Vietnam Rock Apes
During the Vietnam War, U.S. soldiers weren’t just facing hidden enemies and dense jungle—they also reported encounters with something strange and unexplainable: creatures they called “Rock Apes.” These weren’t ordinary animals. Described as large, muscular, human-like creatures covered in reddish hair, Rock Apes became a real concern for many units stationed in the mountains.
Troops claimed the creatures would walk upright, travel in groups, and even throw stones—hence the name. Some reports said they were about 5 to 6 feet tall and made loud, aggressive noises that echoed through the trees. Entire squads claimed to have been pelted with rocks at night, and in some cases, the creatures were even fired upon when they got too close.
One of the most well-known incidents happened near the Da Nang area, where a unit said they were surrounded and attacked by a group of Rock Apes. The soldiers opened fire, but by morning, there were no bodies—only strange footprints and broken branches where something large had moved through.
To this day, some believe the Rock Apes were misidentified animals, like gibbons or orangutans. Others think they might’ve been a local cryptid—or even a figment of jungle stress. But for the soldiers who saw them, the encounters felt very real.
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