[0867-71.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: VS, RVN MR-3, BIEN HOA 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0867 71 2. SUBJECT: (U) US PW Sighting in Bien 9. DATE OF REPORT: 14 Aug 71 HOA Province, RVN (handwritten-W31437) 10.NO. OF PAGES: 6 3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G3 BRIGHT LIGHT 4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Dec 69 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV 5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS 2 Aug 71 13. PREPARED BY: ARTHUR A. BOULETTE 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 informationconcerning the sighting of three US PW in BIEN HOA, Province, RVN, to include the circumstances of capture, treatment, physical description, and method of evacuation. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC. 1. (C) Background Information: a. Name: DAO VAN NAM (DAOL, VEAN NAM), CMIC 0278-71 b. Rank: PFC c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Soldier; 3d Sqd, 2d Plat, 3d Sapper Co, 7th Bn, Group 10, MR-3 d. DPOB: 10 Nov 51; BA LANG Village, KINHGIUA Canal, NGHI SON 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 Postal Registry No. 2156 Page 2 of 6 e. Parents' Names: Father, DAO VAN VE (DAOL, VEAN VEEV), living; Mother, HOANG THI CHAN (HOANGL, THIV CHAAN), living f. Circumstances of Capture. On 25 Mar 71, Source's company launched an attack on the XA RO ARYN Outpost, BAU VUNG Hamlet (vic WQ0996), CAI NUOU District, AN XUYEN Province, RVN. During the attack, Source was wounded and later captured (vic WQ107983). g. Significant Activities: (1) DOB to Dec 68. Source attended the village school from 1964 to 1967, and he then worked on his parent's farm until he joined the NVA in Feb 68. He was assigned to the 3d Sqd, 4th Plat, 3d Co, 2d Bn, MR-III, located in the DAF TROI area, NHO QUAN District, NINH BINH Province. From Feb to Apr 68, Source received basic infantry training. In Apr 68, the 2d Bn was designated the 7009 Infiltration Group and, with a strength of approximately 500 men, began infiltrating to the RVN, arriving in KONTUM Province in Jul 68. From JPl to Dec 68, the group received sapper training. After completing this training, the cadre of the 2d Bn returned to NVN, and the personnel of the 7009 Infiltration Group were assigned to the 27th Regt, WS-5. Source was assigned to the 2d Sqd, 4th Plat, 4th Co, 227th Bn, 27th Regt. (2) Dec 69 to DOC. The 227th Bn, 27th Regt, left the T-9 Commo-liaison Station area in KONTUM Province, and proceeded along the Cambodian border, arriving in the NHUNG Stream area, LONG KHANH Province, at the end of Jan 69. For the next three months, the unit received political training and reviewed sapper training. In May 69, the 227th Bn moved to the SUOI MA area, LONG KHANH Province, RVN, where they conducted operations against Allied forces in that area until the end of Dec 69. The 27th Regt moved into CAMBODIA and crossed KOMPONG CHAM and SVAY RIENG Provinces, arriving at the VINH TE Canal area in May 7O. In Jun 70, The 27th Regt was reorganized and formed the 10th Group with three battalions designated AP-7, AP-8, and AP-9. Source was assigned to the 3d Sqd, 2d Plat, 3d Co, 7th Bn, 10th Croup, MR-3. The overall mission of the 10th Group was to conduct operations in AN XUYEN Province against ARVN posts near the VC-controlled areas. In Sep 70, Source's company moved to ONG KHAM Hamlet (vic WQ0395), CAI NUOC District, AN XUYEN Province. From Sep 70 to his DOC, the company attacked ARVN posts in the CAI NUOC District. On 25 Mar 71, during an attack on an hRVN outpost, Source was wounded and later captured. h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; U5 PW Photo Album, Hq, 525 MI Group, dtd 10 Nov 68; MACV IDHS PW BIOGRAPHICAL File, dtd 16 Jul 71 2. (C) Sighting of three US PW in BIEN HOA Province, RVN: a. Circumstances of Sighting. In mid-Dec 69 (exact date unknown), Source was in the 3d Company's base camp, in the jungle near Highway Page 3 of 6 10, BIEN HOA Province, RVN (exact location unknown). Source observed three US PW being guarded by five NVA soldiers who belonged to the Recon Plat, 7th Bn, 27th Regt. Four of these guards were armed with AK-47s, and the other carried a K-54 pistol. The sighting lasted for about 10 minutes because the guards took a break at the base camp. Two of the FW were being transported on foot and had their hands tied together in front of their bodies. The other PW was wounded and was being carried in a hammock by two of the guards. The PW were not blindfolded. b. Description of PW: (1) Identification of PW Number 1: (a) Name: Unknown (b) Rank and Branch of Service: SSG; Army (c) Nationality: American (Assumed) (d) Physical Description: 1 Height: 1.7Cm 2 Weight: 73kg 3 Color of Hair and Eyes: Brown; Blue 4 Race: Caucasian 5 Complexion: Light 6 Hair Length: Medium 7 Nose: Small, but crooked 8 Scars: Unknown 9 Tattoos: Tattoo on left forearm of a snake coiled around a sword. 10 Birthmarks: Unknown 11 Build: Large (Fat) 12 Age: 22 13 Glasses Worn: None 14 Rings/Watches: PW wore a gold ring with a blue stone, and a watch with a silver band (brand name unknown). (2) Identification of PW Number 2: Page 4 of 6 (a) Name: Unknown (b) Rank and Branch of Service: Unknown; Unknown (c) Nationality: American (Assumed) (d) Physical Description: 1 Height: 1.70m 2 Weight: 68kg 3 Color of Hair and Eyes: Black; Hazel 4 Race: Caucasian 5 Complexion: Light 6 Hair Length: Medium 7 Nose: Large 8 Scars: Unknown 9 Tattoos: Unknown 10 Birthmarks: Unknown 11 Build: Medium 12 Age: 24 13 Glasses Worn: None 14 Rings/Watches: PW wore a watch with a silver band (3) Identification of PW Number 3: (a) Name: Unknown (b) Rank and Branch of Service: Unknown; Unknown (c) Nationality: American (Assumed) (d) Physical Description: 1 Height: 1.67m 2 Weight: 69kg 3 Color of Hair and Eyes: Black; Unknown 4 Race: Caucasian Page 5 of 6 5 Complexion: Light 6 Hair Length: Medium 7 Nose: Small (4) Clothing Worn by PW. All three PW wore jungle fatigues and were barefooted. PW Number 1 wore staff sergeant rank insignia on his collar. Source did not notice any rank insignia on the other two PW. PW Number 1 also wore a unit insignia patch which Source identified as that of the 11th Armored Cav Regt. The other two PW also wore unit insignia, but Source could not remember the design. (5) Physical Condition. PW Nunber 1 was wounded in the left arm and in the head. He was conscious and appeared to be severely wounded. Both the arm and head wound were bandaged and the bleeding had stopped. The other two PW did not have any visible wounds and appeared healthy. Source could not furnish any additional information concerning the physical condition of the three FW. (6) Personal Information. Source was unable to furnish any information on this subject. He did not speak with the PW and as far as he knew neither did the guards. (7) Capture Data. The three US PW were captured in mid-Dec 69, by elements of the 2d Co, 4th Bn, 27th Regt, while attacking an unknown American outpost along Highway 10 in BIEN HOA Province. Source obtained this information from one of the guards. c. Evacuation Procedures. Source could not furnish any information concerning evacuation procedures with the exception that the PW were being taken to the 7th Bn Headquarters, which was located about one kilometer from the 3d Company's base camp. d. Photo Identification. Source was shown the 525 HI Gp US PW Photo Album, but could not make any identifications from this album. e. Biographical Correlation. The date of capture and general location of capture as provided by Source were cross referenced with corresponding information in the MACV IDHS PW Biographical File. The following US PW are currently carried as MIA/BNR by MACV JPRC in the same general location and time frame: JPRC NUMBER NAME STATUS 1529 DRIVER, DALLAS A BNR 1530 GARBETT, JIMMY RAY BNR 1531 SUYDAM,, JAMES L BNR Page 6 of 6 1612 MOORE, RAYMOND GREGORY BNR 1543 BAILEY, JAMES A BNR 1544 TURNER, JAMES HENRY BNR Since the 525 M1 Gp Photo Album does not contain photos of the above US PW, MACV JPRC was contacted concerning photos of these US PW. Qn 5 Aug 71, a JPRC representative brought photos of the above US PW on to CMIC. Source was shown these photos and was unable to make an identification. He stated that even if he saw a picture of the same US PW, he would not be able to identify it as all US personnel look alike to him. 3. (C) Additional Information: The following is a description of the interrogator as provided by Source aubmitted for comparative purposes. Estimated Actual Age 23 23 Height 1.92m 1.94m Weight 65kg 80kg Build Medium Medium (U) COMMENTS: Source was cooperative and his responses to control questions were consistent throughout the interrogation. Source was adminiatered the Cross-Cultural IQ Test and scored Average (14). The six US PW listed in paragraph 2. e. were in the same helicopter when it went down in the DONG NAI River. [Distributed through the P.O.W. Network]