[0821-71.CM 03/02/96] [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 0821 71 2. SUBJECT: (U) A US PW Camp in NAM DAN 9. DATE OF REPORT: 2 Aug 71 District, NGHE AN Province, NVN (handwritten-W31437) 10.NO. OF PAGES: 6 3. ISC NUMBER: 732.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 1Q16, 6G3 SICR: D-6C2-26423 BRIGHT LIGHT 4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Aug 70 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV 5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: NCHC, SAIGON, VS 13. PREPARED BY: JAMES C. EBBERT SP5, 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 a US PW camp in NAM DAN District, NGHE AN Province, NVN, to include location, description of the camp, camp accessinility, camp security, camp staff, and information concerning US PW, including number of PW, tentative identification of two US PW, clothing, daily activities, diet, physical condition, morale, and general information. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC. 1. (C) Background Information: a. Name: NGUYEN XUAN THANH (NGUYEENX, XUAAN THANHL), CMIC C-3736 b. Rank: SGT c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Sqd Ldr; 5th Sqd, 3d Plat, 9th Co, Z-6 Inf Bn (further subordination unknown) d. DPOB: 1950; MINH LOC Village, HAU LOC 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 6 e. Parents' Names: Father, NGUYEN VAN THANH NGUYEENX, VEAN THANHL living; Mother, BUI THI CHUA (BUIL, THIV CHUAV), living f. Circumstances of Return. On 21 May 71, Source escaped from his unit and rallied to the 214th ARVN Bn, 9th ARVN Div, located in the BA HON area, KIEN GIANG Province, RVN. When he rallied, Source brought with him three AK-47s and 300 rounds of ammunition. g. Significant Activities. In 1961, Source began to attend the village school at his POB .From 1963 to 1969, Source attended the HAU LOC District School, located in MIEN LOC Village, HAU LOC District, THANH HOA Province, NVN. On 15 Jan 70, Source was drafted into the NVA and assigned to the 5th Sqd, 2d Plat, 2d Co, 11th Tng Bn, 305th Div, located in NAM DAN District, NGHE AN Province, NVN. Source received basic infantry and infiltration training until Jul 70. During that time, Source and his unit were given a tour of a US PW camp. At the end of Aug 70, Source began infiltration with the 11th Bn, which was designated the 191st Infiltration Group (sic) and consisted of approximately 520 men. The group infiltrated into LAOS; in Nov 70, the group rested in an unknown area in LAOS in order to treat approximately 40 men who had contracted malaria crossing the TRUONG SON Mountains. While resting, the 3d CO, 11th Bn, and one platoon of the 4th Co, 11th Bn, were assigned to the 5th Division (NFI). The remainder of the 11th Bn continued infiltration into CAMBODIA in Dec 70, and the group arrived in an unknown location in CAMBODIA, in Feb 710 At that time, the remainder of the 11th Bn, with the exception of Source and approximately 30 other men sick with malaria, were assigned to the 7th and 9th Divisions (NFI). Source and the men sick with malaria were moved to an unknown location in CAMBODIA to rest. In Apr 71, they were assigned to the Z-6 Inf Bn, located in the BA HON area, CHAU THANH A (VC) District, RAC GIA (VC) Province, RVN. A cadre member from the Z-6 Inf Bn guided Source and the group of men to the battalion .The group arrived at the battalion location at the end of Apr 710 Source was assigned to the 5th Sqd, 3d Plat, 9th CO, Z-6 Inf Bn, and at that time he was promoted to squad leader. Source remained with the unit until he rallied on 21 May 710 Source rallied because he did not find the severe living conditions agreeable. h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; Map: VIETNAM, AMS Series L7014, Sheet No 6146 IV, Edition 1, dtd 1965, Scale 1:50,000; 525 MI Gp PW Photo Album, dtd 10 Nov 68 2. (C) A US PW camp in NAM DAN District, NGHE AN Province, NVN. The following information is based on SICR D-7CX-49018 (US PW Information, NVN): a. Location. The PW camp was located in the DUC THANH Village area (vic WF672786), NAM DAN District, NGHE AN Province, NVN. (Interrogator's Note: Source did not know the name of the PW camp or the village in which the PW camp was located. By the use of map tracking, Page 3 of 6 Source identified DUC THANH Village as the location of the PW camp. Although care was taken in map tracking, there is some uncertainty regarding the exact location of the camp.) b. Description. The area (130m x 90m) of the PW camp was surrounded by a bamboo fence approximately 1 5 meters high. The fence had one bamboo gate, which was approximately 2.5 meters wide; located inside the fence and on each side of the gate were two guard shacks (1m x 1m x 2m), which were constructed of wood. Directly in the center of the camp and approximately 40 meters from the gate, was the prisoner compound. This structure (50m x 8m x 5m) was constructed of cement walls and a tile root .Source was exposed to only the front side of the building, which faced east towards the camp gate; on that aide of the building there were 15 to 17 rooms. The rooms varied in size, with a capacity of from two to four men per room. Each room had a wooden door (2m x O.8m), and a barred window (1m x 0.8m) with two wooden shutters. Source was able to observe the interior of two rooms; both were two-man rooms (3m x 4m x 4m), with cement walls and cement floors. Each room had a wooden table, two wooden chairs; and two beds, which were also constructed of wood. Source also noticed a teapot. Several tea cups, and various books and magazines on the table in each room. Although the PW camp had electricity, Source did not notice if the rooms of the PW compound had electric lights. Approximately 15 meters north of the compound was the latrine. The latrine was covered by a wooden structure (4m x 3m x 2m). Approximately 15 meters south of the compound was the bathhouse (4m x 3m x 2m), which was also constructed of wood. Near the bathhouse was a well with a hand pump. Between the gate and the PW compound were three ping-pong tables.The entire area inside the bamboo fence was well camouflaged with trees. Except for the village, which was approximately 50 meters east of the PW camp, the surrounding terrain consisted of rice paddles.(See sketch of PW camp on page 6). c. Camp Accessibility. The PW camp was located approximately 12.5 kilometers northwest of VINH City, NVN. From VINH City the PW camp was reached by going north on Highway No 1 until reaching Road No 71, and then turning left on road No 71 and driving west for approximately two kilometers. This route led to the DUC THANH Village area; the camp was located approximately 50 meters west of the village. d. Camp Security. Security for the camp was provided by a platoon consisting of 32 men, who lived in tents near the PW camp. During the day, the two guard posts at the camp gate were manned with one guard each, and the guards were rotated every two hours. During the night, a patrol of unknown size was deployed inside the bamboo fence, in addition to the two guards at the guard posts. At night, the guards were rotated every hour. All guards carried AK-47s. e. Camp Staff. The camp staff lived in the village near the camp, and consisted of North Vietnamese Public Security personnel (sic) (NFI). f. US PW: Page 4 of 6 (1) Number. Source was told by a camp guard that the camp contained 40 US pilots (NFI). (2) Identification. During his tour of the PW camp, which lasted for approximately 20 minutes, Source was able to look inside two rooms in the PW compound. In doing so, Source saw four US PW (one negro and three Caucasians). He was able to tentatively identify two PW by using photographs from the 525th MI Gp PW Photo Album: (a) PW No 1 (tentatively identified as DOYLE SPRICK, Photo Number 123, 525 MI Gp Photo Album): Height: 1.75m Weight: 80kg Color of Hair and Byes: Brown; unknown Race: Caucasian Complexion: Light Hair: Short Nose: Large Scars: None visible Tattoos: None visible Birthmarks: None visible Build:.Heavy Age: Undetermined Glasses Worn: None Rings/Watches: Unknown (b) PW No 2 (tentatively identified as HARRY W. BROWN, Photo Number 251, 525 MI Gp Photo Album): Height: 1.80m Weight: 70kg Color of Hair and Byes: Black; brown Race: Negro Complexion: Dark, smooth Hair: Short, curly Page 5 of 6 Nose: Large, flat Scars: None visible Tattoos: None visible Build: Medium Age: Undetermined Glasses Worn: None Rings/Watches: Two gold bands, a watch with a blue face and gold band (Interrogator's Note: There is considerable doubt regarding Source's identification of the two photographs. Source was told at the PW camp that all PW in the camp were US pilots, but both individuals identified were not pilots.) (3) Clothing.The PW wore green and black trousers, shirts of various colors, and sandals. (4) Daily Activities of the PW. During the day,the rooms were left open, and the PW were allowed to play ping-pong, bathe, visit with each other, and read. Source did not know if the camp had a daily schedule, and he did not know if the PW had work details. (5) Diet of the PW. The prisoners were given three meals per day. The food was cooked in the village. Source did not know what kind of food was served. (6) Physical Condition of the PW. The physical condition of the PW was satisfactory. Source only saw four PW, but he assumed that all were in good health. (7) Morale of the PRO Source stated that the morale of the PW appeared to be fairly high. (8) General Information. Source was not able to provide any further information regarding the PW, their privileges, or to what kind of treatment they were subjected, except that they were not allowed to have radios. (U) COMMENTS: Source was of average intelligence and cooperated throughout the interrogation. When Source visited the PW camp, the purpose of the visit was to allow Source and the members of his unit to see US pilots. The visit lasted for approximately 20 minutes, and because of this, Source's knowledge of the camp was quite limited. Page 6 of 6 A sketch of the PW camp, as provided by returnee, NGUYEN XUAN THANH, CMIC C-3736 (DOI: Aug 70) (Not to Scale) [NETWORK NOTE: a copy of the 6" x 9" SKETCH OF THE PW CAMP is available - call or write using the file number 0821-71.] LEGEND: 1. PW compound (50m x 8m x 5m) 2. Latrine (4m x 3m x 2m) 3. Bathhouse (4m x 3m x 2m) 4. Well 5. Guard houses (1m x 1m x 2m) 6. Recreation area [Distributed through the P.O.W. Network]