[0967-71.CM 02/29/96]
[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, THAI BINH Province 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0967 71
2. SUBJECT: (U) US PW Camp in THAI BINH 9. DATE OF REPORT: 22 Nov 71
Province, NVN (handwritten-W32922)
10. NO. OF PAGES: 10
3. ISC NUMBER: 723.610 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G3, 1Q16
723.600 SICR: D-7CX-49018
BRIGHT LIGHT
4. DATE OF INFORMATION:30 Dec 66 to 10 Jul 67
12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS
23 Sep 71
13. PREPARED BY: NELS M. SATHER
SP5, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: PW Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED
LaVern A. Gustafson, Maj for)
PAUL G. SPERO
LTC, USA
Dir, US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY
(C) This report contains information concerning a US PW camp at (vic
HX576635) in THUY ANH District, THAI BINH Province, NVN, to include
location, history, camp facilities, camp accessibility, staff, security,
weapons and equipment. Also included is information on PW identification,
organization, daily schedule, diet, clothing, health, morale, mail, and
visitors. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: DO VAN KIEM (DOOP, VEAN KIEEMR), CMIC 0293-71
b. Rank: Sr SGT
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Messenger; H-4A Commo-Liaison
Station, 4th Plat, 4th Co, 26th Sig Bn, 44th Front
d. DPOB: 24 Dec 41; DONG HOE Hamlet, DONG TIEN Village, PHU DUC
District, THAI BINH 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 10
e. Parents' Names: Father, DO VAN KIEM (DOOR, VEAN KIEEMR), living;
Mother, PHAM THI THIN (FAMV, THIV THINL), living
f. Circumstances of Capture. On 29 Apr 71, Source was at the base
camp of the 4th Co, 26th Sig Bn, 44th Front, located in SONG TRUNG Village
(vic BT045403), QUE SON District, QUANG NAM Province, when it was attacked and
overrun by unidentified ROK forces. Source was cooking rice at the time and
was captured alone, with no weapons or documents in his possession.
g. Significant Activities. Source attended school at his POB from
1955 to 1958, and from 1961 to 1964 at the PHU DUC District School. From 1965
to 1967, Source attended the Teachers' Training School in THAI BINH City, THAI
BINH Province, NVN. In Jul 67, Source was drafted into the NVA and was
assigned to the 4th Sqd, 4th Plat, 4th Co, 358th Bn, 4th Regt, MR-III, where
he received basic infantry and messenger training from Jul to Oct 67. From
Oct to Dec 67, the unit reviewed the training it had received and also
received political indoctrination. Source returned to the unit form a 10-day
leave to his POB at the end of Dec 67, and received further political training
until Feb 68. On 10 Feb 68, the 358th Bn was designated the 1003 Infil Gp,
and began infiltration to the RVN with an approximate strength of 480 men.
The group traveled through NVA and LAOS, and ended its infiltration in the
BUOMG River area, THUONG DUC District, QUANG NAM Province, on 28 Apr 68.
Source and about 120 men from the group were assigned to the 26th Sig Bn;
Source was further assigned to the H-4A Commo-liaison Station, 4th Sqd, 4th
Plat, 4th Co. From this time until his DOC, Source had the mission of
carrying messages from the H-4A Commo-liaison Station, located at (vic
BT0440), to the H-4B Commo-liaison Station, located in DUY XUYEN District
QUANG NAM Province, (exact location unknown). Source also worked in the crop
production area of this unit, growing rice, corn, and potatoes for his unit.
h. Additional References. CMIC PW/Pallier Exploitation Guide; US PW
Photo Album, 525th MI Gp H1, dtd 10 Nov 68; PW/MIA/CPT Biographic File,
MACV/IDHS, dtd 16 Jun 71; Maps: VIETNAM, AMS Series L607, Sheet 6640, Edition
2, dtd 1068, Scale 1:100,000; VIETNAM, AMS Series L7014, Sheet 6349 IV,
Edition 1, dtd 1965, Scale 1:50,000
2. US PW Camp in THAI BINH Province, NVN. The following information is
based on SICR D-7CX-49018 (Prisoner of War Intelligence):
a. Circumstances of Sighting: Source attended a teachers training
school in THUY ANH District, THAI BINH Province, NVN, from 1964 until 1966,
when it was converted into a US PW camp. The school was moved to a
neighboring village, and Source continued to attend it. LT LUU, camp
commander, was a close friend of source since childhood, and they often
discussed camp life together. Through LUU, Source met THUAN, the camp's
medical technician. From Jan until Jul 67, when he was drafted, Source passed
the PW camp twice a day on a bicycle and often gave a ride to LUU, who lived
in Source's village. Source, along with a few other students at the teacher's
training school, were frequently invited to the camp on Sundays to play
volleyball and ping-pong with the US PW.
Page 3 of 10
b. Location. The PW camp was located in a small wooded area (vic
HX576635) surrounded by open fields, in the vicinity of THUY HONG, THUY DUONG,
and THUY HAI Villages, THUY ANH District, THAI BINH Province, NVN (see drawing
on page 8).
c. History. The PW camp was established on 30 Dec 66. Prior to this
time, the camp served as the site of a second level teachers school, which
Source attended from 1964 to 1966.
d. Facilities. The area of the camp was approximately (600m x 250m).
All buildings in the camp were constructed of brick, roofs were made of tile,
and doors and windows were constructed of wood. The camp had the following
buildings and structures:
(1) The living quarters building (160m x 2m x 4m), which
consisted of 80 rooms, each measuring four meters square (Each room had one
bed, one table, one chair, one ceiling fan, and one covered fox hole located
in the corner (see drawing on page 10). The three rooms of the living
quarters located closest to the water tower served as a medical examination
room a sleeping room for cadre, and the camp CO's office.)
(2) The kitchen (14m x 2m x 4m) which had seven rooms, each
measuring (4m x 4m)
(3) One mess hall (14m x 2m x 4m)
(4) One shower building (20m x 2m x 4m)
(5) The latrine building (20m x 2m x 4m), which had 20 rooms,
each measuring (1m x 2m)
(6) A water tower, eight meters high, which held 14,000 liters of
potable water. the water entered the camp through a pipe 20cm in diameter and
buried one meter underground. Similar underground pipes, 5cm in diameter, let
from the water tower to the kitchen, latrine, mess hall, and the shower
building. Source did not know how that water was purified.
(7) A bamboo fence (6m tall) surrounded the camp. A wooden gate
(4m x 2m) which faced southeast, was the only entrance to the compound.
Inside the bamboo fence existed a trench (2m wide x 1m deep) which prevented
animals from entering the camp. The trench was filled with water. An
underground power line entered the compound alongside the water pipe. The
main power switch was located in the end room of the living quarters building
closest to the water tower.
(8) One volleyball court (12m x 8m)
e. Camp Accessibility. The US PW camp was located approximately 400
meters west of Highway 90, and approximately 500 meters east of the DIEM HO
River. Two kilometers south of the camp flowed the TRA LY River. Source
thought that the compound would not be easily distinguishable from the air
because of the many tall trees both within and around the camp.
Page 4 of 10
f. Staff (heresay information):
(1) Personnel. The camp cadre consisted of 10 men, including the
commanding officer, one medical technician, and eight guards, all of whom held
the rank of senior sergeant. Many of the cadre had homes in the local area
and were allowed to spend the night away form the camp. Most of the camp
cadre spoke English to varying degrees.
(2) Personalities. Source knew the following personalities:
CO: LT LUU (LUWU): age 35, 1.65m, light complexion
(Interrogator's Note: Source and LUU went through school together and were
close friends.)
Medical Technician: ASP LE VAN THUAN (LEE, VEAN THUAANV); age
23, 1056m, 55kg, dark complexion
g. Security:
(1) Camp Security (heresay information). Security for the camp
was provided by the eight senior sergeants. Guard duty hours were from 2400
hours to 0430 hours. the guards were armed with AK-47s and were rotated every
hour. The camp gate was not guarded during the day or early evening. Source
was unaware of any internal security measures. The PW rooms were not locked
at night. In the event of an air attack, the PW were directed to return to
their respective rooms and enter their fox holes. In the case of ground
attacks, all PW were to be evacuated to an unknown location. Source was
unaware of any warning procedures or any warning devices in the camp.
(2) Local Defense. Source was able to locate several gun
emplacements on the map, as follows:
(a) One AA company was located on the western bank of the
DIEM HO River (vic HX56724 to vic HX574645) with numerous 12.7 and 12.8mm guns
(Interrogator's Note: Source thought the unit was company size after observing
only one blue flag which symbolized a company size unit.)
(b) Numerous 100mm mortars and 120mm field guns spaced 200 t
300 metes apart, were located along the coast (vic HX627637 to vic HX669615)
Six unidentified missiles (12m high x 1.5m in diameter)
placed on trucks. Foreign advisors (Caucasian; NFI) were observed with the
missiles. The missiles were located at (vic HX632628) for seven to 15 days,
after which they were moved to an unknown location for a few days and then
returned to the first location. (Interrogator's Note: Source was within 400
to 500 meters of the missile site.)
Page 5 of 10
h. Weapons and Equipment (heresay information). The PW camp had nine
AK-47s, and one K-59 which belonged to the camp CO. Besides one telephone
located in the CO's office, the camp had no communications equipment. The PW
camp used a truck to bring food supplies to the camp daily, but it was not
kept overnight.
I. US PW. Source was told that the PW camp had 60 PW. Source did
not know if the new additions or deletions to this number from 30 Dec 66 until
the time he was drafted in Jul 67.
(1) Photo Identification. The following PW was identified from
the US PW Photo album:
Name JPRC No Status
DAVES, GARY LAURENCE 318 Captured
(Interrogator's Note: DAVES was captured in Feb 68.)
(2) PW Organization and Duties (heresay information). the 60 PW
were divided into six groups, each with 10 men. Each cell leader wore a red
arm band. Each morning, the cell leader had to check his group's rooms for
cleanliness and orderliness and they also had to make periodic checks of the
perimeter to insure that no villagers or animals had entered the camp. At
meal times, each cell leader checked his group's manes against a roster.
Discipline was administered by the six group leaders, although Source had never
heard of any discipline problems. Everyday, each group was assigned various
camp duties, such as learning latrines and burning trash. Six PW were
permanent cooks.
(3) Schedule (heresay information). The PW adhered to the
following schedule Monday through Sunday:
0430 Wake-up
0430 to 0500 Personal Hygiene
0500 to 0530 Physical Training
0530 to 0600 Breakfast
0600 to 0630 Camp Cleaning
0630 to 1100 Individual Activities
1100 to 1400 Lunch and Rest
1400 to 1700 Individual Activities
1700 to 1730 Supper
1730 to 2300 Individual Activities
2300 Lights Out
Page 6 of 10
During the cold season, the PW woke up one half-hour later. On Sunday
mornings, the PW were allowed to visit neighboring villages in groups of 10 to
20 men accompanied by two armed guards. They were permitted to visit ****
HUONG, THUY HAI, and THUY DUONG Villages, and THAI BINH City. Before they
departed from camp, each PW was given 5$NVN to spend on food. (Interrogator's
Note: Source saw PW buying fruit.) Source maintains that he regularly visited
the PW camp on Sundays to play games with the PW.
(4) Diet. On various occasions, Source observed bread, canned
pork, canned fruit, milk, sugar, cigarettes, coffee, beer, and other beverages
being brought into the PW camp. Each PW was allowed a daily ration of 2$NVN
per day for food. Food was bought daily at the THAI BINH City cooperative.
(5) Clothing and Equipment Issue. Source observed that the PW
wore green pajamas. Officers wore pajamas with four pockets, whole EM wore
pajamas with two pockets. Each PW was issued the following items:
Two pair of pajamas
Two sets of underwear
One warm jacket
One toothbrush every six months
One tube of toothpaste every month
One piece of soap every month
One blanket
One pillow
One mosquito net
One straw mat
One face towel
One pair of shoes (poor quality)
One pair of sandals
One hat Socks
Most of these items could be changed when worn out. PW could was their
clothing as often as they liked.
Page 7 of 10
(6) Health (heresay information). The overall physical condition
of the PW was good. The medical technician was only able to treat minor
ailments in the examination room, but should a PW become seriously ill, he was
immediately evacuated to THAI BINH City Hospital (exact location unknown).
Medicine was brought from the Public Security Agency in HANOI approximately
once a month. Source knew of no deaths among the PW.
(7) Morale (heresay information). Source did not know the state
of PW morale. Source believed no one escaped or tried to escape, because they
would not get far among the Vietnamese. Source had no knowledge of discipline
problems and stated that relations between the PW and cadre were good.
j. Mail. Runners on bicycles delivered mail to the PW camp every day at
1700 hours. Source did not know if PW could receive or send mail.
k. visitors (heresay information). The PW camp was visited by Chinese
journalists and the Red Cross representatives of an unknown country.
(U) COMMENTS: Source was tested and scored Low (12) on the Cross Cultural IQ
Test. Source initially attempted to falsify the dates of information, but
later admitted this attempt and gave the correct dates of information. His
reason was that specific instructions had been given by his cadre which
allowed him to provide correct information as long as the dates were false.
The information and dates as provided are correct according to Source. Wit
the exception of the above, Source was cooperative throughout the
interrogation. This report partially satisfies the requirements of SICR
D-7CX-49018.
Page 8 of 10
[NETWORK NOTE: a copy of the 7.75" x 6.25" SKETCH OF THE THIS MAP
is available - call or write using the file number 0967 71 page 8.]
Overlay of the location of a US PW Camp, as provided by Captive, DO VAN KIEM,
CMIC 0293-71. (DOI: Jul 67)
Map: VIETNAM, AMS Series L7014, Sheet 6349 IV, Edition 1 dtd 1965, Scale
1:50,000
1. US PW Camp
2. Highway 90
3. TRA LY River
4. DIEM HO River
Page 9 of 10
[NETWORK NOTE: a copy of the 6" x 6" SKETCH OF A FOX
HOLE is available - call or write using the file number 0967 71. page 9]
Sketch of a fox hole at the US PW Camp, as provided by Captive, DO VAN KIEM,
CMIC 0293-71 (DOI: Jul 67.
(Not to Scale)
1. Hole (0.8m dia.), straw cover (20cm thick
2. Tin
3. Dirt (40cm thick
4. Rubber (20cm thick
5. Dirt
Page 10 of 10
[NETWORK NOTE: a copy of the 9.25" x 6.75" SKETCH OF US PW CAMP
is available - call or write using the file number 0967 71 page 10.]
Sketch of the US PW camp as provided by Captive, DO VAN KIEM, CMIC 293-71
(DOI: Jul 67) (Not to Scale)
1. Living Quarters 6. Water Tower
2. Mess Hall 7. Bamboo Fence
3. Kitchen 8. Trench
4. Shower Building 9. Gate
5. Latrine 10. Volleyball Court
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