Originator: ARMY
From: USA
Document date: 11/09/1953
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

6/8/2015

AGENCY :

RECORD NUMBER :

FBI

124-90029-10008

RECORD SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

CR 100-408525-NR

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: ARMY

FROM:

TO:

USA

TITLE :

DATE:

PAGES:

SUBJECTS :

11/09/1953

5

THOMAS R. PEASNER

[Restricted]

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION :

Unclassified

, RESTRICTIONS:

CURRENT STATUS:

DATE OF LAST REVIEW :

Redact

09/15/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: APPROVAL OF USA

COMMENTS: SUMMARY;

Released under the John F. Kennedy

ssassination Records L'ollection Act c

992 |44 USC 2107 Notel. Case#:NV

56754 Date: 09-22-2022

v9.1

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DELIVERY

5/2/78

Pressin::.

13 JAN 19540

Security

ormation

9 Nnvember 1953

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION

Hearquarters Second Army, Fort George G. Mende, Md. Dossier C 8052176

BIERS, Wesley P.

Cp]. RA 13166063

NECLASSIFIED MY BRIL

* Receiven trom r

094.06-42.

Date/ 7/15/53

The following Counterintelligence Information (Palse -98

0FK)

5668510/KSR

obtained from files available to this office.

BIERS, Wesley P.,

Cpl. RA 13166063, age 22..

Caucasian, Box 136,

Kimberly,

West: Virginia, was captured by Chinese Conmunist Fnrces (CCF)

On 23 April 1951, in the Central Sector of Korea, approximataly 10

ALL FBI INFORIMATION CONTAINED

miles north of the 38th parallel. SUBJECI serving as an Assistant Squad

Leader in "I" Company, 19th Regiment,

24th Infantry Division.

organization had been overrun by CCF

at the time of his capture. BIERS

24th ervie grant on 20.

HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED

was repatriated to UN control on 6 September 1953.

DATE 5-7-95 BY

BIERS was imprisoned at Camp #1 until 4 August 1953, at which time

he was transferred to a special compound near CCF Supreme Camp Headquarters

repatriation. Following an alleged exposure of subversive activities

directed against the CCT plans for non-repatriate PsW, BIERS, Pfc. Babby

DeGraw, 14319329, end Pfc. Wilburn C. Watson, 14299345 were turned

over to UN control.

Shortly after arrival at Camp#1, BIARS began to actively participate

in conmunist discussions sponsored by the CCF camp officials. In March

1952 he was appointed? Squan Leader by the Chinese end held this positinn

until May 1952. In this capacity he presented questions for discussion in

squad stury group

meatings,

required by the Chinese and observed, and

repertod attitudes of IsW to the Chinese.

In April 1952 BIANS was selected by the Chinese for membership in

the Compeny Club, and beceme Chairman of the Research Section of the Club's

Daily. Life Committe. He held this position until August 1953.

The Company Club was a Chinese sponsored organization and controlled

1126.

-by them. It directed and planned the daily activities of the PsW. It had

as it's officers only those regarded by the Chinese as dependable. The

Research Department made studies of reference matarial supplied by the

NASCAST DATED

Chinese and submitted it's results to study groups and writers of pro-

communist articles.

62-117230).

BIERS was an alternate delogate to the Camp #I Camps Club and in the

latter part of 1952 and early 1953 acted as Chairmen of that group, in the

absence of Pfc. Bobby De Graw, the Chairman.

100-408525

AC 0f : 5, G-2 D/A

AFFE

USARCARIE

CONUS Armies

USARPAC -

INDEXED

• 5 MDW

CO HaCA

5 MAR 1

1504

Security

Intormation

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Security Intomation

BIDS, Wesley P.

Cọl.,

RA 13166063

9 November 1953

On 23 June 1953; BIERS, among other PSw; signed a letter mailed to

Mrs. Florence Gowgill, 6159 Archer Avenue, Argo, Illinois. This letter

expressed gratitude for her activities as reported in the New Jork

"Daily. Worker of 16 and 19 October 1952, and in connection with the

"Save Our Sons! Committee!

From April to August 1953, BIERS was Chairman of the Advanced

Study Group of Camp #1. This was comprised of approximately six(6) of

the leading pro-communists in the Camp. Its function: was to prepare,

under the guidance of the Chinese, lectures and material for radio broad-

casts, as well as progrems for study groups at company leval. It occupied

the highest eschelon in the Pro-fommunist element.'

During his confinement BIBRS constantly applied himself to studies

of Communism. He wrote pro-communist articles for publication in the Camp

newspaper andfor Company radin broadcast purposes. One of thase

_was'

directed a Vishinsky and encouraged him in arguments he was then

presenting in the UN Assembly, Annther was in protest of the United States

Government treatment of repatriates at Valley Forge Hospital. Others

were directed to his family and were also of general, pro-communist nature..

In early August 1953 BITE was transferred to CCF Suprème Camp

Head uarters it, undergo intensive indictrination in preparation for

facing the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission as a voluntary non-

repatriate. He receivad such instruction until toward the end of August

and then was normally repatriated to, UN control.

BIERs spent his freo time in reading and study, 'swimming,

end in

conversation with Chinese personnel concorning improvement in

deily living

conditions, as well, as obteining answers to

"particular questions"

BIERS claims that frrm August 1951 he and Pfc. Bobby DeGraw planned

to sabotage the Chinese indoctrination progran. Partial success is claimed

by virtue of influencing

several Psw not to accept non-repatriation and

creating confusion in

the minds of PsWes to the desirnbility of the

Cormunist life.

BIIRS belives that Communism would not be successful in the United

States because the people are "basically selfish" and wuld ant

the regimentation end state ownership in Cimmunism. Americans are

accept

religious and Communism is apposed tr

raligion. Communisn takes away all

Individual freedom and BIERS "prefors" to do his "own thinking". Had BIARS

desired Communism he "wruld hav stayed with the Chinese".

2NE1

Security Information

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Security

Information

BIORS, Wesley P.

9 November 1953

Col., RA 13166063

Squad and Pletoon Loaders were selected by Chinase from among ish,

at a crllecting print approximately 10 miles behind the Mur In general

these isi retained thair positions until August 1951, and were salected

without any apparant reason. In August 195l the leadership personnel was

shuffled about and these wh had ant proved creparative were replaced with

those who had demonstrated a cooperative attitude toward the Chinese.

PsW leders did not.

"take rollcall" but were required on report absences of

PsW.

for causing the Inreen conflict and its capitalistic prlicy. The the ry and

An at end,

principles of Communism were presented tr contrast favorably with, the

demncratic way of life.

Indoctrination was accomplished thrugh lectures, still end motion

pictures, discussion and study groups(volunteer and required), publications

and radin bradcasts. All indoctrination was diracted by Chinese berennel

presented by. both Chinese and PsW.

Publications offered for study included: London and New York

"Daily Worker"; "National Guardian"; "Shanghai News"; "China Daily News

Relense"; "Peoples China"; "Peoples World!

The works if Stelin, and

Marx-were alsn utilized. A camp wide newspaper "For Truth and Peace"

and company wall newspapers which ware written, edited and published

by Ps were alse instrumpats of propaganda and indrotrination, The

"Deily Worker", "National Guardian", "Peoples World", and the "Perples

often carriad phot-graphs nf fsw engaging in cally activities.

were taken by Chinese ph-ingraphers. SUBJECTS were

always taken that would reflect the greatest credit to the Chinasa.

Certein Psw whn evidenced

sincere accaptance of Communism, or who

were believed especially susceptible t? indoctrination wore given special

treining and indictrination and assigned to positions of responcibility.

BIRS was such a person.

Each camp hed a Chinese contralled orgenization lown as the

"Peace Committee",

It was established in July 1951, disbanded temporarly

in March 1952 and

reorganized with essentially the same Psw leadership,

in July 1952' as the Camp Club. This was finally disbanded in July 1955.

It was under the direction of the Central Peace Committee Incated

1.2

Pyoktong, Krrea.

The function rf the Peace Committee and/or Camp Committee was

"to

plan and control the activities of the PsW through Company.

Crubs,

arid

NF

Security, Information

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Security Information

• BIRS, Wesley P:

Cp1. 2A 13166063

9 November 1953

according to the desires if

Chinese. The Psw leaders were selected

by the Chinese and through rigged elections ebtained iffice.

The organi-

zation als prepared and circulated the "Peace Petitions" and disseminated

ather prn-communist propaganda te

the PsW,

Brth Chinese and PsW used the terms "Progressive" and "Reactionary"

There were varying degrees of progressiveness and reactionaryism.

Lading: "Progressives received banefits and considerations from

the Chinese not extended to theither Psw. These included: freadom of

movement about the camp; bettor medical attention; reliaf from some

work details and physical training; parties at which intoxicants were

provided; extra cigarotts and candy:permitted absence from rollcall;

no punishment for infractions of minor camp rules and regulations. Psw

In mas reasner and George Davidson were known to heve raceived monetary

rewards fir making wire recordings.

Al1 PsW were interrogated at least nee by CCI interrogators and

were photographed. They were not fingerprinted. The interrogation

was

basic and was supplemented by Personal History Statement prepared by

arch: PsWe

Certain Psw who were believed; or known, to have been connected

with intelligence activities, personnel assignments, military police

or amphibious units wera given editional interrogation. "Reactinnaries"

Wan were discovered in, or plenning, en escape were intensively

interrogated. Othor. "Reactionaries" who were suspected if subversive

activity, or suilty of such activity, were

interrogated. frequently

those Psw wore placed in solitary confinement, mistreated and threatned

with non-repatriation. Confessions were usually obtained and read publica"

to assembled Psw.

Quite frequantly leading "Prograssives" wuld be absent from Camp

fir periode if from nne in fourtéen days. These absencos were generally

for further inarctrination. Occasionally the Chinase would announce that

such a man was absent because of noed for medicel attention.

Approximately twenty four (24) 'Americons, one (1) Turkish, and three

hundred thirty six (336) South Koreans unrepatriated PsW are to receive

training in replunti-nary tactics and additinal indoctrination in China.

In 6 to 8 years the American PsW are or covertlyenter the United States

to become undergrnund activists for the Communist Party:

CONETI

Security

Intormation

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## Page 6

JOKE

Security Information

3IORS, Wesley P.

Cpl. RA 13166063

9 November 1953

Pfc. Richerd D. Drennan, RA 16343346, 5th Army,

states that BIERS

influenced PsW towerd communism through talking in favor of It and had

said "'it( communism) was a good thing to be a part of!. He frequently

hed voluntary contact with camp officials. He appeared to have leanings

towere communism or other foraign ideology and volunteered fnr ann-.

repatriation.

(F-6)

Security

Information

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