RAND
WASH. QPFlCg
NORTH VIETNAM (NVN) SOUTH VIETNAM (STO)
DATE OF INFO
DATS AND PLACE OF ACQUISITION
Allied Prisoners in the hands of the VC
U6
?aIOON, Vietnam
DATE OF REPORT:OF PAGESt 3
EMBASH* (OSA)
7 Postal Registry Ho.
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Date
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ource participated, in an ambushnit of the First Calvary. This ambush took piacBarge clearing locatedilometer from the Village of GAO, PLEIKU Province. In this actionC ambushed an AMERICAN Force which consisted ofroop-carryingopters. Afteri.inlli6tigg))eavy casualties on the AMERICAN Forces, the VC broke oontact when AMERICAN re-inf ore entente arrived via additionalopters. This battle lasted approximatelyinutes,
Source indicated that during the battle he saw one white AMERICAN soldier who was seriously'wounded (shot in the thigh) taken prisoner. Sourcethat the VC carried him offtretcher. Source could offer no further information concerning this captive. Source, however, assumed that the POW was carried to the Base Surgical Dispensary which was located approximatelyilometers from the battle areaesterly direction from 0A0 Village. Source also stated that the wounded captive could possibly havearried to the First Aid Station rather than the Bass Surgical Dispensary. This First Aid Station was located approximately mid-way between the battle area and the Base Surgical,ilometers from the battle aroa, also in adirection from 0A0 Village.
Source claimed that all VC units were indoctrinated to take prisoners and were directed to well-treat all captives. Source could not, however,seeing or hearing of any specific directive concerning the treatment of powa,
k. Source stated that according to the man in his squad, responsible for -taking the captives to the rear area, approximatelyMERICAN&wepec0 captured in thla battle. Source could offer no information concerning theinal disposition of the prisoners since his squad continued to do battle. Source, however, assumed that these prisoners would be transmitted to some rear unit for final disposition. Source could offer no information as to the where-abouts of any PCW camps.
1%. Source stated that his squad took four captives during this battle, two white and two negro soldiers. All captives carried individual automatic weapons. Source himself took one prisoner. Source claimed he did not know tha name of the prisoner nor his rank, since he could not speak English nor could he recognize rank insignias. Source only recognised tha shoulder patch whichorse pictured on it,
6. Source described the method for handling battle-field captives as follows: Each VC squad is divided intoan cells.attle, one man from one cell in the squad was assigned the responsibility of taking charge Of any captives taken by his squad and insuring that the captive was takenear area unit.aptive was taken, either the man taking the captive or the squad member responsible for prisoners, tied the captive is hands behind hishe prisoner was then taken to the rear area. The VC used either rope (about the size of the rope used with hammocks) or wire. Source stated that each VC soldier carriedeters of either rope or wire. Once ths assigned squad member had delivered the captive to the rear area unit, he returned to the battle field for any additional oaptives.
Source claimed that he never saw this rear- service Unit or any PCW camps, because he was wounded during Vhis battle, his first, and captured. Forces approximatelyays after the battle while hiding in the forest in CHU THONG Mountains, PLEIKU Province.
Source could offer no first hand, inforaation on how PCWe were moved nor where they were finally Interned* Source, hovever, assumed that they were marched on foot, whith thoir hands tied behind thalr backa to prevent escape, to the rear areas. Source further stated that he assumed that whenover the PCWa had to rest for any extended period that the POWs shoes were probably takan from them, because they (NVN/VC) had learned from previous experiences In fighting tha FRENCH, that Westerners could not fcrr travel far in this kind of terrain in their bare feet.
Original document.
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