[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//
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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(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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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
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