NAME: SCHRECKENGOST, Fred T., PFC, USMC
GREER, Robert L., PFC, USMC

OFFICIAL STATUS: DEAD BODY NOT RECOVERED MISSING

CASE SUMMARY: SEE ATTACHED

RATIONALE FOR SELECTION: Both individuals were reported in the custody of VC forces by many sources subsequent to their disappearance on June 1964. PFC Schreckengost was seen alive and in good health by both U.S. and Vietnamese sources on occasions as late as October 1974. No correlated reports of death have been received for either individual.

REFNO: 0031 7 Apr '76 (C) CASE SUMMARY

1. (U) PFC Robert L. Greer and PFC Fred T. Schreckengost departed the Marine Base at Da Nang, South Vietnam, in a nonduty status on'7 June 1964. Both men rented motorcycles. and headed south on Highway #1, telling a third 'Marine (unidentified) who had been with them that they were going to the top of a nearby hill overlooking Da Nang Air Field to take pictures. This was the last sighting of either man by US personnel. (Ref 3)

2. (C) On the afternoon of 7 June, residents of Le Son Village, Hoa District, in Quang Nam Province, grid coordinates (GC) AT 980 660, saw two Americans riding motorcycles near their village. On 8 June the villagers reported that the VC had told them they had captured two Americans near their village on the previous day. On 15 June, a Self Defense Corps Strike Force recovered the two motorbikes, (rented by PFC's Greer and Schreckengost), at (GC) BT 003 645 where the reported capture occurred. (Ref 2)

3. (C) (9) The Americans were displayed at the Hamlet of Binh Nam, (GC) AT 990 636, and Binh Tran, (GC) AT 986 630 on the evening of 8 June. On one occasion the VC announced that the Americans would be given five months of political training and then returned. (Ref 2)

4. (C) A 16 June report stated that two Americans wearing ,black clothing similar to that worn by the VC were paraded through several villages in Dai Loc District. The VC stated that the two Marines would be taken to the mountains to attend a three month indoctrination course in Communist ideals, after which they would be released. The two Marines were moved to Dong Lam Mountain, (GC) AT 380 620, Hieu Duc District in Quang Nam Province. (Ref 4)

5. (C) A 25 June report indicates that on 8 June the VC took two USMC personnel to Son Ga Mountain (GC) AT 870 626 Dai Loc District. When they reached Chau Bai Hamlet, (GC) AT 954 601, Tang Son village, Dien Boi District, the two Marines attacked one of the VC guards and tried to escape. The VC allegedly shot and killed the two Marines and reportedly buried them in Chau Boi Hamlet. (Ref 5)

6. (C) On 10-24 July 1964 there are reports concerning the propose d release of the two Marines for- the purpose of collecting a reqard offered by the South Vietnamese Government for their return. (Ref 6 thru 9)

7 (C) On 28 July 1964 two US military personnel were reportedly being held by the VC at the Quang- Nam VC Province Chief's camp (GC) 848 648. The two personnel were reportedly taken captive by the VC on 7 June 1964. (Ref 10)

8. (C) From 19-31 August, and on 2 September 1964) three reports stated that PFC's Greer and Schreckengost were to be moved to Hanoi or had been moved to Hanoi. (Ref 11,12, &13)

9. (C) On 9 April 1965 two POWs detained by the VC were seen in the vicinity of (GC) YC 700 950 after being- captured. (Ref 14)

10. (C) In January 1968 a source observed two Americans being detained in a hut in the vicinity of Hoa Da village, (GC) BT 010 694. The source identified the photo of PFC Schreckengost as one of the two Americans he observed. He also stated that both Americans spoke Vietnamese. (Ref 16)

11 (C) In July 1967 or August 1968, a source reported that he observed two US Prisoners in Quang Tin Province. The prisoners were assigned to the Nam Son Rice Transportation Group and lived in the Regrouping Training, School near Hill #1592 Bay Hamlet, Ky Que village in Tam Ky District. The prisoners were allegedly captured near Ky Son Village on 23 April 1967. These men were called Mr. White and Mr... Black. The source was positive that the Caucasian individual was PFC Schreckengost. (Ref 19)

12. (C) In June or July 1968, while infiltrating South Vietnam, a source reported that he observed two US POW's in Laos near Kontum Province. The source identified the Photo of PFC Schreckengost as the Caucasian that he observed. (Ref 21)

13. (C) In October or November 1968 a source reported that he observed a Caucasian American with 180 North Vietnamese Army and 10-15 Viet Cong personnel in the vicinity of (GC) AT 805 300. The NVA told the source that the American was a POW. The source identified the photo of PFC Schreckengost as the Caucasian that he observed. (Ref 17)

14. (C) In November 1968 a source stated that he observed two Americans in Can Son village, Cam Xuynh District, Ha Tien Province North Vietnam. The Americans were riding in a truck heading north toward Hanoi. The source identified the photo of PFC Schreckengost as one of the prisoners that he had observed. (Ref 20)

15. (C) In December 1969 a source reported that while infiltrating into South Vietnam he observed two allied POW's on a trail in Laos. The source identified the photo of PFC Schreckengost as one of the men that he observed. (Ref 'L8)

16. (C) On 10 October 1974 an American Caucasian was seen with a VC element at Co Luy Ferry Landing located at (GC) BS 737 736, Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam. Two informants reported that the American had been giving, gifts to the children and talking with the villagers. A third informant reported that-- prior to October 1974, and during an engagement with the enemy forces in Co Luy area, he had heard English being shouted between two men; one Caucasian and one Negro. The association of these two men in Quang Ngai Province has been given the nickname of "The Salt and Pepper Team". All three informants separately selected the photo of PFC Schreckengost-, and indicated that he looked older. (Ref 22,23, & 24)

17. During the existence of JCRC, the hostile threat in the area precluded any visits to or ground inspections of -he sites involved in this case. 'These individuals' -names and identifying data were turned over to the Four-Party Joint Military Team with a request for any information available. No response was forthcoming. PFC Schreckengost is currently carried in the status of Dead,, Body Not Recovered. PFC Greer is currently carried in the status of Missing.

REFERENCES USED

1. RPT (C), 704th Intc Det (CI), ZA015603, 16 Jun 64.

2. RPT (C), TF Weekly OPSUM 79.3.3.6, Para 4,, 17 Jun 64.

3. EXTRACT (U), SUB UNIT TWO MABS ONE SIX,, MSG 03122OZ Jul 64.

4. RPT (C),I.704th INTC DET (C-I) ZA015603, 3 Jul 64.

5. RPT (C)2 704th INTC DET (CI) ZA015603, 3 Jul 64.

6. RPT (C), lst MSS Office, QAV I, 12 Jul 64.

7. RPT (C), 704th INTC DET (CI), 17 Jul 64.

8. RPT (C), 704th INTC DET (CI), 24 Jul 64.

9. RPT (C), 704th INTTC DET (CI), 24 Jul 64.

10. RPT (C) 704th MC DET (CI), 14 Aug 64.

11. RPT(C) 704th INTC DET (CI), 19 Aug 64.

12. RPT (C), Director of Military Security Office QAV-4 31 Aug4.

13. RPT (C) 704th INTC DET (CI), ZA015603, 2 Sep 64.

14. RPT (C), 704th INTC DET (CI) ZA015603, 9 Apr 65.

15. RPT (C) 5th CIT. III MAF, 29 Nov 68.

16. RPT (C), 3rd CIT, lst MARDIV, 6 Jan 69.

17. RPT (C), 3rd CIT. lst MARDIV, 13 Feb 69.

18. MSG (C), CO, 3rd MARDIV, 28074OZ Mar 69.

19. RPT (C), CMIC, Saigon RVN, IR 6-029-1271-69, 29 Nov 69.

20. RPT (C), CMIC, Saigon, RVN, IR 6-029-0284-712 23 Mar 71.

21. RPT (C), CMIC, SAIGON, RVN IR 6-029-0557-71, 22 Mar 71.

22. MSG (C), USDAO, Saigon, RVN, IR 6-918-7537-74, 060852Z Dec 4.

23. MEMO (C), JCRC-LNS, Assistance ADO-l, w/statmts, 26 Dec 74.

24. MSG (C), JCRC-LNS, Saigon, RVN, 270645Z Dec 74.

ASSOCIATED INDIVIDUALS

1. Robert L. Greer 0031-0-01

2. Fred T. Schreckengost 0031-0-02