[0996-71.CM 03/01/96] [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, VINH PHU Province 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6029-0966 71 2. SUBJECT: (U) One US PW Sighting and 9. DATE OF REPORT: 22 Nov 71 One US PW Grave Site in VINH (handwritten-W32922) PHU Province, NVN 10. NO. OF PAGES: 4 3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G1, 6G3 SICR: D-7CX-49018, D-6C2-26423 4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Aug and Oct 68 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV 5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS 8 Oct 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 on a US pilot sighted in Oct 68, in THANH SON District, VINH PHU Province, NVN, to include circumstances of sighting, description of PW, clothing worn by PW, physical condition, capture data, evacuation procedures, policy concerning treatment and dispostion of US PW, biographical correlation, and photo identification. This report also contains limited information on a US PW grave site. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC. 1. (C) Background Information: a. Name: DINH VAN CHUYEN (DINH, VEAN CHUYEENL), aka HIT (HITS), CMIC 0395-71 b. Rank: None (Civilian) c. Position and Unit of Assignment: None (Civilian) d. DPOB: 2 Nov 54; XOM HA Hamlet, THUC LUYEN Village, THANH SON District, VINH PHU 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 4 e. Parent's Names: Father, DINH VAN CHI (CINH, VEAN CHIR), living; Mother, DINH THI THU (TINH, THIV THUWS), living f. Circumstances of Capture: Source was captured on 29 Jul 71, by elements of ARVN 1st Marine Bn in QUANG TRI Province, RVN. Source had no weapons or documents in his possession at the time of his capture. g. Significant Activities. Source attended school from 1962 to 1969 in THUC LUYEN Village, THANH SON District, VINH PHU Province, NVN. From 1969 to 1970, Source remained at home with his parents and farmed. From 1970 to 21 Jul 71, Source was a member of the XOM HA Hamlet militia and had the job of protecting the hamlet. In Jul 71, source decided to rally to the GVN. He began his journey from his home and walked to VINH PHU City. Source went by bus to PHU THO Province. From PHU THO Province, Source traveled by train to HANOI City. From HANOI City, Source continued by train to VINH City. From VINH City, Source traveled by bus to DONG HOI Province. From DONG HOI Province, Source traveled by bus to the VINH LINH Special Zone, Source then walked across the border of NORTH and SOUTH VIETNAM at the BEN HAI River (exact location unknown). On 0600 29 Jul 71, Source arrived at the A-2 Fire Support base, QUANG TRI Province, RVN, where he was captured by elements of the 1st Marine Bn, although his intention was to rally. h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; MACV/IDHS PW/MIA/CPT Biographic File, dtd 16 Jul 71; MACV/JPRC Photographs of Missing and Captured Personnel in SEA, dtd 12 Sep 71; Map: VIETNAM, AMS Series L7014, Sheet 6051 III, Edition 1, dtd 1964, Scale 1:50,000 2. US PW Sighting in VUNH PAU Province, NVN; This report is based on SICR D-7CX-49018 (Prisoner of War Intelligence) and SICR D-6C2-26423 (POW Information, NVN): a. Circumstances of Sighting. On an undetermined day in Oct 68, at 1600 hours, Source had just finished work in the fields and was returning home when he observed an American pilot being escorted into XOM HA Hamlet, THUC LUYEN Village, THANH SON District, VINH PHU Province, NVN. The US PW was riding in one of four jeeps and was guarded by members of the THANH SON District Militia who were armed with K-54s. The PW was in the hamlet for 15 minutes, during which time source observed him for two or three minutes at a distance of four meters. The US PW was then taken to THANH SON District Headquarters at DON VANG, where he received medical treatment, food, and rest. Source observed the US PW at the district headquarters for 10 minutes at a distance of 25 meters. The PW was then taken back to XOM HA Hamlet where pictures were taken. At this point, Source observed him for 30 minutes at a distance of five metes. At no time was the PW mistreated. b. Description of PW: (1) Identification: (a) Name: Unknown Page 3 of 4 (b) Rank and Branch of Service: Unknown (c) Nationality: American (d) Physical Description: 1 Height: 1.80m 2 Weight: 90kg 3 Color of Hair and Eyes: Blonde hair; Eyes, unknown 4 Race: Caucasian 5 Complexion: Light 6 Hair length: Short 7 Mustache and/or beard: None observed 8 Nose: Straight 9 Tattoos, Scars, and Birthmarks; None observed 10 Build: Medium 11 Age: 40 12 Glasses worn: None observed 13 Rings/watches: None observed A description of the Interrogator is provided by Source for comparative purposes: Estimate Actual Height 1.70m 1.70m Weight 85-90kg 81kg Age 36 25 (2) Clothing Worn by PW. At the time of the observations, the PW was only wearing a white T-shirt and light blue underpants. (3) Physical Condition: When the PW crashed, he suffered wounds on the left cheek of his face and on the right leg. He was bandaged at the time of the capture. At the THANH SON District Headquarters, the PW received two injections of an unknown medicine, one in the facial cheek and one in the arm. His bandages were also changed at that time. The PW was unable to walk without help. Page 4 of 4 (4) Capture Data. Source was told by the militia men that the US pilot was captured in the general vicinity of LUOI HAI Mountain (vic WJ2031) after his plane was shot down in Oct 68. The PW was captured the same day and taken to THUC LUYEN Village. c. Evacuation Procedures. After pictures were taken of the PW in XOM HA Hamlet, the PW was put into a jeep and left the area with three for four other vehicles. Source believed the PW was taken to HANOI City. d. VC/NVA Policy Concerning the Treatment and Disposition of US PW. Source was unaware of any policies concerning treatment of US PW. e. Biographical Correlation. No biographical correlation can be made with the information provided. f. Photo Identification. Source indicated that the US PW looked a great deal like JAMES DERWIN COHRON, JPRC No. 45, MIA. 3. (C) US PW Grave Site in VINH PAU Province, NVN. In mid-August, 1968, Source observed a disabled plane crash in a mountainous area of Hill 342 (vic WJ2043) in DONG TRANG Hamlet, THUC LUYEN Village, THANH SON District, VINH PHU Province, NVN. (Interrogator's Note: Source was not able to pinpoint the exact location of DONG TRANG Hamlet, although he pointed out the general area.) The pilot was badly burned and died shortly after the crash which occurred at 1500 hours. The pilot was buried in DONG TRANG Hamlet (NFI). (U) COMMENTS: Source was tested and scored Average (17) on the Cross-Cultural IQ Test. Source answered all questions willingly and his replies to control questions revealed no attempts at deception. This report partially satisfies the requirements of SICR D-7CX-49018 and SICR D-6C2-26423. [Distributed through the P.O.W. Network]