[0871-71.CM 02/25/96]
[NETWORK NOTE: This document was scanned and retyped to make it an ASCII file.
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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 revelatin 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, NGHE AN Province 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0871 71
2. SUBJECT: PW Sighting in THANH 9. DATE OF REPORT: 14 Aug 71
CHUONG District, NGHE AN Province, NVN (handwritten-W31437)
10.NO. OF PAGES: 5
3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G3
SICR: D-6C2-26423
BRIGHT LIGHT
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: Apr or May 67 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS
4 Aug 71
13. PREPARED BY: NELS M. SATHER
SP5, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: PW Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED)
PAUL G. SPERO
LTC, USA
Dir, US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY
(C) This report contains information on an American pilot captured three
or four kilometers north of LANG SEN Village, THANH CHUONG District,
NGHE AN Province, NVN (exact location unknown), to include the
circumstances of the sighting, description of the PW, clothing worn by
the PW, physical condition, capture data, and evacuation procedures. THIS
IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: NGUYEN HUU THACH (NGUYEENX, HUWUX THACHV), CMIC 0304-71
b. Rank: PFC
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Soldier; 2d Plat, 12th, 12th
Co, 6th Bn, 61st Group, 18B Regt
d. DPOB: 22 Aug 52; LANG SEN Village, THANH CHUONG District, NGHE
AN 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 5
e. Parents' Names: Father, NGUYEN HUU BAN (NGUYEENX, HUWUX BANN),
living; Mother, PHAM THI Y (FAM, THIV Y), living
f. Circumstances of Capture. On 2 May 71, Source's unit stopped for
the night near Canal 7, RACH GIA (VC) Province, RVN. As Source was helping to
prepare the evening meal, an unidentified ARVN unit attacked. Source, NGUYEN,
VAN SO (NGUYEENX, VEAN SOW), CIMC 0305-71, and NGUYEN VEAN THANH (NGUYEENX,
VEAN THANH), CMIC 0303-71, were captured.
g. Significant Activities. Source attended his village school from
1960 to 1968, then worked for the village cooperative as a farmer until he was
drafted into the NVA on 30 Apr 70. Source was assigned to the 7th Sqd, 3d
Plat, 14th Co, 4th Bn, 22d Regt, MR-IV, located at QUYNH LAM Village, QUYNH
LUU District, NGHE AN Province. From Apr to Nov 70, he received basic
training. One 21 Nov 70, the 4th Bn was designated the 2249 Infiltration
Group and, with an approximate strength of 400 men, began infiltrating to the
RVN. The group arrived in Southern CAMBODIA on 17 Apr 71. The personnel of
the 14th Co were assigned to the 6th Bn. (Interrogator's Note: Source did not
know the subordination of the 6th Bn.) The group was taken to the BA HON
area, KIEN GIANG Province, RVN. Source was further assigned to the 2d Plat,
12th Co, 6th Bn. On 28 Apr 71, the 12th Co joined elements of the 4th Bn and
proceeded to an unknown area of KIEN GIANG Province. Source did not know the
mission of the unit nor its designation. On 2 May 71, Source was captured
with two others while they were setting up their camp for the night.
h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; US PW
Photo Album, Hq 525 MI Gp did 10 Nov 68, MACV IDHS PW/MIA/CPT Biographic File,
dtd 16 Jul 71
2. PW Sighting in THANH CHUONG District, NGHE AN Province, NVN. This
information is based on SICR D-6C2-264321:
a. Circumstances of Sighting. In Apr or May 67, Source was returning
to his home to eat and relax after working in the fields, when he observed a
pilot eject form an F-105 aircraft which had been hit by antiaircraft fire
from an antiaircraft artillery gun (site location unknown). Source saw the
pilot land approximately three or four kilometers north of LANG SEN Village,
THANH CHUONG District, NGHE AN Province, NVN (exact location unknown). Source
ran to where the pilot landed, which was about one kilometer away. Source
observed the PW for less than five minutes at a distance of 10 meters. The
pilot was guarded by five men of the LANG SEN Village Militia. The group was
armed with one CKC. The PW's hands were bound behind his back. He was taken
on foot to an unknown destination.
b. Description of PW;
(1) Identification:
(a) Name: Unknown
(b) Rank and Branch of Service: Major (heresay)
Page 3 of 5
(c) Nationality: American
(d) Physical Description:
1 Height: 1.80m
2 Weight: 100kg
3 Color of Hair and Eyes: Light yellow; Light blue
4 Race: Caucasian
5 Complexion: Fair
6 Hair Length: Medium thickness and length
7 Nose: Long
8 Scars: None observed
9 Tattoos: None observed
10 Birthmarks: None observed
11 Build: Heavy
12 Age: Unknown (Interrogator's Note: Source was
unwilling to guess.)
13 Glasses Worn: None observed
14 Rings/Watches: Calendar watch on the left arm
For comparative purposes a description of the Interrogator is provided by
Source:
Estimate Actual
Height 1.70m 1.70m
Weight 70 to 80kg 81kg
Age 25 25
(2) Clothing Worn by PW. Source could not provide any information
on the PW's clothing other than that he wore olive drab colored clothing.
(3) Physical Condition. The PW did not appear to need medical
treatment at the time of capture.
(4) Capture Data. The PW was captured at 1200 hours, in Apr or
May 67, after bailing out of a F-105 airplane disabled by antiaircraft
artillery. The PW landed approximately three or four kilometers north of
Page 4 of 5
LANG SEN Village, THANH CHUONG District, NGHE AN Province, NVN (exact location
unknown). The pilot was captured by five members of the LANG SEN Village
Militia, armed with one CKC among them. The PW's hands were bound behind his
back.
c. Evacuation Procedures. The PW was led away on foot by the five
militia men to an unknown destination. Source thought that the PW was taken
to the HGHE AN Province Unit.
d. Photo Identification. Source was unable to recognize the PW from
the US PW Photo Album.
e. Biographical Correlation. The following is a list of American PW
whose date and location of capture correspond to the date and location of
capture given by Source:
Name JPRC Number Status
CAMERON, KENNETH R. 1244 CPT
CARLTON, JAMES E. 405 MIA
COLE, LEGRANDE O. JR. 1260 MIA
DODGE, RONALD W. 1276 CPT
SWANSON, JOHN WILLARD JR. 1140 MIA
The following is a list of American PW whose date of capture corresponds to
the date of capture given by the Source. No coordinates are given by the
Source. No coordinates are given for their capture location.
Name JPRC Number Status
CARRIER, DANIEL LEWIS 651 MIA
CLARK, JOHN WALTER 665 CPT
CRAIN, CARROLL OWEN JR. 1267 MIA
CROW, FREDERICK AUSTIN JR. 692 CPT
FOWLER, HENRY POPE JR. 762 CPT
CALVIN, RONALD EDMOND 1309 MIA
GOODRICH, EDWIN RILEY JR. 779 MIA
PALENSCAR, ALEXANDER, J. III 1402 MIA
PAWLISH, GEORGE F. 1406 MIA
ROCKETT, ALTON CRAIG JR. 1066 MIA
SHERMAN, PETER W. 1438 MIA
f. VC/NVA Policy Concerning the Treatment and Disposition of US PW.
Source was unaware of any policy on treatment given to US PW. Source stated
that NVA soldiers never physically harmed US PW.
(U) COMMENTS: Source was administered the Cross-Cultural IQ Test and scored
Low Average (15). Source was cooperative during the interrogation and his
answers to control questions were consistent. Source was unable to find the
location of the PW sighting on a may even though the sighting occurred near
his POB. This report partially satisfies the requirements of SICR
D-6C2-26423.
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