Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). "Possible Cooperation of American Prisoners-of-War
with the Viet Cong in Quang Da Special Zone." November 8, 1971.
 FULL TEXT
CS 317/09052/71
9 November 1971
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Possible Cooperation of American Prisoners-of-War with the Viet Cong in Quang Da
Special Zone.
SOURCE:______
1. According to ______, a former cadre of the VC QDSZ Transportation Section, 7th April 1970
three American POW's, a captain, a staff sergeant and an enlisted man, were sent to work in the
office of the QDSZ Current Affairs Jcommittee near AT923420, in the mountain area of Son Phuc
Village GVN Duc Duc District, GVN Quang Nam Province.* Initially the VC cadres were forbidden
to talk with the American POW's, but later the Americans, who could speak some Vietnamese became
friendly with several cadres in the area. The three POW's, whose names are unknown, were
described as follows:
A. The captain was white, about 26 or 28 years old, 1.8 meters tall, and had bulging eyes, blonde
hair, a moustache and hairy forearms. He was single and was a former college student. He was
captured in 1968 by the VC while on an operation in Binh Duong Village, Thanh Binh District,
Wuang Tin Province. He was detained one year by an unidentified section of VC TD-5 for thought
reform. He then reportedly agreed to work for the VC.**
B. The staff sergeant was white, about 25 years old, 1.6 meters tall, and fat, with a protruding
stomach. He had brown hair, a moustache and was sunburned. He was single and had a sister who is
a college teacher. He was captured by guerrillas during an operation near the Que Son Mountains
in Phu Huong Village, Que Soh District, Quang Tin Province. He was detained for thought reform
by an MR-5 agency for a few months and afterwards reportedly agreed to work for the VC.*
C. The enlisted man was black, about 25 years old, 1.8 meters tall, and fat. He had bulging eyes,
facial acne, and had several upper front teeth missing. He was captured at approximately the same
location as the captain in 1968. He also received thought reform for a few months while detained
by a VC MR-5 agency. He then went to work for the VC.** The black POW claimed to have seen several
other American POW's detained by MR-5***
2. While undergoing thought reform the POW's were indoctrinated on the political policies of the
National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam (NFLSVN) and the activities of the U.S.
"Progressive" Movement. They were also taught some Vietnamese language. Upon completing the
indoctrination those POW's willing to work for the VC were sent to various VC MR-5 provinces;
the others went to North Vietnam.
3. In May 1970 the changing military situation forced the VC QDSZ Current Affairs Committee to
move from near AT923420 in Son Phuc Village, GVN Duc Duc District, to near ZC120443 in the
mountains of GVN Thuong Duc District. The three American POW's also moved and worked in the new
location. The captain worked closely with Current Affairs Committee members and seldom talked to
other VC cadres. In early 1971 the captain was transferred to an unidentified MR-5 agency,
leaving the two enlisted men POW's at the QDSZ echelon. These two were then assigned to the QDSZ
military proselyting section to write leaflets and letters urging the U.S. troops to stop their
military activities and desert. The two POW's also interrogated captured U.S. troops, recorded
propaganda speeches for broadcast, and taught English to the QDSZ cadre. Each American POW
received a food allowance of VN$150 (U.S. $0.54) which is three times that of a QDSZ cadre. They
also were given canned U.S. field rations obtained in GVN markets, and were issued rubber
sandals and VC black and U.S. olive green uniforms.
4. The black POW appeared to have more freedom of movement than the others; he occationally
accompanied VC transportation cadres to the Phu Thuan market near AT878511 in Loc Quy Village or
to Xuyen Phu Village, (GVN Duc Duc District), where they obtained rice for the Committee. The
black POW told ______ that he did not want to return to the U.S. until peace came, and that he
had written two letters to friends in the U.S. between January and June 1971 to encourage U.S.
youth to continue their anti-war demonstrations. These letters were mailed through the VC postal
system via Hanoi.
5. In March 1971 ______ saw one American POW who had been captured by the VC La Dai Loc District
and brought to the Committee location. The white staff sergeant interrogated the new POW for a
few days; he was later sent to an unknown location. In April 1971 the VC launched a strong attack
on Al Nghia Town (Dai Loc District Headquarters).* Prior to this attack these POW's were seen
meeting with QDSZ military cadres near AT872531 in Phu Binh Hamlet, Loc Quy Village, GVN Duc Duc
District. The military cadres included Fnu Ngoe, Commander of the Q91 Local Force (LF) Sapper
Unit; Fnu Quy, Commander of the 140th Transportation Battalion of Front 4; Fnu Khoi, Deputy
Commander of the 38th Regiment; Gnu Sing, a member of the 38th Regiment, who interpreted for
the two POW's.*
*______ comment: VC QDSZ Includes Danang and most of GVN Quang Nam Province. VC MR-5 covers the
area of South Vietnam generally included between GVN Quang Nam Province on the north and Darlac
and Khanh Hoa Province on the south.
**______ comment: According to the Joint Personnel Recovery Center (JPRC) this description
matches that of SP4 Gustav Mehrer, (also known as Gus Maddox), who went AWOL, from his unit on
25 December 1968 to avoid a court martial for repeated use of marijuana. His unit was in Southern
Thang Binh District at the time. He has a brother who is a major and has tried to pass himself
off as an officer in the past.
* ______ comment: According to JPRC, the description of this man resembles that of Corporal
Dennis Hammond, captured in Dien Ban District on 8 February 1968 while trying to reinforce a
Combined Action Platoon (CAP) unit that was being overrun. He has helped write, and has signed,
several pieces of propaganda for the VC.
** ______ comment: According to JPRC this man closely resembles Sergeant Joe S. Burch, an AWOL
marine, who is also missing front teeth. He was last seen in June 1968 when he returned to
Danang for rest and recreation. It is possible that he had gone as far south as Quang Tin
Province in an attempt to reach an area that was on limits and in which it would be easier to
hide out.
*** ______ comment: All three POW's were captured in VC Quang Nam Province, which includes GVN
Quang Tin Province and part of GVN Quang Nam Province. See C5 311/01613/71 for a report on an
MR-5 thought reform camp located on the border of GVN Quang Tin and Quang Ngai Provinces.
* ______ comment: The POW who interrogated the new POW and the new POW may have helped make the
advance plans for the attack.
* ______ comment: This attack actually occurred on 2 May and resulted in 103 enemy killed in
action (KIA) and 5 enemy POW's. GVN forces suffered 15 KIA and 53 wounded in action.
* ______ comment: Other reporting shows a Fnu Ngoc was a member of the Q91 Unit in March 1969.
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