Dung Rau: The man who forged documents for Saigon's biệt động forces in the 1968 Tet Offensive

Lam Quoc Dung, nicknamed "Dung Rau" and "Dung Quận trưởng" (District Chief), meticulously crafted fake identification documents for Saigon's biệt động forces. These forged papers served as vital "passes" allowing soldiers to infiltrate the city during the 1968 Mau Than offensive.

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Dung District Chief and fake documents for Saigon's biệt động forces

Now 76, Dung, a member of the Saigon Biệt Động Military Intelligence Traditional Club, retains vivid memories of his wartime role. He skillfully produced documents like ID cards, draft deferments, and leave permits. His work was crucial for soldiers needing to appear as ordinary civilians to bypass stringent checkpoints within enemy territory.

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Dung District Chief and fake documents for Saigon's biệt động forces

Dung's expertise lay in replicating official seals and signatures. He understood that even a slightly crooked seal or a misaligned signature could lead to a soldier's capture. For the 1968 Tet Offensive alone, he created nearly 200 ID cards and around 300 other documents.

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When the entire army was preparing for the General Offensive of Tet Mau Than 1968, Dung was transferred to the Military Intelligence department. Here, he and his teammate Sau Ho began producing a series of ID cards, draft deferment papers, certificates of service, and leave permits to create the safest cover for the biệt động forces.

His task became even more challenging when his colleague, Sau Ho, was reassigned to combat duty. Dung was left to manage the demanding workload alone, racing against time. He personally took photographs and fingerprints for the biệt động soldiers, ensuring they had the necessary documentation for the planned offensive.

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For the Mau Than 1968 Tet holiday alone, I remember making nearly 200 ID cards; if counting all other types of documents, the number reached 300.