Chapter VII - - CONCLUSIONS [ * ]  

The case of PFC Robert R. Garwood, USMC, is unique. His situation is singular in
that, from the very first day of his absence, there have been questions as to
where he was located, why he was there, and how he got there. Historically, and
sometimes after the fact, we do know some of the answers to the many questions
about PFC Garwood and his almost 14-year stay in Vietnam. There are instances,
however, in which the Garwood Case often has been clouded with confusion and
innuendo due to his length of time in Vietnam (1965-1979), his dislocation and/or
movement during wartime conditions (1965-1975), and his crossing over to the
enemy (by mid-1967).

Records indicate that PFC Garwood was noted as missing at the 2330 hour muster
on 28 September 1965. In addition, the record shows that the last three U.S.
military personnel (all USMC) to see him prior to that time -- PFC Geill, PFC
Braverman, and LCpl Smith -- indicated that they had seen him around dusk on the
28th in the DaNang Hotel or in the DaNang USO. Once PFC Garwood left the hotel
or USO, it is not clear when or how he disappeared. There are written and oral
reports that PFC Garwood: 1) was captured in a fire-fight between a U.S. convoy
and Viet Cong forces; 2) was picked up in a brothel; 3) was ambushed on a road
leading from DaNang after he got lost; 4) became lost on a main road, some 11.5

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 *:  For consistency, Robert R. Garwood is referred to as PFC Garwood in the
Conclusions and Lessons Learned sections of this document.

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