THE SIX AIR AMERICA EMPLOYEES BELIEVED INTERNED BY HOSTILE FORCES

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005527317
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• 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: October 26, 1970

MEMORANDUM
REF. No. PO-~T~-'~0-'1.1.11+9 ~b~~6~
SUBJECT : The six Air America L~nployees believed interned by hostile forces
On the morning of 23 October 19r(U the undersigned ;~iet witYi the US r3nbassy ~'olitcal
Officer, iVIr, l;d Kelly, and discussed the six Air America ranployees believed held.'',
incountry by hostile forces. '
ode briefly ciiscussedthe historical events and futile attempts to obtain information
regarding their whereabouts and conditions
A recap of each of the new action ideas or avenues which 1 suggested to him follow:
l~ The North Vietnamese Ked Cross team is presently in t3angkok aiscussing the
repatriation of several thousands of Vietnamese refugees T opined that it
may be possible for our company people, or the respective Government pfficials,
~or International Red Cross, to make contact with the North Vietnamese team
and aiscuss the possibilities of their accepting packages, letters or just
a trade o.f' inforuiation~ i~1r. Kelly advised against such action explainir~ that
(A) the NVA have never recognized their presence in Laos and {B) the US
Government is extremely reluctant to have any "outsiders" involved in these
initial, politically significant discussions. ..
He advised there have been wives groups who have contacted the IVtiA Kea Cross
team only to have the door slarnrned in their faceso He also recommended
against attempting to contact the team,. as it passed. through Vientiane to
Hanoi, directly or indirectly; as had been. one of ~che plans we could have
possibly set up through the Lao Bed Cross tresident i~Ir. Qudom ~ouvannavonga ,
(Mr. Rosales has contacted iV1r, Oudom Souvannavong and has arranged. an interview
with me for the near future,
i'7s~. Ke11y suggested we concentrate our efforts directly to the i'athet ao
rather than going through the North Vietnamesen
APPROVED FOR
RELEASES DATE:
12-Aug-2011
3 N OV i910
,~R,50NNEL I)1vi~I4
24 He was very "intrigued" and receptive to the suggestion that we enlist the
aid of the local Vientiane ~nbassies which repredent.the iifationalities of the
other interned employees? As far as can be determined no one has ever thought
of that particular approach to the problem, phis, 1 suggestect~~~inay be a type
of "Low Keyed" avenue that would keep the "bad American guys" out of the
pictured Apch~ently the main emphasis in the past has been regarding li;~r~U1:IV~
He (~,elly) will check 7nci.th his Supervisors in regards to this rriatter and
advise as how the initial approach to the local tsritish, Phil.ipNine and
Thailand ~;rnbassies would best be handled - on a diplomatic request level,
or Air America contact level, He promised to get back to me ASAP,
...._
R N;C~IVED
 He will also check out and advise the feasability in attempting to
establish contact with the rathet L~,o Political leader -Prince
~ouphannouvong, directly through a potential contact, who as tYie
editor of the local newspaper travels freely through PL country
interviewing :the PL leaders. it is felt this individual could be
approached and receptive due to his longue personal aquaintance
with one of our J:ao employees.
T have advised Mr. fielly that it is ruy desire to intensify the search
for information about our employees.. Recently the Pathet I:~ao
headquarters in GCE has received some ~~Trrives" of US pilots. shot down
over l~aos and -have heated them cordiallya _ (`t`hat is, compared to
past contact,) Perhaps this may inaicate some sort of change in their
political philosophy which if werre persistent, will lead to the
gaining of some information. ?
Tt is my intent to write ~~for the recordr~ memos about everything l
do is t'r~i.s regard as our files rere are terribly void regarding the
Howt s and ~~hy's of past events, lf' 1 ever leave V1`f want to at least
leave a proper. record of efforts in t his area.
cc. Eugene H. Debruin P~File
Prasit ~'romisuwan ~~
Prasidhi `!'raneed E,
~~~lmpol Chan-Alum ?
Yik Chia 2'o w
Ceferino Bautista iVaba ~ P~~"le
---~ C~;C via ~P, UP~1 Pre~3~~ via. B
U5Y `~,'~'''. ,'
~;. Ke11y, US ~;rnbassy Vr1'.~ .
l~iissing Persons Fill
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