[0826-71.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: CB; SVAY RIENG Province 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0826 71 2. SUBJECT: (U) PW Sighting in SVAY 9. DATE OF REPORT: 2 Aug 71 RIENG Province, CAMBODIA (handwritten-W31437) 10.NO. OF PAGES: 4 3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G3 BRIGHT LIGHT 4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Feb or Mar 69 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV 5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS 16 Jul 71 13. PREPARED BY: GREGORY T. HSU SP5, USA 6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6 7. SOURCE: PW 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 Feb or Mar 69 in SVAY RIENG Province, CAMBODIA, to include the circumstances of the sighting, physical description of the PW, evacuation procedures, and photo identification. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC. 1. (C) Background Information: a. Name: NGUEYN VAN THOI (NGUYEENX, VEAN THOWIL), CMIC 0231-71 b. Rank: None (VC) c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Asst Plat Ldr; 1st Plat, 12th Co, D-6 Bn, F-55 Regt, 9th Div d. DPOB: 1945; THUAN HUNG Village, LONG MY District, CHUONG THIEN Province, RVN 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 4 e. Parents' Names: Father, NGUYEN VAN CHUNG NCUYEENX, VEAN CHUNG), deceased; Mother, NGUYEN THI HAY (NGUYEENX, THIV BAYR), living f. Circumstances of Capture. On 25 Feb 71, the F-55 Regt, 9th Div, ambushed an unidentified ARVN supply convoy in the HAM BE jungle area, KOMPONG CHAM Province, CAMBODIA. The next day, Source and three other,s went to reconnoiter near the ARVN convoy and were sighted by the ARVN troops. Source's companions were killed, and he tried to surrender. Source raised his arms, but was shot and taken prisoner. g. Significant Activities. In 1958, Source attended the village school at his POB for sex months. He quit school and went to work with his parents on the family rice paddy until 1965. In Aug 65, Source joined the local VC. From early Aug to early Nov 65, Source and about 100 new recruits walked to BINH DUONG Province, RVN. Upon arriving, Source received no training, but was assigned as a carrier to the B-9 Rear Service Station, C-1 Military Staff, 9th Div. In Jul 67, Source was promoted to assistant squad leader, in Dec 69 to squad leader and in late Sell 7O to assistant platoon leader. These promotions did not bring about a change of jobs. On 29 Sep 70, he was sent to the Platoon Cadre Training School, 9th Div (aka Z-30 Battalion Platoon Cadre School), for three months. In early Jan 71, Source was assigned as assistant platoon leader of the 1st Plat, 12th Co, D-6 Bn, F-55 Regt, 9th Div. He remained with the unit until his DOC, on 25 Feb 71. h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; Map: CAMBODIA, AMS Series L7016, Sheets 6131 I and 6131 II, Edition 1, dtd 1965, Scale 1:50,000, 525 MI Gp PW Photo Album, dtd 10 Nov 68 2. (C) PW Sighting in SVAY REING Province, CAMBODIA: a. Circumstances of Sighting. In Feb or Mar 69, Source was on a food purchasing mission going to a Vietnamese settlement in BO HUC area, CAMBODIA (exact location unknown). Source saw two PW being led by five VC guards, walking on an ox-cart trail between YOM GIUA Village (WT969696), TAY NINH Province, NVN, and Hwy 1 in SVAY RIENG Province, CAMBODIA (Source thought the group was still in CAMBODIA.) Some of the five VC guards were armed (NFI). Source saw the PW for about three minutes from a distance of about six meters. The PW did not seem to have been maltreated by their captors. The PW were loosely bound by the elbows, were barefoot, and were blindfolded. The two PW were separated by two VC guards. one of the PW, who had a dark complexion, was Philippino (hearsay from another bystander) (NFI). The PW were heading towards XOM GIUA Village (WT969696) in TAY NINH Province, RVN. b. Description of PW: (1) Identification: (a) Names: Unknown Page 3 of 4 (b) Ranks and Branch of Service: Unknown (c) Nationality: US (hearsay) (d) Physical Decription: 1 PW No 1: Height: 1 1.80m Weight: 85kg Color of Hair and Eyes: Hair, black; eyes, not visible Race: Caucasian Complexion: Dark Hair Length: Medium Nose: Not visible under blindfold Scars: None visible Tattoos: None visible Birthmarks: None visible Build: Husky Age: 26 (estimate) Eyeglasses: None seen 2 PW No 2: Height: 1.70m Weight: 70kg Color of Hair and Eyes: Hair, black; eyes, not visible Race: Caucasian Complexion: Medium Hair Length: Medium Nose: Not visible under blindfold Scars: None visible Page 4 of 4 Tattoos: None visible Birthmarks: None visible Build: Husky Age: 26 (estimate) Glasses: None seen Rings/Watches: None seen (2) Clothing Worn by PW: The clothing of both PW resembled US Army noncamouflaged tropical fatigues. The clothing of PW No 2 was noticeably more faded than the clothing of PW No 1. (3) Physical Condition: The PW appeared uninjured and healthy. c. Evacuation Procedures. Source knew nothing about the evacuation procedures involved. d. Photo Identification. Source examined the US PW Photo Album but could make no positive identification because the faces of the PW were only partially exposed. (C) COMMENTS: Source scored Low (10) on the Cross cultural IQ Test. He was in pain and appeared to be in very poor health. He was cooperative, and his replies to control questions were consistent. [Distributed through the P.O.W. Network]