[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.
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