[0164-71.CM 03/02/96]
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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 0164 71
2. SUBJECT: (U) PW Sighting in NUOC TRONG 9. DATE OF REPORT: 18 Feb 71
Worksite, BIEN HOA 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: 1969 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 information concerning the sighting of two US
PWs in NUOC TRONG Worksite, LONG TRANH District, BIEN HOA Province, RVN,
during the monsoon season of 1969, to include circumstances of sighting,
physical descriptions, capture data, and movement data. 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 6
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. 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, RUN, on 26 Dec 70.
g. Significant Activities:
(1) DOB to Jul 64. Source remained at his POB until Mar 59. Source
attended his village school from 1949 to Mar 1959, 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 radio 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
Wirless Information School. In Sep 61, 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, Source 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 from THANH
HOA Province, NVN, to the border of LAOS and QUANG BINH Province, NVN, by
truck. The group then walked across the TRUONG SON Mountains into LAOS,
through CAMBODIA, finally ending the infiltration in the jungles of TAY NINH
Province, RVN, in Oct 64. Source stayed at the reception area in TAY NINH
Province until Nov 64, waiting for assignment. In Nov 64, he was assigned as
assistant platoon leader of the 1st Plat, 20th Signal Co, 274th Regt, which at
that time was subordinate to the 5th Div. The 20th Signal Co base camp was
located in an unknown area in the jungles near the DONG NAI River in LONG
KHANH Province, RUN. 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, the 274th Regt Hq, and the 274th
Regt's subordinate battalions .Source was promoted to company executive
officer of the 20th Signal Co in May 65 and maintained that position until Jun
67.
(3) Jun 67 to 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 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
Page 3 of 6
CHIEU HOI leaflets.
h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; 525 MI Gp PW
Photo Album
2. (C) PW Sighting in NUOC TRONG Worksite, HIEN HOA Province. The following
information is given in accordance with SICR D-7CX-49018 (Prisoner of War
Intelligence):
a. Places of Confinement. Source could not provide any information
concerning places of confinement of US PWs.
b. Two US PWs:
(1) Identification:
(a) Number and Nationality of PWs. Sometime during the monsoon
season of 1969, Source sighted two US PWs who had been given a period of rest
alongside a trail in the jungles of NUOC TRONG Worksite, LONG THANH District,
BIEN HOA Province, RVN.
(b) Information about the PWs:
1 Name: Unknown
2 Rank and Branch of Service. Source was told by one of
the guards that one PW was a 2LT, while the other PW was an NCO (NFI). The 2LT
was reportedly a helicopter mechanic, and he spoke Vietnamese fluently. Source
did not know the branch of service of the PWs.
3 Type of Aircraft: None
4 Nationality: American (assumed)
5 Physical Description:
a 2LT:
Height: 1.75m
Weight: 80kg
Color of Hair and Eyes: Reddish-brown hair, blue eye
Complexion: Tanned; subject wore a full beard
Race: Caucasian
Hair: Long and curly
Nose: Long, straight
Scars: None visible
Tattoos: Unidentified blue tattoo on right forearm
Page 4 of 6
Birthmarks: None visible
Age: Unknown
Glasses Worn: Sunglasses (NFI)
Rings/Watches: Silver wristwatch with a black face
(NFI)
b NCO:
Height: 1.06m
Weight: 60kg
Color of Hair and Eyes: Black hair, black eyes
Race: Oriental (Interrogator's Note: Source stated
that this PW looked like a Vietnamese, and that if the PW had been able to
speak Vietnamese Source would have mistaken him for a Vietnamese.)
Complexion: Dark, clear, very little facial hair
Hair: Short, straight
Nose: Short, flat
Scars: None visible
Tattoos: None visible
Birthmarks: None visible
Age: Approximately 25 years
Glasses Worn: Sunglasses (NFI)
Rings/Watches: Silver wristwatch with a black face
(NFI)
(c) Clothing. At the time Source sighted the two US PWs, they were both
wearing green jungle fatigues with jungle boots. Neither PW wore a hat.
(d) Insignia. Source stated that both PWs wore rank and unit insignia on
their uniforms, but Source could not remember what the insignias were. The
unit insignia for both PWs was the same (NFI).
(e) Photographs. Source was unable to identify either of the PWs from the
PW Photo Album.
(f) Health of the PWs. At the time of the sighting, both PWs appeared to
be in good physical condition with no indications of illnesses or wounds.
Page 5 of 6
(g) Background of the PWs. Source stated that one of the guards showed him
a picture of the 2LT's wife and three children (NFI). Source stated that the
guards took all papers and pictures away from the PWs. The 2LT spoke fluent
Vietnamese, and he was serving his second tour in Vietnam. Source could not
provide any background information concerning the enlisted PW.
(h) Separation of the PWs. At the time of the sighting, the PWs were not
separated.
(i) PW Deaths .Source was unable to provide any information concerning the
deaths of US PWs.
(2) Capture Data.
(a) Circumstances of Capture. Source talked to one of the soldiers who was
guarding the PWs, and was given the following capture information: the two PWs
were captured at approximately 1500 hours one week before Source sighted them.
The two PWs were captured just outside an unidentified village in THU DUC
District, GIA DINH Province, RVN, by a company of soldiers from an
unidentified district unit belonging to LONG THANH District, BIEN HOA
Province, RUN. The PWs had been walking along a trail with two Vietnamese
girls when the captors, dressed in AR-UN uniforms with M-16s, captured them.
The Americans were held captive, and the Vietnamese girls were released.
(b) Capturing Unit. The capturing unit was a company from an unidentified
unit subordinate to LONG THANH District, BIEN HOA Province, RVN. Source did
not know if the Americans were captured while the company was on a patrol, or
if the captors had set up a checkpoint in order to take the PWs. Source was
told by the guard that the company could take Americans captive any time they
wanted to do so because they could move through the area freely while wearing
the ARVN uniforms
(c) Search for Other PWs: Unknown
(d) Attempts to Escape by the PWs: Unknown
(e) Handling of the PWs. Source stated that the PWs were immediately
searched for weapons, but none were found. All papers and pictures belonging
to the PWs were confiscated, but the PWs were allowed to keep all other
personal possessions .The PWs were not bound or blindfolded.
(f) Mistreatment of the PWs. Unknown
(g) Treatment of Wounded PWs: Unknown
(h) PWs Too Seriously Injured or Sick to be Moved: Unknown
(i) PW Medical Treatment: Unknown
(j) Photographs or Movies Taken of the PWs. Source was told by one of the
guards that a press man from the capturing unit took pictures of each of
the PWs but could not say how the pictures were used.
Page 6 of 6
(3) Movement of PWs to a Detention Camp:
(a) Mode of Transportation. When Source sighted the PWs, they were resting
alongside a trail. It was obvious to Source that the PWs had been walking, and
he assumed that this was the only mode of transportation used to move the PWs.
(b) Security Measures .At the time Source sighted theme the PWs were
neither bound nor blindfolded. Source could not say whether the PWs were bound
at any time while being moved to a detention camp.
(c) Segregation of PWs. When Source sighted the PWs they were not
segregated. Source did not know whether the PWs were segregated at any other
time.
(d) Guarding the PWs During the Move. The PWs were guarded by six soldiers
from the capturing unit, all armed with AK-47s. Two guards had to march in
front, one moved with the PWs, and three marched at the rear of the
procession.
(e) Evacuation of PWs. Source was unable to provide any specific
information concerning the speed of evacuation of the PWs after their capture.
The PWs were sighted by Source in LONG THANH District, BIEN HOA Province, RVN,
one week after they were captured in THU DUC District, GIA DINH Province, RVN.
(f) Harassment of PWs: Unknown
(g) Exhibition of PWs. Unknown
(h) PWs Interviewed or Photographed in Transit. Source stated that the
PWs were photographed by the press man of the capturing unit, but Source did
not know if the PWs were photographed at any other time, or if they were
interviewed in transit.
(4) In Camp: Unknown
(5) Interrogation of PWs: Unknown
(6) Prisoner Mail Privileges: Unknown
(7) Indoctrination: Unknown
(8) Medical Care and Health: Unknown
(9) NVA/VC/PATHET LAO Policy Concerning the Capture or Execution of US
Personnel: Unknown
[handwritten - POWs]
(10) Miscellaneous. Source believed that the PWs he sighted were being
taken to COSVN. Source based his idea on the fact that in 19659 COSVN
directed all units in the RVN to bring all US and Allied PWs, with the
exception of ARVN PWs, directly to COSVN as soon after capture as possible .
(C) COMMENTS: Source appeared to be of average intelligence and was extremely
cooperative throughout the interrogation. He seemed to be genuinely interested
in being of assistance to this interrogator. Source answered all control
questions accurately and without hesitation.
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