[0009-71.CM 02/27/96] [NETWORK NOTE: This document was scanned and retyped to make it an ASCII file. 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 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 revelatin 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: LA 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0009 71 2. SUBJECT: (U) PW Sighting in LAOS 9. DATE OF REPORT: 7 Jan 71 (RAND STAMPED -W32922) 10.NO. OF PAGES: 4 3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G1, 6G3 SICR: D-7CX-49018 BRIGHT LIGHT BENT AXLE ICP 4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Apr 70 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV 5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: NCHC, SAIGON, VS 29 Dec 70 13. PREPARED BY: LARRY E. FITCHHORN SP5, USA 6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6 7. SOURCE: Returnee Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED [illegible], Maj USA for) 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 an unidentified jungle area of LAOS, in Apr 70, to include circumstances of sighting and very limited physical descriptions of the PWs. THIS REPORT PARTIALLY SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENTS OF BENT AXLE ICP. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC. 1. (C) Background Information: a. Name: NGO THE TIEN (NGOO, THEES TIEENS), CMIC C-3627-70 b. Rank: PFC c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Soldier; 1st Sqd, 1st Plat, 2d Co, 70th Bn, QUANG NAM Province Unit d. DPOB: 1953; DAI THANH Village, HIEP HOA District, HA BAC 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 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 4 e. Parents' Names: Father, NGO VAN KINH (NGOO, VEAN KINHS), living; Mother, NGUYEN THI CAN (NGUYEENX, THIV CAANV), living f. Circumstances of Return. On 4 Dec 70, Source deserted his unit and returned to US forces in THANG BINH District, QUANG TIN Province, RVN. g. Significant Activities. Source lived with his family at his POB until Jan 70. Source attended his village school from early 1960 to Jan 67. From Jan 67 to Jan 70, Source helped his family with their farming. In Jan 70, Source was drafted into the NVA and was assigned to the 5th Sqd, 2d Plat, 4th Co, 458th Bn, 508th Regt, 330th NVA Div; he was given two months of basic training in an unidentified jungle area of HA BAC Province, NVN. In Mar 70, Source began infiltrating with the 458th Bn to the RVN. The infiltrating group traveled from its base camp in HA BAC Province, NVN, to VINH City by train, and from VINH City to QUANG BINH Province, NVN, by trucks. The men of 458th Bn then began walking, crossing the TRUONG SON Mountains into LAOS, down into KONTUM Province RVN, finally ending the infiltration in the jungles of QUANG NAM Province, RVN, in May 70. Source was then assigned to the 1st Sqd, 1st Plat, 2d Co, 70th Bn, of QUANG NAM Province, as a soldier; he remained in that position until his rally. Source rallied because of a food shortage in his unit, poor health, and his belief in US/ARVN propaganda leaflets concerning the CHIEU HOI program. h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide, Annex L; 525 MI GP PW Photo Album 2. PW Sighting in LAOS. The following 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 confinement of US PWs. b. Two US PWs (1) Identification: (a) Number and Nationality of PWs. In Apr 70, Source sighted two PWs, one male and one female, assumed by Source to be Americans. They were being escorted in a northerly direction along an infiltration trail in an unknown jungle area of LAOS. (B) Information about the PWs: 1 Name: Unknown 2 Rank and Branch of Service: Unknown 3 Type of Aircraft: None 4 Nationality: American (assumed) Page 3 of 4 5 Physical Description. Source was unable to provide physical descriptions of the PWs, as he saw them for only a very few minutes. Source stated that the male captive appeared to be in his early 20's, with short brown hair, a medium build, clean-shaven face, and a sliver wristwatch (NFI). The woman appeared to be older than the male PW (undetermined age), with short blond hair, heavyset build, with a silver wristwatch (NFI). Source stated that both PWs were tall, and estimated their heights at approximately 2.2 meters (sic). Clothing. Both of the US PWs were dressed in civilian clothing. The female captive wore a white blouse and a light-colored skirt. The male captive wore a light-blue striped shirt and light-colored pants. Both captives wore shoes (NFI). (d) Insignia. The PWs wore no rank or unit insignia. (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 having been wounded. Both captives appeared to be sad and afraid. (g) Background of the PWs. Source could not provide any information concerning the backgrounds of any of the PWs. (h) Separation of PWs. At the time of the sighting, the PWs were not separated. Source did not know if the PWs were separated at any other time. (I) PW Deaths. Source could not provide any information concerning the 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 moving along the infiltration trail, 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 their personal possessions. Source could provide no information concerning the physical and medical treatment of the PWs. (3) Movement of 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. The PWs were neither bound nor blindfolded at the time Source sighted them. They were allowed to wear shoes. Segregation of PWs. At the time of Source's sighting, Page 4 of 4 the PWs were not segregated. Source was unable to state whether the PWs were segregated at any other time during the march. (d) Guarding the PWs during the March. When Source sighted the PWs, they were being guarded by two NVA soldiers, believed by Source to be commo-liaison personnel, one of whom was armed with an AK-47. The PWs were marching in single file with the two guards moving at the rear. (e) Evacuation of PWs. Source was unable to provide any information concerning the speed of the PWs' evacuation after capture. (f) Harassment of PWs. Source could not provide any information concerning harassment of PWs. (g) Exhibition of PWs. Source knew nothing concerning exhibition of US PWs. (h) PWs Interviewed or Photographed in Transit. Source did not know if the PWs were interviewed or photographed in transit. (4) In Camp. Source was not cognizant of US PW camps. (5) Interrogation of PWs. Source knew nothing concerning interrogation of US PWs. (6) Prisoner Mail Privileges. Source was not knowledgeable of prisoner mail privileges. (7) Indoctrination. Source knew nothing concerning indoctrination of US PWs. (8) Medical Care and Health. Source was unable to provide any information concerning medical care and health of US PWs. (9) NVA/VC/PATHET LAO Policy Concerning the Capture or Execution of US Personnel. Source could not provide any information pertaining to this policy. COMMENTS: Source appeared to be of average intelligence, and cooperated throughout the interrogation. [Distributed through the P.O.W. Network]