[0803-71.CN 02/29/96]
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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: VS, RVN MR-1, THUA THIEN 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0803 71
Province
2. SUBJECT: (U) PW Sighting in THUA 9. DATE OF REPORT: 26 Jul 71
THIEN Province, RVN (handwritten-W31437)
10.NO. OF PAGES: 5
3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G3
BRIGHT LIGHT
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Mar 67 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS
14 Jul 71
13. PREPARED BY: ARTHUR A. BOULETTE
SP4, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: Returnee Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED)
PAUL G. SPERO
LTC, USA
Dir, US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY
(C) This report contains information concerning the sighting of two US
PW in THUA THIEN Province, RVN, to include circumstances of sighting,
description, clothing worn by PW, physical condition, personal information,
capture data, and photo identification. Special attention is drawn to the
fact that the PW were executed shortly after being captured. THIS IS A
BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: TRAN VAN TU (TRAANL, VEAN TUWS), aka TRAN VAN HONG
(TRAANL, VEAN HOONG), CMIC 0269-71
b. Rank: CPT
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: XO; 804th Inf Bn, HUE City Unit
d. DPOB: Oct 45; THIEN LOC Village, CAN LOC District, HA TINH
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 5
e. Parents' Names: Father, TRAN VAN HANG (TRAANL, VEAN HEANGL),
deceased; Mother, VO THI NIEM (VOX, THIV NIEEM), living
f. Circumstances of Return. On 8 Mar 71, source went to LOC AN
Village, PHU LOC District, THUA THIEN Province, on his regular visit to the
village to buy rice for his unit. Source decided that is was an opportune
time to carry out his previous plans to take advantage of the CHIEU HOI
Program; therefore, he rallied to an unidentified ARVN unit in the area.
source turned in one K-54 pistol with 14 rounds of ammunition at the time he
rallied.
g. Significant Activities:
(1) DOB to Oct 65. Source attended village and district
schools near his POB form 1955 to 1962. On 22 Jun 62, Source was drafted
into the NVA and assigned to the 2d Co, 8th Bn, 18th Regt, 325th Inf Div, in
LOC NINH District (sic), QUANG BINH Province, NVN. While with this unit,
Source received one year of basic training. In Jan 64, Source was
reassigned to the 2d Co, 804th Inf Bn, HUE City Unit (NFI). The battalion
reviewed training in preparation for infiltration until Jun 64. From Jun
to Sep 64, the unit infiltrated to QUANG TRI Province, RVN, in a series of
small moves accompanied by frequent rests. From Sep 64 to Apr 65, the
battalion carried out many successful attacks on ARVN outposts in TRIEU
PHONG and CAM LO (VC) Districts, QUANG TRI Province. In Apr 65, the unit
moved to Hai Lang District, QUANG TRI Province, to continue attacking
outposts. In Jun 65, the battalion moved to HUONG HOA District, QUANG TRI
Province, to gain control of Highway 9. The battalion stayed here until Oct
65.
(2) Oct 65 to Date of Return. In Oct 65, the unit moved to the
BA LONG area TRIEU PHONG District, QUANG TRI Province. It remained there,
attacking small ARVN units in area, until Jan 67. In Jan 67, the battalion
moved to PHONG DIEN District, THUA THIEN Province. At this time, Source was
promoted to assistant platoon leader of the 3d Plat, 2d Co, 804th Inf Bn.
The battalion continued operations throughout THUA THIEN Province,
frequently attacking Allied units and periodically attacking HUE City. In
Jan 68, Source was promoted to executive officer of the 2d Co, 804th Inf Bn.
During the 1968 Tet Offensive, the battalion participated in massive attacks
on HUE City, and subsequently returned to PHONG DIEN District, THUA THIEN
Province. In Nov 68, Source was promoted to commanding officer of the 2d
Co, 804th Inf Bn. In early 1969, the battalion moved to the jungle areas of
PHU LOC District, THUA THIEN Province. The unit remained in this area for
the remainder of the time Source was with the unit. In Jul 70, Source was
promoted to executive officer of the 804th Infantry Battalion. Source was
still in this position at the time he rallied.
h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; 525
MI Group PW Photo Album, dtd 10 Nov 68.
Page 3 of 5
2. PW Sighting in THUA THIEN Province, RVN.
a. Circumstances of Sighting. In Mar 67, after attacking an ARVN base
camp of the 3d Regt, 1st ARVN Div, Source sighted two US PW and six ARVN PW
in VIEN TRINH Hamlet, PHU DA Village, PHU VANG District, THUA THIEN
Province, RVN. The PW had been captured during this attack and had been
transported to VIEN TRINH Hamlet (NFI). six members of the 804th Bn, armed
with AK-47s, were guarding the PW. After having been at VIEN TRINH Hamlet
for several hours, the two US PW attempted to escape. They were caught, and
all eight PW were executed because the VC feared the compromise of their
base camp if the PW escaped. The guards executed the PW, but Source did not
know where the bodies wee buried. Source was in the area where the PW were
kept for only an hour; all information concerning execution and disposition
of the PW is heresay. During this time, Source had the opportunity to talk
with one of the US PW for a few minutes.
b. Description of Two PW:
(1) Identification of PW No 1:
(a) Name: Unknown
(b) Rank and Branch of Service: 1LT; Unknown
(c) Nationality: American (Assumed)
(d) Physical Description:
1 Height: 1.72m
2 Weight: 80kg
3 Color of Hair and Eyes: Brown; Hazel
4 Race: Caucasian
5 Complexion: Light
6 Hair length: Short
7 Nose: Medium
8 Scars: None Visible
9 Tattoos: None visible
10 Birthmarks: None visible
11 Build: Medium
12 Age: 27
Page 4 of 5
13 Glasses Worn: None
14 Rings/Watches: Watch with silver band; no rings
(2) Identification of PW No 2:
(a) Name: Unknown
(b) Rank and Branch of Service: SFC; Army
(c) Nationality: American (Assumed)
(d) Physical Description:
1 Height: 1.70m
2 Weight: 70kg
3 Color of Hair and Eyes: Brown; Hazel
4 Race: Caucasian
5 Complexion: Light
6 Hair length: Medium
7 Nose: Small
8 Scars: None Visible
9 Tattoos: None visible
10 Birthmarks: None visible
11 Build: Small
12 Age: 30
13 Glasses Worn: None
14 Rings/Watches: Watch with silver band; no rings
(2) Clothing Worn by PW. both PW wore jungle fatigues and
jungle combat boots. Both PW wore rank insignia on their collars and had a
unit patch on their left shoulder. Source stated that these patches were
black and he could not remember the design.
(3) Physical Condition. Source stated that the physical
condition of the US PW was good. He did not notice any bloodstains or
bandages on the PW.
(4) Personal Information. Source could not provide any
personal information concerning the lieutenant. He stated that the sergeant
spoke Vietnamese, was a military advisor, and had two children (NFI).
(5) Capture Data. The two PW were captured while the 804th Bn
was attacking an unidentified ARVN battalion base camp of the 3d Regt, 1st
ARVN Div. Approximately 200 members of the 804th Bn took part in this
attack.
c. Photo Identification. Source was shown the US PW Photo Album but
could not make any identifications from these photographs.
d. general Information. The following is a description of the
interrogator, by the Source, provided for comparative purposes:
Estimated Actual
Height 1.80m 1094m
Age 26 23
Weight 70kg 80kg
Build Large Medium
COMMENTS: Source was cooperative and appeared to be of average
intelligence. When asked control questions, Source responded favorably.
Current OB holdings do not mention the HUE City Unit. They show the parent
unit of the 804th Inf Bn to be the 5th NVA Regiment. However, an aka for
the 5th NVA Regt is the HUE City Group 5.
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