Freedom for Three

For the first time in the long war, U.S. and Viet Cong envoys met last week to conclude successfully the release of U.S. prisoners. Led by a lieutenant colonel, the U.S. delegation had met with the Viet Cong in the same field 50 miles northwest of Saigon during the Christmas truce, but the Communists had not brought the three men they had promised to free. Both encounters were rigged by the Viet Cong with an eye to making as much propaganda mileage as possible for the National Liberation Front. The U.S., naturally, did not like the situation, but was willing to endure it for the sake of freeing the three captives.

Nearly 20 newsmen and photographers flocked around a Viet Cong flag set up in the middle of the field for last week's meeting; the U.S. command had flown only four newsmen to the site. The main negotiator for the Viet Cong, a man in floppy hat and khaki fatigues without insignia, had brought along rattan stools, and he motioned to the American delegation, which had brought its own metal folding chairs, to sit down--most likely in the hope of producing pictures to be played against the Paris dispute over seating arrangements. After all, if the U.S. would sit down with the Viet Cong, why should not Saigon? The Americans declined the bait and remained standing, and the Viet Cong then refused to sit down as well.

An hour's break ensued, during which the Viet Cong sipped beer on their side of the clearing and the Americans drank cold tea near the helicopters that had brought them. Finally, the Communist representatives produced the American prisoners--Pfc. Donald G. Smith, SP4 Thomas N. Jones, and SP4 James W. Brigham, all 21. After a short Viet Cong propaganda speech (during which Smith mumbled, "By God, let's get all this over with and get out of here"), the Americans issued the Communists a receipt for the prisoners and whisked them off by helicopter. The three had been in enemy hands for periods ranging from four to eight months. They said that they had been reasonably well treated during their captivity, and U.S. doctors found them to be in "satisfactory to good" physical condition.

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