Historical question

[Unisaw]

Question: were Viet Cong who were captured by U.S. forces treated as POWs under the Geneva Convention?  I wasn't there and honestly don't know, but am a little surprised that this hasn't come up during all of the controversy about Club Gitmo.  Am I correct in thinking that Viet Cong rarely, if ever, wore uniforms?  If anyone has personal knowledge, please share it.

[Moondoggie]

I didn't go to the RVN, but over the years I served with many who did.  One of my close friends was an interrogator with Marine Corps intel.

My understanding is that NVA/VC prisoners were mostly handled by the S. Vietnamese.  US folks would observe/participate in interrogations, but it was primarily "hands on" (with ALL that that implies) by the locals.

It wasn't pretty.  It wasn't IAW the Geneva Convention.

[HankB]

I believe there was a famous picture of a high-ranking RVN officer executing a VC prisoner by shooting him in the head with what looked like a Chief's Special . . . no Geneva Convention there. (The VC and NVA certainly did NOT treat US POWs per the Geneva Convention.)

[wingnutx]

^ that was the chief of police of Saigon, iirc.

I have that picture in my LIFE magazine photog book.

[The Rabbi]

I believe there was a famous picture of a high-ranking RVN officer executing a VC prisoner by shooting him in the head with what looked like a Chief's Special . . . no Geneva Convention there. (The VC and NVA certainly did NOT treat US POWs per the Geneva Convention.)

Actually the story was widely distorted.  The "prisoner" in question was in fact a VC or NV spy and was responsible for the deaths of many soldiers.  Since he was out of uniform etc etc he could be killed outright according to the GC.  But the papers spun it that he was just a bloodthirsty Vietnamese.

[doczinn]

Find the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. IN fact, here it is:

http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/91.htm

Most Viet Cong, and all Iraqi insurgents, are excluded. You may say we shouldn't torture them anyway, and I'd usually agree, but to do so does not violate the Geneva Conventions.

[Unisaw]

Last night, I asked my dad.  He was in country during 1968-1969.  He recalled that Americans treated them as POWs consistent iwth the Geneva Convention.  On the other hand, he said that you didn't want to be a VC who was captured by Korean troops serving in Viet Nam.