[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.
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