Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh (in shorts) and Vo Nguyen Giap (in white suit) with members of an American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) team at Tan Trao in northern Vietnam, August 1945

In July 1945 Special Operations Team Number 13, code-named 'Deer', parachuted into a jungle camp called Tan Trao, 100km from Hanoi, with directions to proceed to the headquarters of Ho Chi Minh. Their mission was to set up a guerrilla team of 50 to 100 men to attack and interdict the railroad from Hanoi to Lang Son to prevent the Japanese from going into China. They were also to find Japanese targets such as military bases and depots, and send back to OSS agents in China whatever intelligence they could. And they were to provide weather reports for air drops and U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) operations on an as-needed basis.

OSS Deer Team members pose with Viet Minh leaders Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap during training at Tan Trao in August 1945. Deer Team members standing, l to r, are Rene Defourneaux, (Ho), Allison Thomas, (Giap), Henry Prunier and Paul Hoagland, far right. Kneeling, left, are Lawrence Vogt and Aaron Squires. (Rene Defourneaux).

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Credit:

Pictures From History

Theme:

INDOCHINA WARS