[0829-71.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: VS, RVN MR-3, TAY NINH Province 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0829 71 2. SUBJECT: (U) US PW Sighting in 9. DATE OF REPORT: 2 Aug 71 TAY NINH Province (handwritten- W31437) 10.NO. OF PAGES: 3 3. ISC NUMBER: 723.000 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G1, 6G3 723.600 BRIGHT LIGHT 4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Mar or Apr 67 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV 5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: NCHC, SAIGON, VS 22 Jul 71 13. PREPARED BY: LARRY D. BLALOCK SP6, 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 being escorted through BIEN GIOI Village (sic), CHAU THANH District, TAY NINH Province, RVN, in Mar or Apr 67, to include location of sighting, circumstancesof sighting, limited physical description of the PW, limited movementdata, assumed disposition of the PW, and physical condition of the PW. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC. 1. (C) Background Information: a. Name: MAI VAN RUONG (MAI, VEAN RUOONGV), CMIC C-3737 b. Rank: None c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Plat Ldr; Rear Service Plat, Rear Service Staff, TAY NINH Province Unit d. DPOB: 1915; TAN DINH DIEN Village, DONG District, GO CONG 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 3 e. Parents' Names: Father, VO VAN NHAN (VOO, VEAN NHAANV), deceased; Mother, MAI THI NUONG, (MAI, THIV NUOONG), deceased f. Circumstances of Return: On Jun 71, Source's unit was attacked by an unidentified ARVN unit. Source took refuge in the Jungles and survived by begging food from the local populace. Due to his age and great desire to live with his family again, Source returned to the GVN on 14 Jun 71, at LINH DIEN Village, PHUOC NINH District, TAY NINH Province, RVN. g. Significant Activities. Source lived with his family and helped them with the farming until 1953. In 1953 Source Joined the VIET MINH forces and was assigned as a runner for the MY THO (VC) Province Unit. Source returned to his POB in Jul 54 and farmed until Mar 63. He then joined the VC forces and was assigned to the Rice Production Sqd, Rear Service Section, TAY NINH Province Unit, located in the BA C HAM area; CHAU THANH District, TAY NINH Province. In Jul 70, he was reassigned to the Rice Procurement and Transportation Plat, TAY NINH Province Unit, as the assistant platoon leader of the 10-man platoon and was promoted to platoon leader in Aug 70. This platoon, located in CAY DAU District (sic), SVAY RIENG Province, CAMBODIA, had the mission of procuring and delivering rice to elements of the TAT NINH Province Unit. Source remained in this position until 8 Jun 71, when the platoon was attacked by an unidentified ARVN force. Forced to take refuge in the Jungles, Source begged food from the local populace until 14 Feb 71, when he rallied to the village officials of LINH DIEN Village, PHUOC NINH District, TAY NINH Province, RVN, because he felt he was too old to continue such an existence and he wished to live with his family again. h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide 2. (C) US PW Sighting in TAY NINH Province, RVN: a. Circumstances of Sighting. In Mar or Apr 67, Source saw one US PW being escorted through BIEN GIOI Village (sic) (coordinates unknown), CHAU THANH District, TAY NINH Province, RVN, by two VC guards armed with AK-47 rifles. The US PW and guards passed through the village at approximately 2000 hour from the direction of the HO BA TAY area, BEN CAU District, TAY NINH Province, and left the village heading in the direction of the XOM GIUA area, TAY NINH Province. (Interrogator's Note. Source heard from other villagers who had talked to the guard that the XOM GIUA area was to be the final destination of the US PW.) The US PW was dressed in US jungle fatigues and black leather boots. b. Identification (1) Name: Unknown (2) Rank/Branch of Service: Source heard from other villagers that the US PW was a US Army major. Page 3 of 3 (3) Nationality: American (assumed) (4) Physical Description: Height: 1.80m Weight: 700kg Color of Hair and Eyes: Hair, brown; Eyes, unknown Race: Caucasian Complexion: Red, clear Hair: Long, thin Nose: Medium length, straight Scars: None visible Build: Medium Age: 30 years Glasses Worn: None Rings/Watches: Watch (description unknown due to darkness) (5)Clothing. At the time of sighting, the PW was wearing US Jungle fatigues, black leather boots, and no hat. (6) Physical Condition of the PW. At the time of sighting, the PW appeared to be in good health. Source saw no evidence of wounds. c. Movement Data. Source stated that the PW was being escorted by two VC guards armed with AK-47 rifles. The PW was not bound or blindfolded. The three men walked through BIEN GIOI Village (sic), CHAU THANH District, TAY NINH Province, RVN, from the HO BA TAY area, BEN CAU District, TAY NINH Province, and continued walking in the direction of the XOM GUIA area, TAY NINH Province. (U) COMMENTS: Source was illiterate and seemed somewhat slow in answering all questions. The village where the sighting took place was not listed in any gazetteer and could not be located on any maps available at CMIC. [Distributed through the P.O.W. Network]