainstream. David Morrell, the author of the 1972 book “Rambo – First Blood” was linked to CIA intelligence operations in Vietnam and wrote the novel in part to highlight the effect of the supersoldier program on troopers returning to the US after the Vietnam war. It is again interesting to note that Morrells wikipedia entry makes no mention of his Intelligence service background but states that he is an honorary member of the Special Operations Association and the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, as well as being a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School, a survivalist group that is run by ex-special forces infantrymen.

The damage caused to US services personnel ensures that this is one secret that the US government will never release, but the evidence is there if you care to look for it.