When I was a kid, my Uncle Jackie Moore used to tell us stories about his time in the Vietnam War, and one story, in particular, has stuck with me.
He would never tell us detailed battle stories or anything involving killing.
In fact, he would say quite often, “If someone starts talking about all of their confirmed kills, rest assured they were a cook and never saw combat. The real guys don’t talk about it.”
He would however, talk about his friends and things he saw there.
He said the scariest thing that ever happened to him wasn’t being shot at or navigating through the dense jungles; it was being set up on an ambush and feeling something hit him in the back. When he turned around, expecting to see an enemy soldier, he was shocked to see what he described as a “rock ape” throwing stones at him.
As a child, I imagined these were some kind of apes native to the Vietnamese jungles, but as I grew older, I learned that Vietnam has no native great apes.
What my uncle described was essentially a cryptid—a creature not proven by science. Sightings of these so-called “rock apes” were so common among soldiers that one of his friends in the troop earned the nickname “Rock Ape” because of his muscular build, reminiscent of the mysterious creatures they encountered.
He never spoke of it like a “yeti” or anything but like it was just a normal animal they saw quite a bit in country. It was described as the size of an extra large chimpanzee.
The dense jungles of Vietnam, filled with unknown flora and fauna, have been the backdrop for many stories and myths, especially during the time of the Vietnam War. Among the most intriguing tales are those recounted by Vietnam veterans about their encounters with the ‘Rock Apes’ – mysterious creatures said to inhabit these enigmatic landscapes.
The ‘Rock Apes’, locally known as the Nguoi Rung, have been a part of Vietnamese folklore for generations. Described as small, bipedal creatures covered in hair, these beings are said to be more than just figments of imagination. The stories from soldiers who served in Vietnam add a compelling layer to this legend.
Many veterans who returned from the war brought back tales that go beyond the typical war stories. Among these are numerous accounts of encounters with the Rock Apes. These stories often involve sightings of creatures observing them from a distance, strange noises in the night, and even confrontations.
Some veterans recall moments when they spotted figures moving swiftly through the trees. At first, these were dismissed as enemy soldiers, but the agility and unfamiliar sounds made them think otherwise. These encounters were often brief and left the soldiers puzzled and sometimes frightened.
There are more intense stories where soldiers describe being attacked by these creatures. These confrontations usually occurred at night, with the Rock Apes reportedly throwing rocks or screaming from the darkness, causing confusion and fear among the troops.
While these accounts are fascinating, they are often met with skepticism. Some suggest that the stress and strains of war might have led to hallucinations or misidentifications of known wildlife like monkeys. Yet, the consistency in the descriptions of the Rock Apes by different individuals adds a layer of mystery to these claims.
The stories of Vietnam veterans encountering Rock Apes add a fascinating, albeit eerie, dimension to the history of the Vietnam War. They remain a captivating part of the war’s legacy, reminding us of the untold mysteries that war-torn jungles might hold.
Have you ever heard of rock apes? Did you have an encounter with one in Vietnam?
I would love to hear your stories. You can email chester@chestermoore.com.
Chester Moore
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