[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
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