The report presents a collection of translations of captured Viet Cong documents pertaining to the composition and personnel of the demolition platoon of the 514th Battalion. The documents cover the period from early 1966 to mid-May 1967, a time when the battalion was under-strength and only infrequently saw action. The unit spent much time training, reorganizing, and bolstering morale. In Party membership, the unit was of the elite. Even though under-strength, it contained a Party Chapter, usually found only at the company level. Seventeen personnel dossiers, compiled mostly by the men themselves, give accounts of battles, forced marches, and personal history that afford insight into Viet Cong practices and psychology. (Author).

The report presents a collection of translations of the personal correspondence of members of a Viet Cong demolition unit operating in the Mekong Delta. These letters to friends and relatives reveal the hopes and fears of soldiers in wartime. Although they have a self-conscious tone, perhaps because their authors feared censorship, the contents are no doubt sincere. They impart a strong sense of group solidarity and social cohesiveness. (Author).