[0077-71.cm 02/25/96]
[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 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, HANOI City 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0077 71
2. SUBJECT: (U) Sighting of US PWs in 9. DATE OF REPORT: 25 Jan 71
HANOI City, NVN (handwritten-W28342)
10.NO. OF PAGES: 4
3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G3
SICR: D-7CX-49018
BRIGHT LIGHT
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Feb 68 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS
21 Jan 71
13. PREPARED BY: ROBERT L. WILLIAMS
SP5, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: PW Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED)
W.H. BEARDSLEY
LTC, USA
Dir, US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY
(C) This report contains limited information concerning the sighting of
58 US PWs in HANOI City, NVN, two weeks after Tet 68, to include
circumstances of sighting, description of clothing, and security. THIS IS
A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: HOANG DANG THANH (HOANGL, DEANG THANH), aka HOANG PHAN
DIUE ( HOANGL, FAANS DIEEUS), CMIC 3309-70
b. Rank: PFC
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Member; Recon Sqd, 5th Co, 7th
Bn, 66th Regt, 75th Arty Gp
d. DPOB: 28 May 50; NIEN NINH Village, THANH TRI District, HA DONG
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, HOANG PHAN LUC (HOANGL, FAANS LUCV), deceased;
Mother, NGUYEN THI KHUNG (NGUYEENX, THIV KHUNG), living
f. Circumstances of Capture. On 19 Dec 70, Source surrendered to elements
of the 35th ARVN Ranger Bn in PHU KHUONG. District, TAY NINH Province, RVN. He
carried with him one K-53 pistol with 35 rounds of ammunition. Source was on a
reconnaissance mission to survey the BAU CO area, PAY NINH Province, with 31
other individuals of his unit, when he surrendered.
b. Background Information:
(1) DOB to Sep 69. Source attended the village school at his POB
from 1958 to 1965, and then worked as a farmer with his parents until Apr 68.
In Apr 68, Source was drafted into the NVA and sent to HOA BINH Village, LAP
THICH District, VINH PHUC Province, NVN, for basic training with the 4th Co,
4th Bn (further subordination unk). On 20 Jun 68, the 4th Bn was redesignates
the 4030th Gp and began infiltration with a strength of approximately 600
men. After crossing through NVN, LADS, and GIA LAI (VC) Province, RVN, the
group regrouped in KATUM, TAY NINH Province, RVN, in Feb 69. The group rested
in KATUM for three months; in Apr 69, Source and five other men from the
4030th Gp were assigned to the Recon Plat, 7th Bn, 66th Regt, 75th Arty Gp,
located in CAU SAU CAY, KOMPONG CHAM Province, CAMBODIA. Source received
reconnaissance training with two other men until Jun 69; at the completion of
training, Source was sent for treatment of malaria to the K-53 Hospital in
KOMPONG CHAM, Province, CAMBODIA. Source remained at the hospital for three
months, then returned to his unit in Sep 69.
(2) Sep 69 to Capture. In Feb 70, Source and four others in his
unit were sent to the H-10 Technical School, located in KOMPONG CHAM Province,
CAMBODIA, located near LOC NINH District, TAY NINH Province, RVN. In Jul 70,
the school moved to a jungle area approximately 15 kilometers north of MEMOT
City, KOMPONG CH AM Province, CAMBODIA. In Sep 70, the 7th Bn moved to a
location about 15 kilometers north of MEMOT In Oct 70, the Recon Plat of the
7th Bn was divided into squads which were assigned to each company of the
battalion. At this time, Source was assigned to the Recon Sod, 5th Co, 7th Bn.
On 11 Dec 70, Source and 31 other men were given the mission to survey the BAU
CO area, TAY NINH Province, RVN. However on 19 Dec 70, Source departed the
group on the way and surrendered to elements of the 35th ARVN Ranger Bn along
Highway 4 in CAMBODIA.
h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide: US PW Photo
Album, HQ, 525th MI Gp, dtd 10 Nov 68; Map. TacCTA, HANOI, NVN,
AP-1-380-1-21-64-INT, Sheet 1 of 2 (Orientation and HANOI Urban Area Maps)
2. (C) Sighting of US PWs in HANOI City, NVN:
a. Circumstances of Sighting. Approximately two weeks after the conclusion
of Tet 68, source observed 58 US PWs in HANOI City, NVN.
Page 3 of 4
Source was riding a bus from TAY Lake to the KIM LIEN bus Station at the
time; the bus route follower QUANG THANH Street for several blocks. Source
passed the group of PWs at approximately 0900 hours (HANOI time); the PWs
were walking in an eastward Direction along QUANG THANH Street in the
vicinity of (WJ88422643). Source observes the group for about three minutes
and counted the PWs as he passed by in the bus. The PWs were walking on the
right side of the street in a column of 29 pairs, guarded on both sides by
10 NVA soldiers.
b. Identification of PWs source observed the PWs for only three minutes
and could remember no faces and could provide no descriptions. He stated that
most of the PWs were taller than the Interrogator (1.80 meters tall). All of
the PWs were light-skinned males. Many of the PWs wore watches and rings
however, Source could provide no descriptions of any of these. Only a few-of
the PWs wore glasses. Source was able to describe one type of sunglasses worn
by two of the PWs. (For a sketch, see page 4.)
c. Clothing. All of the PWs wore light Green uniforms of "khaki"
material. These pajama-like suits consisted of a shirt and matching pants.
The shirt had two hand pockets near the bottom four buttons down the middle,
and long sleeves The pants were ankle-length and had four pockets, two in
front and two in back. Each PW wore black shoes or boots. (Source could not
see the footwear clearly.) Source could provide no further information
concerning clothing.
d. Health of PWs. All of the PWs appeared to be uninjured and in good
health.
e. Security. The PWs were handcuffed in pairs. The right arm of one PW was
handcuffed to the left arm of the other PW by a 40-centimeter long chain,
leaving one hand free for smoking. The PWs marched in a column of 29 pairs To
the right and left sides of the column were a total of about 10 NVA guards
(units unknown). Each of the guards was equipped with an AK-47 (basic load
unknown).
f. Attitude of Local Inhabitants. Source claimed that he did not know the
attitudes of the people who gathered around the PWs. Source heard from the
general chatter around him that any citizen who approached closer than three
meters to the PWs, or who attempted to harm the PW's in any way, would be
arrested. Source knew of nobody who was arrested. Source claimed that he loved
the PWs because of the sorrowful situation forced upon them by their cruel
government.
(C) COMMENTS: Source claimed to have surrendered to an ARVN unit and turned
his weapon and ammunition over to them. He stated that initially he was
treated as a HOI CHANH, but at BIEN HOA - he was told that he would
temporarily have to be treated as a prisoner. However, his status was never
reverted from PW to Rallier. Source was administered the Cross-cultural IQ
Test and scored average (19). Source was very cooperative and appeared to be
telling the truth. He was not able to identify any of the photographs in the
US PW Photo Album. This report partially satisfies the requirements of SICR
D-7CX-49018. Collection action continues.
Page 4 of 4
Sketch of sunglasses worn by two US PWs, as provided by returnee HOANG DANG
THANH, CMIC 3309-70 (DOI: Feb 68)
[NETWORK NOTE: a copy of the 4" x 6" SKETCH OF THE SUNGLASSES
is available - call or write using the file number 0077 71.]
(Not to scale)
silver
copper
copper
dark green
[Distributed through the P.O.W. Network]