VIETNAM PRISONER OF WAR March 22, 1968 - March 20, 1973
Captured in Laos
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Opening Oral Statement..... Page 3
Submitted Written Statement ..... Page 6
Copy of Unedited FAX RE: Captian Robert F. Coady
USAF Requested from Mrs. Coady Rainey, Florence, Alabama ..... Page 13
ORAL STATEMENT
My name is Ted Guy and I am a former Air Force Fighter pilot who retired in 1975 in the grade of Colonel. I had the honor and privilege of being the Commander of all the personal captured in Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam.
Until Mid 1991, I was a firm supporter of the US Government's position that all Vietnam POWs were home and were released during Operation Homecoming. In fact, I spoke at Fort Sam National Cemetery on Memorial Day, 1991, expressing my support for the USG position. Between Operation Homecoming and mid 1991, I talked to tens of thousands of people and several hundred families of non-returned POW/MIAs. My message was always the same. There are no more POWs. Those that were still classified as MIA are dead. All that wanted to come home came home during Operation Homecoming. I know for a fact that I was instrumental in many family members changing their opinions about their missing sons, brothers, fathers. Many thanked me for helping them to accept the fact that their loved ones were not coming home.
The reason that I felt so strongly about the MIAs and POWs and that no more were alive was simple. As a combat veteran of two wars -- Korea and Vietnam and 26 years of service, many of which were in key command positions, I was certain that my government would not lie to me. I knew that we would never abandon any fighting man or woman if there was any doubt what so ever that he or she might be alive and missing as a result of combat. The thought that anyone was left behind was inconceivable to me.
I could spend an hour telling you why I changed my mind, but let it suffice to say that I did in the summer of 1991. I changed it 180 degrees and believe me, it was extremely difficult. But the evidence to me was overwhelming. Men were left behind.
Since that time I have done considerable research and talking with POW/MIA families as well as other activists. Two items really stand out in my mind: the first being the great disparity in the numbers of returned POW's captured in Laos versus North Vietnam. I must point out that to my knowledge no one has yet returned that was captured in Laos and remained in Laos. The LULUs, as we were referred to, were all captured in Laos and detained in North Vietnam. I will not discuss South Vietnam, because it is an extremely complex issue, i.e., many ended up in the North, early releases, etc. I will also limit my discussion from the point when the United States became officially involved in the Vietnam conflict -- the Gulf of Tonkin incident until the completion of Operation Homecoming.
My figures indicate that 587 people were declared missing within the confines of Laos. During Operation Homecoming, 11 men captured in Laos were released. This equates to less than 2%. During the same period there were 1281 lost in North Vietnam or its adjacent waters. 472 were released during Operation Homecoming or sooner, i.e., the early returnees. This equates to a little over 37%.
Those of you that may have flown over Laos and North Vietnam know, that except for the first 40 or 50 miles from the coast, the two countries are topographically similar. Why the big difference in percentages? I personally believe that many were held and are possibly still being held in Laos. I also firmly believe that those held in Laos were and are under the control of the North Vietnamese, which brings me to my second point.
After I finished playing John Wayne and was captured, I was dragged approximately 1/4 mile into an area that I estimated contained two battalions of fresh North Vietnamese regulars. Here I was amazed to see several strands of red and green wire running off into the jungle. During my short stay in this area I observed an individual talking on a field telephone.
On the 26th of March 1968, I departed this area on my journey to Hanoi; arriving there on 7 April 1968. I traveled by jeep, truck and foot the entire length of the Ho Chi Minh Trail until reaching a point opposite the North Vietnamese city of Vinh, then crossed into North Vietnam. During the week that I was on the trail traveleing north, I observed communications wire along the trail both on poles and lying on the ground. At every cave and billeting area that I stopped in, there was a field telephone. There is no doubt in my mind that when my guards and I arrived at our next stopping point, I was expected. A couple of times I was even called by my Vietnamese name by my new guards prior to any conversation taking place between the old and new.
Except for one day when I was taken into a Laotian village, I am certain that everyone I observed was Vietnamese. Even in this village, there was no doubt who was in charge.
Once I started speaking out on the issue of the abandoned POWs, one question was always asked by someone in the audience. "Even if POWs were left behind, how long could they have lived under the harsh living conditions you described earlier?" My answer was always, "With good organization and a high degree of morale, the American soldier can do almost anything, including survive, under the most primitive conditions." WE DID!
I believe further proof of survival was recently established by the cases of hundreds of Vietnamese who were employed by the CIA and US military during the 1960's. By 1969, all had reportedly been captured and written off by the USG. However, in the late 1980's the survivors were released. 64 of these survivors have applied to the INS for refugee status. If these guys can live for 25 plus years in a POW environment, why couldn't Americans?
On the CBS evening news on 7 May while giving an update on the status of the lost F-16 pilot in Bosnia, it was reported that Captain O'Grady's flight leader never saw a parachute and feared his buddy was lost. The next night when Dan Rather completed his story about the rescue of Captain O'Grady, he concluded his broadcase by saying, "Today a young pilot expected his country to come and find him......and they did." I wonder how many waited in Laos and may still be waiting for their country to come and find them?
I firmly believe that if we grant any further carrots to Vietnam in any form, prior to a full accounting of those missing in Laos, we will put the last nail in the coffin of the whole Southeast Asia Missing in Action issue.
SUBMITTED STATEMENT
My name is Ted Guy. I am a retired Air Force Officer with 26 year's service. I was medically retired in August 1975 with 40 percent disability due to a condition referred to as Organic Brain Syndrome. This was attributed to mistreatment I received as a Prisoner of War. I have 5600 hours of fighter/fighter trainer time and flew a combat tour in Korea as well as a partial expedition in Vietnam before going down in Laos on 21 March 1968. My combat decorations include the Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Crosses, Air Medals, Bronze Stars with Valor device, Purple Hearts, etc. etc. I have served in many key command positions, my last being Director of Operations for 9th AF. I presently reside in Sunrise Beach, Missouri, on the Lake of the Ozarks.
As in Korea, I was a volunteer for Vietnam. At the time of my downing, I was the Operations Officer of the 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, Camh Rahn Bay, South Vietnam. The reason that I volunteered for Korea and Vietnam is because of my personal belief in freedom. I feel very strongly that as long as there are people or nations/countries in this world that desire to be free and are willing to fight and die for that freedom, that the USA has an obligation to help them gain their freedom; even at the risk of American blood. I realize that this is not very popular today, but I believe it is one of the corner stones of our great republic.
When I was downed, I was flying an interdiction mission in southern Laos along highway 5, which runs from Khesan to Tchepone. The target was an automatic weapons position overlooking highway 5. On my third bomb pass, my aircraft, an F-4C was rocked by a violent explosion. We later determined after the war, that the explosion was caused by one of my 750 pound high drags going slick and detonating approximately 50 feet below the aircraft. The aircraft was severely damaged, but we managed to get to 12,000 feet where we lost control. I told my back seater, Major Don Lyon, to eject, which he acknowledged. The next thing I remember is floating down in my parachute. I am certain the aircraft blew up and that Major Lyon never got out of the aircraft.
I arrived on the ground several minutes later, and after a short fire fight with the Vietnamese, I was captured. During this gun battle -- which I lost -- I was wounded.
After seizure I was dragged and carried about 1/2 mile until we came to what appeared to be a staging area. I estimate that there were approximately two battalions @ 1000 troops in this area. All wore, what appeared to be, fairly fresh green summer clothing and white tennis shoes. As I was dragged into this area, I noticed numerous wires running off into the jungle. It consisted of red and green strands. One of the strands was hooked to a field telephone, which was in use.
On 26 March I departed this area by jeep on my way North. We spent the first night in Tchepone, and there was no doubt in my mind that we were expected when we got there. The next day we started up the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Travel was by jeep and truck with several long walks. I am convinced that all the personnel we saw along the trail were Vietnamese. We spent one 24 hour period in a Laotian village, and again there was no doubt who was in charge -- the Vietnamese. I spent eight days on the trail. Until we were well North, about half of our travel was at night. We would usually stop traveling an hour before sunrise. The majority of the time we would pause at caves located a short distance from the trail. While traveling North, I continually observed the same type of communications wire running along the road. Every place we stopped had a telephone that appeared to be hooked up to this wire. It seemed to me that I was expected at every stop. On two occasions I was addressed by my Vietnamese name of Gee, before my traveling guards had a chance to converse.
Based on the above information. I have concluded the following:
From what I observed, there is no doubt in my mind that Laos was wired and wired well. My movements were obviously continually reported. Communication between check-points was excellent. Based on my observations I believe all trail activities were closely monitored -- probably from Hanoi.
I arrived in Vinh, North Vietnam, on the 3rd of April where I had my first real interrogation. These guys did not fool around and managed to dislocate my right shoulder. I was told that the US bombing had stopped as of 31 March. I was held in Vinh for three days in a compound that was heavily reinforced and appeared to be a prison with several cells. I saw no other Americans. On 7 April we departed Vinh by jeep and arrived in Hanoi in the evening.
I spent the next three days at the infamous Hoa Lo prison "Hanoi Hilton" where I learned that the Vietnamese knew more about Camh Ranh AB and the 12th TFW that I did and their information was as current as mine. I was continually asked where I was captured. During the evening of 10 April I was transferred to a camp known as the "Plantation Gardens" where I remained until 7 December 1969.
During my many early interrogations at the "Plantation," the Vietnamese tried to convince me I was captured in North Vietnam. I insisted that I was captured in Laos. During the fall of 1968, it became evident that I was the only POW captured in Laos. I then changed my story and "admitted" that I was really captured in South Vietnam but could have drifted in my parachute to North Vietnam. Ernie Brace, CIA, captured in Laos arrived at the "Plantation" in October 1969 so there were now two of us who had been captured in Laos. However, I maintained my South Vietnam story, mostly to hide my knowledge that another Lao POW had arrived at the "Plantation". During one of my interrogations in the "Hilton" in May 1970, "The Bug" informed me that they had rechecked their records and I had indeed been captured in South Vietnam. Shortly thereafter, I was transferred to the hell hole known as "Farnsworth", that contained only South Vietnam captives.
Based upon the above information, I have concluded the following:
The Vietnamese kept detailed records on all POWs and summaries of these records followed the POW from camp to camp.
The night after the Sontay raid, all POWs from "Camp Farnsworth" were transferred back to Hanoi and the camp known as "The Plantation". I was returned to the same cell -- still in solitary -- that I had occupied from April 1968 -- December 1969.
The widely reported change in treatment towards the POWs that occurred after Ho Chi Minh's death in 1969 did not occur in our camp, e.g., those of us captured in Laos and South Vietnam. Harsh treatment, near starvation diet, isolation, and beatings remained in effect until the summer of 1972. Tolerable conditions prevailed after the resumption of the bombing in North Vietnam and the mining of Hyphong Harbor. In July 1971 six others captured in Laos were transferred from "The Hilton" to the "Plantation", among them was Ernie Brace. They were amazed at our treatment and informed me that it was much better in other camps.
It appeared to me that the Vietnamese were systematically grouping their POWs. All those captured in the North were at the "Hilton" while those captured in Laos and South Vietnam were at the "Plantation." There were no departures from the "Plantation" to other camps, only incoming Loas and South Vietnam POWs.
Because the North Vietnamese continually denied any association with Laos or South Vietnam, other than providing support, I came to the conclusion that we were not going to be released at the end of the hostilities. The word was passed to my command that we were to prepare for the long haul -- which I felt could be as long as 20 years. The majority of the POWs accepted this with a fighting spirit which made me extremely proud.
In December 1072, on the third day of the B-52 raids, all of us were transferred to the "Hilton" and housed in the area known as "Little Las Vegas." The ten other Lao captives were kept separate from myself, who by this time was considered a refular South Vietnam captive. We managed to establish contact with the 4th Allied POW Wing. All names were passed, and I passed my fears to the 4th commander, John Flynn, that I felt we might not be released.
All of us were released, although considerable wheeling and dealing was necessary to gain the release of the ten remaining Laos captives.
Based upon the above information, I have concluded the following:
I believe there is a good possibility that if the December bombing had not occurred and we had stayed at the "Plantation", we would not have been released during Operation Homecoming. I base this on the fact that our captors denied that they had troops in the South or Laos. Also, our treatment remained far worse than those captured in the North.
I retired from the Air Force in 1975. From the time of my release until mid 1991, the thought that any POWs were left behind never crossed my mind. In fact I spoke to hundreds of MIA families and tens of thousands of people about my POW experiences. My message was always the same. All the POWs are home. There are no MIAs -- they are all dead. All that wanted to come home are home. I told the families to forget their sons, fathers, uncles, etc... and to get on with their lives. After I explained that all the POWs that were captured ended up in Hanoi, and that all the names were known, the majority of the families accepted their fate.
At a POW Dining in at Randolph AFB in March 1991, I had a long discussion with Brig. Gen. Robinson Risner (POW Sept. 66 - Feb. 73) and Lt. Gen. John P. Flynn (POW Oct. 67 - Mar. 73). General Flynn was the commander of the 4th Allied POW Wing. Both were members of the Tighe Commission headed by Lt. Gen. Eugene Tighe. Both Robbie and John firmly believed that American POW were left behind and that there was a good possibility that some were still alive. They based their beliefs that out country left men behind on information learned from their involvement with the Tighe Commission. I could not believe that the US would knowingly abandon any of her fighting men. The very thought of this was repulsive and unacceptable.
In June 1991 I was called by a Mr. George Atkinson, Casualty Affairs, MPC, Randolph AFB, Texas. Mr. Atkinson asked me if I would come out to Randolph and talk to a young lady whose brother was shot down in Laos in 1967. Mr. Atkinson was well aware of the fact that I felt very strongly that all POWs were home that were coming home.
The next morning I spent several hours with the MIA sister. At lunch I repeated all my theories about the missing POWs and MIAs. The sister agreed that it was time to get on with her life and put her brother behind. However, she did request that I review her brother's folder prior to returning home. I did and I was shocked.
The brotehr was a back seat navigator on a B-57 bombing sortie in northern Laos in the fall of 1967. His aircraft did not return and he was listed as MIA. One year later his status was changed to PFOD with no objections from his wife. The Air Force never notified the blood family members, assuming the wife would take care of the matter. Because of great family difficulties, this never happened. After hearing nothing from the sister-in-law for years, the sister contacted Randolph about her brother.
The folder contained many references to the brother. There were refugee sighting reports and several identifications by Lao and Vietnamese refugees who had gotten out of Vietnam and Laos. I took the folder to the head of the Casualty Affairs Branch. My comments were: "How can this type of information be in his folder? He was shot down in 1967 and declared KIA a years later. Either he is dead or he isn't. Why would information continue to flow to the folder if the man was dead? Someone has to be either very stupid and thought no one would notice, or this man is alive and no one gives a damn!" Some of the sightings were in the late 70's and mid 80's! I concluded by saying, "No wonder the families do not believe what they are told." I have included an attachment which is a brief history of the case of Captain Robert Franklin Coady missing in Laos in January, 1969, given to me by his sister. It points out the type of information the families are given or more appropriately, not given.
After the meeting with Robbie and John and this meeting at the Casualty Affairs Branch, doubts began to creep into my mind. I started reading and contacting as many MIA/POW families as I could. I corresponded with other activists and talked to many Vietnam veterans. There was no hesitation from the people I talked to. Men were left behind and worse, there had been little to no attempt to account for anyone that disappeared in Laos. The deeper I dug, the more convinced I became that men were abandoned and that there was a good possibility that some were still alive. Watching the Select Committee on television and reading the Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, Senate Report 103-1, further convinced me that much was being hidden and withheld about the POW issue.
Anyone that can add, subtract, and figure percentages should be shocked by the great dissimilarity between the number missing and the number returned that were captured in Laos vs. those captured in North Vietnam. I am certain that many can argue with my figures, but they were extracted from official listings. For simplicity's sake, I will deal just with Laos and North Vietnam from the time of our OFFICIAL involvement - The Gulf of Tonkin Incident (4 August 1964) until the completion of Operation Homecoming. Rather than analyze the various categories (1 through 5), I looked at the total number that have been listed as missing in Laos and the total number listed as missing in North Vietnam. The first American missing in Laos was Charles J. Duffy, and his incident was 13 January 1961. The first American missing in North Vietnam was Everett Alvarez and the date of his incident was 5 August 1965. Between 4 August 1964 and the completion of Operation Homecoming, my records indicate that a total of 587 were listed as missing in Laos and 1281 were listed as missing in North Vietnam. If one looks at the number returned during Operation Homecoming, it must raise the question, why the great difference?
Total Missing in Laos - 587
Total returned during Operation Homecoming - 11
(Does not include Capt. Robert White, who was released 1 April 1973. The 11 includes one Canadian. The 11 also includes myself, listed as released by the NFL.)
21 were listed missing in Laos prior to 4 August 1964.
Percentage of missing vs. returned -----------1.9%
Total Missing in North Vietnam - 1281
Total returned during Operation Homecoming - 472
Percentage of missing vs. returned - 36.8%
All 11 of us that were captured in Laos have one thing in common. We were all captured by regular North Vietnamese troops. Initially, I believed that because we were captured by North Vietnamese was the sole reason we were released. However, I now feel this had little bearing on our release. Based on the large number of NVA regulars I observed in Laos, I submit that many, many more were captured by Vietnamese forces. Many people do not think the Vietnamese are very knowledgeable. I personally believe the ones that had control over the POW's were brilliant. I also believe they forsaw the possibility that we would prove that their forces were dominant in Laos. We (the 11) were the tokens that were in their long range plans to be released - if pressured OR THEY MADE A HUGE MISTAKE!
It has often been stated, both unofficially and officially, that even if there were men abandoned and left behind after the Vietnam war, they could not survive very long under the harsh conditions. I disagree. I am convinced that with high morale and determination, the American fighting man can survive indefinately; even under the most austere atmosphere. To support this, one only has to review two recent events.
The case of the F-16 piloted by Captain Scott O'Grady that was shot down on June 2nd has many similarities between aircraft lost in Laos during the Vietnam war. O'Grady's wingman, Captain Bob Wright never saw O'Grady eject or a parachute nor was any contact established between the two once O'Grady landed. Yet, Captain O'Grady was rescued 6 days later. If he had been captured, would he now be carried as MIA? In Laos, there were many ejection's which were observed by wingman stating parachute WAS seen and contact WAS established with the downed pilot. Only in Laos then, he disappeared.
On April 14, 1975, the New York Times reported that hundreds of Vietnamese who were employed by the CIA and military, were captured and imprisoned in the 1960's. The U.S. government wrote them off, however, in the late 1980's the survivors were released. 64 have applied for refugee status under the Orderly Departure gram. The INS denied admission. Are not the survivors living proof that man can survive long periods of internment under very harsh conditions?
Based on the above information, I have concluded the following:
It is possible to survive for long periods of time under the most severe conditions. I am convinced that the majority of my command could still be alive today if we had not been released.