Freed Sergeants To Face Charges

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30944, 28 December 1965, Page 9

Freed Sergeants To Face Charges

(N.Z, Press Association —Copyright?

NAHA (Okinawa), December 27.

Two American sergeants who were released last month by the Viet Gong, would be charged with aiding the enemy, the American military command in Okinawa said today.

The two, Sergeants George Smith, of Chester, West Virginia, and Claude McClure, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, said they would leave the army and lead a campaign to end the war in Vietnam when they returned to the United States, United Press

International reported.

The Associated Press said the pair denied to American television reporters that they had said they would return to the United States and join the campaign against the war in Vietnam. They said their statements at the news conference had been misinterpreted. United Press International said that when Smith and McClure were asked at Phnom Penh if they planned to return to the Army when they reached the 'United States Smith replied: “No, we’re fed up.” He paused, then added: “We’ll join the peace movements in the United States.” U.P.I. said McClure said that the Viet Cong had “treated us very well.” He said they had been given medical treatment and had been interrogated, but had never been beaten or tortured, “which is not the case with prisoners of Saigon’s troops.” An American military command spokesman said investigation was continuing to determine where Smith and McClure would be courtmartlialled and discharged. He said both men would remain on Okinawa until a decision had been made.

Smith and McClure, both Special Forces men, were captured in November, 1963, when the Viet Cong over-ran the Hiep Hoa camp, northeast of Saigon.