Chieu Hoi Rallier — Highway 331 Near FSB Fontaine
Summary
In approximately May 1971, a Viet Cong rallier surrendered voluntarily under the Chieu Hoi amnesty program, approaching FSB Fontaine along Highway 331. Cat Platoon escorted him in. The event was photographed by SGT Marvin D. Miller. Soldiers named in Miller's contemporary handwritten caption are Dennis Alloway (RTO), Bill Small, Larry Cate, and Leroy Sells — all Cat Platoon.
An intelligence officer in a clean uniform appears in the photographs but has not been identified. Two physical artifacts from this event — a woodblock propaganda stamp and a piece of black fabric — remain in the Miller family's possession.
Context and Contested Details
The Chieu Hoi program: Chieu Hoi ("Open Arms") was a South Vietnamese government amnesty program offering VC and NVA combatants the opportunity to surrender voluntarily. Ralliers were not treated as prisoners of war. The man escorted by Cat Platoon walked in voluntarily.
Location source: An earlier oral account placed this event at FSB Fanning. The contemporary handwritten caption on the Miller photograph states Highway 331, FSB Fontaine. The photograph caption supersedes later recollection. Fontaine is used throughout this record.
Date precision: Alloway's presence establishes an upper bound — he died before August 4, 1971. The month (May) is approximate based on operational sequence in McGrew's calendar. The day is unknown.
Woodblock stamp: The stamp has never been inked since coming into the family's possession. Printing it would recover the actual propaganda impression — potentially a unique document of what the VC were distributing in Long Khanh Province in 1971.
An intelligence officer in a clean uniform appears in the photographs but has not been identified. If you recognize him or were present during this escort, please contact us.
Share what you know →The woodblock propaganda stamp taken from the rallier has never been inked. We believe printing it would recover the original propaganda impression. If you have expertise in Vietnamese propaganda materials from this period, or can connect us with a specialist, we want to hear from you.
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