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I was at National Archives (NARA) and pulled the files for SOIC MACV-Team 17 Quang Ngai 15-19 Oct 70. Many entries about US forces at FSB Snoopy capturing one of three Americans fighting with NVA. He was being held at Snoopy due to weather (Typhoon Joan) and awaiting MPs from 23rd Division for transport to Chu Lai. I will check the 23rd MP files and post more info. Below are entries of "Salt and Pepper" sightings by A-1/20 19-20 Sept 70 and a 11 Nov 1970 sighting of "Salt" by B-1/20, so this may be Pepper who was captured. I have to ask Col Insani (11th Bde C.O.) about this. Does anyone know who LTC. Perkins, Col Q, Col Borman, Mr. Cushing are? What does SOIC stand for? The SOIC MAT 17 files have lots of names starting with Mr., references to Air America, and Phoenix (I don't think they mean Arizona) Anyone know a Maj. Magee or Cpt. Quirk? What's a big Mack report and problems in DIOCC's? An Example, "From Phoenix To: Tra Bong Cpt. Quirk (Phoenix) will arrive at your location in about 30 min. on Air America. He has supplies and he requests you meet the plane with a vehicle. passed."
SSG Stewart remembers Lt Ellis telling him that "Pepper" was caught at LZ Snoopy while sketching its layout and acting suspiciously. I'm checking to see what happened to "Pepper", and if he is still at federal Disciplinary Barraacks, Leavenworth, KS. There is a Feb 71 intell of someone one the radionet improperly using old Mo Duc call signs on the radio. There are DIA reports (I have not seen them just the supposed summaries on the POW Net) of Salt seen in 1974 at the mouth of the Song Ve River Ferry Crossing. (He may be a Marine PFC, Fred S. from MAG 16 captured by VC south of Danang in 1964); and a Negro PFC William Darrell Johnson of 4th Inf Div captured by VC in Jan 1968 near Kontum and in 1974 in Quang Ngai Province taken from a truck with two others escaping.
Click here for Pepper No. 2 capturing MACV Sr Advisors Major Witt and Cpt Odams and escaping 23rd MPs 19 Jan 71. On 15-16 Oct 70, Pepper No. 1 captured by US forces at LZ Snoopy as setforth below.
"Gingerbread" is codeword for unathorized radio net
intrusion, and below is a real example possibly by "Salt and Pepper".
1/20 S2/S3 journal 02 Feb 71 entry 09 time 0320: "(C) 1/20 TOC, received
a call on our CMD from an Oscar Mike using Fluid Cones to contact TOC. OM was
old Mo Duc call sign. Word call sign Fluid Cones instead of normal numerals
and word call sign i.e. Cones 16. Personnel (OM) spoke English. Checked with
Mo Duc and Duc Pho, they stated no one had come to our CMD at their location.
Unknown personnel (OM) asked for a Sit Rep on Duc Pho action taken to mean the
OP's manned by PF 169 at 785427 and 789416. Once the RTO realized the incorrect
call sign was being used he instantly called (OM) with negative response when
asked for authentication."
S3 journals from 1 Aug 70 with B-1/20 OPCON to C-4/3 and 19-20 SPT 70 about search for U.S. POW's and 2 turncoats a/k/a "Salt & Pepper" spotted by Bde and Taskforce Honjiyo's A-1/20 in Song Ve valley (dark photocopies from NARA). Also, LTC Fitzpatrick reports seeing Salt and Pepper through a spotting scope with NVA.
I came across information on B/1/20's search for 4 US and many RVN POWs in July 70 while OPCON to C/4/3. This mission was classified above top secret based on "S.I." Special/Signal Intelligence. Even Colonel Honjiyo (Bn XO) didn't know about it until he became 11th Bde's S2. I have the grid of the POW Camp. The POWs were being used as "rice mules" during summer rice harvest.
CLICK HERE FOR 1 Aug 70 sightings of 4
US POWs and B-1/20 OPCON to C-4/3 searching for POW camp at grid 705355.
CLICK HERE FOR 19 SPT 70 "Salt and Pepper"
sightings.
CLICK HERE FOR 20 SPT 70 sightings.
11 Nov 70- two Items about "Salt" spotted evading by 2nd Plt B-1/20 on 11 Nov 70 at grid 753558 after receiving 1-5 rnds small arms fire 200 meters to their north. Tracker dog requested. Later ID'd as male caucasian wearing black top, blue bottom, no hat, blond hair, spotted 300 meters to West evading to the west.