The P.O.W. Network // Operation Smoking Gun
200002Z.OH
RMKS/1. ON 19 JUNE 1993, A JOINT U.S./VIETNAM ORAL HISTORY TEAM INTERVIEWED
RETIRED SRCOL NGUYEN HONG NIEM, A 63 YEAR OLD HANOI RESIDENT. THE SUBJECT IS A
WRITER AND CO-AUTHOR OF THE AIR AND THE AIR DEFENSE FORCE MEMOIRS, VOLUMES II
AND III.
070032Z.OH
This Document is an evaluation of interview 2000022Z.OH
RMKS/1. REF A DOCUMENTS AN INTERVIEW WITH MR NGUYEN HONG NIEM, WRITER AND
CO-AUTHOR OF "THE AIR AND AIR DEFENSE MEMOIRS," VOLUMES II AND III. MR. NIEM
PROVIDED NO INFORMATION PERTAINING TO UNACCOUNTED FOR U.S. SERVICEMEN. HOWEVER
HE DID PROVIDE INFORMATION RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING RESOLVED CASES: 0035
-[XXXX],[XXXX][XXXX]; 0055 - [XXXX],[XXXX][XXXX];0080 - [XXXX],[XXXX][XXXX];
0146 - [XXXX,[XXXX]; AND 0080 - [XXXX], [XXXX][XXXX]. MR. NIEM SAID HE
OBTAINED INFORMATION CONCERNING THESE CASES THROUGH OPEN SOURCE VIETNAMESE
NEWS AGENCIES.
Harry W. Brown USA POW Refno: 0146-1-01
Everett Alvarez USN Releasee 02/12/73
Robert A. Stubberfeld USAF POW Remains Ret 06/89
170002Z.OH
RMKS/1. BACKGROUND. ON 10 AUGUST 1993, A JOINT U.S./VIETNAM ORAL HISTORY
PROGRAM INTERVIEW TEAM INTERVIEWED RETIRED SENIOR COLONEL (SRCOL) VU VAN HO,
AN APPROXIMATELY 65 YOA TAM DIEP DISTRICT SEAT, NIHN BINH PROVINCE RESIDENT.
SRCOL HO IS A FORMER 4TH REGIMENT (REGT). PAVN MILITARY REGION TRI THIEN HUE
(MR-TTH). POLITICAL OFFICER. THE TEAM MET AT THE TAM DIEP DISTRICT PEOPLE'S
COMMITTEE HEADQUARTERS TO INTERVIEW SRCOL HO, LISTED IN REFERENCE AS A
POTENTIAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING IN ACTION
(MIA) IN VIETNAM.
211102Z.OH
This Document is an evaluation of 170002Z.OH
SRCOL HO'S ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF A DOWNED U.S. HELICOPTER PILOT IN THE
NORTHERN PHU LOC DISTRICT PROBABLY CORRELATES WITH REFNO 1402, BASED ON THE
LOCATION AND YEAR OF THE INCIDENT AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS. HIS INFORMATION
IS CONSISTENT WITH INFORMATION CONTAINED IN JTF-FA FILES, WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF THE INCIDENT DATE. THE REFNO 1402 INCIDENT OCCURRED IN MARCH
1969, NOT AUGUST AS REPORTED BY SRCOL HO.
John T. McDonnell USA POW
301802Z.OH
RMKS/1. BACKGROUND. ON 21 JULY 1993, A JOINT U.S./VIETNAM ORAL HISTORY
PROGRAM INTERVIEW TEAM INTERVIEWED MR. LE TU DONG, A 75 YEAR OLD HUE
RESIDENT. MR. DONG IS CURRENTLY CHAIRMAN OF THE THUA THIEN - HUE PROVINCE
VIETNAMESE VETERAN'S ASSOCIATION, FORMERLY A LIEUTENANT GENERAL, SECRETARY
OF THE REGION PARTY COMMITTEE, AND COMMANDER OF MILITARY REGION
TRI-THIEN-HUE (MR-TTH). MR. DONG HAD NOT BEEN INTERVIEWED BY A JOINT TEAM
BEFORE.
090001Z.OH
This Document is a evaluation of interview 301802Z.OH RMKS/1. REF A
DOCUMENTS AN INTERVIEW WITH MR LE TU DONG, A FORMER COMMANDER OF MILITARY
REGION TRI-THIEN-HUE. MR. DONG PROVIDED NO INFORMATION PERTAINING TO
UNACCOUNTED FOR U.S. SERVICEMEN. HOWEVER, HE DID PROVIDE THE NAMES OF OTHER
POTENTIAL SOURCES WHO MAY HAVE PERTINENT INFORMATION.
270002Z.OH
RMKS/1. BACKGROUND. ON 12 JULY 1993, A JOINT U.S./VIETNAM ORAL HISTORY
PROGRAM INTERVIEW TEAM INTERVIEWED MR. NGUYEN DUC CHAU, A 51 YEAR OLD HANOI
RESIDENT. MR. CHAU IS FORMERLY A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE HISTORY OF THE BORDER
DEFENSE TROOPS, VOLUME I (1959-1979). THE TEAM MET AT THE CENTER FOR
INTERNATIONAL NEWS AGENCY COOPERATION, VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY, NUMBER 8 TRAN
HUNG DAO STREET, HANOI, TO INTERVIEW MR. CHAU. LISTED IN REFERENCE AS A
POSSIBLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING IN ACTION
IN VIETNAM. MR. CHAU HAD NOT BEEN INTERVIEWED BY A JOINT TEAM BEFORE.
090032Z.OH
This Document is a evaluation of interview 270002Z.OH
RMKS/1. REF A DOCUMENTS AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. NGUYEN DUC CHAU, A CONTRIBUTOR
TO THE BOOK "HISTORY OF THE BORDER DEFENSE TROOPS, VOLUME I
(1959-1979)." MR. CHAU PROVIDED INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SHOOT DOWN
OF AN AD6 AIRCRAFT IN THE SUMMER OR 1967 OR 1968 ANALYSIS INDICATES THIS
INFORMATION IS INSUFFICIENT TO ESTABLISH A CORRELATION TO ANY U.S. LOSS
INCIDENT.
270022Z.OH
RMKS/1. BACKGROUND. ON 12 JULY l993, A JOINT U.S./VIETNAM ORAL HISTORY
PROGRAM INTERVIEW TEAM INTERVIEWED MR. HOANG BA TE, A 55 YEAR OLD HANOI
RESIDENT. MR. TE IS CURRENTLY RETIRED, FORMERLY A LIEUTENANT COLONEL (LTC)
AND CONTRIBUTOR TO THE HISTORY OF THE BORDER DEFENSE TROOPS, VOLUME I
(1559-1979). THE SOURCE, MR. HOANG BA TE. PROVIDED NO DETAILS CONCERNING
U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. HE SUMMARIZED HIS METHODS AND
PURPOSES FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE HISTORY OF THE BORDER DEFENSE TROOPS,
VOLUME I 1959- 1979), SOURCE MATERIALS FOR WHICH REPORTEDLY CAME FROM
VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPERS AND SOLDIERS. THE SOURCE CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF U.S.
PERSONNEL, LIVING FREELY OR AGAINST THEIR WILL, IN VIETNAM SINCE 1973.
06182Z.OH
This Document is a evaluation of 270022Z.OH RMKS/1. REF A DOCUMENTS AN
INTERVIEW WITH MR. HOANG BA TE, A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE "HISTORY OF THE
BORDER DEFENSE TROOPS", VOLUME I (1959-1979). MR. TE PROVIDED NO
INFORMATION CONCERNING UNACCOUNTED FOR U.S. PERSONNEL.
161812Z.OH
RMKS/1. BACKGROUND. ON 8 JULY 1993, A JOINT U.S./VIETNAM ORAL HISTORY
PROGRAM INTERVIEW TEAM INTERVIEWED MR. NGUYEN THANH MAN, A 52 YEAR OLD DONG
SON DISTRICT, THANH HOA PROVINCE, RESIDENT. MR. MAN IS FORMERLY A
CONTRIBUTOR TO THE HISTORY OF THE BORDER DEFENSE TROOPS, VOLUME 1
(1955-1979). MR. MAN, IS LISTED IN REFERENCE AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF
INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING IN ACTION IN VIETNAM.
021832Z.OH
This Document is a evaluation of 161812Z.OH
RMKS/1. ANALYSIS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN REF A INDICATES SOURCE
PROVIDED NO SPECIFIC INFORMATION PERTAINING TO UNACCOUNTED FOR U.S.
SERVICEMEN
020042Z.OH
RMKS/1. BACKGROUND. ON 21 JUNE 1993, A JOINT U.S./VIETNAM PRIORITY CASE
INTERVIEW TEAM (PCIT) INTERVIEWED DO VAN NGUYEN (AKA TU NGUYEN). DO VAN
NGUYEN, PROVIDED INFORMATION CONCERNING AN AMERICAN MEDIC PRISONER OF WAR
(PW) CAPTURED IN THE BATTLE OF BU DANG (AKA DUC PHONG. YU459064), THEN
KILLED AT A DETENTION CAMP DURING A U.S. ATTACK ON THE BU GIA MAP (YU3437)
AREA IN FORMER PHUOC LONG PROVINCE. THIS INFORMATION CORRELATES TO CASE
0054-1-01. AN UNRESOLVED CASE. HE ALSO RELATED INFORMATION CONCERNING A U.S.
AIRBORNE SPECIAL FORCES OFFICER WHO SURRENDERED NEAR BU DANG VILLAGE, FORMER
PHUOC LONG PROVINCE, AND LATER DIED OF MALARIA AT A DISPENSARY NEAR BU DANG.
THIS INFORMATION POTENTIALLY CORRELATES TO CASE 1244, AN UNRESOLVED CASE.
THE SOURCE CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF AMERICANS, LIVING FREELY OR AGAINST THEIR
WILL, IN VIETNAM SINCE 1973
James H. Mc Lean USA POW
Peter J. Russell USA POW
241112Z.OH
This Document is a evaluation of 020042Z.OH
RMKS/1. REF A DOCUMENTS AN INTERVIEW WITH MR DO VAN NGUYEN, A FORMER PHUOC
LONG (CURRENTLY SONG BE) PROVINCE PARTY SECRETARY. ANALYSIS OF THE
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY MR. NGUYEN PROBABLY CORRELATES TO TWO UNRESOLVED
CASES: REFNO 0054 JAMES MCLEAN AND REFNO 1244-03 PETER RUSSELL. MR. NGUYEN
ALSO PROVIDED THE NAMES OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE INFORMATION
PERTAINING TO UNACCOUNTED FOR SERVICEMEN.
221822Z.OH
RMKS/1. BACKGROUND. ON 25 MAY 1993 IN HUE CITY, A JOINT US/VIETNAM INTERVIEW
TEAM INTERVIEWED MR. CAO NAN, A 64 YEAR-OLD RESIDENT OF NUMBER 72/A BA TRIEU
ROAD, HUE CITY. THE SOURCE PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THREE INCIDENTS IN WHICH
U.S. PERSONNEL HAD BEEN CAPTURED. HE RECALLED THAT A TOTAL OF TEN
INDIVIDUALS WERE INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENTS. HE BELIEVED ALL BUT ONE OF THE
TEN U.S. PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE THREE INCIDENTS SURVIVED AND RETURNED TO
U.S. CONTROL.
171822Z.OH
This Document is an evaluation of 221822Z.OH
RMKS/1. REF A DOCUMENTS AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. CAO NAN, A RESIDENT OF HUE
CITY. ANALYSIS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY MR. NAN INDICATES A
CORRELATION TO THREE RESOLVED CASES: 1031-l-01 [XXXX] [XXXXX], 1031-1-02,
[XXXX] [XXXX], AND 1563-1-01, SERGEANT [XXXX] [XXXX] [XXXX]. MR. NAN ALSO
PROVIDED THE NAME OF ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY HAVE INFORMATION PERTAINING
TO UNACCOUNTED FOR, U.S. SERVICEMEN.
Jon H. Sweeney USMC Releasee 08/17/70
Marjorie Nelson CIV Released 03/68
Sandra Johnson CIV Released 03/31/68
140702Z.OH
RMKS/1. (THIS IS A RE-TRANSMITTAL OF REF A) ON 18 MARCH 1992, A JOINT US/SRV
RESEARCH TEAM INTERVIEWED RETIRED PEOPLE'S ARMY OF VIETNAM (PAVN) SENIOR
COLONEL (SRCOL) LE QUANG HUY ((LEE QUANG HUY), HOWEVER, HE WOULD NOT DISCUSS
ISSUES OTHER THAN FOUR UNRESOLVED CASES (1610, 0094, 1260, 1093). REGARDING
CASE 1610, HE DESCRIBED HEARSAY KNOWLEDGE THAT CAPTAIN [XXXX] AND WO1 [XXXX]
DIED AND SAID HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE FATE OF CAPTAIN RICHARDSON, SP4
PRICE, AND SP4 GRIFFIN. REGARDING CASE 0094, HE SAID HE WAS CERTAIN DEMMON
WAS NEVER HELD BY THE UNIT THAT ADMINISTERED B.2 FRONT'S U.S. POW CAMP.
Robert M. Young USA POW On PRG DIC list 09/70
Michael B. Varnado USA POW On PRG DIC list 09/70 Remains Ret 07/25/89
Dale W. Richardson USA POW
Bunyan D. Price Jr USA POW
Rodney L. Griffin USA POW
David S. Demmon USA POW
Walter Ferguson Jr USA POW On PRG DIC list 09/70
James M. Ray USA POW
230702Z.OH
RMKS/1. SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW: ON 11 JAN 95, A JOINT U.S.- VIETNAM ORAL
HISTORY TEAM INTERVIEWED MR. LE QUANG HUY, FORMER ENEMY PROSELYTIZER WITH
B-2 FRONT, COSVN. MR. HUY PROVIDED LIMITED DETAILS ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OF
THE B-2 FRONT POW CAMP SYSTEM AND ITS PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING INFORMATION.
HE SAID HE WORKED WITH A UNIT CALLED TB-21 THAT OPERATED A MOBILE DETENTION
CAMP FOR U.S. POWS IN WESTERN TAY NINH PROVINCE, VIETNAM, AND EASTERN
CAMBODIA. HE CLAIMED THAT THE POW CAMP RUN BY UNIT TB-21 HELD NO
PRISONER RECORDS. THE CAMP STAFF REPORTED ALL POW-RELATED INFORMATION
VERBALLY TO THE COSVN ENEMY PROSELYTIZING OFFICE. HE RECALLED THE NAMES OF
TEN AMERICANS HELD AT CAMP TB-21 AND THE NAME OF ONE U.S. DESERTER HE MET IN
TAY NINH PROVINCE. TWO OF THE POWS AND THE DESERTER ARE STILL
UNACCOUNTED-FOR (1260-1-01, 1093-1-01, AND 9950-0-43). MR. HUY EMPHATICALLY
DENIED THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HELD ANY AMERICANS AFTER 1973.
Robert M. Young USA POW On PRG DIC list 09/72
Walter Ferguson Jr USA POW On PRG DIC list 09/70
James M. Ray USA POW
Doug Ramsey CIV Releasee 02/12/73
McKinley Nolan USA AWOL Last seen 12/03/73
John A. Deering USMC Releasee 03/05/73
Raymond C. Schrump USA Releasee 02/12/73
Michael Kjome CIV Releasee 02/12/73
Daniel F. Maslowski USA Releasee 02/12/73
050722Z.OH
RMKS/1. REF A IS AN ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM REPORT OF INTERVIEW OF RETIRED
SENIOR COLONEL (SRCOL) LE QUANG HUY, AKA TAM ((8)) HUY. REF B IS A REPORT OF
A SECOND INTERVIEW WITH SRCOL HUY. SRCOL HUY PROVIDED INFORMATION CORRELATED
WITH FOUR UNRESOLVED CASES: REFNO 1510-3-OS, CPT ROBERT M. YOUNG; REFNO
1610-1-02, WO1 [XXXX][XXXX][XXXX] ; REFNO 1260-1-01, PFC WALTER FERGUSON;
AND REFNO 1093-1-01, PFC JAMES M. RAY. SRCOL HUY DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF REFNO
0094-1-02, SPC DAVID S. DEMMON; REFNO 1610-0-01, SPC RODNEY L. GRIFFIN;
REFNO 1610-0-03, CPT [XXXX][XXXXX][XXXXX]; AND REFNO 1610-2-04, SPC BUNYAN
D. PRICE. ADDITIONALLY, SRCOL HUY PROVIDED INFORMATION ON SIX AMERICAN POWS
WHO WERE LATER RELEASED AND ONE U.S. ARMY SOLDIER CLASSIFIED AS A DESERTER.
Robert M. Young USA POW On PRG DIC list 09/70
Dale W. Richardson USA POW
Bunyan D. Price Jr USA POW
Rodney L. Griffin USA POW
David S. Demmon USA POW
Walter Ferguson Jr USA POW On PRG DIC list 09/70 Remains Ret 08/23/78
James M. Ray USA POW
McKinley Nolan USA AWOL Last seen 12/03/73
John A. Deering USMC Releasee 03/05/73
Raymond C. Schrump USA Releasee 02/12/73
Michael Kjome CIV Releasee 02/12/73
Daniel F. Maslowski USA Releasee 02/12/73
060392.OH
Interviews with NVA Officers. References made to "Hospital 108" and "Many
remains stayed in storage for years" Also mentioned is Soviet Military
Personnel.
2207502.OH
INTERVIEW WITH MAJ KHOI WHO SAID HE PERSONALLY REMAINED INVOLVED WITH US
POW'S UNTIL 1976. HIS LAST CONTACT WITH SUCH POW'S WAS WITH REFNO'S 1996
(GROUP OF 10 CAPTURED IN BAN ME THUAT ON 21 MARCH 1975), AND REFNO 2001
(GAY, ARLO N.). HE SAID THAT AFTER REFNO'S 1996 AND 2001 WERE RELEASED, HE
WAS TRANSFERRED TO A STUDENT ASSIGNMENT FOR UNSPECIFIED TRAINING. MAJ KHOI
SAID HE WAS ALSO INVOLVED FOR A TIME WITH MR ROBERT GARWOOD AND A THAI
CITIZEN PRISONER NAMED "SON" (SOWN). MAJ KHOI SAID MR GARWOOD WAS AN
OFFICIAL OF THE "PEOPLE'S REVOLUTIONARY PARTY".
Arlo Gay CIV Left Siagon 09/76
Robert R. Garwood USMC Releasee 03/21/79
James F. Lewis CIV Released from Hanoi 10/75
James B. Stockdale USN Releasee 02/12/73
Norman C. Gaddis USAF Releasee 03/04/73
John S. McCain USN Releasee 03/14/73
Robinson Risner USAF Releasee 02/12/73
042893.OH
23 APRIL 1993, DET 2 RESEARCHER/HISTORIAN INTERVIEWED RETIRED PEOPLE'S ARMY
OF VIETNAM (PAVN) COLONEL DOAN HANH ((DDOANF HANH)). COLONEL HANH COMMANDED
ONE SECTION OF OFFICE 22 OF GROUP 875 OF PAVN'S GENERAL POLITICAL
DIRECTORATE (GPD). THE GPD CREATED GROUP 875 IN ABOUT APRIL 1972 TO MANAGE
MATTERS RELATED TO AMERICAN AND REPUBLIC OF [SOUTH] VIETNAM ARMED FORCES
(RVNAF) PERSONNEL WHO WERE KILLED OR HELD AS PRISONERS OF WAR (POW) IN NORTH
VIETNAM. HE DESCRIBED PAVN'S POW CAMP SYSTEM. HE DISCUSSED PAVN'S PROGRAM TO
RECOVER AMERICAN REMAINS. HE WORKED WITH THE NORTH VIETNAMESE MORTICIAN WHO
TOLD U.S. OFFICIALS ABOUT THE PROGRAM IN 1979. ALSO DISCUSSED WAS PAVN
RECOVERY OF 2 USMC KIA'S DURING EVAC OF SIAGON.
060292.OH
Joint team interview, retired PAVN Major Pham Van Hoan [Phamj Vawn Hoanf],
aka Pham Van Huan [Phamj yawn Husans], at the government's Le Thach Guest
House from 1400 to 1730, 2 June 1992. Major Hoan has been retired from PAVN
and living in Cao Bang Province since 1975. The interview had three
objectives: one, to learn about PAVN's war time records concerning U.S.
POWs and MIAs; two, to learn about PAVN's unilateral efforts to collect and
preserve remains of Americans who died in Southeast Asia; and, three, to
learn about convicted collaborator [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx] claims to have seen
U.S. POWs in northern Vietnam after 1973.
300002Z.OH
2. SUMMARY OF EVENTS: DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, INTERVIEWED NINE
WITNESSES THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL HIGHLAND BELIEVED TO HOLD INFORMATION
PERTINENT TO CASES 1868 (KONTUM 0372, 0109 (GIA LAI), AND 0333 (DAC LAC) .
AN ADDITIONAL WITNESS WAS IDENTIFIED DURING THE INVESTIGATION OF CASE 0109,
IN AN KHE DISTRICT, GIA LAI PROVINCE WHO PROVIDED INFORMATION ASSOCIATED
WITH CASE 0715 (A PCIT CASE SCHEDULED FOR INVESTIGATION IN QUANG NGAI
PROVINCE). ALSO SAID "AS US - VIET RELATIONS IMPROVE... CHANCES FOR FINDING
ANSWERS WILL IMPROVE.
Larry K. Morrow USA POW
William Ellis USA POW
Fred Taylor USA POW
Henry J. Gallant USA POW
Bennie L. Dexter USAF POW
Brian K. McGar USA POW
Joseph E. Fitzgerald USA POW
John A. Jakovac USA POW
Betty Ann Olson CIV POW On PRG DIC list 09/68
300042Z.OH
HISTORY PROGRAM INTERVIEW OF RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL (MG) TRAN DO, AN OVER 70
YEAR OLD HANOI RESIDENT. MR. DO IS THE FORMER HEAD OF THE B2 FRONT POLITICAL
DEPARTMENT. TRAN DO HAD NOT BEEN INTERVIEWED BY A JOINT TEAM BEFORE. THE
SOURCE, TRAN DO, PROVIDED NO INFORMATI ON RELATING TO U.S. LOSS INCIDENTS IN
VIETNAM. HE EXPRESSED HIS REGRET THAT HE IS UNABLE TO ASSIST THE JOINT TEAM
DUE TO HIS POOR MEMORY.
091812Z.OH
RMKS/I. BACKGROUND. ON 21 JUNE 1993, A JOINT U.S./VIETNAM ORAL HISTORY
PROGRAM INTERVIEW TEAM INTERVIEWED RETIRED SRCOL TRAN DUY HOI, A HANOI
RESIDENT. SRCOL HOI, WAS LISTED IN REFERENCE AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF
INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING IN ACTION (MIA) IN VIETNAM.
SRCOL HOI HAD NOT BEEN INTERVIEWED BY A JOINT TEAM BEFORE. THE SOURCE, TRAN
DUY HOI, PROVIDED NO DETAILS CONCERNING U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING IN SOUTHEAST
ASIA.
250002Z.OH
PROGRAM INTERVIEW TEAM INTERVIEWED PAVN SENIOR COLONEL (SRCOL) NGUYEN VAN
MINH, AN APPROXIMATELY 65 YOA HANOI RESIDENT, LISTED IN REFERENCE AS A
POTENTIAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION CONCERNING U. S. PERSONNEL MISSING IN ACTION
(MIA) IN VIETNAM. THE SUBJECT CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF U. S. PERSONNEL,
LIVING FREELY OR AGAINST THEIR WILL, IN VIETNAM SINCE 1973.
300052Z.OH
INTERVIEW WITH NGUYEN DINH THAO, A 54 YEAR OLD HANOI RESIDENT. MR. THAO,
LISTED IN REFERENCE A AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S.
PERSONNEL MISSING IN ACTION IN VIETNAM. MR. THAO HAD NOT BEEN INTERVIEWED BY
A JOINT TEAM BEFORE.
150012Z.OH
This Document is a evaluation of 300052Z.OH
RMKS/1. REF A DOCUMENTS AN INTERVIEW WITH MR NGUYEN DINH THAO, A FORMER
WRITER OF "THE PEOPLES ARMED FORCES OF THE WESTERN HIGHLANDS DURING THE
WAR OF NATIONAL SALVATION AGAINST THE AMERICANS." MR THAO PROVIDED NO
SPECIFIC INFORMATION CONCERNING UNACCOUNTED FOR U.S SERVICEMEN.
091842Z.OH
RMKS/I. SUMMARY: ON 26 DECEMBER 1992, DET 2 RESEARCHERS INTERVIEWED MR.
NGUYEN HUNG TRI AT HIS OFFICE IN HANOI, VIETNAM. EARLIER INVESTIGATIONS OF
CASE 1274 IDENTIFIED HR. TRI AS A FORMER CADRE OF THE HEADQUARTERS SOUTH
VIETNAM LIBERATION ARMY'S (HQ SVNLA) U.S. POW CAMP DURING THE WAR. THE
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE INTERVIEW WAS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION THAT MIGHT
HELP RESOLVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FATE OF U.S. ARMY STAFF SERGEANT (SSG)
DALLAS PRIDEMORE, WHO WAS CAPTURED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SAIGON, ON 8
SEPTEMBER 1968. HE RECALLED THE NAMES OF SEVERAL AMERICANS WHO WERE IN THE
HQ SVNLA U.S. POW CAMP AND WHO HE HAD INTERVIEWED, SEEN, OR HEARD ABOUT. HE
SUPPLIED LIMITED INFORMATION CONCERNING UNRESOLVED CASES 0043, 0050, 0099,
1410, 1610, AND 9960.
Dallas R. Pridemore USA POW (Kidnapped)
George E. Smith USA Released in Cambodia 11/28/65
Claude D. McClure USA Released in Cambodia 11/28/65
Donald G. Smith USA Released 01/01/69
Thomas N. Jones USA Released 01/01/69
James W. Brigham USA Released 01/01/69
John R. Schumenn USA POW
Donald G. Cook USMC POW On PRG DIC list 12/01/67
Charles Crafts USA Released 02/07/67
John G. Dunn USA Released 02/12/73
Robert M. Young USA On PRG DIC list 09/72
Douglas K. Ramsey CIV Released 02/12/73
James H. Hestand USA Released 02/12/73
Issac (Ike) Camacho USA Escaped 07/13/65
Barry D. Murphy USA POW
McKinley Nolan USA AWOL Last seen 11/02/73
Daniel G. Dawson USA POW
140232.OH
RMKS/1. BACKROUND. ON 28 JUNE 1993, INTERVIEW TEAM INTERVIEWED LUU NGOC
CHIEN, AN APPROXIMATELY 55 YEAR OLD HANOI RESIDENT. LUU NGOC CHIEN,
PROVIDED NO INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
100042.OH
INTERVIEWED RETIRED SENIOR COLONEL (SRCOL) CAN HOANG DU, AN APPROXIMATELY 65
YEAR OLD HANOI RESIDENT, SRCOL DU IS CURRENTLY RETIRED, FORMERLY A MILITARY
ENGINEER WITH TRANSPORTATION GROUP 559 HE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OFFICIAL
PAVN HISTORY OF THE HO CHI MINH TRAIL. THE SOURCE, PROVIDED NO INFORMATION
CONCERNING U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. SRCOL DU CLAIMED HE HAD
NO KNOWLEDGE OF U.S. PERSONNEL LIVING FREELY OR AGAINST THEIR WILL, IN
VIETNAM SINCE 1973.
151812Z.OH
RMKS/1. JULY 1993, INTERVIEWED MR. THAI KE TOAI, A 45 YEAR OLD HANOI
RESIDENT. MR. TOAI IS CURRENTLY A WRITER AND POET, FORMERLY A GUNNER ON AN
ANTI-AIRCRAFT (AA) POSITION AND A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE AIR AND AIR DEFENSE
FORCE MEMOIRS, VOLUME III. MR. TOAI, LISTED IN REFERENCE AS A POTENTIAL
SOURCE OF INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING IN ACTION (MIA) IN
VIETNAM. MR. TOAI HAD NOT BEEN INTERVIEWED BY A JOINT TEAM BEFORE.
James H. Kasler USAF Returnee 03/04/73
Charles G. Boyd USAF Returnee 02/12/73
Elroy E. Harworth USAF POW Remains Ret. 04/10/86
Bobby J. Albertson USAF POW
William R. Edmondson USAF POW
Thomas F. Case USAF POW Remains Ret. 04/11/86
Phillip J. Stickney USAF POW
Arron D. Shingledecker USAF POW
Harold J. Zook USAF POW Remains Ret. 04/10/86
061812Z.OH
RMKS/I. 28 JUNE 1993, INTERVIEWED LTC NGHIEM DINH TICH, A 48 YEAR OLD HANOI
RESIDENT. LTC TICH IS CURRENTLY A SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHER, FORMERLY A
CONTRIBUTOR TO THE BOOK, "THE AIR AND AIR DEFENSE FORCE MEMOIRS, VOLUME
III." LTC TICH, WAS LISTED IN REFERENCE AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF
INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING IN ACTION (MIA) IN VIETNAM.
LTC TICH HAD NOT BEEN INTERVIEWED BY A JOINT TEAM BEFORE.
211802Z.OH
RMKS/1. 27 MAY 1993, INTERVIEWED MR. PHAN TU, ALSO KNOWN AS (AKA) PHAN TU
KHUONG, AKA LE AM, A 64 YEAR OLD WRITER AND FORMER MEMBER OF THE ENEMY
PROSELYTING FUNCTION IN NORTHERN VIETNAM DURING THE ANTI-FRENCH PERIOD. MR.
PHAN TU SAID HE HAD NOT BEEN INTERVIEWED BY JOINT TEAMS PREVIOUSLY.
Arthur E. Krause CIV Released 11/18/63
211902Z.OH
RMKS/1. INTERVIEWED MR. NGUYEN LY, A 72-YEAR OLD HUE CITY RESIDENT AND
FORMER MILITARY REGION TRI-THIEN-HUE MILITARY PROSELYTING CADRE. MR. LY, WHO
LISTED IN REFERENCE AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S.
PERSONNEL. THE SOURCE PROVIDED LIMITED INFORMATION CONCERNING ONE INCIDENT
INVOLVING A U.S. PILOT WHO WAS CAPTURED AND EVACUATED TO THE NORTH IN 1964
OR 1965.
310002Z.OH
This Document is an evaluation of 211902Z.OH
RMKS/1. REF A DOCUMENTS AN INTERVIEW WITH MR NGUYEN LY, A FORMER MILITARY
REGION TRI-THIEN-HUE MILITARY PROSELYTING OFFICER.
231832Z.OH
RMKS/I. 12 MAY 1993, INTERVIEWED MR. TO DIEU, A FORMER CADRE OF THE ENEMY
PROSELYTING SECTION OF THE POLITICAL SECTION OF THE AREA THAT IS NOW
MILITARY REGION FIVE (MR5). THE SOURCE PROVIDED EXTREMELY LIMITED
INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S. SERVICEMEN WHO BECAME UNACCOUNTED FOR IN
VIETNAM, THE SOURCE PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT PLAUSIBLE DETAILS OF HIS MILITARY
ASSIGNMENTS AND EXPERIENCE TO SUPPORT THE CONCLUSION THAT HE HAD NO
SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION TO CONTRIBUTE.
231822Z.OH
RMKS/1. 12 MAY 1993, INTERVIEWED MR. CHU HOANG BICH, A NATIVE OF NORTH
VIETNAM CURRENTLY RESIDING IN HANOI (APPROXIMATELY 55-60 YEARS OF AGE) WHO
IS A RETIRED SENIOR COLONEL AND WAS A FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE ENEMY
PROSELYTING OFFICE DURING THE WAR. THE SOURCE PROVIDED LIMITED GENERAL
INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S. SERVICEMEN WHO BECAME UNACCOUNTED FOR IN
VIETNAM.
191922Z.OH
RMKS/19 MAY 1993, INTERVIEWED NGUYEN VAN HA, 55 YOA, CURRENT DEPUTY
DIRECTOR, HAI PHONG CITY COURT OF INVESTIGATION AND HAI PHONG CITY RESIDENT;
FORMER B-2 FRONT ENEMY PROSELYTING CADRE AND TRANSLATOR. NGUYEN VAN HA, A
FORMER B-2 FRONT ENEMY PROSELYTING TRANSLATOR, PROVIDED INFORMATION
CONCERNING HIS EXTREMELY LIMITED WARTIME ASSOCIATION WITH U.S. PRISONERS OF
WAR IN THE FORMER SOUTH VIETNAM. ONE OF HIS EXPERIENCES PROBABLY CORRELATES
TO A RESOLVED POW/MIA CASE INVOLVING THE CAPTURE OF A U.S. SOLDIER WHO WAS
LATER RELEASED.
Ferdinand A. Rodriquez USA Releasee 02/12/73
290859Z.OH
INTERVIEWED MR NGUYEN VAN BON, THE WARTIME PROVINCE PARTY SECRETARY OF
THUA THIEN-HUE, WHO WAS INTERVIEWED IN HUE CITY ON 11 JAN 93. SOURCE, A 77
YEAR OLD NATIVE OF HUE CITY REGROUPED TO THE NORTH DURING 1954. SOURCE SAID
HE WAS NEVER PERSONALLY INVOLVED WITH US POW'S AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO RECALL
HAVING HEARD ABOUT ONE CAPTURED AMERICAN.
101022Z.OH
This Document is a evaluation of 290859Z.OH
RMKS/1. REF A REPORTS THE RESULTS OF AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. NGUYEN VAN BON,
FORMER PARTY SECRETARY OF THUA THIEN-HUE PROVINCE. BECAUSE THE INFORMATION
PROVIDED BY THE SOURCE POSSIBLY PERTAINS TO AN UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL, A
COPY OF REF A REPORT WILL BE FILED IN REFNOS 0297, 0862 AND 1330 FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE.
James W. Gates USA POW
Richard D. Appelhans USAF POW
George W. Clarke USAF POW
Gregg Hartness USAF POW
John W. Lafayette USAF POW
051223Z.OH
1. REF INTERVIEW CONDUCTED WITH MG THOI, 71 YEAR OLD NATIVE OF SAIGON,
INTERVIEWED IN HO CHI MINH CITY ON 9 MARCH 1993.
101142Z.OH
This Document is a evaluation of 051223Z.OH
RMKS/REF A REPORTS THE RESULTS OF AN INTERVIEW WITH MAJOR GENERAL VO VAN
THOI, A FORMER ADVISOR FOR ENEMY PROSELYTING ACTIVITIES OF THE POLITICAL
DIRECTORATE, SOUTH VIETNAM LIBERATION ARMED FORCES, AND CHIEF OF THE ENEMY
PROSELYTING DEPARTMENT, GENERAL POLITICAL DIRECTORATE, IN HANOI. IN PARA
SIX OF REF GENERAL THOI PROVIDED HEARSAY INFORMATION THAT IN MARCH 1975, TWO
AMERICANS WERE ALLEGEDLY CAPTURED OFF THE COAST OF VIETNAM BY FORCES IN
MILITARY REGION SIX.
211812Z.OH
RMKS/1. INTERVIEWED RETIRED MAJOR NGUYEN DUC NHUAN. A 52 YEAR OLD HAI YEN
VILLAGE, TINH GIA DISTRICT, THANH HOA PROVINCE, RESIDENT. MR. NHUAN WAS
LISTED IN REFERENCE AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION CONCERNING U.S.
PERSONNEL MISSING IN ACTION IN VIETNAM. THE SOURCE, MR. NHUAH, PROVIDED
INFORMATION CONCERNING AN F-105D SHOT DOWN DURING 1965 IN HA TINH PROVINCE,
WHICH AT THIS TIME CANNOT BE CORRELATED TO ANY U.S. LOSS.
090042Z.OH
This Document is an evaluation of 211812Z.OH
RMKS/1. INTERVIEW WITH RETIRED MAJOR NGUYEN DUC NHUAN. MR. NHUAN PROVIDED
INFORMATION CONCERNING AN F-105D SHOOT DOWN DURING 1965. IN HA TINH
PROVINCE. MR. NHUAN DID PROVIDE THE NAMES OF POTENTIAL SOURCES WHO MAY HAVE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO UNACCOUNTED FOR SERVICEMEN.
171355Z.OH
INTERVIEW WITH MR NGUYEN DINH AN. WHILE INTERVIEWING FORMER CADRE IN DANANG,
SA MET WITH PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE VICE CHAIRMAN, MR NGUYEN DINH AN. MP AN SAID
HE HAD JUST COMPLETED AN INTERVIEW WITH THE LIVE SIGHTING INVESTIGATOR (LSI)
FROM DET 2 IN HANOI. ACCORDING TO MR AN, HE INFORMAED THE LSI THAT HE, HAD
NO KNOWLEDGE OF US PERSONNEL WHO WERE KILLED OR CAPTURED DURING THE WAR. MR
AN TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE THAT HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY
AMERICANS REMAINING IN VIETNAM.
10132Z.OH
This Document is an evaluation of 171355Z.OH
AMPN/SUBJ: SRV ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW WITH MR. NGUYEN DINH AN//
310410Z.OH
SR CPT NGUYEN CHI CONG WAS INTERVIEWED IN RACH GIA CITY, KIEN GIANG PROVINCE
ON 5 MARCH 1993. SOURCE JOINED THE COMMUNIST REVOLUTION TO FIGHT AGAINST THE
FRENCH WHEN JAPANESE FORCES WITHDREW FROM VIETNAM AFTER WORLD WAR 11.
ACCORDING TO SOURCE, AFTER THE GENEVA AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED IN 1954, HE
REMAINED AT HOME IN PHONG DINH AND EARNED HIS LIVING AS A FARMER. SOMETIME
DURING 1963, SOURCE WAS CONTACTED BY MEMBERS OF THE REGION COMMITTEE FOR
MILITARY REGION NINE AND TASKED TO CONSTRUCT AND MANAGE A PRISON CAMP FOR
FOREIGN POW'S. AT THAT TIME SOURCE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS POSITION WOULD BE
THAT OF CAMP COMMANDER.
210112Z.OH
This Document is an evaluation of 310410Z.OH
RMKS/I. REF A REPORTS THE RESULTS OF AN INTERVIEW WITH NGUYEN CHI CONG, THE
FORMER COMMANDER OF MILITARY REGION NINE (MR9) PRISONER OF WAR CAMP TG36,
LOCATED IN THE U MINH FOREST NEAR TAN BANG (FORMERLY BIEN BACH) VILLAGE, U
MINH DISTRICT, MINH HAI (FORMERLY KIEN GIANG) PROVINCE. THE CAMP WAS
ALLEGEDLY LOCATED NEAR CANAL 21 AND THE SONG CAI LON RIVER, IN THE VICINITY
OF GRID COORDINATES VR999534. THE SOURCE PROVIDED LIMITED FIRSTHAND AND
HEARSAY INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ITERNMENT OF AMERICANS IN THE PRISON
CAMP, INCLUDING ARMY STAFF SERGEANT JOE PARKS (REFNO 0048).
Michael L. Hyde USAF POW
Charles A. Jackson USAF Released 02/12/73
Bobby L. Johnson USA Released 02/12/73
Joe Parks USA On PRG DIC list 12/30/66
Daniel L. Pitzer USA Released in Cambodia 11/11/67
James N. Rowe USA Escaped 12/31/68
Leonard M. Tadios USA On PRG DIC list 03/11/66
Humberto R. Versace USA Possibly Executed 09/22/65
Hubert C. Walker USAF Released 03/14/73
211932Z.OH
INTERVIEWED MR. NGUYEN XUAN NGOAN, A 54-YEAR-OLD RETIRED PAVN SENIOR
CAPTAIN, CURRENTLY RESIDING IN HUU THUONG HAMLET THUONG HOA VILLAGE,
HOANG LONG DISTRICT, NINH BINH DISTRICT. MR. NGOAN SAID HE HAD NOT BEEN
INTERVIEWED BY JOINT TEAMS PREVIOUSLY. THE SOURCE PROVIDED EYEWITNESS
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ALLEGED DEATH AND BURIAL OF TWO U.S. SERVICEMEN
IN AN LAO DISTRICT, BINH DINH PROVINCE IN APPROXIMATELY JULY 1967. THE
SOURCE'S STATEMENTS AND SKETCH OF THE INCIDENT AREA PROBABLY CORRELATE
TO TWO ACTIVE POW/MIA CASES.
071832Z.OH
This Document is an evaluation of 211932Z.OH
RMKS/1. REF A PROVIDED HEARSAY INFORMATION RELATED BY TWO RESIDENTS OF HO
CHI MINH CITY, WHICH PROBABLY CORRELATES WITH REFNO 024O.
Frank N. Badolati USA POW Bad Wound, Probably Dead
Cecil J. Hodgson USA POW
Ronald T. Terry USA POW
230355Z.OH
A. FORMER MILITARY REGION NINE POW CAMP (TG36) COMMANDER SR CPT NGUYEN CHI
CONG: SOURCE PROVIDED FIRSTHAND INFORMATION CONCERNING NINE US POWS,
INCLUDING ONE ESCAPEE (REFNO 0022 ROWE) THREE RELEASEES (0022 PITZER, 0033
JOHNSON, 0384 JACKSON), AND FIVE DIED-IN CAPTIVITY (0021 VERSACE, 0048
PARKS, 0047 TADIOS, 0086 WALKER, AND ONE BLACK AMERICAN POW TRANSFERRED FROM
TO THE MR9 CAMP FROM TRA VINH WHO SOURCE COULD ONLY IDENTIFY AS "ROBAT" ).
SOURCE ALSO PROVIDED GENERAL LOCATION INFORMATION CONCERNING FOUR DIC BURIAL
SITES, AND THE IDENTITIES/CURRENT WHEREABOUTS OF CADRE WHO WERE DIRECTLY
INVOLVED IN THE BURIAL OF THESE FOUR DIC'S. SOURCE WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BURIAL OF THE FIFTH DIC (0021 VERSACE), BECAUSE
HE WAS TRANSFERRED BY SOURCE TO THE MR9 PARTY COMMITTEE (KHU UY), IN THE
CUSTODY OF THE MILITARY PROSELYTING SECTION (TG35), PRIOR TO HIS REPORTED
DEATH
Harold G. Bennett USA POW On PRG DIC List 06/65
Donald G. Cook USMC POW On PRG DIC List 12/01/67
Daniel A. Gerber CIV POW Taken from Leprosarium
Archie E. Mitchell CIV POW Taken from Leprosarium
Joe Parks USA POW On PRG DIC List 12/30/66
Daniel L. Pitzer USA Released in Cambodia 11/11/67
Douglas K. Ramsey CIV Released by PRG 02/12/73
Raymond C. Schrump USA Released by PRG 02/12/73
Leonard M. Tadios USA POW On PRG DIC List 03/11/66
James L. Talley USA POW MIA in ground fight on patrol
Elanor A. Vietti CIV POW Taken from Leprosarium
Humberto R. Versace USA POW Possibly Executed PRG DIC List 09/22/65
Brien J. Walker USA POW Reported probably dead 02/01/66
080820Z.OH
This Document is an evaluation of 230355Z.OH
1. LTC PHAM PHI LONG, AKA SAU (6) PHI LONG, A 75 YEAR OLD NATIVE OF BEN
TRE, WAS INTERVIEWED IN HO CHI MINH CITY ON 11 MARCH 1993. SOURCE SAID HE
WAS A MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE'S ARMY OF VIETNAM (PAVN) FROM AUGUST 1945 TO 1
MAY 1975. SOURCE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ENEMY PROSELYTING OFFICE (EPO),
SUBORDINATE TO THE POLITICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE HQ, SOUTH VIETNAM LIBERATION
ARMED FORCES (SVNLAF) BEGINNING AT THE TIME OF THE "TET" GENERAL OFFENSIVE
IN 1968. SOURCE HELD THE POSITION OF DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE POLICY SECTION, EPO
FROM 1968 UNTIL THE PARIS AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED IN 1973. DURING THE WAR
YEARS, THE EPO OF THE HQ, SVNLAF WAS THE SOUTHERN EQUIVALENT OF THE ENEMY
PROSELYTING DEPARTMENT OF THE GENERAL POLITICAL DIRECTORATE IN HANOI. THE
EPO ACTUALLY HAD TWO DEPUTIES, ONE IN CHARGE OF US POW AFFAIRS, AND ONE IN
CHARGE OF POW'S OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM (RVN).
101152Z.OH
This Document references 080820Z.OH
RMKS/1. REF A REPORTS THE RESULTS OF AN INTERVIEW OF MR. PHAM PHI LONG,
FORMERLY ASSIGNED TO THE MILITARY ENEMY PROSELYTING OFFICE (MEPO) OF THE
SOUTH VIETNAMESE LIBERATION ARMED FORCES. MR. LONG PROVIDED NO INFORMATION
PERTAINING TO ANY UNACCOUNTED FOR PERSONNEL.
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