OFFICIAL STATUS: MISSING

CASE SUMMARY: SEE ATTACHED

RATIONALE FOR SELECTION: Two Vietnamese who were wounded during the same action from which CPL Harris disappeared reported his capture by Viet Cong Forces. Although there are no reports confirming CPL Harris as a Prisoner, there have been no subsequent reports of his death.

REFNO: 0358 04 Aug. 75

(U) CASE SUMMARY

1. On 12 June 1966, CPL Gregory J. Harris, radio operator, was with the 5th Battalion of the Vietnamese Marine Corps on a search and destroy mission in the vicinity of BS 670 578 in South Vietnam. The unit was attacked by the Viet Cong and suffered heavy losses. CPL Harris was then missing. As friendly forces gained fire superiority they were able to recover some bodies, but not CPL Harris, during a two hour search. The Viet Cong remained in the area throughout the night. (Ref 1)

2. On 13 Jun 66, a three hour search of the area recovered more bodies of the dead and wounded however no trace of CPL Harris was found. An interrogation of two wounded Vietnamese revealed that one saw CPL Harris moving out of the area into some heavy foliage and the other one saw him being captured by the Viet Cong. These two men later died so they could not be questioned further. ARVN agents in the area at the time reported on 14 Jun 66 that two Vietnamese Marines were captured by the Viet Cong. There was no mention of an American prisoner. All the personnel that were with the 5th Vietnamese Marine Battalion on 12 Jun 1966 were accounted for except the two Vietnamese Marines who were reported captured and CPL Harris. (Ref 1)

3. During the existence of JCRC the hostile threat in the area precluded any visits to or ground inspections of the sites involved in this case.

4. CPL Harris is currently carried in the status of Missing.

(U) REFERENCES USED:

1. (U) RPT, lst Marine Div, Investigation Report 22 June 1966.