[0101-72.CM 02/26/96]
[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 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0101 72
2. SUBJECT: (U) Sighting of one US PW in 9. DATE OF REPORT: 28 Mar 72
THANH HOA Province, NVN (handwritten-W34130)
10.NO. OF PAGES: 4
3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G1, 6G3
SICR: D-7CX-49018
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: May 65 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS
19 Feb 72
13. PREPARED BY: THOMAS P. HARALSON
SP5, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: PW Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED)
DAVID L. PEMBERTON
LTC, USA
Dir, US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY
(C) This report contains information concerning a sighting of
on US PW in THANH HOA City, THANH HOA Province, NVN, to include
circumstances and location of sighting, description of the US PW,
clothing worn, and physical description. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT.
MACV FOR JPRC.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: HA TA THUONG (HAL, TAS THUOWNG) CMIC 0470-71
b. Rank: PFC
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: 4th Sqd, 2d Palt, 1st Co,
3d Inf Bn, 1st Regt, PHUOC BINH MR
d. DPOB: 3 Dec 51; NGOC LIEN Hamlet, CAM TU Village, CAM THUY
District, THANH HOA 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 4
e. Parent's Names: Father, HA VAN DIEN (HAL, VEAN DIEENL), living;
Mother, HA THI GAM (HAL, THIV GAAMS), living
f. Circumstances of Capture. On 30 Oct 71, Source, his Company
Commander, and 12 others were sent on a mission to reconnoiter bunkers along
Highway 14. While enroute, the group was ambushed by unknown ARVN forces.
During the ensuing engagement, Source was captured. He believed that the
remainder of the group escaped.
g. Significant Activities:
(1) 1960 to 5 May 70. From 1969 to 1966, Source attended the NHOC
LIEN Village school. In 1966, Source and his family moved to a new residence
at YEN GIANG Village, YEN DINH District, THANH HOW Province, NVN. While at
the new residence, Source assisted his family with farming chores until he was
drafted into the NVA. On 15 Aug 69, Source was drafted into the NVA and sent
to YEN TRANG Village, YEN DINH District, THANH HOA Province, NVN, where he
received basic training with the 7th Sqd, 3d Plat, 4th Co, D-15 Inf Tng Bn,
338th Inf Tng Div, until Jan 70. On 15 Jan 70, Source was given a 10-day
leave of absence, after which he returned to his unit and began preparations
for his infiltration to the RVN. On 18 Feb 70, the D-15 Inf Tng Bn
(infiltration group number unknown) began infiltration, traveling through NVN
and LAOS, arriving in the KRATIE/SANDAN area, CAMBODIA, on approximately 5 May
70.
(2) 5 May 70 to DOC. After arriving in the KRATIE/SANDAN area, the
members of the D-15 Inf Tng Bn received a 10-day rest, followed by the issue
of orders assigning the unit to perform transportation missions for the 86th
Rear Service Group. From 15 May 70, to late Arp 71, the D-15 Inf Tng Bn was
responsible for transporting rice and salt from the dock area (XU107804),
KRATIE City, KRATIE Province, CAMBODIA: through transfer points at (XV197074,
SANDAN jungle area, SAMBOR District, KRATIE Province, CAMBODIA: (XV510330),
SRE ROLUOS Village, SAMBOR District; (XV654297, SRE CHIN Village, KRATIE
District; to the 86th Rear Service Group storage area at (YV276127), PHUM
CHBAR Village, CHBAR District, MONDULKIRI Province, CAMBODIA. By late Apr 71,
the unit received orders to review basic training and receive anti-tank and
anti-aircraft training at training areas near (vic YU3395), LAVKA Village,
CHBAR District, MONDULKIREI Province, CAMBODIA. The training was completed on
25 Jul 71, and the unit was ordered to move to the SONG MEANG River area along
the CAMBODIA/RVN border. In early Aug 71, Source's unit arrived at the SONG
MEANG River area (possibly (vic XU8623), near the PHUOC LONG/BINH LONG
Province border, where the unit conducted training in ambush tactics in
anticipation of operations along Highway 14, PHUOC LONG Province, RVN. On 30
Oct 71, while reconnoitering bunkers along Highway 14, in preparation for the
ambushes, Source was captured by unidentified ARVN forces.
Page 3 of 4
h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; Map:
VIETNAM, 1:50,000, edition 1 AMS, Series L7014, Sheet 6148, 1, dtd 1965, US
Photo ALBUM, 525 MI GP dtd 12 Sep 71.
2. (c) Sighting of a US PW in THANH HOA City, THANH HOA Province, NVN:
a. Circumstances of Sighting. Source saw a US PW (nationality
assumed), in THANH HOA City, THANH HOA Province, NVN, in May 65. Source heard
that the PW had parachuted from an F105 and was immediately captured by the
THANH HOA Militia (NFI). The plane had crashed into the city, killing 20
civilians. When source way the PW, he was standing with his hands tied by a
rope and was being guarded by two security guards.
b. Identification of PW:
(1) Identification:
(a) Name: Unknown
(b) Rank and Branch of Service: Unknown
(c) Nationality, US (assumed)
(d) Physical Description:
1 Height: 1.90m (Interrogator's Note: Source estimated
interrogator's height to be 1.90; actual height, 1.90m)
2 Weight: 100kg (Interrogator's Note: Source estimated
interrogator's weight to be 80kg; actual weight is 70kg.
3 Color of Hair and Eyes: Hair, dark brown, eyes, black
4 Race: Caucasian
5 Complexion: Light
6 Hair Length: Long
7 Nose: Long and Straight
8 Scars: None visible
9 Tatoos: None visible
10 Birthmarks: None visible
11 Build: Medium
12 Age: 30 (Interrogator's note: Source guessed interrogator's
Page 4 of 4
age at 27; interrogator is 23 years old.)
13 Rings/Watches: None
c. Clothing worn by PW. The PW was wearing a one-piece jump suit
with no markings or patches, and black footgear. Source could not tell if the
PW wore boots since his pants covered the tops of the footgear.
d. Physical condition. The PW did not appear to be wounded or
injured.
e. Personal information. Source was not able to provide personal
information concerning the PW.
f. Capture data. Source knew nothing of the time, place, or
circumstances of capture. He only knew that the militia would not let the
people harm the PW. Source stated the people were angry because the plane
crash had killed 20 civilians and that they wanted to take revenge on the PW,
but the militia would not let them.
g. Photo identification: Source could not identify any of the photos
in the PW Photo Album.
h. Biographical correlation: An attempt was made to correlate the
information provided by Source using the PW Biographic File. It was found
that only one man, US AF CPT ROBERT D PEEL, already listed as captured, could
match the circumstances of capture.
COMMENTS: Source appeared to be in good health. Source was administered the
Cross Cultural IQ Test and scored Low Average (13). This report partially
satisfies the requirements of SICR D-7CX-49018. (Prisoner of War
Intelligence).
[Distributed through the P.O.W. Network]