[0043-71.cm 02/25/96]
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The Block format of a USG document was altered to just "text")
REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
DECLASSIFIED PER EXECUTIVE ORDER 12356, SECTION 3.3, NND PROJECT
NUMBER NN8937 597, BY RB1VSW, DATE 1/23/96
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE REPORT
Note: This Document contains information affecting the national defense of the
United States within the meaning of the espionage laws. Title 18, U.S.C., Sec
793 and 794. The transmission or revelation of its contents in any manner to an
unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
CONFIDENTIAL
This report contains unprocessed information. Plans and/or policies should not
be evolved or modified solely on the basis of this report.
1. COUNTRY: VN, THANH HOA Prov 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0043 71
2. SUBJECT: (U) US PW Sighting in 9. DATE OF REPORT: 14 Jan 71
NONG CONG Dist, THANH HOA Prov, NVN (handwritten- W28027)
10.NO. OF PAGES: 3
3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G3
SICR: D-7CX-49018
BRIGHT LIGHT
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: May 67 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS
11 Jan 71
13. PREPARED BY: ROBERT L. WILLIAMS
SP5, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: PW Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED)
W.H. BEARDSLEY
LTC, USA
Dir, US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY
(C) This report contains limited information concerning the sighting of
two US PWs on NONG CONG District, THANH HOA Province, NVN, to include
circumstances of sighting and a limited description of the PWs. THIS IS A
BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: LE VAN TOAN (LEE, VEAN TOANL),aka LE SONG LO (LEE, SOONG
LOO), CMIC 3295-70
b. Rank: CPL
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Adj; 1st Plat, C-5 Co, K-5 Bn,
320th Regt, SR-3
d. DPOB: 19 May 46; TE LOI Village, TRIEU SON District, THANH HOA
Province, NVN
16. DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR:
DIA 1 cy
DIRNSA 1 cy
SAC 1 cy
CINPAC 1 cy
CINPAC AF 2 cys
CINCUSARPAC 2 cys
COMUSMACTHAI 1 cy
MACJ212-2 2 cys
MACJ213-1 1 cy
MACJ23 1 cy
MACJ231 1 cy
17. DOWNGRADING DATA: GROUP 3
DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR INTERVALS NOT AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED
THIS DOCUMENT IS RELEASEABLE TO REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AND FREE WORLD
MILITARY ASSISTANCE FORCES
18: ATTACHMENT DATA: None
Page 2 of 3
e. Parents' Names: Father, LE VAN KHANH (LEE, VEAN KHANHS), deceased;
Mother, NGUYEN THI CHI (NGUYEENX, THIV CHIS), living
f. Circumstances of Capture. On 16 Nov 70, Source was captured in Hamlet
4, an NHAT TAN Village, TAN TRU District, LONG AN Province, RVN, by ARVN
forces. Source had no weapons or documents in his possession at the time of
capture.
g. Significant Activities. Source attended the district school at his POB
for eight years. He was drafted in Sep 68, into the NVA, but was sent home in
Nov 68 to care for his dying father. In Sep 69, after his father died, Source
returned to active duty. Source infiltrated with the C-17 Co, K-2 Trans Bn,
303d Regt, from Sep 69 to Apr 70. At that time, the unit arrived at the 17th
Station in an unknown location in CAMBODIA. In May 70, Source was assigned to
the 1st Plat, C-5 Co, X-5 Bn, 320th Regt, SR-3. Upon arrival at the unit,
Source was verbally promoted to the rank of corporal and assigned as the Adj,
1st Plat, C 5 Co, K-5 Bn. The platoon had been recently reduced in strength by
Allied operations, and when Source arrived there were only three other men
assigned to the platoon. As adjutant, Source's mission was to receive money
from the finance and economy chief of AN NHAT TAN Village once monthly, for
subsequent distribution to the 1st Plat, C 5 Co. On 16 Nov 70, Source and the
others of his platoon were surprised by an ARVN captain. The others ran away
and were shot; Source surrendered.
h. Additional References: CHIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; US PW
Photo Album, Hq, 525th MI Gp, dtd 10 Nov 68
2. (C) US PW Sighting in NONG CONG District, THANH HOA Province, NVN:
a. Circumstances of Sighting. At 1100 hours on an unknown day in late May
67 (Lunar calender), Source was in the CAU QUAN area of TRUNG CHINH Village,
NONG CONG District, THANH HOA Province, NVN, in order to have a suit of
clothing sewn. He heard a commotion and traced the source of the noise to the
house of a local inhabitant of the village (NFI). Source entered the house
where a large crowd had gathered and saw two US PWs sitting in chairs at a
distance of approximately eight meters. Source observed the two men for two
or three minutes, at that time, the three guerrillas guarding the PWs made the
villagers leave. Source then returned home.
b. Description of PWs:
(1) Physical Description. Source observed the PWs for only two or
three minutes and did not look carefully; therefore, he was unable to give
distinct description's of the two men. Both men had brown hair, were
Caucasian, had reddish complexions, had medium length hair, had medium heavy
builds, were young but over 20 years of age, and wore glasses (NFI).
(2) Background Information. Source could provide no background
information concerning the PWs.
Page 3 of 3
(3) Clothing. Both PWs wore green uniforms. Source could not
describe the uniforms. Source saw two hats in the corner of the room which
were the same green color as the uniforms worn by the PWs. Source could not
describe the hats; he assumed they were flight helmets because the two PWs
were pilots (hearsay). Source did not observe below the PWs' waists and
could not describe their foorwear.
(4) Rank and Branch of Service. Source did not know the ranks of
the PWs. Source heard from the villagers that the two men were USAF pilots
(NFI). Source did not know what type of air plane the men piloted.
(5) Physical Condition. Both PWs appeared to be in good physical
condition and did not appear to be injured in any way.
c. Capture Data. Source heard from the villagers that the two PWs were
captured by guerrillas of TRUNG CHINH Village. Source did not know when the
two men were captured, but guessed that they had just been captured. He did
not know where they were captured but assumed that they were captured near
TRUNG CHINH Village. Source had no information concerning the number of
troops involved or tactics used.
d. Security. The PWs were guarded by three guerrillas, each of whom was
equipped with a rifle similar to the CKC but with a wider barrel (basic load
unk). The PWs were not bound or restrained in any way that Source could see.
Source had no information as to how the PWs were guarded before arriving at
the house or after leaving.
e. Attitude of Local Villagers. The local villagers had no feelings
about the PWs but were very curious about them. Source stated that in 1965,
the villagers of his native village, which was nearby, had an immense dislike
toward US PWs because of the destruction brought by the bombs which their
airplanes dropped. However, after that time, instructions were issued by the
government to treat US PWs well.
f. Disposition of PWs. Source could provide no information concerning the
disposition of the PWs.
(C) COMMENTS. Source was administered the Cross-Cultural IQ Test and scored
Very Low (4). Source was very friendly and cooperative but not particularly
bright. He appeared to be telling the truth. Source was shown the US PW Photo
Album but was unable to make any identifications. This report partially
satisfies the requirements of SICR D-7CX-49018. Collection action continues.
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