Have you ever wondered what “really” happened concerning the Capital Kinh Do Theater bombings? Or, the Pershing Field Sports Stadium bombing? Or, the U.S. Embassy bombing? Or, the Floating Restaurant bombing? Or, the many, many other bombings and terrorist acts that took place in Saigon and Viet-nam?
Once again Kathy’s continuing research has paid off concerning events that took place while many of us were in Saigon.
Her latest find on the Internet is “The Study of the Use of Terror by the Viet Cong” The Mariah Project (MAC/SOG).
This is a 41 page “Secret” report and study outlining Viet Cong acts of terror throughout Viet-nam during the period of 1957 though early 1966. The study was completed as part of the Phoenix Project.
It includes detailed information about the Pershing Field bombing, U.S. Embassy bombing and the Capital Kinh Do Theater bombings. As well as, many other events.
It even contains transcripts from captured Viet Cong documents and reports detailing the planning and execution of the Capital Kinh Do Theater bombings of 1963 and 1964.
This now declassified “Secret” document provides interesting insights from both the American and Viet Cong perspectives.
Thank you very much, Kathy, for locating and sharing this information with all us Saigon Kids. I’m sure everyone appreciates your efforts as much as I do – 
Click Here to view The Mariah Project report and study.
Bob
PS: As you read through this document, it might prove helpful to others, if you could identify the page numbers in the report which relate to events and incidents Saigon Kids experienced. You can leave the information in the Comments section below. This way folks can zero in on the specific information relating to their experiences in Saigon – without having to read the entire report. Just a thought –
Pershing Field Bombing- The Pershing Field Bombing happened during a major Boy Scout trip to Nha Trang over the summer. This incident caused the death of a repairman who was on the roof of our house in the JDP Compound. When I returned from the trip, my mother told me about the bomb going off and the repairman coming down from the roof to fast on a rickety bamboo ladder. The ladder broke and he fell to his death. My Dad was away in Long Xuyen and she had to call for help and handle the situation herself while watching my 3 younger sisters. Not an everyday occurrence where we came from in Memphis, TN.
The mention of that bombing brought back that memory to me very clearly.
PS. The year was 1964.
I was in the US at the time of the bombing, but when I returned to Saigon, my mother gave me the low down as she knew it. My dad was a big ball fan and was usually at the field when games were being played. If I recall it correctly, five bombs were planted under the stands, one of which was right under where my dad usually sat (middle row of stand, near home plate). Seeing some friends of his that evening, he moved to the far end of the bleachers…when the bombs went off, one of them was right where he normally would have been sitting.
At the time, dad owned a black and while 1959 Chevy station wagon that he used to shuttle wounded to the hospital. He recalled that none of the Vietnames kids that were usually about during games were around that evening, a sure sign of trouble that unfortunately, no one recognized at the time.
NOTE – All of the above was passed to me, so my facts may not be 100% correct.
Ken
Hi Ken – Glad to see that you are obviously feeling better. All the best in 2011.
Arline (Ames) Silva
Hello Saigon Kids…
The U.S. Embassy bombing in Saigon will always be a memory for me, as I was working in the building at the time of the blast. (I returned to Saigon following my freshman year at the Univ. of Arizona, and accepted a one-year contract position at the embassy, 1964-65).
I have written up a full account of the experience, and I have the complete photo packet that USIA produced for the media.
Just contact me if you want more info.
All the best,
David Henry
Hello David – Good to see you stopping by for a visit. Sounds like an interesting write up and photo packet. I’ll email you about it in the next few days.
I hope all is good with you and yours.
Bob
David, I want more info. Where the hell are you? Please give me your email. contact me at krygwy [@] yahoo.com. Ken
David….My father was in Saigon and had just come out of the Embassy about one minute prior to a bombing. His picture ended up in a Life Magazine (double page) picture. He said there was a bomb placed in the elevator shaft which blew up and then sucked in all the windows causing massive casualties. This does not sound like the same bombing that I am finding on these sites. Do you know anything about this elevator shaft bombing. I am trying to get a date and then locate the Life Magazine that has the information in it. Any info you can give would be appreciated.
Suzanne – I’ll send you and email with about how to get in touch with David.
Bob
By the way….I cannot get into the Mariah Project report. It seems to be blocked. Would love to peruse it though.
Suzanne – you need Adobe Reader to view the Mariah Project reports. You an download the reader here (it’s free):
http://get.adobe.com/reader/
Bob
Thanks so much for publishing the Mariah Project report. My father was in the theatre at the time of the bombing, and was wounded by shrapnel. The description of the event was detailed and fascinating. My father never speaks much about it, but I noted no differences between the official report and any of his recollections. He received two Purple Hearts during his 13-month hardship (no family) tour of Vietnam, spent mostly in Saigon. I recall being told of the bombing (I was 8, in Los Angeles) and having a regional newspaper interview us for our reaction to having our 2nd lt. father blown-up during a Sunday movie in Saigon. It was a wrenching experience. He’s still going here in California today at 83.
I’m more of a Teheran Kid, as he was stationed there in 1967 prior to the Revolution in Iran, again in an advisory role. We saw the Shah’s coronation, among other things. We had an American school too, but I’m not aware of any online group or association from those days.
Good luck to you and Happy New Year!
Hello Curt, thanks for stopping by to visit and sharing your story with us. Please feel free to visit often if you want too. Have a great New Year 2011.
Bob
Dear Mr. Shupe,
I am trying to find details regarding the February 16, 1964, bombing of the Capital Kinh Do theatre in Saigon. My family and I lived in Saigon and were there that afternoon – having just left literally minutes after the bombing. I am doing research for a book. Any pertinent details would be very much appreciated. Do you know of any soldiers lost that day?
Kinda regards,
Linda
Linda – Here are links to information on this site about the Capital Kinh Do theatre bombing. I hope this helps you with your research.
http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/capital-kinh-do-theater-bombed-on-february-11-1964-50-wounded-3-killed
http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/64-kinh-do-bombing
http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/thewall-usacom
http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/special-agent-early-days-1962-to-1964
http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/kinh-do-bombing-sept-1963-other-memory-flashes
http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/khindo-theater-bombing
http://saigonkidsamericancommunityschool.com/the-mariah-project-secret-documents-reveal-truth-about-capital-kinh-do-theater-bombings
Bob
Hi Linda -
I also was in the Kinh Do that day, and also had just left and was about 2 blocks away on a cyclo (siclo?) when the blast went off. I remember yelling “Arrette, arrette”, but the guy just pedalled faster. To this day, I can’t recall why I left early (I don’t think the film was over) or what movie it was.
George
Curt, I went to A.D.S. Tehran from 1954 (when it opened, a year after the C.I.A. inspired revolution) until 1959. It was the longest place I ever lived until I retired from the military and moved to Arizona in 1991. Back then there were more camels then trucks. Frank
The Mariah Project document recounting the Kinh Do bombing has obviously been declassified for quite some time. It’s been sitting in Hamilton Library at the University of Hawaii since at least the mid-1980s, when I first read it.
For the record, MAJ Donald E. Koelper, USMC (Dec.) was my father.
Hello Donald and welcome to our Saigon Kids blog site.
Yes, you are correct regarding the declassification of the document. It states on the first page of the document it was to be declassified on May 1, 1978. This particular copy of the document appears to be a Certified True Copy made of the original document before the declassification date, which would explain why it is not marked Declassified.
Bob
Bob:
I was attached to 5th SFG HQ in Nha Trang, 8/1963-8/64. We were alerted the C.K.D. Theatre bombing might be precursor of country-wide by the Charlies. Am writing novel (saga) occurring in SE Asia, 1953-1967 and I was stuck at 2-16-64…the Kinh Do. I read your page, 5×5; the info on your page broke me loose. Many thanks for a super spot.
[Glad you found our site helpful. Let us know when your book is finished so we can add it to our on-site book store - Bob]