Declassified

Most things are classified. But for those who might remember the Vietnam War. Here’s a tidbit.

I was recruited by the Agency in an unusual way (no details now except my cover name was Trip Robertson. My Legend cannot be shared). As said, unusual; but these were unusual times. The Cold War was still alive and all manner of Intelligence gathering techniques were being tried. This was also a time when the Agency was experimenting in psychological warfare, LSD and all kinds of weird stuff. My training was accelerated and often performed in the field.

My first real posting was with a cover group called Studies and Observation Group in joint cooperation with MACV in Vietnam. I was to be involved in a covert operation utilizing spies, psychological warfare, North Vietnamese POWs. The operation had to be covert and clandestine as it was in Laos. This operation was not acknowledged by the United States and resulted in the label of the “secret” war.

I was to infiltrate Laos, acquire assets if possible, and gather intelligence on the Communist reactions to an invasion by the South Vietnamese in the Tchepone area of Laos (Latitude: 16° 40' 60 N, Longitude: 106° 13' 60 E, 48QXD3150744931, NE48-15). In addition, I was to acquire assets to ascertain NVA strength in the area.

The drop zone was made at night by Helicopter with great difficulty in the mountainous terrain near Houay Kok. I waited in the dark, in the jungle at a pre-determined location; finally being met by a local named Phong Nguyen. We traveled about 7 klicks, reaching the Xepon River and crossed to enter Xepon. About 2Klicks from the Tchepone area. Although it was the “dry season”, heavy rains appeared out of nowhere and going was tough and dangerous. In addition, although Phong was working with us and appeared to be helpful and full of optimism, my gut kept me on edge (it turned out my gut was wrong as Phong was as loyal as they come.)

In Xepon, Phong hooked me up with four women who agreed to assist in my operational activities.

Over about the next two weeks, I gathered intelligence and performed copious amounts of surveillance on the NVA. Each day, Phong would make the trek back to our initial landing zone and to pass off my daily reports which would be turned into daily special operations situation reports. One week in the op, Phong took a sniper shot to his right shoulder. Not wanting to lead them back to me, he hid out in the jungle, for a couple of days, nearly bleeding out. I thought for sure he was either dead or was a traitor and I would be discovered at any time. After he returned, the women and I patched him up and I delivered the reports myself for the remainder. Phong helped coordinate the efforts of our assets.

Things are fairly compartmentalized in my area of work, so I am not sure why Phong and I were extracted after about two weeks by a team of elite Airborne Rangers (two of whom were wounded). My first of many operations was over. LAMSON 719 began shortly thereafter.


Just as a note. LAMSON 719 was politically tricky (and hence caused Military issues.) The intelligence gathered by all proved to be useful. Before LAMSON 719 began, the US Congress imposed a legal prohibition (December 1970) on the expenditure of funds for any US ground forces operating outside of Vietnam. This meant that the ground incursion into Laos would have to be conducted solely by South Vietnamese troops; moreover, no American advisers were to be permitted to accompany ARVN units into Laos. Air and Artillery would be provided, however.