[0163-71.CM 03/01/96]
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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: VS, RVN, MR-3 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0163 71
2. SUBJECT: (U) PW Sighting BIEN HOA 9. DATE OF REPORT: 19 Feb 71
Province (handwritten-W28342)
10.NO. OF PAGES: 6
3. ISC NUMBER: 732.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G1, 6G3
SICR: D-7CX-49018
BRIGHT LIGHT
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: 1967 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: NCHC, SAIGON, VS
13. PREPARED BY: LARRY E. FITCHHORN
SP5, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: Returnee 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 in the jungles of, LONG TRANH District, BIEN HOA Province,
RVN, during the monsoon season of 1967, to include circumstances of
sighting, physical description. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR
JPRC.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: LUU VAN NAm (LUWU, VEAN NEAM), CMIC C-3644
b. Rank: LT
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: XO; 20th Signal Co, 274th Regt,
MR-7
d. DPOB: 1939; THANH LANG Village, BINH XUYEN District, VINH PHUC
Province, NVN (VINH PHUC and PHU THO Provinces have merges to form VINH PHU
Province)
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 5
e. Parents' Names: Father, unknown (Source's father died when Source
was an infant), deceased; Mother, NGUYEN THI TY (NGUYEENX, THIV TYS), deceased
f. Circumstances of Return. On 27 Dec 70, while on his way to
purchase rice for his company, Source rallied to the 2d Bde, US 25th Inf Div,
in XUAN LOC District, LONG KHANH Province, RVN.
g. Significant Activities:
(1) DOB to Jul 64. Source attended his village school at his POB
from 1949 to Mar 59, at which time he was drafted into the NVA and assigned to
an unidentified unit in HANOI for six months of basic infantry training. In
late Sep 59, Source was sent to the Technical Wireless Information School in
HANOI, where he received one year of training in five types of radios and in
sending and receiving Morse code. Upon completion of the course, in Sep 60,
Source was assigned to the 1st Signal Co, directly subordinate to the NVA
Joint General Staff, as a Morse code operator. In Jan 61, Source attended a
Chief Radio Operator Course in the Technical Wireless Information School. In
Sep 61, upon completion of the course, Source returned to the 1st Signal Co,
where he worked as a chief radio operator on a 15-watt radio. In Feb 63,
Source was sent to the Signal Platoon Cadre Training School in THANH HOA
Province, NVN, for an eight-month course in the techniques of disseminating
wireless information. In Oct 63, he was given three months of infiltration
training. After finishing the infiltration training, Source and the
remainder of the trainees in the school rested and studied political subjects
until Jul 64.
(2) Jul 64 to Jun 67. In Jul 64, Source and approximately 50
technical cadre, who had studied in the Signal Platoon Cadre Training School,
began infiltrating to the RVN as the 26th Infil Gp. The group traveled bu
truck from THANH HOA Province to the Laotian/QUANG BINH Province, NVN, border.
In Oct 64, the group then walked across the TRUONG SON Mountains into LAOS,
than CAMBODIA, and finally ended the infiltration in the jungles of TAY NINH
Province until Nov 64, waiting for assignment. In Nov 64, Source was assigned
as assistant platoon leader of the 1st Plat, 20th Signal Co, 274th Regt,
which, until approximately Jun 67, was subordinate to the 5th Div. The 20th
Signal Co, base camp was located in an unknown jungle area near the DONG NAI
River in LONG KHANH Province, RVN. In Jan 65, Source was promoted to platoon
leader of the 1st Signal Plat, 20th Signal Co. Source's mission was to direct
his platoon in maintaining radio contact between R, 274th Regt Hq, and
subordinate battalions. Source was promoted to company executive officer of
the 20th Signal Co in Mar 65, and maintained this position until Jun 67.
(3) Jun 67 t 26 Dec 70. In Jun 67, the 274th Regt was assigned
to MR-7, as the 5th Div moved to TAY NINH Province RVN. Source kept his same
position and duties under the new command. Source's company was responsible
for providing all signal services for the 274th Regt. Source remained in this
position until he rallied
Page 3 of 6
on 26 Dec 70. Source rallied because he was tired of the excessive length of
the war; because he suffered shortages of food supplies; because he was tired
of all the hardships of VC/NVA life; and because he believed the CHIEU HOI
leaflets.
h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; 525 MI
Gp PW Photo Album
2. PW Sighting in BIEN HOA Province. The following information is given
in accordance with SICR D-7CX-49018 (Prisoner of War Intelligence):
a. Places of Confinement. Source was unable to provide any
information concerning places of confinements of US PWs.
b. Two US PWs:
(1) Identification:
(a) Number and Nationality of PWs. Sometime during the
monsoon season of 1967, Source sighted two US PWs being escorted in an
easterly direction in the jungles of LONG THANH District, BIEN HOA Province,
RVN.
(b) Information about the PWs:
1 Name: Unknown
2 Rank and Branch of Service: Unknown
3 Type of Aircraft: None
4 Nationality: American (assumed)
5 Physical Description:
a First PW:
Height: 1.63m
Weight: Unknown
Color of Hair and Eyes: Brown hair, blue eyes
Race: Caucasian
Complexion: Light, clear
Hair: Long, curly, receding hairline
Nose: Long, straight
Scars: None visible
Tattoos: None visible
Page 4 of 6
Birthmarks: None visible
Age: Unknown (older than the other PW)
Build: Heavy
Glasses Worn: None
Rings/Watches: One man wore a silver watch and one
man wore a gold watch, but Source could not remember which man wore which
watch. This PW also wore a silver ring with a rectangular face.
b First PW:
Height: 1.75m
Weight: Unknown
Color of Hair and Eyes: Brown hair, blue eyes
Complexion: Dark, clear
Hair: Short straight
Nose: Long, straight
Scars: None visible
Tattoos: None visible
Birthmarks: None visible
Age: Unknown
Build: Thin
Glasses Worn: None
Rings/Watches: The PW either wore a silver watch
or a gold one; he wore no rings.
(c) Clothing. Source stated that both of the PWs were
dressed in green jungle fatigues with jungle boots and no hats.
(d) Insignia. Source did not notice whether the PWs were
wearing rank or unit insignia on their uniforms.
(e) Photographs. Source was unable to identify either of
the PWs from the PW Photo Album.
(f) Health of the PWs. The PWs appeared to be in good
health, and Source saw no evidence of either of the PWs suffering from wounds.
Page 5 of 6
(g) Background of the PWs: Unknown
(h) Separation of the PWs. At the time Source sighted the
PWs, they were together. Source did not know if this was always the case or
if they were at times separated.
(I) PW Deaths. Source could provide no information
concerning deaths of US PWs.
(2) Capture Data. Source did not know anything concerning the
capture of the two US PWs. Source merely sighted the PWs being escorted along
a trail in an easterly direction, and the sighting was of short duration. At
the time of the sighting, neither of the PWs had any weapons. Source did not
know if the PWs were allowed to keep all their personal possessions. Source
could provide no information concerning the physical and medical treatment of
the PWs.
(3) Movement of the PWs to a Detention Camp:
(a) Mode of Transportation. Source observed the PWs
traveling on foot and assumed that this was the only method employed in
transporting the PWs.
(b) Security Measures. At the time Source sighted the PWs
their hands were loosely bound behind their backs. They were not blindfolded.
Both PWs were allowed to wear their boots.
(c) Segregation of PWs. At the time of Source's sighting,
the PWs were not segregated. However, Source was unable to state whether the
PWs were segregated at any other time during the march.
(d) Guarding the PWs During the Move. Source stated that
the PWs were guarded by six guards from an unknown unit of the LONG THANH
District. All the guards were armed with AK-47s. Two guards marched in front
of the PWs, one English-speaking cadre walked with the PWs, and three guards
marched along behind the procession.
(e) Evacuation of the PWs: Unknown
(f) Harassment of PWs: Unknown
(g) Exhibition of PWs: Unknown
(h) PWs Interviewed or Photographed in Transit: Unknown
(4) PW Camps: Unknown
(5) Interrogation of PWs: Unknown
(6) Prisoner Mail Privileges: Unknown
(7) Indoctrination of PWs: Unknown
(8) Medical Care and Health: Unknown
Page 6 of 6
(9) NVA/VC/PATHET LAO Policy Concerning the Capture or Execution
of US Personnel: Unknown
COMMENTS: Source appeared to be of average intelligence and was extremely
cooperative throughout the interrogation. Source appeared to be genuinely
eager to be of assistance to this interrogator. Source answered all control
questions accurately and without hesitation.
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