Viet Cong desertion research notes

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363-01837 to 363-01856.pdf

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363-01837 to 363-01856

Title

Viet Cong desertion research notes

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Original title: "Turncoat." Research notes about Viet Cong deserters

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Draft transcripts were automatically generated via Google Document AI and are currently under review. Please report significant errors to Archives & Special Collections at archives@unl.edu.

Transcript

Turncoat
Still Reports [illegible] of interrogation-
L. Col. Tran Van Dac 49- was VNQWW- B. Division lt[?] province- Middle-class formal- Unit two governor school Only 8-10 grades.
Alias HA#8 Hanoi#8
Political Commission of VC [Viet Cong] 9th Division- Deputy political Commission of Sub-Command 4- T-700 new gang two.
Pvt Gen of forward command of sub-command 1- the forward command is divert C.O.C. [Combat Operations Center]
Gen Tran Van Tran [Trần Văn Trà] alias Tran Nam Truong- VC Westmoreland- also 4 C.H. called.
forward company of attack on cities T-700 Command. 16 km north of center of Saigon. Border of SD [Sa Đéc] BD [Bình Định] provinces Templed[?].
Dac Hod [Đức Hòa?] Regiment 161 to provide sec [section?] This command over
Timing
VC 1st ordered all units ready April 16. All [shorthand] ready for staying to [shorthand] later [shorthand] exact date to [shorthand].
Then postpone to April 22.
When Huong rebound to [shorthand] side, date not given. And he was ordered [shorthand] May 1. He guessed [shorthand] April 26 Friday until May 1.
Regiment 161. 1 Heavy Weapons on #20 in general vicinity North of Saigon.
1F200 1 unit of infantry- unit 18 F200- 10 km air TSN [Tan Son Nhut Air Base] in Hoc Mon [Hóc Môn] district highway further north
Unit 2F102
Sapper newer un[it] 125 of F100 regiment at An Phu Dong [An Phú Đông] village in Hoc Mon. Huy [Huế] first of 5 km northeast of TSN. 9 ½ km to JUSPAO [Joint United States Public Affairs Office]
2 Regiments- 271 and 272 of VC 9th Division
Regiment 88 (outcome NVA [North Vietnamese Army])
Heavy Weapon Regiment
2 battalions of Regiment 101
All [illegible] withdraw further north to Lon Ng base. After Tet offensive at fringe of zone C- Iron triangle.
50km north of TSN in B. Dang [Bình Dương?] province These elements withdraw after Tet. Rest R and A [illegible] to receive reinforce[?] already done. Sent to [shorthand] down my time. Center they critical. lesson learned politically brim was his promotion-demotion.
These are direct command of ARVN [Army of the Republic of Vietnam] that the Regiment 272 of VC 9 Division. More down to attack Q Truong [Ngô Quang Trưởng?] to comp in his province.
Regiment 101 of 7th Division [shorthand] in to attack TSN A/B specially
Regiment 88 of NVA [shorthand] used on reserve organization stationed in Phu Hoa Dong [Phú Hòa Đông]. About 20 miles North of Northwest of TSN road. And they are spread along Phu Hoa [Phú Hòa] provincial road # 8 to B Duong [Bình Dương] Rd [shorthand] Cu Chi [Củ Chi] to B Duong a lot of rubber plant bush foliage. US 25th Division TAOR [Tactical area of responsibility]
271 of 9th Division and ready to [shorthand] town to reinforce 272 after Q Truong. Morning battle is over. [shorthand] on to attack Saigon While 101st on N East side the Dun battle area- to attack no. pt. of TSN.
271-272 to attack Saigon
Ground attacks
Saigon [illegible] 88 Regiment [shorthand] in to reinforce 107 north part of Saigon
Inside the outskirts of Saigon
all Regiment helped guides coordinated units
Sapper [shorthand] iron cn T-700 or F-100- destruction onto battalion.
Auto battalions
1st battalion of Saigon cholon SD [Sa Đéc]
2nd battalion South VAP [shorthand] HM
3rd battalion of DD
Rocket battalion of Heavy weapons- 28 tubs[?] of 122- [shorthand] info tubs[?]
1 battalion DKZ-57 [shorthand] 75- regardless after
1 battalion 82 mm mortars
This Heavy weapons stationed [shorthand] Go VAP [Gò Vấp] district North Northwest of Saigon up to 1 from triangle. [shorthand] Harass[?] US troops [shorthand] down 1st division 25th division
frontal [shorthand] 2 main land arteries in Saigon [shorthand] North Northwest zone C [shorthand] D
Spearhead of attack [shorthand] start 1st to [shorthand] Cambodia [shorthand] plan of reds [shorthand] command BA.
Straight- 2 hours of Lin Pao torture Bon Tap
(Run-attack) applied in NVN [North Vietnam]
Company [shorthand] stationed South of So Do Hom rest into HM
Phu Tho [Phú Thọ province] Hon on about 1 division is [shorthand]
Other sources: VC [Viet Cong] has a reg of armored vehicle [illegible] regiment on North side of Cambodian border. [shorthand] day soon ok but now out. part 1 to Saigon
50 km [shorthand] Cambodia border to TSN [shorthand] air
When that regiment [shorthand] are armor East trained in NVN to [illegible] armor in H Nguyen all NVA. walk [shorthand] in with infantry.
ARVN [shorthand] to Saigon [shorthand] logical. How can you drive tank through swamps
Supplies
Supply of ammunition was 80% [illegible] after Tet but try to [shorthand] in [shorthand] deposited along
Rivercats[?] Ba Hong Ranh. Tran Dua. West of Saigon River to troop downstream to have mr[?] ARVN 20 km North of Saigon
Timing F-0
The advance part of forward command of all units [shorthand] committed already [shorthand] infiltrate close to target as [shorthand] as they forward observer [shorthand] art. [illegible] a [illegible].
Infront units CO [commanding officer] already [shorthand] advance now in [shorthand]. He talked with Dong again. Regiment (VC) [shorthand] participate but CO said his own [shorthand] ready for part in attack.
Now, VC are forming regiment #1 [shorthand] cadre command but no troops [illegible] expert after [shorthand] attack to [shorthand] recruits.
3rd wave
This is 3rd wave for US 2nd wave. (artillery) Heavy Weapon attack [shorthand] B Hai [Bến Hải River] to Canon. Now the 3rd wave [shorthand] simultaneous.
Ground of artillery attack
COLOA 1 VN [Vietnam] regiment of armor
The objective on al Tet.
1- POW [Prisoner of War] camp barracks ammunition
2 JSS
3
[shorthand] information- VC- [shorthand] 1 regiment into TAOR 3. They [shorthand] and a lot of phony SD infiltration and they use a lot SVN [South Vietnam]. Seals ordnance still limit possibility [illegible] School
SVN Regiment 43 stamps
[illegible] Be LA Southwest of Saigon
[shorthand] a special [shorthand] ID now out regiment of 5th division in TAOR 3 already there.
[shorthand] along canal B Chanh [Bình Chánh] attack [illegible]
[illegible] toll [shorthand] all kind of [shorthand] units.
Artillery battalion [shorthand] coordinate with the auto battalion #4 [shorthand] 6 to attack tw built district [shorthand] to celebrate [shorthand] and attack all [shorthand] parts as possible. Order [shorthand] in that area to company strike fire [shorthand] 3 [shorthand] preserved fis it to [shorthand] pulled up April 25 for troops order [shorthand] to save food [shorthand] 6 months those with [shorthand] 6 months to dom to VC attack.
TB Northwest of Saigon West of TSN in Vinh lor area. West of TSN 10 km
[shorthand] pay [shorthand] line late [shorthand] an IOU
Battalion 5 (auto) in Nho Be [Nhà Bè]
N Be [Nhà Bè] TAOR 3 [shorthand] Tet had [shorthand] cells broken by US-SVN troops. Political-Military reprisal [shorthand] Gln. squads lost lots of casualties [shorthand] reinforce VC Syn were in [illegible].
But since Tet, 2 reversed permitted 100 [shorthand] out 1 week of military training. 50 per group- all are around.
These are divided in squads. 11 village squads [shorthand] hamlet squads out of 100 (13 units)
New corridor to carry supply- improve tax. Liaison company re-st [shorthand] N Be [shorthand] Saigon
1 Company of ports
Morally subdued (are [illegible]) 50 SVN sold.
They find 20 calling PRP [People's Revolutionary Party] in 1 village and the [shorthand] Harbor [?]port porter handicraft [illegible] oil.
[shorthand] won (cooperative talks) military [illegible] 30 SVN families [shorthand] letters to military children in battalions serving SVN forces try [shorthand] developed.
Women farmer [shorthand] gather [shorthand] handicraft [shorthand] fraternize[?] [shorthand] all here [shorthand] district to military Hamlet.
War cooperation of RF-PF [Regional Force-Popular Force] company at post. He wrote [shorthand] and [illegible] 3 candit[?]
1) not to hot[?] at VC. VC not hot[?] at him.
2) He mail [shorthand] sold terrorize [shorthand]
3) Let his men cooperate with VC when attack happens [shorthand] is successful to [shorthand] neutral. If not successful, just stay there.
4 battalion 2 battalions of Regiment 274 85th Division based in P Truy. [shorthand] The [illegible] last week these 2 battalion. 500 men (250 men enlist) [shorthand] into these Direct list in Phuoc Long [Phước Long]
attack
in TAOR 4
Possible fan of future attack
Highest 1) Swift attack of anti [shorthand] ground troops coordinate [shorthand] anti- into city of Saigon
Province [shorthand] region attack- [shorthand] Tet. DMZ [Demilitarized Zone] Cavalry Saigon [shorthand] Morris[?] 1st Cavalry tied down along DMZ
2) Artillery- Heavy weapons planned on [shorthand] was told to endure airborne ammunition depot.
And Ground troops Cavalry A clean sweep of Saigon outskirts. 10 km [shorthand] outskirts of Saigon cholon SD city. without that [illegible] is contest area.
Use anti to attack installation continue [shorthand] in ground troops to shrink in SVN US troops defense and to create a "white belt" to clear SVN troops [shorthand] own.
Same at province local. Regiment local- to close [shorthand] out kits. Constructed own to the [illegible] to city.
Smaller Day. 3) to attack around city with a smaller scale but to correct troops on [shorthand] returning posts strategy in selected ones- one that won't accommodate with [shorthand]
3 military possible plans but it [shorthand] happen to call both. May 1- May 7 defeat of DBP [Điện Biên Phủ]. May 19 term b Doy.
1 month campaign '62. Period of preparation of attack defeat of US at Bay of Pigs. 1 battalion named after [illegible] interest political.
Military attack [shorthand] coordinate with political offensive in city to play up the role as [shorthand] as [shorthand] of new alliance.
Alliance of National Demo. and [illegible] forces of VN
to end [shorthand] war- How to end [shorthand] war- whole future.
Step [shorthand] step regiment to CF wd of battalion troops coalition of SVN [illegible] of both
[shorthand] 3rd base in order to play up [shorthand] anti East to June [shorthand] alliance.
[shorthand] effect US-Hanoi talks in case surprise factor
Came to month VC force Col. Hoay Cam company 9th Division killed in Saigon attack [shorthand] Tet VC forward Col.
When Dac was boy, Cam only Lt. now has only Lt. Col. and Cam Hi base
After Tet offensive battalion. support Highway company, He came center [illegible]. He [shorthand] take criticism [shorthand] Sn. Tra [Sơn Trà?] so they [shorthand] find key Company the 1 to attack Q Trung [shorthand] Tet he wounded in [shorthand] divisions.
He was also dismissed.
2) He knew rest of division [shorthand] killed [shorthand] wounded [shorthand] attack with heavy weapons. Killing district. He [shorthand] take it. Morale base for hope [shorthand] to [shorthand] side- VC dare not to attack- He forced plan to [shorthand] SVN-US [shorthand] to res [shorthand] to foil [shorthand] the future attack. Hoped [illegible] support attack P. VC kind surprise future maybe.
Turned housing into SVN police station- Transported to P Duong B Hoa [Biên Hòa]- Just wake up to see him.
Detention trust[?] lie sedation[?] Department Sen. and More.
Came in April 19 Fri
Chest of [illegible]
Block [illegible] persist looks [shorthand] city still.
Month [illegible] also of lots on small scrap of paper- military cros copies and writing
49- VN QDD when going
Bay of Pigs
April 16, 1961
TANKS
Joined him when aging[?]
271 272 9th Division
101 7 Division
274 5 Division
88 Auto NVA [North Vietnamese Army]
Regiment
Heavy Weapon Dong Ngoi [Đồng Nai province?] Regiment
6 Regiment
1 division equip in Pamb[?]
6 Auto battalion companies. sapper battalions tanks.
[?] Tet etc. Heavy Weapons- elements of En. Regiment Tet surprise element
6 auto battalions of SD- 1 Heavy Weapons Regiment
2 9th Division Regiment
1 7th Division Regiment
1 5th Division Regiment
NVA Regiment in reserve (88)

Date

1968, Apr. 30

Subject

Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Defectors; Mặt trận dân tộc giải phóng miền nam Việt Nam; Soldiers

Location

South Vietnam

Coordinates

10.8231; 106.6297

Size

19 x 31 cm

Container

B32, F7

Format

research notes

Collection Number

MS 363

Collection Title

Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers

Creator

Keever, Beverly Deepe

Collector

Keever, Beverly Deepe

Copyright Information

These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.

Publisher

Archives & Special Collections

Language

English