[051223Z.OH 05/19/96]
1/5 DS UNCLASSIFIED CJTF-FADETONEBE 013712 /01
ORIGIN CJTF2 INFO DCM POL SA DAO PW/MIA EXA DALO INHB (9)
VZCZC
RR RUHHQHQE RUMTFS RUEHPF RUEKJCS RUEKJCS RUHQHQB
RUEKJCS RUEKJCS RUEAIIA RUHVAAA RUEADWW RUEHC
DE RUEHBK #3712/01 Z95 **
ZNR UUUUU CLASS: UNCLASSIFIED
R 051223Z APR 93 CHRGE: CJTF:04/05/93
FM CJTF-FA DET ONE BANGKOK TH APPRV: CJTF:GEB
TO RUHQHQE / CDR JTF-FA HONOLULU HI DRFTD: CJTF:GEB
INFO RUMTFS / AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE//CJTF-FA DET THREE// : NONE
RUEHPF / USMISSION PHNOM PENH//CJTFFA DET FOUR// DISTR: CJTF
RUEKJCS / JOINT STIFF WASHDC//OCJCS-PW-MIA/J5// ORGIN: OCR
RUEKJCS / SECDEF WASHDC//OASD-ISA/PW-MIA//
RUHQHQB / USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//J3//
RUEKJCS / USCINCPAC LO WASHDC//
RUEKJCS / DIA WASHDC//POW-MIA//
RUEAIIA / CIA
WASHDC//DEA/SFA/IB/DDO/ICOG//
RUHVAAA / CDRUSACILHI HICKAM AFB Hl//
RUEADWW / NSC WASHDC
RUEHC / SECSTATE WASHDC//CA/OCS/CCS/EAP//
BT
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK TH 13712
UNCLASSIFIED 0134 APRIL 93
DIA PASS TO DOD POW-MIA CENTRAL DOCUMENTATION OFFICE
SUBJ: SRV ORAL HISTORY, MAJOR GENERAL VO VAN THOI
REF: DET 1, JTF-FA MSG 230355z MAR 93
1. REF WAS THE SUMMARY REPORT OF ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED IN VIETNAM BY
JTF-FA SPECIAL ASSISTANT, MR G.E. BELL, DURING THE PERIOD 3 TO 19 MARCH
1993. PARA 2C OF REF REFERS TO PAVN MG VO VAN THOI. THE FOLLOWING
REPORT PROVIDES THE DETAILS OF THE INTERVIEW CONDUCTED WITH MG THOI. THE
INTERVIEW WAS MONITORED BY ASSIGNED COUNTERPART ANDMINISTRY OF NATIONAL
DEFENSE (MND) REP, LTC PHAM TEO, AND MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR (MOI) REP,
MR NGUYEN THE CONG. REPRESENTING THE HO CHI MINH CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE
WERE THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF CONSULAR ARRAIRS FOR SOUTHERN VIETNAM, MR BUI
DAC TAM (TAAM), THE CITY MILITARY COMMAND REP, LTC TRAN VAN TAN (TAAN),
AND THE CITY PUBLIC SECURITY REP, MAJ NGUYEN VAN HA (HAS).
2. MU VO VAN THOI, A 71 YEAR OLD NATIVE OF SAIGON, WAS INTERVIEWED IN
HO CHI MINH CITY ON 9 MARCH 1993. SOURCE SAID HE JOINED THE REVOLUTION
DURING WORLD WAR II TO FIGHT AGAINST THE JAPANESE. SUBSEQUENT TO THE
WITHDRAWAL OF JAPANESE FORCES, SOURCE CONTINUED TO FIGHT AGAINST THE
FRENCH. SOURCE REGROUPED TO NORTHERN VIETNAM IN 1954 AND JOINED THE
ENEMY PROSELYTING DEPARTMENT (EPD), GENERAL POLITICAL DIRECTORATE
(GPD) IN 195?. SOMETIME DURING 1960, SOURCE REPLACED THE CHIEF OF THE
EPD, WHO WAS A MOROCCAN AND FORMER FRENCH DESERTER CALLED MA (MAR).
DURING 1964, SOURCE DEPARTED NORTH VIETNAM FOR DANANG. FROM DANANG
SOURCE TRAVELED TO THE DUONG MINH CHAU AREA OF TAY NINH PROVINCE. WHILE
IN TAY NINH, SOURCE WORKED AS AN ADVISOR
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FOR ENEMY PROSELYTING ACTIVITIES OF THE POLITICAL DEPARTMENT HQ SOUTH
VIETNAM LIBERATION ARMED FORCES (SVNLAF), BUT CONTINUED TO HOLD HIS
POSITION AS CHIEF OF THE EPD, GPD IN HANOI. DURING SOURCE'S ABSENCE
FROM HANOI, SR COL VAN DUY WAS THE ACTING CHIEF OF THE EPD.
3. SOMETIME DURING THE LATE 1960'S, SOURCE TRAVELLED TO QUI NHON, BINH
DINH, AND TEEN TO A SENIOR LEVEL COMMUNIST PARTY TRAINING COURSE IN THE
AREA OF KONTUM. AFTER COMPLETION OF TRAINING, SOURCE WAS ASSIGNED AS THE
'CHIEF OF THE MILITARY PROSELYTING SECTION OF THE NATIONAL REUNIFICATION
COMMITTEE (TRUONG BAN BINH VAN, UY BAN THONG NHAT QUOC GIA). (NOTE: AKA
CP72, I.E. CHINH PHU BAT MUOI HAI). DURING THE TIME SOURCE WAS ASSIGNED
TO THE NATIONAL REUNIFICATION COMMITTEE, THE GENERAL SECRETARY WAS WO
DONG GIANG. (NOTE: REAL NAME PHAM BA). SOURCE SAID HE WAS SELECTED BT
THE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE FOR ASSIGNMENT AS THE PROVISIONAL
REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT (PRO) AMBASSADOR TO CUBA, BUT THE MINISTRY
OF NATIONAL DEFENSE INTERVENED. AND SOURCE WAS REPLACED IN THE POSTING
BY VO DONG GIANG. DUE TO HIS ASSIGNMENT AS MILITARY PROSELYTING CHIEF
FOR THE REUNIFICATION COMMITTEE, SOURCEOCCASIONALLY TRAVELLED TO HANOI
TO ASSESS THE SITUATION REGARDING THE VALUE OF US POW'S FOR PROPAGANDA
PURPOSES. SOURCE VISITED HOA LO, SON TAT, AND CAU GIAY (NOTE: AKA NGA TU
SO) PRISONS. SOURCE OBTAINED SAMPLES OF PROPAGANDA LEAFLESS FOR
REPRINTING IN THE SOUTH. SOURCE SAID SVNLAF IN THE SOUTH OFTEN USED
MORTAR CANNISTER ROUNDS TO DELIVER THE LEAFLETS IN THE AREAS OF US
UNITS. SOURCE ALSO OBTAINED COPIES OF TAPE RECORDED STATEMENTS MADE BY
US POW'S IN HANOI FOR USE BY THE LIBERATION RADIO STATION LOCATED IN
NORTHEASTERN TAY NINH PROVINCE.
4. SOURCE SAID THAT DUE TO HIS HIGH POSITION, BE DID NOT HAVE ANY DIRECT
CONTACT WITH US POW'S. SOURCE OPINED THAT THE BEST SOURCE OF SPECIFIC
INFORMATION REGARDING US PERSONNEL, INCLUDING THOSE WHO DIED IN
CAPTIVITY, ARE THE FORMER COMMANDERS AND DEPUTY COMMANDERS OF CAMPS
WHERE AMERICANS WERE HELD. SOURCE OFFERED TO ARRANGE A MEETING WITH
THESE FORMER CADRE. SOURCE SUGGESTED THAT ONE MEETING BE HELD FOR THE
AREA FROM HUE TO CA MAU, AND ANOTHER SEPARATE MEETING BE HELD FOR
NORTHERN VIETNAM. WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH MILITARY OR
ENEMY PROSELYTING ELEMENTS IN LAOS OR CAMBODIA, SOURCE SAID HE DID
TRAVEL TO KHANG KHAY (NOTE: FORMER MEETING PLACE FOR THE RELEASES OF
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 BANGKOK TH 13712
US POW'S CAPTURED IN LAOS DURING THE EARLY 1960'S AND CONTROLLED BT THE
VIET MINH/PAVN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ELEMENT LOCATED IN THE AREA OF CENTRAL
PRISON 6, WEST OF VINH IN NGHE AN PROVINCE VIETNAM) DURING THE LATE
1960'S. SOURCE ALSO TRAVELLED TO VIENG XAY, SAM NEUA FROM SON LA IN
VIETNAM. SOURCE SAID THE PURPOSE OF HIS VISITS WAS TO ASSIST LAO FORCES.
SOURCE DECLINED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC REGARDING HIS VISIT.
5. CONCERNING OTHER CADRE WHO MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
CONCERNING US PERSONNELSTILL UNACCOUNTED FOR, SOURCE PROVIDED THE
FOLLOWING:
A. MR SON (SOWN: A FORMER ENEMY PROSELYTING CADRE IN QUANG NGAI,
BELIEVED TO BE RETIRED AND CURRENTLY RESIDING IN QUANG NGAI.
B. TAM (8) HIEN (HIEENF): THE FORMER COMMANDER OF MILITARY REGION SIX,
NOW RETIRED AND RESIDING IN HO CHI MINH CITY.
C. NGUYEN VAN THUONG (THWONG): SOURCE'S FORMER DEPUTY, CURRRENT STATUS
AND WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN TO SOURCE. (NOTE: SOURCE DID NOT VOLUNTEER THIS
NAME BUT WAS ASKED IF HE RECALLED A CADRE CALLED "THUONG." PREVIOUS
REPORTING INDICATES THAT VO VAN THUONG AKA NAM (5) THANG WAS ASSIGNED TO
A POW ESCORT UNIT DURING THE WAR. A CADRE CALLED THUONG, POSSIBLY THE
SAME INDIVIDUAL, HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
INVESTIGATION OF CASES IN MILITARY REGION
5. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION OBTAINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION THE CADRE
CALLED THUONG WAS KNOWN FOR HIS ABILITY TO WALK GREAT DISTANCES WITH
LITTLE OR NO DRINKING WATER. IN LIGHT OF THE REPORTED DUTIES PERFORMED
BY THUONG; HE MAY BE THE SAME INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS KILLED IN AN AMBUSH AND
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO US POW'S FOUND ON HIS PERSON).
D. LE DIEN (ZIEENJ): A FORMER DEPUTY OF THE EPD, GPD, IN HANOI DURING
THE TIME THE MOROCCAN FORMER FRENCH DESERTER WAS THE CHIEF. (NOTE:
SOURCE DID NOT VOLUNTEER THIS NAME. LE DIEN REPORTEDLY WAS ASSIGNED
TO THE MRS ENEMY
PROSELYTING OFFICE DURING THE WAR. AT LEAST ONE SOURCE INTERYIEWED
PREVIOUSLY INDICATED HE IS DECEASED).
E. NGO THUC DAI (DDAI): A FORMER CADRE OF THE ENEMY PROSELYTING
DEPARTMENT, GPD, POSSIBLY DECEASED DUE TO CANCER. (NOTE: SOURCE DID NOT
OFFER THIS NAME. SR COL DAI REPORTEDLY WORKED AS A STAFF MEMBER OF THE
EPD POLICT OFFICE FROM 1947 TO 1970.
F. LE HOA (HOAF): A FORMER ENGLISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETER AND YOUNGER
BROTHER OF NGUYEN XUAN OANH. SOURCE HEARD THAT LE HOA DIED AFTER THE
WAR DUE TO PNEUMONIA, BUT IS NOT SURE CONCERNING HIS CURRENT STATUS.
G. WHEN ASKED CONCERNING HIS KNOWLEDGE OF INCIDENTS INVOLVING US
PERSONNEL NOT YET ACCOUNTED FOR, SOURCE SAID THAT SOMETIME DURING THE
1975 OFFENSIVE HE HEARD THAT IN
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MARCH 1975, TWO AMERICANS WERE CAPTURED OFF THE COAST OF VIETNAM BY
ELEMENTS OF MILITARY REGION SIX. SOURCE WAS NOT ABLE TO RECALL ANY
FURTHER DETAILS CONCERNING THIS INCIDENT. SOURCE ALSO OBSERVED SOME
GRAVES IN THE AREA OF THE EPO CAMP IN TAY NINH DURING THE LATE 1960'S.
SOURCE ASKED LOCALS IN THE AREA ABOUT THE GRAVES AND THEY SAID THEY WERE
NOT SURE WHO WAS BURIED IN THE GRAVES BECAUSE THERE WERE NO NAME
MARKERS. SOURCE COULD NOT RECALL
THE CAMP LOCATION BECAUSE THE CAMP WAS FREQUENTLY MOVED, BUT
SOURCE INDICATED HE INTENDS TO CHECK WITH HIS COLLEAGUES
TO ASCERTAIN THE LOCATION OF THE GRAVES.
7. COMMENTS:
A. SOURCE WAS COOPERATIVE BUT NOT FORTHCOMING IN SOME AREAS OF
INFORMATION WHERE HE CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO HAVE
KNOWLEDGEABILITY SOURCE GAVE THE IMPRESSION HE CONSIDERED THIS INITIAL
MEETING AS BASICALLY A "GET ACQUAINTED" SESSION, AND HE INTENDS TO
FOLLOW THROUGH WITH HIS OFFER TO ARRANGE A MEETING, WITH WARTIME CAMP
COMMANDERS, IF THE US SIDE EXPRESSES ANY INTEREST. SA INFORMED SOURCE
THAT SPEAKING PERSONALLY, HE BELIEVES
2/3 UNCLASSIFIED CJTF-FADETONEBA 013712/02
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 BANGKOK TH 13712
SOURCE'S IDEA CONCERNING A MEETING HAS MERIT, AND SA WILL PASS ON THE
SUGGESTION TO HIS SUPERIORS FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION. SA INFORMED SOURCE
HE CAN EXPECT TO BE NOTIFIED BY THE VIETNAMESE OFFICE FOR SEEKING
MISSING PERSONNEL (VNOSMP) AFTER A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.
B. ALTHOUGH SOURCE PROVIDED ONLY LIMITED DETAILS, HIS WARTIME TRAVEL
ITINERARY SUGGESTS ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION ASSETS NORMALLY RESERVED FOR
PERSONNEL OF THE INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY SERVICES, OR FOR THE DELIVERY
OF ARMS AND MUNITIONS. THE FACT THAT SOURCE
WAS IN KHANG KHAY AND VIENG XAI DURING THE WAR MAY BE IN INDICATION OF
HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH PAVN ADVISOR GROUP SIX, OR INTERNATIONAL LIAISON
GROUP 101 OF THE COMINTERN. SOURCE'S PRESENCE IN SON LA (I.E. THE
NORTHWEST MILITARY REGION UNDER PAVN MG VU LAP) DURING THE LATE 1960'S
MAY SUGGEST AT LEAST SOME INVOLVEMENT IN THE PAVN, SAPPER ATTACKS ON
LIMA SITE 85 AT PHOU PHA THI AND UDORN AIRBASE IN THAILAND. THESE
SUBJECTS WILL BE PURSUED IN FUTURE SESSION, IF SA IS GRANTED ADDITIONAL
ACCESS TO THIS SOURCE.
C. SA HAS EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN LOCATING CADRE PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED
TO WARTIME MILITARY REGION SIX. THE FORMER CADRE TAN (8) HIEN,
MENTIONED IN PARA 5B ABOVE, MAY BE ABLE T0 PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN THIS
CRITICAL AREA.
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