The Army's PSYOP Satanist

Michael Aquino: Military Career, Satanism, and Controversies

The video profiles Michael Aquino, a U.S. Army officer who specialized in psychological warfare and military intelligence and was also a prominent Satanist. It traces his military career, religious beliefs, and the allegations and conspiracy claims associated with him.

Military Service and Psychological Warfare

Aquino served in Vietnam, where he worked on psychological operations, including Operation Wandering Soul. He also worked with NATO and remained in the Army until his departure in 1990.

Alongside his military service, Aquino studied John Milton’s Paradise Lost and wrote Diabolicon, a Lucifer-centered reinterpretation of the Christian creation story.

The Church of Satan and the Temple of Set

Aquino joined the Church of Satan but left in 1975 after disagreements over theology and the organization’s direction. He then founded the Temple of Set, which regarded Set as a real supernatural being and emphasized individual spiritual transformation.

The video describes the Temple of Set as small and secretive. Aquino continued writing about Satanism, psychology, and warfare while serving in the Army.

Child-Abuse Allegations

The video focuses on allegations of child abuse connected to the Presidio Army childcare center and other cases. Children accused Aquino and others of abuse, with some accounts describing ritual elements. Aquino denied the allegations and said he was elsewhere during the incidents.

He was never criminally charged or convicted. According to the video, an Army investigation found grounds for possible charges, but Aquino challenged the report and was later discharged. A civil lawsuit against the Army resulted in compensation for children’s families.

Franklin Allegations and Other Claims

The video links Aquino to the Franklin child-abuse allegations in Nebraska and to claims concerning the disappearance of Johnny Gosch. These accounts are presented through statements by Paul Bonacci, Noreen Gosch, and others. The video notes that the claims remain disputed and that Bonacci was a controversial witness.

It also discusses allegations that Aquino was involved in Contra-related money transfers, while noting that no established finding shows that he took part.

Later Life and Death

Aquino remained active in the Temple of Set and died in 2019. The video contrasts reports that he died after an illness with a claim that his death certificate listed suicide by gunshot; it presents the circumstances as uncertain.

The video also recounts Aquino’s conspiracy theories about 9/11, making clear that these were his views rather than substantiated facts.

Presenters and Contributors Identified in the Subtitles

• Presenter: Unnamed narrator
• Identifiable contributors or quoted speakers: Michael Aquino, Dale Seago, Anton LaVey, Rusty Nelson, John DeCamp, Paul Bonacci, and Noreen Gosch