TRIP REPORT "UP-COUNTRY" 9-10 MAY 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005527387
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 21, 2011
• Case Number: F-2010-01070
• Publication Date: May 15, 1969

MEMORANDUM
TO I FQL via l , 5?? z/ ~ =
FROM O?SP Jeff A. blanchford FIG/UL
SUBJECT : Trip
deport "Up-Country" 9-10 May 1969
DATE: 15 hay 1969
REF. No. FIG-69-017
On 9 May I visited. FICfVTF for the purpose of comparing site data. and
the latest Order of Battle information, 'T'his was accomplished during
the morning,
T'he rest of the day was spent talking with the Air Support customer
and the Senior Operations Specialist. It was agreed that FIC/UDN
could not really furnish sensitive information to FIC/WIT; until the
area was put on a restricted basis,. The parties concerned were seeking
the necessary approval,
Late that afternoon I returned to Udorn.
The next day I went to LS2OA and met with the customers for most of
the morning. They assigned briefing teams to appraise me of each
tactical situation of interest to the company. I was most impressed
with this briefing approach, since a few months ago briefings had
been presented on an improvised basis,
That afternoon I went to Xieng Khong Ville (LO3), a key town in the
southern Plannes De Jarres which just been wrested from the North
Vietnamese. There were still small brush fire fights taking place
and an N'tiA counter offensive seemed i inent. But the area rear the
strip was, for the moment, safe.
Friendly soldiers were collecting weapons, machinery, trucks, documents,,
and other printed matter. Other troops were destroying large caves
wh.ch hid untold stores of supplies, too much to be transported out
of the area by friendlies. Others were finishing the job of devastating
the town, the population of which had been approximately 7000.
I talked .with local commanders who showed see captured documents and
photos of interest. Included was a picture of AA14 cre en De Bruin,
Pisdhi, Prasit Promsuwan, Prasit '. `hani, and Y. C. Toh all of whom had
been captured by the Pathet Lao several years ago. The photo was
taken in an area North East of Tchepone (L38) in Sept, 1964, by North
Vietnamese. It had been found in the house of a North Vietnamese who
had fled Xieng Khong Ville,
I later returned to Lidorn via L505 and I Z20.
APPROVED FOR RELEASEL
DATE: 12-Aug-2011
 As a matter of note I talked with Mr. Piedhi, 'who had escaped the PL,
on the photo discussed, He had just attempted an escape and had killed
two guards. For this he was tortured, He felt that all but Mr. Toh
were in a state of health and mind that would allow them to survive
even up to how, (Last fall the Bangkok Post carried an article stating
that the W'VA was considering releasing De Bruin.)
s/Jeff A. Blanchford
Jeff A. Blanchford
OPSP FIC/UDN
cc: 3TI/V
Som/UDN
File
Copied 29 May 1969 for: DR via President
President
BP
C/"
CB