MEDICAL SUPPLY OF A NVA UNIT DURING INFILTRATION - 1968/01/26

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00758706
• Document Creation Date: July 27, 2018

Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 C00758706
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:�THIS REPORT IS T.317 7iiKiJLT OF TKE INTERROGATION ACTIVITY CONDUCTED.
'B TE NATIONAL INITTZROIVPION CENTER. (TU::)UNDET. THE JOINT A15PrE5
OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION (CICO ANn U,S. C:ENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (C:IA) VITH TRE ,1:1RTICIPATION OE DFTACYMP,N? 6,
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E99 ACTIVITE5 GROUP (TTSAF).
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COUNTRY. : NORTH VIETNAM (NVN)
SOUTH VIETNAM (SVN)
Laos
NIC REPORT NO e 115/68
NIC CASE NO FET
SUBJECT : Medical Supply of a NVA Unit during DATE OF REPORT: 26/1/68
Infiltration
NO. OF PAGES : 2
REF: NIC Report 114/68
DATE OF INFO : 10 June 1967 to 8 December 1967
DATE AND PLACE : 16 January 1968 (H -
OF ACQUISITION SAIGON, Vietnam
FIR)
:This'-report.was'collected on 16 January 1968 in the SAIGON/GIA DINH area
Source ianot.available at the NIC for further exploitation.
SOURCE:./
\
SUM M A 1/'' � , H
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n-arrival at BA Mountain, PHU'.OATTDistriBINH DINH Province, SVN, the
Company 61 unit and individual medical 'supply issue was nearly exhausted. Malaria
was the most common disease. Over 40' percent of the 70-man company was affected.
As fo0d shortages became more serious, c'yoentery and beriberi increased. Troops
complained over the lack of medical care. Cadres were unsuccessful in attempts
to build up the morale of the troops. Many soldiers/ felt
that they would die because of lack of food and medical supplies.\
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CLASSIFICATION
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ATTACHMTS:
FIAtrv. N
.396
MAR 5 1568
CON
NOTiett TNIS P
AFFECTING THE N
STATES WITHIN T
LAWS, TITLE 19
tHE TRANEMiS's1
None
ERIAL CON1WINE INVISJSS
(OHM. DEFENSE OF TN, UNTO
E MEANING OF THE LIPIOIMIL
S.C.. SECTIONS 793 ADO 3019.
OR REVELATION OF ONIC0
ANY MANNER TO AN uNAHTMORIZEO *EMMA a
PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 C00758706
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 C00758706
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NIC REPORT NO : 115/68
CO IDENTIAL Paies 2
1. Upon arriving in the BA Mountain area, PHU CAT District, BINH DINH Province,
SVN, in early November 1967, Company 61 (total strength: 70 men) had nearly
exhausted its medical supplies which had been issued prior to departure on
10 June 1967 at NGOC LIEN Village, NGOC 'AC District, THANH HOA Province,
NVN. The individual medical issue consisted of: 20 white quinine telblets,
2 bandages, and 20 *tater purification tablets. In addition, the company
nurse had two orthree small boxes of medicine.
2. No sicknesses were contracted until the infiltration group (designation
unknown, total strength of 500 men) arrived in Laos. Malaria was the most
commonly contracted disease, In Company 61, only a few (number unknown)
came down with the disease. However, the incidence of disease increased
sharply after the group entered SVN in QUANG NAM Province, and after Company
61 arrived in the BA Mountain area.
Individual medical issues were nearly gone, which was further complicated
bY spoilage. Quinine tablets had degenerated into powder form and were not
used, since they were considered to be spoiled. Three out of every seven
men were affected by malaria at any given tae. Medical treatment consisted
of two quinine tablets per day for two days for no matter how serious the
malaria case. Troops who had exhausted their quinine issue reported to the
company nurse who distributed the tablets. His supply was also nearly exhausted.
No deaths were attributed to malaria.
The only preventive measures taken against malaria were the use of mosquito.
netivand-the application of a-very limited supply Of mosquito repellant
(NVN origin). The repellant was used sparingly over exposed skin areas.
When applied, the repellant was found to be effective; however, upon arrivial
in SVN, the two one-centimeter size repellant ampules had been exAausted.
No preventive tablets were issued.
Avfoo&thortages,began to occur, the incidence of both dysentery and beriberi .
increasecreharply-Treatment for beriberi consistedof two quinine tabletiv
per day: for days. No improvement was found after treatment. No other
measure's were introduced to treat this disease. About 40 to 50 percent of the
company suffered from this disease.
About four Out of every seven squad members suffered from dysentery/
/On one occasion when the squad had run out of salt, the squad
members ate what turned out to be spoiled salted shrimp, and all contracted
dysentery. The time lost from duty by this disease ranged from five to six
days. Reoccurring attacks were common. Treatment consisted of four white
tablets' (type and origin unknown). Two or three tablets were given daily
for the first few days. No other treatment was given because of lack of
medical supplies. One death was attributed to dysentery. The man who died had
a history of sicknesses since he began to infiltrate, suffering from dysentery,
beriberi, and malaria. Prior to his death, he contracted a light case of
malaria.
� As thejncidence of. diseaseincreased, complaints 'became common among the
troope.Many declared openly that with no medical supplies,
they would die irom lack of medicine. Attempts by cadres to boost their
morale were unsuccessful. Cadres stated that there would continue to be
medical :Shortages, that they did not know when they would be medically
resupplied. -However, in the meantime, everyone should try to keep heathy
and freec-fram disease by not drinking unboiled water and not s1eepti1out
mosquita'nets.l
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AMMEMAporoved for Release: 2018/07/26 C00758706