OFFICIAL STATUS: CAPTURED

CASE SUMMARY: SEE ATTACHED

RATIONALE FOR SELECTION: Mr. Cocheo was captured on 31 January 1969, and one report identifies him as a prisoner as late as 30 June 1973. There are no reports of his status since then.

REFNO: 1010 23 Jun 75

(U) CASE SUMMARY

1. Mr. Richard Cocheo was employed by the Pacific Architects and Engineers Corporation in South Vietnam. On 31 January 1968, (the second night of the enemy TET offensive), the VC surrounded Mr. Cocheo's home in Vinh Long City, (in the vicinity of grid coordinates XS 060 040 ), and told him to surrender. Instead, Mr. Cocheo fired on the VC, and during the firefight Mr. Cocheo's wife was killed. Mr. Cocheo then surrendered and was taken away. A 26 October 1968 letter from CARE indicates that Mr. Cocheo was last seen alive in May 1968, and was being held with some government civil servants at a pagoda, (location unknown). The Buddhists in the area stated that Mr. Cocheo could be among the many Americans who were reportedly being held by the VC in the Delta.

2. On 30 June 1973 a report stated that a Vietnamese employee talked with a monk in Tan My village, Tra On District, and alleged that he had seen a prisoner whom he identified as Mr. Cocheo who was taken to Vinh Xuan village, Tra On District. The disposition of Mr. Cocheo from that point was unknown. (Ref 2)

3. During several trips to the area of the capture JCRC representatives discussed the case with local officials and residents but were unable to elicit additional useful information or leads in this case. In March 1975 the Two-Party Joint Military Commission recovered and turned over to JCRC several sets of remains, one of which was alleged to be an American. CILThai identified all the remains as mongoloid. Details of this case, together with information indicating enemy knowledge of the case, were turned over to the Four-Party Joint Military Team on 8 Apr 74 with a request for any information which would assist in determine status and resolution. No response was forthcoming. Mr. Cocheo currently carried in the status of Captured.

REFERENCES USED

1. LTR (U), CARE/Vietam, 26 Oct 63.

2. MSG (U) , MSG AMCONSUL CAN THO RVN, 30025OZ73.