[130042Z.OH 06/16/96] ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE PRIORITY P 130042Z DEC 93 ZYB PSN 045109P19 FM CDR JTF-FA HONOLULU HI//J2// TO SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP:RSA// INFO WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASH DC RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHINGTON DC//CA/EAP/VLC/CCS/OCS// JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5// USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//J2/J3/J30-M// USCINCPAC LO WASHINGTON DC CIA WASHINGTON DC//DEA/SEA/IB/DDO/EA/ICOG// DIA WASHINGTON DC CDRUSACILHI HICKAM AFB HI//TAPC-PED-H// RUEHBT/USDAO BANGKOK TH//PW-MIA// ***THIS IS A 4 PART MSG COLLATED BY MDU*** UNCLAS //N03460// MSGID/SYS.RRM/CDR JTF-FA/J252// SUBJ/INTERVIEWS OF SOURCES RELATED TO U MINH FOREST EXPEDITION// REF/A/DOC/JTFFA DET 2/16MAY93// AMPN/ENTRY NUMBERS 29 AND 53, LIST OF 83 INTERVIEW REQUESTS PRESENTED TO ACTING FOREIGN MINISTER TRAN QUANG CO, MAY 93// REF/B/RMG/CDR JTF-FA/190002ZOCT93// REF/C/RMG/CDR JTF-FA/260712ZOCT93// REF/D/RMG/CDR JTF-FA/251102ZOCT93// REF/E/RMG/CDR JTF-FA/200002ZOCT93// THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPTION OF AN ORAL HISTORY PROJECT FIELD REPORT// RMKS/1. BACKGROUND. ON 6 AND 7 OCT 1993, THE JOINT U.S./VIETNAM SPECIAL REMAINS SEARCH TEAM (SRT INTERVIEWED EIGHT INDIVIDUALS// 045109/352 1 OF 11 130042Z DEC 93 CDR JTF-FA HON WITH KNOWLEDGE OF U.S. BURIAL SITES IN THE U MINH FOREST, PAVN MILITARY REGION 9 (MR9). THE TEAM CONDUCTED THE INTERVIEWS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN MR] OVER THE TWO-DAY PERIOD AS DETAILED IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INTERVIEWS, THE SRT SURVEYED SEVERAL ALLEGED BURIAL LOCATIONS IN THE REGION, USING THE WITNESSES AS GUIDES (SEE REFS B-E FOR SURVEY RESULTS). THE U.S. CONTINGENT CONSISTED OF CW4 [XXXX][XXXX][XXXX], TEAM LEADER; SFC [XXXX][XXXX], CILHI REMAINS RECOVERY SPECIALIST; AND P02 [XXXX][XXXXX][XXXX], JTF-FA ANALYST/LINGUIST. THE VNOSMP CONTINGENT CONSISTED OF MR. HO XUAN DICH, DIRECTOR OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HO CHI MINH-CITY; LTCOL PHAM CONG KHOI, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVE; AND MR. LAI VAN DAT, MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR REPRESENTATIVE. THE INFORMATION OBTAINED DURING THE SURVEYS WAS PUBLISHED SEPARATELY IN REFS B-E. 2. SUMMARY. THE EIGHT INTERVIEW SUBJECTS PROVIDED FIRSTHAND AND HEARSAY INFORMATION CONCERNING THE IMPRISONMENT. DEATH. AND SUBSEQUENT BURIAL OF FOUR AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR (PW) HELD IN THE MR9 U.S. PW CAMP BETWEEN LATE 1963 AND EARLY 1967. THE WITNESSES ALSO REFERENCED OTHER AMERICANS HELD AT THE CAMP WHO LATER ESCAPED OR WERE RELEASED. THE WITNESSES' STATEMENTS CORRELATE TO UNRESOLVED CASES 0021, 0047, 0048. AND 0086; AND TO RESOLVED CASES 0022-1-01 AND 0022-1-02. 3. INTRODUCTION. THE SRT INTERVIEWED THE FOLLOWING EIGHT INDIVIDUALS WHILE INVESTIGATING CASES 0021, 0047, 0048, AND 0086. THE TEAM INTERVIEWED THE WITNESSES IN GROUP SETTINGS IN ORDER TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THEIR COLLECTIVE MEMORIES- VIEWED ALONE. SOME WITNESS STATEMENTS MAY SEEM FRAGMENTED; HOWEVER. CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE. THE INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT PROVIDES SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO CONDUCT GRAVE SITE EXCAVATIONS FOR CASES 0021, 0047. 0048, AND 0086. THE EIGHT WITNESSES DEALT WITH THE IMP-RISONED AMERICANS IN QUESTION FOR RELATIVELY LONG PERIODS AND RECALLED EACH PRISONER BY NAME. FOR MORE COMPLETE ANALYTICAL TREATMENT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. SEE REFS B-E. 4 DETAILS. A. ON 6 OCT 93, THE SRT ARRIVED AT THE MINH HAI PROVINCE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE OFFICE, WHERE THE DEPUTY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR. LE CONG NGHIEP (LEE COONG NGHIEEPJ). PRESENTED THE FIRST FIVE WITNESSES. B. THE FIRST WITNESS. MR. NGUYEN CHI CONG (NGUYEENX CHIS COONG, AKA BAYR (7) COONG) IS 70 YOA AND CURRENTLY RESIDES IN VINH BINH BAC (VINHX BINHF BAWCS) VILLAGE, VINH THUAN (VINHX THUAANJ) DISTRICT, KIEN GIANG PROVINCE, DURING THE WAR, MR CONG 045109/352 2 OF 11 130042Z DEC 93 CDR JTF-FA HON WAS A SENIOR CAPTAIN AND COMMANDER OF THE TG36 MR9 AMERICAN PW CAMP. MR. CONG SUFFERS FROM SEVERE HYPERTENSION AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE; DUE TO HIS HEALTH HE WAS ONLY ABLE TO PROVIDE LIMITED INFORMATION REGARDING AMERICANS HELD AT THE CAMP. MR. CONG HAD INFORMATION CONCERNING CASE 0086-1-01. (1) MR. CONG RECALLED THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0086-1-01 BY NAME AND DESCRIBED HIM AS A VERY LARGE MAN. TALL AND PERHAPS 100 KILOGRAMS IN WEIGHT. HE REMEMBERED HOW HE USED TO HAVE TO LOOK UP TO THIS AMERICAN IN ORDER TO SPEAK TO HIM. (2) MR. CONG STATED THAT THIS AMERICAN DIED-DUE TO PROLONGED ILLNESS IN LATE 1966 OR EARLY 1967. AND WAS BURIED IN AN EARTHEN FISH TRAP NEAR THE TG36 PRISON CAMP. C. THE SECOND WITNESS, MR. NGUYEN QUOC THANH (NGUYEENX QUOOCS THANH. AKA HAI (2) THANH) IS 46 YOA AND CURRENTLY CHIEF OF POLICE OF VI THANH (VIJ THANH) DISTRICT SEAT, HAU GIANG PROVINCE. HE WAS CHIEF OF SECURITY FOR PW CAMP TG36 FROM THE TIME IT WAS ESTABLISHED (1963). HE IS ALSO THE SON OF NGUYEN CHI CONG. THE FORMER CAMP COMMANDER. MR. THANH HAD INFORMATION ON CASES 0021- 1-01, 0047-1-01, 0048-1-01, AND 0086-1-01. (1) MR. THANH RECALLED THAT THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0021-1-01 WAS CAPTURED AROUND THE END OF 1963 AND WAS HELD AT THE CAMP UNTIL HIS DEATH IN LATE 1965. HE STATED THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL, WHOM HE RECALLED BY NAME. DIED OF MALARIA. HE ADDED. HOWEVER, THAT THE NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT (NLF) LATER ANNOUNCED THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL HAD BEEN EXECUTED IN RETALIATION FOR THE EXECUTION OF TWO NLF CADRES IN DANANG CITY. (2) MR. THANH STATED THAT HE AND THREE OTHER INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN THE SUBSEQUENT BURIAL OF THE MISSING INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0021-1-01. TWO OF THE OTHER THREE MEMBERS OF THE BURIAL PARTY WERE LATER KILLED IN BATTLE, AND THE REMAINING MEMBER IS MR. SU VAN MANG (SEE PARA 4H, BELOW). AS THE CAMP AT THAT TIME WAS LOCATED IN A LOW-LYING AREA OF MANGROVE SWAMP. THE BURIAL TEAM HAD TO FIND AN AREA OUTSIDE THE CAMP WHERE THE SOIL WAS STABLE ENOUGH TO BURY THE BODY. DUE TO ENEMY ACTIVITY IN THE AREA, THE BURIAL WAS CONDUCTED AT NIGHT. MR. THANH'S GROUP SELECTED A SITE BESIDE CANAL #14 IN AN UNINHABITED AREA OUTSIDE OF BIEN BACH VILLAGE. USING THE INTERSECTION OF CANAL #14 AND THE SONG TREM TREM (TREMF TREMF) RIVER AS A REFERENCE-. MR. THANH WAS ABLE TO RECALL THAT THE GROUP PROCEEDED UP THE CANAL APPROXIMATELY 1500-1600 METERS. THEY THEN TURNED RIGHT OFF THE CANAL AND PROCEEDED INTO THE ADJACENT FOREST 20-25 METERS- HERE THE AMERICAN'S BODY WAS INTERRED "EIGHT HAND SPANS" (APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 1.5 METERS) DEEP IN A NAILED WOODEN UTILITY BOX. MR. THANH SKETCHED A ROUGH MAP OF THE AREA TO CLARIFY HIS 045109/352 3 OF 11 130042Z DEC 93 CDR JTF-FA HON DIRECTIONS, AND,ASSURED THE TEAM HE COULD LEAD THEM TO THE SITE WITH LITTLE DIFFICULTY. (3) CONCERNING THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0047-1-01, MR. THANH RECALLED THAT THIS AMERICAN WAS CAPTURED IN // RMKS/ CAN THO PROVINCE IN 1964. NEAR THE END OF 1965, THIS AMERICAN BECAME ILL AND WOULD NOT TAKE NOURISHMENT OR WATER. MR. THANH SAID THAT AT CHRISTMAS THE CAMP COMMAND OFFERED SPECIAL TREATMENT TO THE AMERICAN PRISONERS INCLUDING AN EXCELLENT MEAL. BUT THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS NOT RECEPTIVE. THE CAMP HAD HIM UNDER A MEDIC'S CARE FOR TWO MONTHS, BUT SHORTLY AFTER CHRISTMAS 1965. THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0047-1-01 DIED. (4) MR. THANH STATED THAT HE CONDUCTED THE BURIAL OF THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0047-1-01 WITH FOUR ASSISTANTS. OF WHOM ONLY MR. LE VAN TU (SEE PARA 4H, BELOW) IS STILL ALIVE. AT THE TIME OF THE AMERICAN'S DEATH. THE PRISON CAMP WAS LOCATED ON CANAL #25 NEAR BIEN BACH VILLAGE. APPROXIMATELY 2.5 KILOMETERS FROM THE CANAL'S JUNCTION WITH THE SONG TREM TREM RIVER (NOTE: THE "APPROXIMATE" FIGURE OF 2.5 KILOMETERS WAS BASED ON MR. THANH'S REFERENCE TO AQUEDUCTS WHICH INTERSECTED CANAL #25 AT RIGHT ANGLES. EFFECTIVELY DIVIDING THE LOTS BETWEEN THE NUMBERED CANALS INTO ONE KM SQUARE GRIDS- MR. THANH STATED THAT AT THE TIME OF THIS AMERICAN'S DEATH. THE PRISON CAMP WAS LOCATED ABOUT HALFWAY BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD AQUEDUCTS INTERSECTING CANAL #25. WHICH WOULD PLACE THE CAMP APPROXIMATELY 2.5 KILOMETERS SOUTHWEST OF THE TREM TREM RIVER). APPROXIMATELY ONE KILOMETER FURTHER SOUTHWEST FROM THE CAMP ALONG CANAL #25 WAS AN EARTHEN FISH TRAP (CAIS DIAF). FORMED BY CUTTING A SMALL CHANNEL OFF THE CANAL AND BUILDING AN EARTHEN DAM JUST HIGH ENOUGH TO TRAP FISH IN THE POND FORMED BEHIND IT AT LOW TIDE. MR. THANH AND HIS ASSISTANTS SELECTED THIS AS THE AMERICAN'S BURIAL SITE. AS THE RAISED AREA AROUND THE DAM OF THE FISH TRAP WOULD PROVIDE STABLE SOIL IN WHICH TO INTER THE BODY. HE RECALLED THE BURIAL WAS CONDUCTED IN THE EVENING. AT APPROXIMATELY 1700-1800 HOURS. MR. THANH SKETCHED A ROUGH MAP OF THE AREA IN ORDER TO HELP CLARIFY HIS DIRECTIONS. AND READILY AGREED TO LEAD THE JOINT SRT TO THE SITE. (5) CONCERNING THE MISSING INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0048-1-01, MR. THANH STATED THIS AMERICAN'S DEATH OCCURRED WHILE THANH WAS AWAY FROM THE CAMP VISITING RELATIVES; HE THEREFORE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE BURIAL. (6) MR. THANH DID NOT CONFIRM THAT AT THE TIME OF THE 045109/352 4 OF 11 130042Z DEC 93 CDR JTF-FA HON 0048-1-01 DEATH. THE CAMP WAS LOCATED ON CANAL #21. HE ADDED THAT MR. DUNG REPORTED THE BURIAL SITE LOCATION TO HIM UPON HIS RETURN TO THE CAMP SEVERAL DAYS LATER (SEE PARA 4E, BELOW). THANH OFFERED TO ASSIST IN LEADING THE JOINT SRT TO THE SITE. (7) CONCERNING THE MISSING INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0086-1-01, MR. THANH RECALLED THAT HE WAS A LARGE CAUCASIAN WITH AN IMPRESSIVE MUSCULAR BUILD. BUT THAT HE WAS ILL THE ENTIRE TIME HE WAS HELD AT THE CAMP. THANH RECALLED THAT THIS AMERICAN DIED SHORTLY AFTER CHRISTMAS IN 1966. MR. THANH DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE BURIAL. HE SAID HIS FATHER (MR. CONG) LEAD A BURIAL PARTY OF FIVE INDIVIDUALS. THREE OF WHOM ARE NOW DECEASED. TO BURY THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0086-1-01. THE REMAINING MEMBER IS MR. LE VAN TU (SEE PARA 4H, BELOW) (8) MR. THANH SAID HIS-FATHER TOLD HIM THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0086-1-01 WAS BURIED IN AN EARTHEN FISH TRAP NEAR THE PRISON CAMP. AT THAT TIME. THE CAMP WAS LOCATED ON CANAL #25 NEAR BIEN BACH VILLAGE. HE MENTIONED THAT THIS AMERICAN'S BURIAL SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE KILOMETER AWAY FROM THAT OF THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0047-1-01, WHOM THANH HAD BURIED PERSONALLY. THANH AGREED TO LEAD THE JOINT TEAM THERE AND ATTEMPT TO LOCATE BOTH BURIAL SITES. D. THE THIRD WITNESS. MR. NGUYEN THANH THAN (NGUYEENX THANF THAAN, AKA MWOIF (10) THANH) IS 55 YOA-AND CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF HOA TIEN (HOAR TIEENS) VILLAGE. VI THANH (VIJ THANH) DISTRICT, CAN THO PROVINCE. DURING THE WAR HE WAS DEPUTY COMMANDER OF PRISON CAMP TG36. MR. THAN HAD INFORMATION RELATED TO CASE 00471-01. (NOTE: NGUYEN THANH THAN IS THE REQUESTED SOURCE FROM LINE NUMBER 53. REF A.) (1) MR. THAN STATED THAT MR. NGUYEN QUOC THANH REPORTED TO HIM REGARDING THE BURIAL OF THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0047-1-01 (SEE PARA'S 4C(3)-(4), ABOVE). HE CONCURRED WITH MR. THANH'S ACCOUNT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE CASE 0047-1-01 DEATH. (2) MR. THAN STATED THAT HE DID NOT ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN BURYING THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0047-1-01. THEREFORE HE HAD NO FURTHER DETAILS TO OFFER REGARDING THE SPECIFIC LOCATION OF THE BURIAL SITE. HOWEVER. HE DID RECALL THE EARTHEN FISH TRAP MENTIONED BY MR. THANH. AND OFFERED HIS ASSISTANCE IN LEADING THE JOINT SRT TO THAT LOCATION. E. THE FOURTH WITNESS. MR. NGUYEN DUNG (NGUYEENX ZUNGX. AKA TW (4) ZUNGX) IS 54 YOA AND CURRENTLY A THI TUONG 8 (THIJ TWONGF 8) HAMLET. HUNG MY (HWNG MX) VILLAGE. CAI NUOC (CAIS NWOCS) DISTRICT. MINH HAI PROVINCE RESIDENT. DURING THE WAR HE WAS A SQUAD LEADER IN THE SECURITY PLATOON OF PW CAMP TG36. 045109/352 5 OF 11 130042Z DEC 93 CDR JTF-FA HON (1) MR. DUNG RECALLED A BLACK PRISONER, THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0048-1-01, WHO WAS CAPTURED BY LIBERATION TROOPS OUTSIDE THE CITY OF SAIGON IN 1964- MR. DUNG SAID THIS INDIVIDUAL. WHOM HE RECALLED BY NAME, WAS ONE OF TWO BLACK PRISONERS HELD AT THE TG36 CAMP UNTIL 1966. DURING THIS TIME, THE TG36 CAMP MOVED SEVERAL TIMES IN RESPONSE TO ENEMY ACTIVITY IN THE REGION. FOLLOWING ONE OF THESE MOVES, THIS AMERICAN BECAME ILL AND STARTED TO LOSE WEIGHT. THIS WENT ON FOR SOME TIME AND THE CAMP TRIED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL HELP, BUT THE AMERICAN BECAME TOO WEAK TO BE HELPED. HE EVENTUALLY DIED SOMETIME IN 1966, ALTHOUGH MR. DUNG COULD NOT RECALL THE MONTH. HE DID REMEMBER THAT AT THE TIME OF THE AMERICAN'S DEATH THE TG36 CAMP WAS LOCATED ADJACENT TO CANAL #21 IN BIEN BACH VILLAGE, WHICH WAS LATER INCORPORATED INTO A STATE FARM. (2) MR. DUNG WAS TASKED WITH THE BLACK AMERICAN'S BURIAL, WHICH HE CONDUCTED WITH TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAMP SECURITY STAFF, NOW DECEASED. THE BURIAL TOOK PLACE DURING THE RAINY SEASON, AND MR. DUNG'S GROUP SELECTED AN AREA NEAR THE CAMP WHICH HAD NOT YET FLOODED FOR THE GRAVE SITE. THE SITE SELECTED WAS IN LOT 5 OF CANAL #21, NEAR THE JUNCTION OF THE CANAL WITH // RMKS/ AQUEDUCT #4. MR. DUNG STATED THAT THIS AREA WAS LATER BOMBED HEAVILY IN A U.S. B-52 STRIKE, AND HE WAS CONCERNED THIS COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE REMAINS. DESPITE THIS RESERVATION, HE SKETCHED A ROUGH MAP OF THE AREA IN ORDER TO HELP CLARIFY HIS DIRECTIONS, AND READILY AGREED TO LEAD THE JOINT SRT TO THE SITE- F. THE FIFTH WITNESS, MR. NGUYEN VAN KIET (NGUYEENX VAWN KIEETJ, AKA TW (4) KIEETJ) IS 55 YOA AND CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF THANH TUNG (THANH TUNGF) VILLAGE, DAM GIOI DISTRICT, MINH HAI PROVINCE. DURING THE WAR MR. KIET WAS DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE PLATOON WHICH COMPRISED THE SECURITY FORCE OF PRISON CAMP TG36. MR-. KIET PROVIDED INFORMATION RELATED TO CASES 0021-1-01 AND 0022-1-02. (1) MR. KIET FIRST PROVIDED SOME BACKGROUND ON HIMSELF AND THE OTHER WITNESSES GATHERED FOR THIS INTERVIEW- HE STATED ALL HAD BEEN MEMBERS OF THE SAME UNIT, WHICH HAD ADMINISTERED CAMP TG36 FROM 1963-1972. ALL BUT NGUYEN CHI CONG, WHO HAD BEEN CAMP COMMANDER, WERE MEMBERS OF THE CAMP SECURITY FORCE AT ONE LEVEL OR ANOTHER. MR. KIET WISHED TO POINT OUT THAT AS FAR AS HE KNEW NONE OF THEM - WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MR. CONG AND MR. THANH, WHO WERE FATHER AND SON - HAD SEEN EACH OTHER SINCE 1972. HE 045109/352 6 OF 11 130042Z DEC 93 CDR JTF-FA HON SAID THIS WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT NONE OF THEM WANTED TO DWELL ON THE WARTIME PAST, AND HAD, WITHOUT VOICING THEIR FEELINGS, ALL DECIDED NOT TO ASSOCIATE WITH EACH OTHER AFTER THEIR UNIT WAS DISBANDED- THEY HAD, HOWEVER, WILLINGLY GATHERED TOGETHER HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS, TO MEET THE REQUEST OF-BOTH THE U.S. AND VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENTS TO HELP THE JOINT TEAM RESOLVE THIS (MIA) ISSUE. IT WAS THEIR HOPE, HE SAID, THAT LOCATING THE GRAVE SITES OF THE DECEASED AMERICANS WOULD ENABLE THEIR FAMILIES TO PUT THE PAST BEHIND THEM, AS WELL. (2) MR. KIET STATED THAT HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE GUARD FORCE WHICH ESCORTED THE AMERICAN PRISONER IN CASE 0022-1-02 (RESOLVED) TO BE RELEASED TO U.S. CONTROL IN A "PEACE GESTURE" BY THE NLF IN 1967. HE RECALLED THAT THIS AMERICAN HAD BEEN CAPTURED PIN THE SAME INCIDENT AS THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0021-1-01. (3) MR. KIET SAID HE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN BURYING THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0021-1-01. HOWEVER, HE DID RECALL THAT NGUYEN QUOC THANH HAD BEEN TASKED WITH THE BURIAL, AND SAID HE HAD BEEN TOLD LATER THE BODY WAS BURIED NEAR CANAL #14. HE BELIEVED THE REMAINS OF THIS AMERICAN WERE STILL INTERRED THERE. G. THE SIXTH WITNESS, MR. SU VAN MANG (SWR VAWN MANG, AKA TW (4) MANHJ) IS 61 YOA AND CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF BIEN BACH VILLAGE, THOI BINH DISTRICT, MINH HAI PROVINCE. FROM 1963-1965 HE WAS DIRECTOR OF THE ARVN PRISONER/DESERTER SIDE OF THE TG36 CAMP (NOTE: AT TIMES THIS CAMP WAS ADMINISTERED SEPARATELY FROM TG36 AND WAS DESIGNATED TG35. IT WAS INTENDED TO HOUSE ARVN PRISONERS, BUT IT IS KNOWN THAT ON A FEW OCCASIONS U.S. PRISONERS WERE ALSO HELD THERE AT LEAST TEMPORARILY. THE TWO CAMPS WERE NORMALLY NO MORE THAN A FEW KILOMETERS APART). MR. MANG SAID HIS CAMP WAS DIRECTLY SUBORDINATE TO MR9 (OF SOUTH VIETNAM LIBERATION ARMED FORCES (SVNLAF)). (1) MR. MANG SAID THAT HE RECALLED THREE PRISONERS HELD ON THE AMERICAN SIDE OF THE CAMP. THEY WERE THE INDIVIDUALS IN CASES 0022-1-01 (RESOLVED), 0022-1-02 (RESOLVED), AND "A BLACK MAN NAMED [XXXX]. HE SAID HE DID NOT REMEMBER ANY OTHERS BECAUSE AFTER l965 HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO AN INFANTRY UNIT AND HAD NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE CAMP. THE INTERVIEWER REMINDED MR. MANG THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER AMERICAN WHO HAD BEEN CAPTURED WITH THE AMERICANS IN CASE 0022. AND ASKED IF HE COULD RECALL HIM. MR. MANG RESPONDED THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER MAN CAPTURED WHOM HE DESCRIBED AS A TALL CAUCASIAN. HE SAID THIS IN-D-IVIDUAL WAS TAKEN FROM THE CAMP BY CADRE OF THE POLITICAL DIRECTORATE WHO OVERSAW THE CAMP. LATER MR. MANG RECEIVED WORD FROM THE POLITICAL 045109/352 7 OF 11 130042Z DEC 93 CDR JTF-FA HON DIRECTORATE THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL (CASE 0021-1-01) HAD BEEN EXECUTED, AND THAT MANG WAS TO TAKE CUSTODY OF THE BODY FOR BURIAL. (2) MR. MANG SAID A BURIAL PARTY WAS FORMED WHICH CONSISTED OF HIMSELF, NGUYEN QUOC THANH AND THREE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOW DECEASED. HE REMEMBERED THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE BURIAL AS NEAR CANAL #14, BUT WAS AFRAID HE MIGHT NO LONGER BE ABLE TO PINPOINT THE SITE DUE TO TOPOGRAPHICAL CHANGES IN THE AREA AND THE PASSAGE OF TIME. HE ADDED THAT FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF THE PARIS PEACE ACCORDS. THE NLF HAD UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THIS GRAVE SITE IN ORDER TO REPATRIATE THE REMAINS. FOLLOWING "LIBERATION" IN 1975. MR9 AND MINH HAI PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THIS GRAVE SITE WITHOUT SUCCESS. MR. MANG DID CONSENT TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE THE BURIAL SITE AT THE JOINT SRT'S REQUEST. H. ON 7 OCTOBER 93, THE JOINT SAT TRAVELED TO BIEN BACH (BIEENX BACHJ) VILLAGE WHERE THEY MET THE VILLAGE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR. LE VAN TINH (LEE VAWN TINH), WHO INTRODUCED TWO MORE WITNESSES. THE SEVENTH WITNESS. MR. LE VAN TU (LEE VAWN TWJ, AKA NAWM (5) TWJ, AKA LEE VAWN ZO, AKA NAWM (5) ZO) IS 50 YOA AND CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF HUNG MY (HUNGF MYX) VILLAGE. CAI NUOC (CAIS NWOCS) DISTRICT, MINH HAI PROVINCE. HE HELD A POSITION AT THE TG36 CAMP FROM 1962-1970 AS ASSISTANT LEADER OF ONE SQUAD IN THE SECURITY PLATOON. MR. TU HAD INFORMATION RELATING TO CASES 0047-1-01 AND 0086-1-01. (1) MR. TU RECALLED THAT THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0047-1-01 BECAME VERY ILL AND DIED IN 1966 (HE COULD NOT RECALL THE MONTH). AT THAT TIME, HE WAS ONE OF FOUR INDIVIDUALS TASKED TO BURY THE BODY. WHEN ASKED WHO THE OTHER THREE INDIVIDUALS WERE. HE SAID MR. HAI THANH (AKA NGUYEN QUOC THANH SEE PARA 4C, ABOVE) WAS THE ONLY OTHER STILL LIVING. (2) MR. TU STATED THAT THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0047-1-01 WAS BURIED NEXT-TO CANAL #25. THIS INDIVIDUAL'S BODY WAS WRAPPED IN FOUR SQUARE METERS OF BLACK PLASTIC MATERIAL AND INTERRED IN MUDDY SOIL APPROXIMATELY 0.6 METERS DEEP. HE SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMEMBER FURTHER DETAILS REGARDING THE EXACT LOCATION, BUT OFFERED TO ASSIST BY LEADING THE TEAM TO THE // RMKS/ AREA, WHERE HE SAID, IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR HIM TO GET HIS BEARINGS ONCE HE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE AND REMEMBER LANDMARKS. (3) MR. TU RECALLED THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0086-1-01 BY NAME AND SAID HE DIED AT THE END OF l966. MR. TU DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE SUBSEQUENT BURIAL OF THIS 045109/352 8 OF 11 130042Z DEC 93 CDR JTF-FA HON INDIVIDUAL, BUT STATED MR. CONG (SEE PARA 4B, ABOVE) SUPERVISED THE OPERATION. HE COULD NOT RECALL EXACTLY HOW MANY OTHERS MAY HAVE ASSIGNED; THOUGHT THREE OR FOUR. HE BELIEVED THEY WERE ALL NOW DECEASED. HE SAID HE DID KNOW FROM THE OTHER GUARDS IN THE CAMP THAT THIS AMERICAN WAS BURIED ONLY ONE TO 1.5 KILOMETERS AWAY FROM THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0047-1-01. HE SAID BASED ON THAT INFORMATION, HE COULD ATTEMPT TO LEAD THE JOINT SRT TO THE SITE. I. THE EIGHTH WITNESS, MR. NGUYEN QUANG THANH (NGUYEENX QUANG THANHF, AKA SAUS (6) THANHF) IS 52 YOA AND CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF BIEN BACH VILLAGE, THOI BINH DISTRICT, MINH HAI PROVINCE. HE HELD A POSITION AT THE TG36 CAMP FROM 1964-1966 AS ASSISTANT LEADER OF ONE SQUAD IN THE SECURITY PLATOON. MR. THANH HAD INFORMATION RELATING TO CASE 0048-1-01. (1) MR. THANH RECALLED THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUAL IN CASE 0048-1-01 DIED IN EARLY 1965 DUE TO ILLNESS. WHEN ASKED WHETHER THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS A CAUCASIAN OR BLACK AMERICAN. MR. THANH RESPONDED THAT HE WAS ZA VANGF (MONGOLOID). MR. THANH SAID THAT HE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN, AND HAD ONLY HEARSAY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS BURIAL. THIS WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THOUGH HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SAME PLATOON WHICH PROVIDED SECURITY FOR CAMP TG36, HIS PARTICULAR SQUAD WAS NOT ASSIGNED TO THE CAMP ITSELF. (2) MR. THANH SAID THAT HE NEVER WENT TO THE 0048-1-01 BURIAL SITE. HE ONLY KNEW OF TWO PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE BURIAL. ONE IS MR. DUNG (SEE PARA 4E, ABOVE), THE OTHER IS DECEASED. 5. CORRELATIONS TO EXISTING PW/MIA CASES. A. NGUYEN CHI CONG'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4(8), ABOVE, CORRELATE TO CASE 0086-1-01 BASED ON NAME, PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, AND GENERAL TIME FRAME. B. NGUYEN QUOC THANH'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4C(1)-(2), ABOVE, CORRELATE TO CASE 0021-1-01 BASED ON NAME, TIME FRAME, GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, AND REPORTED CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH. C. NGUYEN QUOC THANH'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4C(3)-(4), ABOVE, CORRELATE TO CASE 0047-1-01 BASED ON NAME, TIME FRAME, AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. D. NGUYEN QUOC THANH'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4C(5)-(6) CORRELATE TO CASE 0048-1-01 BY NAME AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. E. NGUYEN QUOC THANH'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4C(7)-(A) CORRELATE TO CASE 0086-1-01 BASED ON NAME, PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION, TIME FRAME, AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. F. NGUYEN THANH THAN'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4D, ABOVE, 045107/352 9 OF 11 130042Z DEC 93 CDR JTF-FA HON CORRELATE TO CASE 0047-1-01 BASED ON NAME AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. G. NGUYEN DUNG'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4E, ABOVE, CORRELATE TO CASE 0048-1-01 BASED ON NAME, RACE, TIME FRAME AND CAPTURE LOCATION. H. NGUYEN VAN KIET'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4F(1)-(2). ABOVE, CORRELATE TO CASE 0021-1-01 BASED ON NAME, GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. AND CAPTURE ASSOCIATION. I. NGUYEN VAN KIET'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4F(1). ABOVE. CONCERNING THE RELEASED PRISONER CORRELATE TO CASE 0022-1-02. A RESOLVED CASE, BASED ON NAME AND RELEASE CIRCUMSTANCES J. SU VAN MANG'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4G(1). ABOVE, CONCERNING TWO OF THE THREE AMERICANS MANG INITIALLY REMEMBERED CORRELATE TO CASES 0022-1-01 AND 0022-1-02 BASED ON NAME AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. K. SU VAN MANG'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4G(1), ABOVE, CONCERNING THE BLACK AMERICAN PRISONER DO NOT CORRELATE TO ANY KNOWN CASE AT THIS TIME. L. SU VAN MANG'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4G(1)-(2). ABOVE, CORRELATE TO CASE 0021-1-01 BASED ON NAME. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION, AND REPORTED DEATH CIRCUMSTANCES. M. LE VAN TU'S STATEMENTS IN PARA-4H(1)-(2). ABOVE, CORRELATE TO CASE 0047-1-01 BASED ON NAME. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. N. LE VAN TU'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4H(3). ABOVE, CORRELATE TO CASE 0086-1-01 BASED ON NAME. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, AND TIME FRAME. O. NGUYEN QUANG THANH'S STATEMENTS IN PARA 4I. ABOVE CORRELATE TO CASE 0048-1-01 BASED ON NAME. RACE, GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, AND TIME FRAME. 6. POTENTIAL LEADS. THE COLLECTIVE WITNESS STATEMENTS IN THIS REPORT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WITNESSES' WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN GRAVE SITE SURVEYS, PROVIDE LEADS THAT MAY LOCATE THE GRAVES OF THE UNACCOUNTED FOR INDIVIDUALS IN CASES 0021-1-01, 0047-1-01, 0048-1-0l, AND 0086-1-01. SEE REFS B - E FOR COMPLETE SITE SURVEY INFORMATION AND CONCLUSIONS 7. MATERIAL EVIDENCE: NONE. 8. COMMENTS: A. THE SRT TEAM LEADER AND ANALYST/LINGUIST ASSESSED ALL EIGHT WITNESSES' RELIABILITY TO BE GOOD. B. THE SRT HAS RECOMMENDED THREE OF THE FOUR GRAVE SITES 045109/352 10 OF 11 130042Z DEC 93 CDR JTF-FA HON IDENTIFIED BY THE WITNESSES DURING THE INVESTIGATION IN MR9 FOR EXCAVATION. C. REQUEST THE VNOSMP MAKE THE ABOVE WITNESSES AVAILABLE FOR REINTERVIEW IF NECESSARY. D. FOR SITE SURVEY INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS, SEE REF B - E. // BT DLVR:CDR JTF-FA HONOLULU HI(1)...ORIG J2(0)...INFO FOR USCINCPAC HONOLULU H(11) 00499/17/1291 J30-M(1) J3(1) 00-01-04(1) WWMCS(0) MDT(0) LRN061PCMT(0) J52(1) J51(1) Jl(l) J032(3) J03(1) CD0(1) *** MDU office codes that have received this message: *** MDUOPR 045109/352 11 OF 11 130042Z DEC 93 CDR JTF-FA HON