[0083-72.CM 03/02/96]
[NETWORK NOTE: This document was scanned and retyped to make it an ASCII file.
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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: LA 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0083 72
2. SUBJECT: (U) Sighting of Two PW in LAOS 9. DATE OF REPORT: 7 Mar 72
(handwritten-W33552)
10.NO. OF PAGES: 5
3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G1, 6G3
SICR: D-7CX-49018
BENT AXLE ICP
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Early may 70 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS
3 Feb 72
13. PREPARED BY: CHARLES S. ASHLEY
SP4, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: PW Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED)
DAVID L. PEMBERTON
LTC, USA
Dir, US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY
(C) This report contains information concerning the sighting of two PW
on the 559th Infiltration Route in LAOS, to include circumstances of
sighting, discription of the PW and capture data. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT
REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC. THIS REPORT PARTIALLY SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENTS OF
BENT AXLE ICP (BTA UNK).
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: TRAN VAN NGHI (TRAANV, VEAN NGHIV); NHI (NHIV), CMIC
0463-71
b. Rank: Caporal
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Sqd Ldr, 1st Sqd, 6th Plat, 2d
Co, 13th Sapper Bn, 429th Sapper Gp
d. DPOB: Jul 50; PHU VINH Hamlet, DOC LAP Village, DUYEN HA
District, THAI BINH 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 10 cys
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 5
e. Parents Names: Father: THAN VAN LUAN (TRANNV, VEAN LUAANV),
(Deceased); Mother; NGUYEN THI BAI (NGUYEENX, THIV BAIL), (Decesaed)
f. Circumstances of Capture On 19 Sep 71, elements of the 13th
Sapper Bn, 429th sapper Gt, attacked the TRANG LON ARVN Airfield, TAY NINH
Province, RVN, at (vic XT170522). Source was wounded during the attack as
he penetrated the perimeter. Once inside the perimeter of the base, Source
and two other men, LUON (LUAANV) CMIC 0411-71, and BUOM (BUOOMX) CMIC
0418-71, became tired and frightened, and down and remained immobile until
0900 the following morning, when elements of the 18th ARVN Div surrounded
and captured the three men.
g. Significant Activities:
1. Jul 50 to 26 Mar 70. From 1958 to 1965, source attended the village
school in his POV. From 1965 to 1968, Source attended the DUYEN HA District
School. Upon completing his schooling in 1968, source worked on a
cooperative farm near his home until, on 8 Apr 69, when Source was drafted
into the NVA and assigned to the 1st Sqd, 1st Plat 2d Co, 206th Bn, 305th
Gp, located in Hamlet 8, DONG TAM Village, NY DUC District, HA TAY Province,
NVN. From mid May 69 to Jan 70, Source received basic infantry sapper
training, infiltration training and political training. In Jan 70, upon
completion of training, Source received a 15-day leave.
2. 26 Mar 70 to Oct 70. One 26 Mar 70, Source began infiltration to the
RVN with the 2213 Infil Gtp, consisting of the 200 men of the 206th Bn. The
2213 Infil Gp traveled along the 559th Commo-liaison Route until reaching
Station 59, where they remained for 10 days transporting rice. From Station
59, the infiltration group continued along the 559th Route until reaching
Station 73. From Station 73, the 2213 Infil Gp entered CAMBODIA, traveling
through Stations T-1 and T-2, arriving at Station T-3 in mid-Jun 70.
Because of US/ARVN activity in CAMBODIA, the 2213 Infil Gp returned to
Station T-3, from there traveling along a new commo-liaison route in
CAMBODIA. In late Sep 70, the 2213 Infil Gp arrived at its final
destination, Rubber Plantation 3 Area, KOMPANG CHAM Province, CAMBODIA. At
this time the 2213 Ingil Gp was redesignated the 13th Sapper Bn, 429th
Sapper Gp.
3. Oct 70 to DOC. In Oct 70, Source contracted malaria and was evacuated
to the 429th Gp Dispensary located in a jungle area of KOMPANY CHAM
Province, CAMBODIA; Source was released from the dispensaryin Apr 71. At
that time Source and nine other men rejoined the 13th Bn, then located in
SVAY RIENG Province, CAMBODIA. In early May 71, the 13th Sapper Bn moved
its base camp to the CHA DA Area, TAY NINH Province, RVN, (vic XT425653),
where it remained until the time of Source's capture. In Jul 71, Source was
promoted to corporal and was made Squad Leader of the 1st Sqd, 6th Plat, 2d
Co, 13th Sapper Bn, 429th Sapper Gp.
h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; MACV/JPRC
Photographs of Missing and Captured Personnel in SEA Album, dtd 12 Sep 71;
MACV/IDHS PW/MIA/CPT Biographical File.
Page 3 of 5
2. (C) Sighting of Two PW in LAOS. This report is based on SICR
D-7CX-49018 (Prisoner of War Intelligence):
a. Circumstances of Sighting. In early May 70, Source was a member of
the 2214th Infiltration Group infiltrating to SOUTH VIETNAM by way of the
559th Infiltration Route. At the time of the sighting in early May 70, the
infiltration group was moving between Commo-liaison Stations 49 and 50
(Location unknown) LAOS, when Source viewed approximately twnety ARVN and
two US PW sitting beside the trail. Source observed about five or six NVA
guards armed with AK-47s. One US PW was sitting, talking to the ARVN PW and
the other US PW was standing by the edge of the trail watching the group as
they passed. Source passed within two or three meters of the ARVNs and
within one meter of the US PW standing by the trail.
b. Description of PW:
(1) Identification of PW Number (1):
(a) Name: Unknown
(b) Rank and Branch of Service: Unknown
(c) Nationality: American (assumed)
(d) Physical Description:
1 Height: 1.70m
2 Weight: 70kg
3 Color of Hair and Eyes: Reddish-Brown; Unknown
4 Race: Caucasian
5 Complexion: Light
6 Hair Length: Fairly Long and Straight
7 Mustache/Beard: None
8 Nose: Long (Hook nose)
9 Tattoos, Scars, and Birthmarks: None Visible
10 Build: Muscular
11 Age: 21-22
12 Glasses Worn: None
13 Rings/Watches: None
Page 4 of 5
(2) Description of PW Number (2):
(a) Name: Unknown
(b) rank and Branch of Service: Unknown
(c) Nationality: American (assumed)
(d) Physical Description:
1 Height: Unknown
2 Weight: Unknown
3 Color of Hair and Eyes: Brown; Unknown
4 Race: Caucasian
5 Complexion: Unknown
6 Hair Length: Short
7 Mustache/Beard: Unknown
8 Nose: Unknown
9 Tattoos, Scars and Birthmarks: Unknown
10 Build: Average-medium
11 Age: Unknown
12 Glasses Worn: None
13 Rings/Watches: None
(Interrogators Note: Source estimated the interrogator's height, weignt and
age as follows:)
Source's Estimate Interrogator
Height: 1.70m 1.72m
Weight: 70kg 66kg
Age: 21-22 20
(e) Clothing worn by PW: Both the PWwore NVA type fatigue uniforms and
HO CHI MINH sandles. The twenty ARVN PW were wearing regular ARVN fatigues
which appeared to be in fairly good condition.
(3) Physical Condition of the PW: both US PW seemed to be in good
health and Source could see no wounds. Source noticed one ARVN with his arm
bandaged and in a sling. Both the US and the ARVN PW all seemed to be in
good spirits and showed no signs of having been mistreated. Source was
unable
Page 5 of 5
to view PW number (2) who was sitting with the ARVNs because his back was
toward Source. PW number (1) seemed in high spirits, as he stood next to
the trail and shook hands with some of the infiltrators as they passed.
[handwritten - handling procedure]
c. Capture Data: Source could provide no information concerning the
location or date of capture. Source assumed the PW were being taken to
NORTH VIETNAM, since they were traveling on the 559th Infiltration Route.
d. Biographical Correlation and Photo Identification: Source was
shown photographs from the MACV/JPRC Photographs of Missing and Captured
Personnel in SEA Album, dtd 12 Sep 71, but was unable to identify anyof the
photographs. Due to lack of information, no correlation, could be made
using the MACV/IDHS PW/MIA/CPT Biographical File, dated 16 Jul 71.
(U) COMMENTS: Source was cooperative and volunteered information on several
occasions. He was administered the Cross-Cultural IQ Test and scored a
Low-Average (13). His responces to control questions revealed no attempt at
deception. This report partially satisfies the requirements of SIRC
D-7CX-49018.
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