[0823071.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, NGHE AN Province 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0823 71 2. SUBJECT: (U) US PW Sighting in NGHE 9. DATE OF REPORT: 2 Aug 71 AN Province, NVN 10.NO. OF PAGES: 3 3. ISC NUMBER: 723.000 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 1A2a, 6G3 723.600 BRIGHT LIGHT 4. DATE OF INFORMATION: May 66 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV 5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: NCHC, SAIGON, VS 21 Jul 71 13. PREPARED BY: HENRY L. DE MONTEBELLO 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 the sighting of one US PW in Area III, NAM DAN District, NGHE AN Province, NVN,to include the circumstances of sighting, limited description of the PW, transportation of the PW, and very limited capture data. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC. 1. (C) Background Information: a. Name: NGO CONG HUNG (NGOO, COONG HUNGL), CMIC C-3735 71 b. Rank: PFC c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Soldier; 3d Cell, 4th Plat, 40th Co, 10th Sapper Bn, 22d Inf Regt, MR-6 d. DPOB: 22 Dec 53; NAM TAN Village, NAM DAM District, NGHE AN 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 3 e. Parents' Names: Father, NGO CONG CHONG (NGOO, COONG CHOONG), deceased; Mother, TRAN THI TU (TRAANL, THIV TUW), deceased f. Circumstances of Return. Source contracted malaria and became separated from his unit on 13 Jun 71, while infiltrating through QUANG DUC Province, RVN. Rather than try to rejoin his unit, Source searched for Allied forces to which he could rally. He rallied on 16 Jun 71, to an unidentified ARVN unit near the QUANG DUC CHIEU HOI Center, QUANG DUC Province, RVN, in order to receive medical care. g. Significant Activities. Source lived with his parents at his POB and attended his village school for seven years. After school, he helped his parents on their farm until he was drafted into the NVA on 25 Apr 70. Source was assigned to the 3d Cell, 4th Plat, 40th Sapper Co, 10th Sapper Bn, 22d Inf Regt, located in QUYNH CHAU Village, QUYNH LW District, LUU AN Province, NVN. Source remained there for eight months, receiving basic infantry, sapper, and infiltration training. From 20 to 30 Dec 70, Source was on leave. On 3 Jan 71, the 10th Bn was redesignated the 2285 Infiltration Group and began infiltration to the RVN, with about 500 men. The remainder of the 22d Inf Regt remained in NGHE AN Province. The group traveled by truck from QUYNH CHAU Village, QUYNH LUU District, NGHE AN Province, through HA TINH and QUANG BINH Provinces, and crossed the TRUONG SON Mountains into LAOS, in Mar 71. The 39th Sapper Co, 2285 Infil Gp, with approximately 85 personnel, remained in LAOS for operations (NFI). In the beginning of Apr 71, the group rested in CAMBODIA for about 20 days because many members had contracted malaria. At the end of Apr 71, the group arrived in PHUOC LONG Province, RVN. At this time, Source contracted malaria. He fell behind,and on 13 Jun 71, lost contact with his unit. On 16 Jun 71, Source rallied to an unidentified ARVN unit in QUANG DUC Province, RVN. h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide a. Places of Confinement. Source was unable to provide any information on places of confinement for US PW. 2. (C) US PW Sighting in NGHE AN Province: b. US PW: (1) Identification: (a) Number and Nationality of PW. In May 66, Source Observed one male, Caucasian PW for a period of two hours, as the PW was being exhibited to the people in Area III, NAM DAN District, NGHE AN Province, NVN, before being taken to HANOI City. He was being led by a platoon of NVA troops from HA TINH Province, where he was captured. Page 3 of 3 (b) Source provided the following information on the PW: 1 Name: Unknown 2 Rank and Branch of Service: Air Force (hearsay) 3 Type of Aircraft: Unknown; had a capacity of two personnel (hearsay) 4 Nationality: American (hearsay) 5 Physical Description. Source stated that it was difficult to provide a physical description as the sighting was in 1966,and it was the first American he had ever seen. He estimated that the PW was about 40 years old, 1.80m tall, and weighed about 70 kilograms. The PW did not wear glasses or any Jewelry. (c) Clothing. When Source saw the PW, he was wearing loosely fitting, dark brown pajamas; he wore no socks or shoes. The PW was secured by a long chain attached to a smaller chain around his ankles; this arrangement enabled the PW to walk but prevented his escape. (d) Insignia. Source saw no rank or insignia. (e) Photographs. Source was unable to identify PW from photographs. (f) Physical Condition of PW. At the time of sighting, the PW seemed to be in good physical condition. (g) Background of the PW. Source was unable to give any information concerning the background of the PW. (h) Separation of the PW. Source was unable to give any information on separation of PW since there was only one. (i) PW Deaths. Source knew of no PW deaths; however, the guards stated that one other man, who was in the aircraft at the time it was shot down, had been killed in the crash. (j) Capture Data. The guards told the people that the PW had been shot down in HA TINH Province, NVN, in early Apr 66, and that his copilot had been killed in the crash (NFI). (u) COMMENTS: Source was of above average intelligence and cooperated fully throughout the interrogation despite his suffering from malaria. He answered control questions quickly and his replies were consistent. [Distributed through the P.O.W. Network]