ITT Reprt on Pvt Tran Xuan Thiet (NVA), was captured during Operation Chinook (YD 544313) by 3/26.
Private Tran Xuan Thiet, gave the following information: He was drafted into the NVA in October of 1966 along with 45 other men from his home hamlet of Thach Minh (H), Thach Binh (V), Thach Ha (D), Ha Tinh (P) in north Vietnam. They received 15 days training and then traveled by foot for 20 days to an NVA camp somewhere in a forest at the foot of an unknown mountain. At this point he was assigned to his present unit.
After 10 days with the 2nd Plt he was sent with a group to take rice to another unit in an unknown delta in South Vietnam. Each man in his platoon carried 20 kilos of rice on their back. There was no mechanized form of transportation, He claimed no knowledge of any other mission. He stated they had traveled approximately 12 hours before contacting the U. S. Marines.
The K-2 Bn has an approximate strength of 480 men and is made up of five companies, 96 men per company. The personnel are armed with three types of weapons, AKs, CKCs and K-44s. All persons carry 50 rounds ammunition. He claimed no knowledge of mortars or heavy guns.
(G-2 Comment: F-3. K-2 Bn is AKA for 802nd Bn. Strength information is substantiated by captive Dang Van Dong, K-2 Bn, 6th Regiment, captured on 21 Dec (III MAF PIR No. 47). However Dong reported the K-2 Bn was equipped with two 82mm mortars, two DK-57 RR, six 12.7mm guns and three 60mm mortars).
(From Periodic Intelligence Report # 1-67 thru 8-67. Pg 90-91. My CD 003. )NED