Intelligence and Security Operations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Ministry of National Defense

‘seen-ar_
A 1969 dated captured document provided a vivid picture of the scope of
COSVN MPS penetrations in the southern half of South Vietnam. Thedocument claimed a figure of 20,000 military proselytizing agents as of early
1968 with a goal of 50,000 by late 1969. Another captured COSVN document
stated that subordinate Region 6 had 9,480 persons organized into military
proselytizing cells. A review of captured documents dated 1968 and 1969
indicated control over 400 fifth column agents, 10 percent of whom held
officer rank in ARVN. The document review revealed that several agent assets
held key posts. The agents included nine signals personnel (including six
noncommissioned officers), an officer in a district intelligence and operations
coordinating center, two civilians assigned to an intelligence unit on an
airbase, a warrant officer attached to the ARVN Naval Headquarters, a
sergeant serving at the Da Lat Military Academy, two sergeants and a
lieutenant in an infantry training base, one local Vietnamese “CIA” employee,
the bodyguard of a district chief, two soldiers in the office of the ARVN Chief
of Ordnance, and a national policeman+a Party member since 1956—who
was assigned to the Presidential Palace in Saigon. Other penetrations included
a translator with a liaison group attached to the headquarters of the US Third
Marine Division, a captain assigned to a communications office near Da Nang,
an instructor at a Revolutionary Development Training Center, two artillery
officers, a lieutenant and a captain engaged in training, a regional forces
company commander, and the chief of regional and popular forces in a
district.
Operations targeted ARVN field grade rank officers. In July 1968, ARVNMajor Dao Ngoc Diep, a staff officer of the Da Lat Military Academy, was
arrested. (For further‘ details, see the l)i0graphic_profile on COSVN MPS agent.
handler Pham Minh Duc.) As of late 1968, one ARVN colonel, one lieutenant
colonel, and one major were under investigation as being long-term MPS agent
assets. ARVN Colonel Nguyen Ho, who worked as av penetration since 1954,
had attended the US Army Command General Staff College in Fort
Leavenworth in 1960 and 1961; served as deputy commander of the ARVNSpecial Forces in 1963; deputy chief of staff (1964) of ARVN IV Corps; chief
; of staff (1965), ARVN First Division of ARVN I Corps; chief (1966) of regional
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and popular forces in ARVN II Corps; and later as head of the ARVN II Corps
Inspector General's Office. The lieutenant colonel was a regimental officer1
with the ARVN First Division. ARVN Major Tran Dinh Khue, who worked as
_ a penetration since I947, had participated in an unsuccessful 19 February; 1965 coup d'etat in Saigon.
The COSVN MPS also attempted to approach General Cao Van Vien,
ARVN Chief of Staff, through his MPS brother-in-law in mid4April 1968. Vien
reported the approach and CDV Major Nguyen Thanh Nhung was arrested.
, Other documented attempts at high-level contacts included the ARVN Chief
of Ordnance in Saigon, the Commanders of the ARVN First and Second
Divisions, and three successive commanding generals of ARVN I Corps. In
early 1964, the brother of ARVN General Duong Van ("Big") Minh was
dispatched by the CDV to South Vietnam to recruit Minh, who for a short
period was the RVN Chief of State. The brother (Duong Van Nhat), whose
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