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Richard Secord

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This article is about the United States Air Force officer. For the politician, seeRichard Secord (politician).
Richard Secord
Birth nameRichard Vernon Secord
Born(1932-07-06)July 6, 1932(age 92)
LaRue, Ohio,United States
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1955 - 1983
RankMajor General
Commands603rd Special Operations Squadron
Military Assistance Advisory Group
United States Air Force Director of International Programs
Battles/warsVietnam War
Secret War in Laos
Battle of Lima Site 85
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal(2)
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross

Major GeneralRichard Vernon Secord,Retired (born July 6, 1932), is aUnited States Air Forceofficer with a notable career incovert operations.Early in his military service, he was a member of the first U.S. aviation detachment sent to theVietnam Warin August 1961,Operation Farm Gate.Secord left Vietnam in 1965 to attendAir Command and Staff College.Afterward, he returned to Southeast Asia, being detailed to theCentral Intelligence Agencyfor duty in theSecret War in Laos.While in Laos, he was responsible for several notable military actions. One was theBattle of Lima Site 85.Another was the only successfulprisoner of warrescue of the Vietnam War. Both of these came about because of his responsibilities for overseeing the operations of theRoyal Lao Air Force,Air America,andRaven FACs.

After his Southeast Asian service, Secord commanded the603rd Special Operations Squadronand underwent further advanced military education at theNaval War College.He then served on staff duty in theDepartment of Defensefrom June 1972 through September 1975. His next posting returned him to Iran, this time managing all U. S. military assistance to the Iranians. He was involved in theIran–Contra affair,making $2 million on the arms transactions and charged with lying to Congress about it but acquitted. Secord went into business in the private sector after his retirement from the USAF.

Background and education

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Richard Vernon Secord was born to Wahnetta and Lowell Secord inLarue, Ohioon 6 July 1932. Two younger siblings, Sandra and Jim, were born in the next five years.Laura Secordwas one of the ancestors in their family tree. Because they were poor, Lowell Secord taught his eldest son to use firearms for hunting for food from an early age.[1]

Lowell Secord was envious of a childhood friend who had graduated fromWest Point.To his son, he harped on the benefits of being paid to attend college, and the honor of a military career. Though Lowell moved toMarion, Ohioto become a welder as World War II began, he knew he had not improved his finances enough to afford to send a child to college. Young Richard adopted the goal of attending the service academy.[2]

Lowell and Wahnetta divorced after the end of World War II. Wahnetta moved the children toColumbus, Ohioin search of better schools. Although herQuakerheritage opposed her to military academies, she also believed her son Richard should graduate from college. Despite her opposition, Richard gained admission to West Point on his second try, having narrowly failed mathematics on his first academic testing.[3]

As the outbreak of theKorean Warhad decimated the Class of 1950, Secord's Class of 1955 underwent extraordinarily thorough combat training during his tenure. Secord fought, with limited success, on the academy's varsity boxing team for three years; on his coach's advice, he gave up the sport to evade possible damage to his eyesight.[4]

Secord graduated from West Point in 1955 and was then commissioned in the USAF, completing pilot training in August 1956.[5][6]Secord later obtained an MSc in international affairs from theGeorge Washington Universityin 1972, as well as graduating from theAir Command and Staff Collegein 1966 and theNaval War Collegein June 1972.[5]

Military career

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Training and early postings

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See also:Battle of Lima Site 85

Secord served as a flight instructor from 1956 to 1959 atLaredo Air Force Base,and from 1959 to 1961 as an instructor and operations officer atTinker Air Force Base.During the latter assignment, he was posted to theUniversity of Oklahomato study for a master's degree in English Literature. While progressing to the point of needing only his thesis to gain his degree, he met and married his wife, Jo Ann.[7]

In August 1961 he joinedcovert operationsin what would become the1st Air Commando Wing,remaining there until 1965. As part ofOperation Farm Gate,the wing was the first American aviation unit assigned to Vietnam. Secord flew over 200 combat missions between March 1962 to January 1963, flyingAT-28s.One of the Vietnamese pilots he met during this assignment wasNguyen Cao Ky,later the president of Vietnam. Another new acquaintance there wasBrigadier GeneralHarry "Heinie" Aderholt.Also during this time, Secord was temporarily assigned to theImperial Iranian Air Forceas an adviser (January to July 1963, January to May 1964, January to March 1965).[5][8]

VNAFAT-28s of the Vietnam Air Force. Secord flew 200+ combat missions in these planes while training Vietnamese pilots.

After graduating from theAir Command and Staff Collegein 1966, Secord returned to Vietnam as an air operations officer, before being transferred to Thailand'sUdorn Royal Thai Air Force Basein August 1966.[5]Belatedly promoted tomajor,he joinedOperation Waterpumpto train theRoyal Lao Air Force.During this time Secord was detailed to theCentral Intelligence Agencyto serve in theSecret WarinLaos.He worked for, and knew,Ted ShackleyandThomas Clines;he worked directly with the CIA officers supplying the Secret War in Laos,James William LairandLloyd C. "Pat" Landry.[9]

On 7 January 1967, in what is still a heavily classified operation, Secord directed the only successfulprisoner of warrescue of the Vietnam War, theBan Naden raid.A team of the CIA'shill-tribemercenaries was inserted out of hearing of the POW prison; their surprise raid quickly wiped out about 40 guards. It was then discovered there were about twice as many prisoners as expected. Nevertheless, a scratch force of nine single-pilotedAir AmericaH-34helicopters dropped into the middle of theHồ Chí Minh Trailand rescued 53 Asian prisoners. This rescue is still used as a case study in CIA training for covert operations.[10][11]

Secord's responsibilities as a one-man logistics and operations staff covered a wide range of duties. One of the first duties he assumed was defense ofLima Site 85.In early 1967, GeneralHunter Harrisbriefed Secord and Lair on the upgrading of theTACANinstallation there with guidance radar. The location, nearly on the Lao border with northern Vietnam, would enable American strike aircraft to follow its radar beam toHanoiorVinhand drop their bombs blind, regardless of weather. Lair and Secord were tasked with defense of the site. Despite their best efforts, this site would beoverrun in March 1968.Secord requested additional protection for the technicians. AmbassadorWilliam H. Sullivan,who supervised the war in Laos by presidential directive, denied the need for stationingGreen Beretsat the site, or for personal weaponry. However, Secord insubordinately issued small arms to the onsite technicians for self-defense.[12]

Having flown 285 combat missions in Southeast Asia,[13]Secord mulled resigning from the USAF. General Aderholdt convinced him to reconsider. During Secord's next posting, he was promoted tolieutenant colonelahead of his peers.[14]Secord served atEglin Air Force Basefrom September 1968 to November 1969, as assistant deputy chief of staff for operations for theTactical Air Command,in what would later become theU.S. Air Force Special Operations Force.From there, he transferred to serve ascommanding officerof the603rd Special Operations Squadron.[5]His three years in command of the 603rd was focused on development of theA-37 Dragonflyforcounter-insurgency;however, the 603rd was disbanded in June 1971. Secord moved on, to attend theNaval War Collegein August 1971.[15]

Command and staff assignments

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Secord graduated from the Naval War College in June 1972. He then moved toWashington, D.C.,serving in various capacities in theUnited States Department of Defense.His initial assignment was desk officer for Laos, Thailand and Vietnam under theAssistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.While serving in this post, Secord claims to have been involved in planningthe Christmas bombing of North Vietnam.[16]During this period, on 1 April 1973, he was promoted tocolonelfar ahead of his contemporaries.[17]

Following that assignment, he assumed the position of Executive Assistant to the Director of theDefense Security Assistance Agencyin July 1973.[5]

Secord then was the USAF Chief of theMilitary Assistance Advisory Group(MAAG) in Iran from September 1975 to July 1978.[5][13]The new posting mandated a promotion tobrigadier general.[18]In his new capacity he managed all USAF military assistance programs in Iran as well as some US Navy and Army programs, and acted as chief adviser to the Commander-in-Chief of theIranian Air Force.[5]Secord claims that despite endemic corruption in Iran, his MAAG was able to rebate to the Iranian government about $50 million from theGrumman Corporation.[19]During this time he also oversawProject Dark Gene and Project Ibex.[20][21]After William H. Sullivan was appointed ambassador, Secord again found himself clashing with the diplomat over the use of U. S. military personnel and civilian technicians.[22]

Returning to Washington, D.C., in July 1978, Secord served at Headquarters U.S. Air Force as director of international programs. Secord's official biography states that he was the ranking US Air Force officer forOperation Eagle Claw,the April 1980 attempt to end theIran hostage crisis.[13]However, in his autobiography, Secord denies involvement with Eagle Claw. He does give some details of his involvement withOperation Credible Sport,the planned second rescue raid to rescue the American hostages in Iran that was aborted by the hostages' release.[23]In his final military assignment, Secord wasAssistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairswith responsibility for Near Eastern, African and South Asian affairs, from April 1981 to May 1983.[5][13]

While holding these two appointments, Secord continued to be involved in covert operations, though at a high level. He was instrumental in the controversialsale of early warning aircrafttoSaudi Arabia.[24]

Secord retired from the Air Force in 1983 after allegations of improper dealings with former CIA agentEdwin P. Wilson.[13]Secord noted that the Reagan administration did not supply him with legal help when he was accused of shady dealings with Wilson. An unindicted Secord went $22,000 in debt for legal representation in conjunction with the Wilson matter, despite serving as a government witness in court against Wilson. The latter never mentioned during trial Secord's participation in any of Wilson's activities. Pentagon service being unhealthy for Secord was another factor in his retirement; he had recently survived three cases ofpneumoniain as many years.[25]

Retirement

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Involvement in Iran–Contra affair

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Operation Tipped Kettlewas a precursor to theIran-Contralogistics operation. Sources are not explicit about the dates of Secord's involvement, but it seems he may have carried over this project from his military service into his retirement. Operation Tipped Kettle, transferredPalestinian Liberation Organizationweapons seized by Israel in Lebanon to the Contras.[26]

To stay active during retirement, Secord went into business withAlbert Hakim,becoming President ofStanford Technology Trading Group Intl.,also known as "The Enterprise", a company involved with arms sales toIranduring theReaganpresidency. The final report of Iran/Contra Independent CounselLawrence Walshconcluded that Secord had received at least $2m from his involvement in these activities, and had lied to Congress about it.[13]On November 8, 1989, Secord pleaded guilty to one count of lying to Congress as part of a plea agreement.[27]

He was sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to one count in a plea agreement.[28]

In the aftermath Secord filed a libel case against Leslie Cockburn, Andrew Cockburn, Morgan Entrekin, Atlantic Monthly Press, and Little, Brown and Company, Inc. for publishing a book in 1987 entitledOut of Control: The Story of the Reagan Administration's Secret War in Nicaragua, the Illegal Pipeline, and the Contra Drug Connection.Entrekin, Atlantic Monthly Press, and publishers Little, Brown and Company were dropped from the suit. The court then orderedsummary judgmenton behalf of the defendantsLeslie CockburnandAndrew Cockburn,indicating that Secord was unable to show the defendants had malicious intent.[29]

Later retirement

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In 1989, Secord was charged and convicted of drunk driving in Fairfax County, VA.[30]

In early 1992, Secord and another retired officer Brig. Gen. Harry Aderholt visited the newly independent former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan on behalf of MEGA Oil, a company established by retired U.S. military officers.[31]Secord reportedly offered to Azerbaijani leaders to train its special operations forces for $10 million.

In 2002, retired General Secord was namedCEOandChairman of the BoardatComputerized Thermal Imaging, Inc.[32]

Awards and decorations

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National Honours

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Foreign Honours

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See also

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References

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  1. ^Secord, Wurts, p. 9.
  2. ^Secord, Wurts, p. 10.
  3. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 10-12.
  4. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 14-15.
  5. ^abcdefghiaf.mil,MAJOR GENERAL RICHARD V. SECORD
  6. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 17-19
  7. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 22-24.
  8. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 24-52.
  9. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 56-60.
  10. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 66-70.
  11. ^Christianson, p. 231.
  12. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 74-92.
  13. ^abcdefLawrence Walsh,Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters,Chapter 9: United States v. Richard V. Secord
  14. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 97-98.
  15. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 98-101.
  16. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 102-109.
  17. ^Secord, Wurts, p. 102.
  18. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 117-119.
  19. ^Secord, Wurts, p. 122.
  20. ^Secord, Wurts, p. 131.
  21. ^"Project Ibex and Project Dark Gene".www.spyflight.co.uk.
  22. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 133-135.
  23. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 148-163.
  24. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 168-174.
  25. ^Secord, Wurts, pp. 184-197.
  26. ^Amir Oren,Haaretz,26 November 2010,The truth about Israel, Iran and 1980s U.S. arms deals
  27. ^"Secord Guilty In Plea Bargain - tribunedigital-chicagotribune".Archivedfrom the original on 2018-05-29.
  28. ^Johnston, David (25 January 1990)."Secord is Put on Probation for Lie on Iran-Contra Role".The New York Times.
  29. ^"SECORD v. COCKBURN - 747 F.Supp. 779 (1990) - upp77911410 - Leagle.com".
  30. ^Patricia Davis (1989-06-16)."SECORD CHARGED WITH DRUNK DRIVING".The Washington Post.Washington, D.C.ISSN0190-8286.OCLC1330888409.
  31. ^Goltz, Thomas (8 April 2015).Azerbaijan Diary: A Rogue Reporter's Adventures in an Oil-rich, War-torn, Post-Soviet Republic: A Rogue Reporter's Adventures in an Oil-rich, War-torn, Post-Soviet Republic.Routledge.ISBN9781317476245– via Google Books.
  32. ^"Computerized Thermal Imagining, Inc. Management".

References

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  • Scott Christianson(2009),Great Escapes: The Stories Behind 50 Remarkable Journeys to Freedom,Firefly Books,ISBN9781554075065.
  • Richard Secord and Jay Wurts (1992),Honored and Betrayed: Irangate, Covert Affairs, and the Secret War in Laos,John Wiley & Sons, Inc.ISBN9780471573289.

Further reading

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