USE OF TEENAGERS AND YOUTH GROUPS BY THE VC IN QUANG TRI PROVINCE DURING THE TET OFFENSIVE

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06786673
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: April 27, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: March 4, 1968

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Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C06786673
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Intelligence Information Cable
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� PRIORITY
IN 62542
PAGE 1 OF 3 PAGES -
STATE/INR DIA NMCC/MC (SECDEF JCS ARMY NAVY AIR) CIA/NMCC NIC NSA WO ONE . CRS
DI EXO OER FBIS DCS IRS AID USIA
This maierial contains Information affecttng the National Defense Of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws. Title 18. U.S.C.
Bees. 793 and 794, the transmisson or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized perfogn Is prohibited by law.
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THIS
IS
AN
INFORMATION
REPORT.
NOT
FINALLY
EVALI I ATrn
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COUNTRY:
DOI:
SUBJECT:
1
SOUTH VIETNAM
040558Z
aTE
IPJTFI I ICIFNC*F
DIST 4 MARCH 1968
USE OF TEENAGERS AND YOUTH GROUPS BY THE VC IN QUANG
TRI PROVINCE DURING THE TET OFFENSIVE
ACQ: VIETNAM, QUANG TRI (26 FEBRUARY 1968)
SOURCE:
1. THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN NO PREVIOUSLY PREPARED PLAN
BY THE VC/NVA TO SPECIFICALLY EXPLOIT TEENAGERS AND HAMLET YOUTH
DURING THE TET OFFENSIVE. MOST OF THE INSTANCES OF THE USE OF
YOUTH SEEM TO' HAVE BEEN ON-THE-SPOT IMPROVISATIONS DURING THE FIRST
WEEK OF FEBRUARY AN-1) LATER (FROM 10 TO 25 FEBRUARY) TO TAKE MAXIMUM
ADVANTAGE OF THE VACUM CREATED BY THE ALLIES IN THE RURAL AREAS
WHEN THESE FORCES WITHDREW TO PROTECT THE URBAN CENTERS.
CONFIDENTIAL
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3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
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CONFIDENTIAL �NA�FGREIGN-814351,1�
(classification) (dissent controls)
IN
6251+2
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2. IN THE NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT OF GIO LINN :ANY REFUGEES
REPORTED THAT YOUTHS HAD BEEN FORCIBLY RECRUITED AND PRESSED INTO
SERVICE WITH COMBAT UNITS. THIS AREA HAS BEEN- THE SITE OF MANY
PRE-TET OFFENSIVE ATTEMPTS BY THE VC/NVA TO FLESH OUT THEIR UNITS
WITH LOCAL YOUTH. AT LEAST TWO NATIONAL POLICE INFORMANTS IN THIS
AREA HAVE BEEN REPORTING PAST VC ACTIVITY DIRECTED TOWARD HAMLET
YOUTH IN GIO LINH DISTRICT FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS. USMC POW
INTERROGATIONS HAVE ALSO CONFIRMED THESE INFORMANT REPORTS. (FIELD
COMMENT: IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT THE RECRUITMENT OF YOUTH IN THIS
DISTRICT PRIOR TO THE GENERAL OFFENSIVE WAS A NECESSITY CREATED BY
THE EXTENT OF ALLIED OPERATIONS IN THE AREA AND NOT DIRECTLY RE-
LATED TO A SPECIFIC PLAN INTEGRAL TO THE TET ATTACKS.)
3. IN TRIEU PHONG DISTRICT, WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE MAJORITY OF
THE REVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENT EFFORT, AT LEAST FOUR HAMLETS OCCUPIED
EARLY IN THE VC OFFENSIVE HAVE GIVEN INDICATIONS THAT, ONCE THE VC/
NVA FORCES REALIZED �THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GAIN UNCONTESTED CONTEOL
OF THE RURAL AREAS, THEY BEGAN TO FORM HAMLET YOUTH FROM 15 TO
20 YEARS .OF AGE INTO AN AD HOC CIVIL MILITIA APPARENTLY TO FREE THE
MAIN-FORCE:BATTALNNS:FROM 70CCUPATION.DUTY".AND ALLOW THEM TO
ASSUME GREATER MOBILITY OF OPERATIONS. THE SUCCESS ENJOYED BY THE
Nn FOREIGN Drasol
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CON IDENTIA � Nu ruRIGN DISSEM
(classification) ((lissom controls)
IN 62542
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VC/NVA IN THIS EFFORT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SMALL, SINCE MANY OF THESE
MILITIAS DISSOLVED WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE ENEMY FORCES AWAY
FROM THEIR HAMLETS.
4. IN NHU LE AND NHAN BIEU HAMLETS, WHICH LAY JUST ACROSS
THE THACH HAN RIVER FROM QUANG TRI CITY, ENTIRE POPULATIONS, YOUTH
INCLUDED, WERE EITHER COERCED OR VOLUNTEERED TO MAKE STRETCHERS,
LADDERS, SPEARS AND WOODEN SWORDS AT THE DIRECTION OF THE VC. THESE
PEOPLE WERE CONTINUALLY PROPAGANDIZED THAT THEIR EFFORTS WERE TO
AID IN THE ."GENERAL UPRISING OF THE PEOPLE" THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND THAT THE SAME THING WAS OCCURRING IN ALL THE
HAMLETS AND VILLAGES IN QUANG TRI PROVINCE.
5. WITH THE NOTABLE EXCEPTION OF THE FORMATION OF HAMLET
MILITIA, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT TEENAGERS AND YOUTH WERE USED
BY THE VC/NVA IN ANY OTHER FASHION THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST. THE
KNOWN INSTANCES OF EXPLOITATION OF YOUTH INDICATE HAPHAZARD AND
ILL-PLANNED USE OF THIS AGE GROUP.
REPORT CLASS CONFIDENTIAL NO FORPTam' DIcSEM
LU NI- iutN-TIA
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C06786673