[0735-71.CM 04/13/96]
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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 NIVD96F002, BY RB/VSW, DATE 2/16/96
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.
[RAND STAMPED
W31436]
1. COUNTRY: VS, RVN MR-4, BAC LIEU Province
2. SUBJECT: (U) VCI of the Propaganda and Training Section, SOC
TRANG (VC) Province Party Committee, MR-3
3. ISC NUMBER: 720.000
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Jun 61 to Sep 70
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS 29 Jun 71
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: Returnee Interrogation
8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0735 71
9. DATE OF REPORT: 16 Jul 71
10. NO. OF PAGES: 8
11. REFERENCES: DIRM: 1S1 BIG MACK ICP: EEI 4a (1)
12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
13. PREPARED BY: ROBERT E. DANNAKER, JR.
SP6, USA
14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (signed)
PAUL G. SPERO
LTC, USA Dir,
US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY:
(C) This report contains limited information concerning the VCI of
the Propaganda and Training Section of the SOC TRANG (VC) Province
Party Committee, MR-3, to include missions, strength, personalities,
methods of operation, and effectiveness of the various subsections.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: NGUYEN LAM KIET (NGUYEENX, LAAM KIEETS), CMIC 0236-71
b. Rank: None (VC)
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Asst Chief; Propaganda and
Training Section, VINH PHU TAY Party Chapter, PHUOC LONG District
Party Committee, SOC TRANG (VC) Province Party Committee, MR-3
d. DPOB: 20 Feb 25; DONG MIEU Hamlet, PHONG THANH Village, GIA RAI
District, BAC LIEU Province, RVN
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 8
e. Parents' Names: Father , NGUYEN VAN NAM (NGUYEENX, VEAN NAM),
deceased; Mother, DOAN THI NGAN (DOAN, THIV NGAN), deceased
f. Circumstances of Return. ARVN activity in the area of Source's
unit had become very intense. The area was once completely
controlled by the VC, but the efforts of the pacification program
resulted in the GVN control of 90 percent of this territory. Living
conditions for the remaining VC in the area had become severe. Food
and supplies were difficult to obtain, and there were no medical
supplies. Source had watched the strength and inifluence of the VC
steadily dwindle, until he became certain that the VC could never
win the war. With these considerations in mind, he decided to
rally. On 25 Apr 71, he rallied to the RANH HAT ARVN Outpost, at
PHONG THANH Village, GIA RAI District, BAC LIEU Province.
g. Significant Activities:
(1) DOB to Sep 70. Source received no formal education, but did
teach himself to read and write. He spent his youth working on the
family farm at his POB. In 1946, he became a member of the PHONG
THANH Village Militia, which ws a part of the VIET MINH. In 1954,
the VIET MINH infrastructure in PHONG THANH Village was incorporated
into the newly-formed VIET CONG organization. Source became a
member of the DONG MIEU Hamlet Yout Group. In 1956, Source and a
large number of other suspected VC members were arrested by the
ARVN, under orders from President NGO DINH DIEM. Source spent three
years in the PHU LOI Political Prisoner Camp. After being released,
he returned to his family's farm, where he worked from Oct 59 to Feb
60. At this time, Source rejoined the VC and became Chief of the
DONG MIEU Hamlet Militia Unit. In Jun 61, Source was assigned as
chief of the Supply Cell, Propaganda and Training Section, SOC TRANG
(VC) Province Party Committee. Source remained in this position for
10 years. In Oct 70, the headquarters of the SOC TRANG (VC)
Province Party Committee was located in MY PHUOC Village (vic
WR8558), CHAU THANH District, PHONG DINH Province.
(2) Sep 70 to DOR. In Sep 70, Source was reassigned as assistant
Chief of the Propaganda and Training Section, VINH PHU TAY Village
Party Chapter, VINH PHU TAY (vic WR4938), PHUOC LONG District, BAC
LIEU Province. This assignment was essentially a demotion, which
occurred because Source had been using Party funds for his own use.
Source remained in this position until he rallied in Apr 71.
h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; Maps:
VIETNAM, AMS Series L7014, Sheets 6027 I, 6128 II, and 6127 IV,
Edition 1, dtd 1966, Scale 1:50,000
2. (C) Source Biographical Data:
a. Name: NGUYEN LAM KIET (NGUYEENX, LAAM KIEETS)
b. Party Name: TU HIEN (TUW, HIEENL)
Page 3 of 8
c. Cover Names: None
d. Sex: Male
e. Place of Birth: DONG MIEU Hamlet, PHONG THANH Village, GIA RAI
District, BAC LIEU Province, RVN
f. Date of Birth: 20 Feb 25
g. Last Residence: Same as POB
h. VCI Position: Asst Chief; Propaganda and Training Subsection,
VINH PHU TAY Village Party Chapter, HONG DAN (VC) District Party
Committee, SOC TRANG (VC) Province Party Committee; Sep 70 to Apr 71
i. Operating Area: VINH PHU TAY Village, PHUOC LONG District, BAC
LIEU Province, RVN
j. Operating Overtly/Covertly: Overtly
k. Last and Highest Position in the Party, Dates Held: Party
member; Apr 61 to DOR
l. Last and Highest Position in the VC Government: None
m. Other Concurrent Positions and Dates Held: None
n. Distringuishing Characteristics: None
o. Social Class: Poor farmer
p. Nationality: Vietnamese
q. Ethnic Group: None
r. Other Languages: None
s. Religion: Buddhist
t. Occupation: Farmer
u. Education: None, self-educated
v. Marital Status/Number of Children: Married with seven children;
son, age 22, farmer (former VC who rallied in mid-1970); son, age
15, farmer; daughter, age 12, no occupation; son, age 11, no
occupation; daughter, age eight, no occupation; son, age five, no
occupation; son, age two, no occupation.
w. Wife's name, Place of Residence: NGUYEN THI BA (NGUYEENX, THIV
BA), DONG MIEU Hamlet, PHONG THANH Village, GIA RAI District, BAC
LIEU Province.
Page 4 of 8
x. Father's name, Place of Residence: NGUYEN VAN NAM (NGUYEENX,
VEAN NAM), deceased
y. Mother's name, Place of Residence: DOAN THI NGAN (DOAN, THIV
NGAN), deceased
z. Date joined the Revolution: 1946
aa. Date Admitted to the Party: Prob, Jan 61; Off, Apr 61
bb. Training Courses Attended: None
cc. Relatives Working for the ARVN/GVN: NGUYEN VAN LAM (NGUYEENX,
VEAN LAAMX), uncle, member of the 4/914 RF Co
3. (C) VCI of the Propaganda and Training Section, SOC TRANG (VC)
Province Party Committee, MR-3:
a. Subordination. The Training and Propaganda Section, SOC TRANG
(VC) Province Party Committee, was subordinate to the Current
Affairs committee, SOC TRANG (VC) Province Party Committee was
subordinate to the MR-3 Party Committee (NFI).
b. Identification. There were no cover names for any of the
sections. The Propaganda and Training Section did have an LBN which
Source could not remember.
c. Organization. The Propaganda and Training Section was composed
of the following subordinate subsections: Administration,
Propaganda, Entertainment, Cadre Training, Education, Journalism,
and Printing. Each of these subsections was authorized a chief and
an assistant chief as cadre. In addition, one commo-liaison man was
authorized for each subsection to maintain liaison with the District
Party Committee.
d. Strength. At the time Source left the Propaganda and Training
Section, there were 35 personnel assigned; 14 were cadre. Between
1965 and 1969, the section had 60 men assigned. The loss of
personnel was due to desertions and combat deaths (numbers unknown).
e. Mission. The principal mission of the section was to
propagandize and indoctrinate the people in the province to
sympathize with and follow the VC. It also had the mission of
disseminating news to the populace and other VC elements.
Occasionally, the section provided support to other VCI elements
through its printing and writing capabilities.
f. Methods of Operation. The section carried out its missions by
providing schools for children in VC-controlled areas, to include
teachers and textbooks; by providing entertainment shows; and by
producing and printing leaflets, posters, and booklets. There was
also a newspaper published by the section. In areas not controlled
by the VC, the section attempted to have VC teachers and
sympathizers placed in GVN schools.
PAGE 5 of 8
g. Effectiveness / Barriers to Effectiveness. The section operated
effectively prior to 1969. Since that time, however, an increase
in ARVN activities in the area hampered the section's operations.
By the time Source left the section, it had become impossible to
carry out the section's mission in many areas of SOC TRANG (VC)
Province. Finances and supplies were becoming increasingly
difficult to obtain. Source did not know what reports were
submitted concerning the effectiveness of the section.
h. Personalities:
Section Chief: NAM QUAN (NEAM, QAAN); age 50, 1.70m, 63kg, light
complexion
Asst Section Chief: BA THAO (BA, THAOR); age 48, 1.60m, 50kg, light
complexion
i. Subsections of the Propaganda and Training Section:
(1) Administration Subsection. The mission of the subsection was to
provide administrative support for the Propaganda and Training
Section. Supplies, not including rations, were obtained by a
two-man supply cell. Financial matters were also handled in this
subsectioin. It functioned as a part of the Propaganda and Training
Section Hq and was under direct control of the chief and assistant
chief of the Propaganda and Training Section. There were five men
in the Administration Subsection. The effectiveness of the
subsection had been greatly curtailed by GVN Pacification Program in
the area. Supplies were difficult to obtain and only a fraction of
pre-1969 revenue levels were collected by taxes.
(2) Propaganda Subsection. This subsection had the mission of
developing themes and material for various publications, to include
leaflets, posters, indoctrination pamphlets, and booklets. The
strength of the subsection was four men, two of whom were cadre.
The two cadre were:
Subsection Chief: BA THAO (BA, THAOR); concurrently the Propaganda
and Training Section Assistant Chief
Subsection Asst Chief: NAM DOAN (NEAM, DOANL); age 35, 1.60m, 55kg,
light complexion
(3) Entertainment Subsection. The mission of the subsection was to
indoctrinate and propagandize the populace through the use of
entertainment groups. In this section, the only type of
entertainment given was in the form of singing and dancing. The
subsection would compose and perform songs and dances to demonstrate
VC themes. This was considered one of the more effective ways of
spreading propaganda, because people welcomed the entertainment and
listened willingly to the music. The section had 10 people, three
of who were cadre. The cadre were:
PAGE 6 of 8
Subsection Chief: TU VAN (TUW, VEAN); age 46, 1.55m, 55kg, dark
complexion, VC
Subsection Asst Chief: female (NFI)
Dance Group Chief: BA PHONG (BA, FONG); AGE 30, 1.55m, 55kg, dark
complexion, VC
(4) Cadre Training Subsection. The mission of this subsection was
to train cadre for new jobs and to provide new cadre to fill
vacancies. Before 1969, this subsection operated a cadre training
school at NINH THANH LOI Village, PHUOC LONG District, BAC LIEU
Province. However, after 1969, intense ARVN activity in the area
forced the subsection to close the school. After this, the
subsection was ineffective in carrying out its mission, and it
almost ceased functioning. There were only three members in this
subsection. There was only one cadre, NAM QUAN (NEAM, QAAN), who
was concurrently the Propaganda and Training Section Chief.
(5) Education Subsection. At one time, the mission of the Education
Subsection was to provide schools and training facilities for the
youth in VC-controlled areas. A secondary mission was to train
personnel to become teachers in the VC schools. After 1969, the GVN
Pacification Program distrupted the system of schools established in
SOC TRANG (VC) Province. Source did not know the locations or
number of VC schools, but he did know that, by the end of 1969, the
Education Subsection was no longer able to fulfill its mission. By
the time Source left the Propaganda and Training Section, this
subsection had only a skeleton organization of two cadre, who were:
Subsection Chief: MUOI DUC (MUOWL, DUWCS); age 50, 1.65m, 60kg,
light complexion, VC
Subsection Asst Chief: NAM HONG (NEAM, HOONGL); age 25, 1.53m, 40kg,
light complexion, VC
(6) Journalism Subsection. The mission of the Journalism Subsection
was to produce various publications, which were disseminated in
order to provide information, propaganda, and indoctrination for the
general population and VC elements. These publications included a
monthly newspaper, song booklets, short stories about the NLF,
educational booklets for children, and leaflets. Leaflets were
occasionally composed by this subsection. However, leaflets were
usually obtained from the Propaganda and Training Section. The
subsection had only one cadre and two pressmen, who gathered news
for the monthly newspaper. Printing supplies and equipment became
very difficult to obtain, and on several occasions, it was not
possible to publish the newspaper. Other activities had to be
curtailed; therefore, the only other function of this subsection was
to pass out leaflets, which were received once or twice a month from
the MR-3 Party Committee. The only cadre was:
PAGE 7 of 8
Subsection Chief: BA CHIEN (BA, CHIEENS); age 55, 1.60m, 50 kg, dark
complexion, VC
(7) Printing Subsection. The mission of the Printing Subsection was
to print material produced for publication by the other subsections
within the Propaganda and Training Section. On occasion, the
Printing Subsection also provided support for other sections in the
SOC TRANG (VC) Province Party Committee. The Printing Subsection
had a mineograph machine and a hand-operated press. The monthly
newspaper and booklets were printed on the hand-operated press, and
leaflets were printed on the mimeograph machine. Supplies for these
machines were very difficult to obtain (NFI). Printing capability
was very restricted. At the time Source left the Propaganda and
Training Section, there were no supplies available for the
mimeograph machine, and the subsection could no longer print
leaflets. Printing press supplies were limited, and some material
prepared for publication was left unprinted. The subsection had six
personnel: one cadre, two women who assembled and filed printed
matter, and three printers. The one cadre was:
Subsection Chief: TU THEP (TUW, THEPS); age 46, 1.63m, 65kg, dark
complexion, VC, large more on right eyelid
j. Extent of VC Control. At one time, SOC TRANG (VC) Province,
which includes the southern part of BA XUYEN Province and the
northern part of BAC LIEU Province, was under complete control of
the VC. The VCI organization was strong and well-organized. It was
very effective in accomplishing its missions, and in general, the
populace sympathized with VC goals. After 1969, the GVN
Pacification Program in this area intensified, and gradually, VC
influence and control began to decline. Source was in the SOC TRANG
(VC) Province Party Committee more than 10 years and saw the VCI
organization decline from a well-equipped, freely-operating
organization to skeleton cadre organizations struggling to survive.
Supplies were hard to obtain, food was inadequate, taxation was
becoming impossible, and movement was restricted. Source claimed
that the VC had lost over 90 percent of the area in SOC TRANG (VC)
Province. Most elements of the VCI organization were living on food
and funds provided by VC relatives. Taxes could no longer be
collected in most areas, and tax revenues were all used by the
Province Party Committee. Previously, VCI elements received
sufficient funds from the tax revenue to finance their operations.
Living conditions in many areas had become very poor. The VC were
constantly being harassed by ARVN troops and were forced to move
frequently. The populace avoided contact with the VC, and in many
cases, moved from VC-controlled areas to ARVN-controlled areas. In
general, the sympathy of the population had switched from the VC to
the GVN.
(U) COMMENTS: Source was cooperative throughout the interrogation
and appeared to be sincere. He appeared to be of below average
intelligence and was somewhat apathetic. Source was in fair
physical condition.
Page 8 of 8
Organizational Chart of the Propaganda and Training Section, SOC
TRANG (VC) Province Party Committee, as provided by returnee, NGUYEN
LAM KIET, CMIC 0236-71 (DOI: Sep 70)
[NETWORK NOTE: a copy of the Organizational Chart of the Propaganda
and Training Section, SOC is available - call or write TRANG (VC)
Province Party Committee, using the file number 0735 71.]