SHARK, EARL ERIC
Name: Earl Eric Shark
Rank/Branch: E5/US Army
Unit: Company C, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
Date of Birth: 23 May 1946 (College Park MI)
Home City of Record: Pomona CA
Date of Loss: 12 September 1968
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 115314N 1063737E (XU772145)
Status (in 1973): Missing in Action
Category: 1
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: Ground
Refno: 1277
Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 September 1990 from one or more
of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,
correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK 1998.
REMARKS: 6809 DIC - ON PRG DIC LIST
SYNOPSIS: SGT Earl E. Shark was serving as pointman on a reconnaissance
enforce mission near Loc Ninh in Binh Long Province, South Vietnam on
September 12, 1968 when the point element came under enemy fire from a
superior enemy force.
According to a witness, Shark was wounded in his upper torso. His radio
operator was hit in the same burst of fire, but 5-10 meters behind Shark.
The platoon leader and his radio man went forward and tried to rescue the
two men, but were unable to get Shark out. The unit was forced to withdraw
and was unable to return to this location until two days later.
During the later search of the area, Shark was not found, but his helmet and
part of his canteen was found where he had last been seen. It was later
learned that Shark had been captured.
According to the Vietnamese, Shark died in captivity the same month he was
captured. Despite this, the Vietnamese have made no attempt to return his
remains to U.S. control.
In the fall of 1985, a CIA document was obtained by a private citizen
through the Freedom of Information Act which contained drawings of a Viet
Cong detention center which held U.S. servicemen prior to their being sent
north to Hanoi. It was located just 20 miles southwest of Camp Eagle, a
major American base near Hue, South Vietnam. In the document were greatly
detailed drawings, lists of personnel and lists of U.S. servicemen
identified from photographs. Earl E. Shark's name was on a list of
positively identified prisoners, as being held there AFTER September 1968.
Along with Shark were the names of several POWs who were released in 1973.
One of them has verified the authenticity of the report as far as the camp
itself is concerned.
Earl Shark's file contains a large amount of classified information (as of
1989). It is doubtful that his family was ever told of this report before it
became public in 1985. The Defense Department now maintains that the report
was a fabrication, even though much of it has been verified by returned POWs
who were held there. The reasoning is based in part that the source could
not know what he said he knew.
It has been 22 years since Earl E. Shark was captured, yet details contained
in his file remain classified. The U.S. Government would like for us to
believe their assessment of Shark's fate, yet they are unwilling for details
to be made public.
If, as the USG seems to believe, all missing Americans are now dead, why the
secrecy? If, as many authorities believe, hundreds of them are still alive,
why are they not home?
----------------------------------------------
[0107-72.CM 03/01/96]
[NETWORK NOTE: This document was scanned and retyped to make it an ASCII file.
The Block format of a USG document was altered to just "text")
REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
DECLASSIFIED PER EXECUTIVE ORDER 12356, SECTION 3.3, NND PROJECT
NUMBER NN8937 597, BY RB1VSW, DATE 1/23/96
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE REPORT
Note: This Document contains information affecting the national defense of the
United States within the meaning of the espionage laws. Title 18, U.S.C., Sec
793 and 794. The transmission or revelation of its contents in any manner to an
unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
CONFIDENTIAL
This report contains unprocessed information. Plans and/or policies should not
be evolved or modified solely on the basis of this report.
1. COUNTRY: VS 8. REPORT NUMBER: 6 029 0107 72
2. SUBJECT: (U) US PW Sighting in 9. DATE OF REPORT: 30 Mar 72
BINH LONG Province, VS (handwritten-W34130)
10.NO. OF PAGES: 4
3. ISC NUMBER: 723.600 11.REFERENCES: DIRM: 6G1, 6G3
SICR: D-7CX-49018
4. DATE OF INFORMATION: 15 Jul 69 12. ORIGINATOR: US Element, CMIC, USMACV
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACQ: CMIC, SAIGON, VS
26 Feb 72
13. PREPARED BY: JOHN P. MANNING
SP5, USA
6. EVALUATION: SOURCE F INFORMATION 6
7. SOURCE: PW Interrogation 14. APPROVING AUTHORITY: (SIGNED)
DAVID L. PE LTC, USA
Dir, US Elm, CMIC
15. SUMMARY
(C) This report contains limited information concerning the sighting of
PWs on 15 Jun 69, in BINH LONG Province, RVN, to include circumstances of
sighting, description of PWs, clothing worn by PWs, physical condition,
personal information, and resemblances to known US PWs. THIS IS A BRIGHT
LIGHT REPORT, MACV FOR JPRC.
1. (C) Background Information:
a. Name: NGUYEN VAN DUOC (NGUYEENX, VEAN DOUWCV), CMIC 008-72
b. Rank: None (VC)
c. Position and Unit of Assignment: Soldier and Sqd Ldr; Recon Unit,
HON QUAN District Unit, BINH LONG Province, RVN.
d. DPOB: 1949; PHU MY Village, BEN TRANH District, MY THO Province,
RVN
16. DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR:
DIA 1 cy
DIRNSA 1 cy
SAC 1 cy
CINPAC 1 cy
CINPAC AF 2 cys
CINCUSARPAC 2 cys
COMUSMACTHAI 1 cy
MACJ212-2 2 cys
MACJ213-1 1 cy
MACJ23 1 cy
MACJ231 10 cys
17. DOWNGRADING DATA: GROUP 3
DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR INTERVALS NOT AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED
THIS DOCUMENT IS RELEASEABLE TO REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AND FREE WORLD
MILITARY ASSISTANCE FORCES
18: ATTACHMENT DATA: None
Page 2 of 4
e. Parents' Names: Father, NGUYEN VAN THIEU (NGUYEENX, VEAN THIEEUL),
deceased; Mother, DINH THI DIEU (DINH, THIV DIEEUV), deceased
f. Circumstances of Capture. On 24 Jul 71, while source was on his
way to VAN HIEN Hamlet, BU COM Village, AN LOC District, BINH LONG Province,
to pick up supplies and foodstuffs, he was captured by the Regional forces of
BU COM Village. At the time of his capture he had no documents or weapons in
his possession. Source was captured alone.
g. Significant Activities. From 1952 to 1953, Source tended buffalo
with his grandfather un PHU MY Village, BEN TRAN District, MY THO Province,
RVN. From 1953 to 1963, Source remained at home with his family. From 1963 to
Feb 68, Source worked at the QUANG LOI Rubber Plantation in TRA THANH Village,
AN LOC District, BINH LONG Province, RVN. In Feb 68, Source joined the VC in
TRA THANH Village, AN LOC District, BINH LONG Province, RVN, and was assigned
to a cell of the guerrilla forces of the TRA THANH (VC) Village Unit. He
received one week of training with the K-44 carbine. Source remained with
this unit until Dec 68, when he was sent to an Armed Force Unit (NFI), located
in HON QUAN District. Their mission was to provide security for HON QUAN
District. Source remained with this unit until May 69, when he was sent to
the QUANG LOI Rubber Plantation, BINH LONG Province, to receive reconnaissance
training for the HON QUAN District Unit. This training lasted 20 days and
consisted primarily of moving techniques. After training was over, Source
returned to the HON QUAN District Unit for a one week rest period. After the
rest period, he was assigned to a recon unit consisting of 12 men and located
in AN LOC District, BINH LONG Province, RVN. Source remained with this unit
until 24 Jul 71, when he was captured by the Regional forces of BU COM
Village, AN LOC District, BINH LONG Province, RVN.
h. Additional References. CMIC PW/Rallier Exploitation Guide; US PW
Photo Album, MACV JPRC, dtd 12 Sep 71; MACV PIVBIA, dtd 21 Dec 71; Map: LOC
NINH, VIETNAM, CAMBODIA, AMS Series L7014, Sheet 6322 IV, Edition 1, dtd 1966,
Scale 1:50,000
2. US PW Sighting in BINH LONG Province, RVN. The following is in
response to SICR D-7CX-49018 (Prisoner of War Intelligence):
a. Circumstances of Sighting. On 15 Jun 69, Source and three others
from his unit were returning from AN LOC Village with rice when they passed
five US PWs and seven guards traveling in the opposite direction (location
approximately from XU8213 TO XU8415). These two groups passed within three
meters and exchanged greetings. The five Americans were not bound. The seven
guards were armed with AK-47s. The group walked in single file with two
guards in front, then two prisoners, another guard, two more prisoners,
another guard, one prisoner and the final three guards. There was
approximately one meter between each man in the column. Source did not talk
to the guards or the PWs. The guards were a mixture of both NVA and VC and
wore no special uniform. Source was able to observe these PWs for
approximately two to three minuted as they approached and passed him. Source
was only able to relate the following information concerning the guards and
prisoners.
Page 3 of 4
b. Description of PWs:
(1) 1st PW:
(a) Name: Unknown
(b) Rank and Branch of Service: Unknown; Army
(c) Nationality: US
(d) Physical Description:
1 Height: 1.90m (Interrogator's Note: Interrogator is 1.79m tall.
Source estimated the PW as being 0.15m taller.)
2 Weight: 90kg (Interrogator's Note: Interrogator weighs 80kg.
Source estimated the interrogator's weight to be 85kg.)
3 Color of Hair and Eyes: Light brown; Unknown
4 Race: Caucasian
5 Complexion: Light
6 Hair: Four to five inches long and straight, with large sideburns.
PW also had a bushy mustache which was level with his lips.
7 Nose: Long, straight and pointed
8 Scars, Tattoos, Birthmarks: No distinguishing marks were noticeable.
9 Build: Heavy
10 Age: 29 to 30 years (Interrogator's Note: Interrogator is 23 years
old; Source estimated age at 26.)
11 Glasses Worn: None
12 Rings/Watches Worn: Wore a watch (NFI)
(2) Other four PWs: Source could not remember anything about these
PWs except that two of the PWs were Caucasian and the other two were Negro
(NFI).
(3) Clothing Worn by PWs: All five of the PWs wore green jungle
fatigues. The sleeves were rolled down and the pants unbloused on the 1st PW.
Source did not notice any more on the other four PWs. The 1st PW had a US
Army tag above left chest pocket. The 1st PW had a patch on his left shoulder
but Source could not identify it. Source noticed no other patches or any rank
insignia on the PWs collar or sleeves. The 1st PW wore a green T-shirt; but
was not wearing a hat.
(4) Physical Condition. None of the five PWs appeared to be sick or
injured and seemed to be in good health.
Page 4 of 4
(5) Personal Information: None
(6) Capture Data. Source was unable to provide any capture data on
any of the five PWs.
c. Evacuation Procedures. Source knew nothing concerning the
evacuation procedure used.
d. Photo Identification. Source was shown the US PW Photo Album,
MACV JPRC, dtd 12 Sep 71, but was unable to make any positive identifications.
He tentatively identified No 0267, SHARK, EARL E. (Listed as MIA) as PW No 1.
e. Biographical Correlation. A Biographical Correlation conducted
with a JPRC representative on 3 Mar 72, yielded no positive results.
(C) CMIC COMMENTS: Source was administered the Cross-Cultural IQ Test and
scored Illiterate. He was cooperative throughout the interrogation but was
unable to answer questions consistently. Throughout the entire interrogation
Source was constantly vague and confused in answering questions. Source
admitted that he had lied twice to the Interrogator.
---------------------------------------------------
[ssrep7.txt 02/09/93]
SMITH 324 COMPELLING CASES
South Vietnam Earl E. Shark
(1277)
On 12 September 1968, Sergeant Shark was serving as the point man
for the 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 28th
Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. As the platoon advanced up a hill
approximately 6 kilometers northeast of the town of Loc Ninh, Song
Be (formerly Binh Long) Province, his unit came under intense enemy
fire. The radio operator with Sergeant Shark radioed that they had
both been hit. The platoon leader and his radio operator crawled
to within 5-10 meters of Sergeant Shark. They could see no
movement,heard no noise, and saw no visible sign of life. As the
contact continued, the Platoon leader through a hand grenade at an
enemy soldier in a bunker in front of Sergeant Shark. The grenade
fell short and exploded closer to Sergeant Shark than the enemy.
The fragmentation from the platoon leader's grenade was close
enough to Sergeant Shark to set off the smoke grenades attached to
Sergeant Shark's web gear but Sergeant Shark still made no
voluntary movement. Due to heavy enemy fire, the platoon leader
and his radio operator were forced to withdraw without retrieving
Sergeant Shark.
On September 15, 1968, the unit was able to reach the area where
Sgt Shark was last seen. However, he could not be located by
ground or air search.
Although seriously wounded, Sergeant Shark apparently was alive and
survived for several days. His name and date of death appeared on
the Died in Captivity list provided by the Provisional
Revolutionary government of South Vietnam on January 27, 1973.
Sergeant Shark's date of death was given as September 1968.
Intelligence reports that have been correlated to Sergeant Shark
indicate that Sergeant Shark died of his wounds and complications
following the amputation of one of his legs about five days after
his capture. He apparently died at K101 Dispensary in Cambodia and
was reportedly buried west of the hospital. His remains have not
yet been recovered and repatriated.
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