[0829-71.cm 02/25/96]
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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: VS, RVN MR-3, TAY NINH Province 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0829 71
2. SUBJECT: (U) US PW Sighting in 9. DATE OF REPORT: 2 Aug 71
TAY NINH Province (handwritten- W31437)
10.NO. OF PAGES: 3
3. ISC NUMBER: 723.000 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G1, 6G3
723.600 BRIGHT LIGHT
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Mar or Apr 67 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: NCHC, SAIGON, VS
22 Jul 71
13. PREPARED BY: LARRY D. BLALOCK
SP6, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: Returnee Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED)
PAUL G. SPERO
LTC, USA
Dir, US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY
(C) This report contains information concerning the sighting of one US
PW being escorted through BIEN GIOI Village (sic), CHAU THANH District,
TAY NINH Province, RVN, in Mar or Apr 67, to include location of
sighting, circumstancesof sighting, limited physical description of the
PW, limited movementdata, assumed disposition of the PW, and physical
condition of the PW. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: MAI VAN RUONG (MAI, VEAN RUOONGV), CMIC C-3737
b. Rank: None
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Plat Ldr; Rear Service Plat,
Rear Service Staff, TAY NINH Province Unit
d. DPOB: 1915; TAN DINH DIEN Village, DONG District, GO CONG
Province, RVN
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 3
e. Parents' Names: Father, VO VAN NHAN (VOO, VEAN NHAANV), deceased;
Mother, MAI THI NUONG, (MAI, THIV NUOONG), deceased
f. Circumstances of Return: On Jun 71, Source's unit was attacked by an
unidentified ARVN unit. Source took refuge in the Jungles and survived by
begging food from the local populace. Due to his age and great desire to live
with his family again, Source returned to the GVN on 14 Jun 71, at LINH DIEN
Village, PHUOC NINH District, TAY NINH Province, RVN.
g. Significant Activities. Source lived with his family and helped them
with the farming until 1953. In 1953 Source Joined the VIET MINH forces and
was assigned as a runner for the MY THO (VC) Province Unit. Source returned to
his POB in Jul 54 and farmed until Mar 63. He then joined the VC forces and
was assigned to the Rice Production Sqd, Rear Service Section, TAY NINH
Province Unit, located in the BA C HAM area; CHAU THANH District, TAY NINH
Province. In Jul 70, he was reassigned to the Rice Procurement and
Transportation Plat, TAY NINH Province Unit, as the assistant platoon leader
of the 10-man platoon and was promoted to platoon leader in Aug 70. This
platoon, located in CAY DAU District (sic), SVAY RIENG Province, CAMBODIA,
had the mission of procuring and delivering rice to elements of the TAT NINH
Province Unit. Source remained in this position until 8 Jun 71, when the
platoon was attacked by an unidentified ARVN force. Forced to take refuge in
the Jungles, Source begged food from the local populace until 14 Feb 71, when
he rallied to the village officials of LINH DIEN Village, PHUOC NINH
District, TAY NINH Province, RVN, because he felt he was too old to continue
such an existence and he wished to live with his family again.
h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide
2. (C) US PW Sighting in TAY NINH Province, RVN:
a. Circumstances of Sighting. In Mar or Apr 67, Source saw one US PW
being escorted through BIEN GIOI Village (sic) (coordinates unknown), CHAU
THANH District, TAY NINH Province, RVN, by two VC guards armed with AK-47
rifles. The US PW and guards passed through the village at approximately 2000
hour from the direction of the HO BA TAY area, BEN CAU District, TAY NINH
Province, and left the village heading in the direction of the XOM GIUA
area, TAY NINH Province. (Interrogator's Note. Source heard from other
villagers who had talked to the guard that the XOM GIUA area was to be the
final destination of the US PW.) The US PW was dressed in US jungle fatigues
and black leather boots.
b. Identification
(1) Name: Unknown
(2) Rank/Branch of Service: Source heard from other villagers that the
US PW was a US Army major.
Page 3 of 3
(3) Nationality: American (assumed)
(4) Physical Description:
Height: 1.80m
Weight: 700kg
Color of Hair and Eyes: Hair, brown; Eyes, unknown
Race: Caucasian Complexion: Red, clear
Hair: Long, thin
Nose: Medium length, straight
Scars: None visible
Build: Medium
Age: 30 years
Glasses Worn: None
Rings/Watches: Watch (description unknown due to darkness)
(5)Clothing. At the time of sighting, the PW was wearing US Jungle
fatigues, black leather boots, and no hat.
(6) Physical Condition of the PW. At the time of sighting, the PW
appeared to be in good health. Source saw no evidence of wounds.
c. Movement Data. Source stated that the PW was being escorted by two
VC guards armed with AK-47 rifles. The PW was not bound or blindfolded.
The three men walked through BIEN GIOI Village (sic), CHAU THANH
District, TAY NINH Province, RVN, from the HO BA TAY area, BEN CAU
District, TAY NINH Province, and continued walking in the direction of
the XOM GUIA area, TAY NINH Province.
(U) COMMENTS: Source was illiterate and seemed somewhat slow in answering all
questions. The village where the sighting took place was not listed in any
gazetteer and could not be located on any maps available at CMIC.
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