[1005-71.CM 02/28/96]
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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: VN, HA TINH Province 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 1005 71
2. SUBJECT: (U) Sighting of two US PW 9. DATE OF REPORT: 25 Oct 71
in HA TINH Province, NVN (handwritten-W32064)
10. NO. OF PAGES: 5
3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11. REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G1, 6G3
SICR: D-7CX-49018, D-6C2-26423
BRIGHT LIGHT
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Jul 65 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS
13. PREPARED BY: ARTHUR A. BOULETTE
SP5, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: PW Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED)
Paul G. Spero
LTC, USA
Dir, US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY
(C) This report contains information concerning the sighting of two US
PW in HA TINH Province, NVN, to include the circumstances of sighting,
description of the PW, and VC/NVA policy concerning the treatment of US
PW. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: NGUYEN VAN HIEU (NGUYEENX, VEAN HIEEUS), CMIC 0367-71
b. Rank: PFC
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Member; 3d Sqd, 3d Plat, K-12
Co, CAM LO District Unit, HA TINH Province, NVN
d. DPOB: 15 Jul 52; TRUNG HOA Hamlet, NGA LOC Village, CAN LOC
District, HA TINH 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, NGUYEN VAN CANH (NGUYEENS, VEAN CANHR),
living; Mother, NGO THI LIEU (NGOO, THIV LIEEUX), living
f. Source was captured on 19 Jun 71, by US Forces in CAM LO District,
QUANG TRI Province, RVN. Source had one B-40 ATGL with two rounds of
ammunition in his possession. Source was captured alone.
g. Significant Activities. From 1962 to 15 May 69, Source attended
school in TRUNG HOA Hamlet, NGA LOC Village, CAN LOC District, HA TINH
Province, NVN. From May 69 to 8 Set 69, Source worked as a farmer in his
village. On 8 Set 69, Source joined the NVA and was assigned to the 3d Sqd,
3d Plat, 28th Co, unknown battalion, 22d Regt, located in QUANG TRUONG
Village, QUANG XUONG District, THANH HOA Province, NVN. From Sep to Nov 69,
while assigned to this unit, Source's job was to build installations and
fortifications for his unit. In Nov 69, the 28th Co, with a strength of 120
men, was assigned to the 31st Bn, MR-IV, located in IANG THANH Village, YEN
THANH District, NGHE AN Province, NVN. The 28th Co was redesignated the 8th
Co, 31st Bn, MR-IV. From Nov 69 to Mar 70, Source received basic training.
On 15 Mar 70, the 8th Co received orders to infiltrate. Source did not know
the infiltration group number for his unit. The 8th Co began its infiltration
with 120 men at LANG THANH Village, YEN THANH District, traveling by train to
NGHE AN Province, NVN, and from there 17 continued to walk to HA TINH
Province, QUANG BINH Province, arriving at the QUYET THANG Agricultural Site
(Rubber Plantation) located in VINH LINH Special on 30 Mar 70. While at
the Agricultural Site, 65 members of the 8th Co were reassigned to the K-11
and K-12 Companies of the GIO LINH and CAM LO District Units, located at VINH
THUY Village. Source was assigned to the 3d Plat, K-12 Co, which continued
south on 27 Apr 70, entering the RVN at the BEN HAI River. On 15 May 70,
Source's platoon was forced to return to the BEN HAI River. On 15 May 70,
Source's platoon was forced to return to the QUYET THANG Agricultural Site
because of heavy cases of malaria among the men of his platoon. From 15 Jun to
Oct 70, Source was in the 41st Hospital, located in QUANG TRACH District,
QUANG BINH Province, with malaria. After he was released from the hospital,
Source was given two months convalescent leave. In Nov 70, Source returned to
the 3d Plat, K-12 Co, which was still located at the QUYET THANG Agricultural
Site. Source worked at the Agricultural Site for three to four months
clearing and planting crops for production. In Mar 71, the 2d Plat, K-12 Co,
moved south to CAM MY Village, CAM LO District, QUANG TRI Province RVN. In
Mar 71, Source's platoon crossed the BEN HAI River with supplies for the 2d
Plat, returning to the QUYET THANG Agriculture Site upon completion of the
mission. In Apr 71, Source's platoon again brought supplies down to the 2d
Plat, and again returned to the agricultural site. On 20 May 71, Source's
platoon went south to CAM MY Village, CAM LO District, QUANG TRI Province,
RVN, to relieve the 2d Plat and to take over the mission of giving protection
to KY (KYL), the District Chief, and BA HOAT (BA, HOATV), the Asst District
Chief, of the CAM LO District, as well as other cadre in the area. Source
remained in this area performing this mission until he was captured.
h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide;
MACV/JPRC Photographs of Missing and Captured Personnel in SEA, dtd 12 Sep 71;
MACV/IDHS PW/MIA/CPT Biographic File, dtd 16 Jul 71.
Page 3 of 5
2. Sighting of Two US PW in HA TINH Province, NVN; This report is based
on SICR D-7CX-49018 (Prisoner of War Intelligence) and SICR D-6C2-26423 (POW
Information, NVN).
a. Circumstances of Sighting. While Source was eating his supper one
evening in Jul 65, he heard from other residents of TRUNG HOA Hamlet, NGA LOC
Village, CANLOC District, HA TINH Province, NVN, that two US PW had been
captured and were presently being detained in another part of the hamlet.
After completion of the meal, Source walked approximately 300 meters to the
place where the two PW were located. Source remained at this location for
approximately 10 minuted and observed the PW. At the time of the sighting,
the PW and two guards were eating. Source did not know where the guards came
from, but assumed that they were cadre because of their uniforms (sic). The
guards were unarmed. There was a Soviet manufactured jeep (type unknown)
parked approximately 10 meters from the PW, which Source assumed was used for
transporting the prisoners. Seated in the jeep was another individual whom
Source assumed was the driver. The two PW were not bound in any way. Source
did not know where the PW were being taken, although he had heard from other
members of his hamlet that the final destination of the PW was HANOI City.
b. Description of PW:
(1) Identification:
(a) PW Number 1:
1 Name: Unknown
2 Rank and Branch of Service: Unknown
3 Nationality: American (heresay)
4 Physical Description
a Height: 1.74m
b Weight: 80kg
c Color of Hair and Eyes: Blonde; Blue
d Race: Caucasian
e Complexion: Very light
f Hair Length: Short
g Mustache and/or Beard: None
h Nose: Long and straight
I Tattoos, Scars and Birthmarks: None observed
j Build, Heavy set
Page 4 of 5
k Age: Approximately 30 years
l Glasses Worn: None
m Rings/Watches: PW wore a gold ring with a black
stone and a watch with a black face and gold band
(b) PW Number 2:
1 Name: Unknown
2 Rank and Branch of Service: Unknown
3 Nationality: American (assumed)
4 Physical Description:
a Height: 1.80m
b Weight: 75kg
c Color of Hair and Eyes: Red; Blue
d Race: Caucasian
e Complexion: Fair
f Hair Length: Short, blocked off in back
g Mustache/Beard: None
h Nose: Long and curved
I Tattoos, Scars and Birthmarks: None observed
j Age: Approximately 19 years (sic)
l Glasses Worn: None
m Rings/Watches: None observed
(2) Clothing Worn by PW: Both PW wore grey flight suits and combat
boots. Source did not notice any rank or unit insignia on the uniforms of
either of the two PW.
(3) Physical Condition: Both PW appeared to be in good physical
condition. Source did not notice any bandages or blood stains on the PW
uniforms. Since he was not medically qualified, Source could not comment
further on the physical condition of the two PW.
(4) Capture Data: Source could provide no information concerning the
place or date of capture of the two PW.
Page 5 of 5
c. Evacuation Procedures. Source believed that the PW were being
transported by jeep to HANOI City.
d. VC/NVA Policy Concerning the Treatment and Disposition of US PW. As
part of his basic military training, Source had been instructed to take good
care of US PW, to include seeing that they were well fed and allowing them to
bathe or shower whenever possible. All captured PW were to be evacuated to
the next highest echelon with expediency.
e. Biographical Correlation. A biographical correlation was attempted
using the MACV/IDHS PW Biographical File, but there were no US personnel
reported missing in HA TINH Province within a two month period of Source's
sighting.
f. Photo Identification. Source was shown the MACV/JPRC Photographs of
Missing and Captured Personnel in SEA, but was unable to make an
identification.
3. (U) Additional Information. The following is a physical description of
the interrogator as provided by Source. this description is provided for
comparative purposes:
ESTIMATE ACTUAL
Age 30 years 23 years
Height 1.80m 1.94m
Weight 65kg 80kg
Build Thin Thin
(U) COMMENTS: Source was very cooperative throughout the interrogation and
answered all questions willingly and at times volunteered information. The
use of control questions revealed no attempts at deception by the Source. He
was administered the Cross-Cultural IQ Test and scored Low (11). This report
partially satisfies the requirements of SICR D-7CX-49018 and D-6C2-26423.
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