[0958-71.CM 02/29/96]
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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: VN, HA TINH Province 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0958 71
2. SUBJECT: (U) The sighting of Three US 9. DATE OF REPORT: 22 Nov 71
PW in HA TINH Province, NVN (handwritten-W32922)
10. NO. OF PAGES: 5
3. ISC NUMBER: 723.000 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 1A2a, 6G3
723.600 SICR: D-7CX-49018
BRIGHT LIGHT
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: 1968 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: NCHC, SAIGON, VS
13. PREPARED BY: JAMES C. EBBERT
SP5, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: Returnee Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED
LaVern A. Gustafson, Maj. for)
PAUL G. SPERO
LTC, USA
Dir, US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY
(C) This report contains information concerning the sighting of three US
PW in DUC LAC Village, DUC THO District, HA TINH Province, NVN; to include
the circumstances of sighting, limited description of the PW, and very
limited capture data. THIS IS A BRIGHT LIGHT REPORT. MACV FOR JPRC.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: NGUYEN CONG HOAN (NGUYEENX, COONG HOAN), CMIC C-3762
b. Rank: PFC
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Soldier; 1st Sqd, 1st Plat,
809th Co, DUC TRONG District Unit, TUYEN DUC Province Unit
d. DPOB: 1945; DUC LAC Village, DUC THO District, HA TINH
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 NGHIA (NGUYEENX, NGHIAX), living;
Mother, VO THI HET (VOX, THIV HETS), living
f. Circumstances of Return. On 30 May 71, Source was returning to
his unit after procuring weapons and ammunition. Source fell behind the group
and hid in the jungle until the following day. He then rallied to the GVN
Police Station in THANH BINH Village, DUC TRONG District, TUYEN DUC Province,
RVN.
g. Significant Activities. From 1952 until 1961, Source attended
school at his POB. Source then remained at home and helped his parents with
the farming until 24 Apr 70, when he was drafted into the NVA. Source was
assigned to the 11th Sqd, 4th Plat, 24th Co, 6th Bn, MR-IV, and he received
basic infantry and infiltration training with that unit while located near CAM
SON Village, CAM XUYEN District, HA TINH Province, NVN. On 27 Nov 70, the 6th
Battalion, consisting of approximately 550 men, was designated the 2248th
Infiltration Group and began infiltration to the RVN. The group infiltrated
through LAOS and arrived in the CAN CHE area, CAMBODIA, in Feb 71. The
infiltration group remained in the CAN CHE area for three days, after which
Source and approximately 300 other men were assigned to SR-6. Source remained
in CAMBODIA until late Mar 71, when he was assigned to the TUYEN DUC Province
Unit. At that time, Source was promoted to PFC. On 5 May 71, Source arrived
in DUC TRONG District, TUYEN DUC Province, RVN, and was assigned to the 1st
Sqd, 1st Plat, 809th Co, DUC TRONG District Unit, TUYEN DUC Province Unit.
Source remained with the unit until he rallied on 31 May 71. Source rallied
because all of his relatives, except for his parents, lived in the RVN, and he
wished to join them.
h. Additional References: CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; JPRC PW
Photo Album, dtd 1 Aug 71
2. The Sighting of Three US PW in DUC LAC Village, DUC THO District, HA
TINH Province, NVN. The information in this report is based on SICR
D-7CX-49018 (Prisoner of War Intelligence):
a. Circumstances of Sighting. On three occasions in Feb, Apr, and
Sep 1968, Source observed a US PW escorted by two guards, walking through DUC
LAC Village, DUC THO District, HA TINH Province, NVN. In each case, the PW
walked through the village without stopping, and Source was told that they
were all taken to an unknown location in HA TAY Province, NVN.
b. US PW:
(1) Identification. In each sighting, Source observed the PW for
approximately one minute. Source examined the JPRC PW Photo Album and
picked-out the photographs of three men who resemble the three PW he observed.
(Interrogator's Note: Because the PW were in poor health and because Source
only observed them for a short time, he was not able to make a positive
identification.)
Page 3 of 5
(a) The PW Sighted in Feb 68 (resembling JOHN SCOTT ALBRIGHT III,
Photo Number 0561, JPRC PW Photo Album);
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 80kg
Color of Hair and Eyes: Brown; unknown
Race: Caucasian
Complexion: Light
Hair: Two to three inches long
Nose: Small
Tattoos: None visible
Birthmarks: None visible
Build: Medium
Age: Undetermined
Glasses Worn: None
Rings/Watches: None
(b) The PW Sighted in Apr 68 (resembling DAVID EDWARD FORD, Photo
Number 0760, JPRC PW Photo Album):
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 75kg
Color of Hair and Eyes: Brown; unknown
Race: Caucasian
Complexion: Light
Hair: Approximately two inches long
Nose: Large
Scars: None visible
Tattoos: None visible
Page 4 of 5
Birthmarks: None visible
Build: Medium
Age: Approximately 30
Glasses Worn: None
Rings/Watches: None
The PW Sighted in Sep 68 (resembling CLIFFORD W. FRISZEL,
Photo Number 0747, JPRC PW Photo Album):
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 75kg
Color of Hair and Eyes: Brown; unknown
Race: Caucasian
Complexion: Light
Hair: Approximately two inches long
Nose: Large
Scars: None visible
Tattoos: None visible
Birthmarks: None visible
Build: Medium
Age: Approximately 30
Glasses worn: None
Rings/Watches: None
(2) Clothing. Each of the PW wore a NVA uniform and US Army jungle
boots.
(3) Branch of Service. Source did not know to what branch the PW
were attached, but was told that all three PW were pilots.
(4) Physical Condition. All three of the PW were in very poor
health. None were wounded, but they appeared to be ill and were thin from
illness or lack of food.
Page 5 of 5
e. Capture Data. Source was told bu the village cadre that each of
the PW was captured in the RVN. Source did not know the date of capture or
the exact location of capture. The PW were evacuated to NVN along
commo-liaison routes.
(U) COMMENTS: Source was of average intelligence and cooperated fully
throughout the interrogation. This report partially satisfies the
requirements of SICR D-7CX-49018.
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