DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
44th Military History Detachment
199th Infantry Brigade (Sep) (Light)
APO San Francisco 96279
SUBJECT: Interview with Major Dennis F. Hightower
Office, Chief of Military History
Department of the Army
Washington, D.C. 20315
1. An interview with Major Dennis F. Hightower, Brigade S-2, 199th Infantry
Brigade (Sep) (Light) was taped on 24 June 1969. The tape, which has no
restriction on its use but is classified CONFIDENTIAL, is enclosed (Inclosure
1).
2. The interview was conducted at Fire Support Base Blackhorse (Coordinates
YS 440970) in Long Khanh province, Republic of Vietnam. The recorder utilized
was a National RQ-1585 at 3 3/4 inch per second. Length of the interview
is approximately 50 minutes.
3. A list of proposed questions and a synopsis of Major Hightower's
responses are attached as Inclosures 2 and 3.
3 Incl
as |
s/James G. Lindsay
JAMES G. LINDSAY
1LT, Infantry
Commanding |
QUESTIONS FOR INTERVIEW WITH MAJOR DENNIS F. HIGHTOWER
1. There are two principal intelligence activities in the Brigade, the
S-2 Office and the 179th Military Intelligence Detachment. Just what is
your relationship or division of labor? Could this be improved in any way?
2. What have been your most important sources of intelligence other
than elint methods?
3. Do you receive much intelligence from ARVN intelligence sources?
From other RVN agencies (NP)? From civilians (rural and urban)? Notable
examples? From on-post workers?
4. Can you describe your counterintelligence organization?
5. Have you had many instances of sabotage or espionage here at Camp
Frenzell-Jones? Could you discuss a few of them?
6. Have you had any notable intelligence successes? Failures? To what
do you attribute them?
7. Have you come against any unusual problems as the Brigade S-2? Describe
and tell how you solved or attempted to solve them.
8. Do you have sufficient personnel and equipment by TOE to accomplish
your mission? How have you modified your TOE in actual practice?
9. Do you find that replacements are generally well trained for their
jobs or do they require extensive OJT to perform their jobs?
10. Have you placed any new emphasis on any facet of the S-2 function?
Downgraded any facets?
11. Have you made any policy changes or revisions in SOP's during your
time at S-2, why?
12. What restrictions do you wish to place on this interview? What security
classification and downgrading instructions?
INCL 2
SYNOPSIS: Major Dennis F. Hightower, Interviewed 24 June 1969
by 44th Military History Detachment, 199th Infantry Brigade (Sep) (Light),
APO SF 96279.
The S-2 is responsible for all intelligence operations while the 179th
Military Intelligence Detachment (MID) provides specialized support to
the S-2 and serves as the operating arm or executive agent of the S-2.
During the past two years the S-2 and 179th MID have refined their operations
to the point that I am unable to suggest any changes in their present relationship.
The 179th MID is probably the best in Vietnam, principally because its
members have repeatedly extended their tours. The ARVN MID has also been
of great value particularly in the area of order of battle.
All sources of intelligence are important, none above others, but the
most productive for us have been agents and informants. We do not have
access to many of the sources of RVN intelligence but the RVN people do
make the information from these sources available to us.
Random questioning of civilian workers and a limited number of informants
among them provide the necessary degree of security for Camp Frenzell-Jones.
Basically our counterintelligence activities fall under three headings:
base security, special operations and document security. We have had no
known instances of sabotage or espionage at Camp Frenzell-Jones.
I've had no unusual problems during my tour—to the contrary, I've had
considerable cooperation. With regard to personnel the S-2 TO&E is
insufficient but the equipment allowances are satisfactory. What has happened
is that the S-2 has been assigned extra functions without a corresponding
authorization for personnel. The S-2 replacements tend to require on-the-job
training but this is not so in the MID.
I have placed a greater emphasis on liason [sic] with the units
in the field and with the ARVN's. There were few policies in being when
I took over the S-2 function. The Kit Carson program has been more formally
defined and organized for instance. Weekly meetings of the Brigade and
Battalion S-2's are now being held. Due to the rapid turn over of personnel
here I have instituted a quarterly (rather than semi-annual) inspection
of records.
In conclusion I have both enjoyed and learned from my experience in
combat intelligence work, even though strategic and area intelligence is
my primary field.
INCL 3