Special Agent, Vietnam: A Naval Intelligence Memoir

by Douglass H. Hubbard Jr., Thomas A. Brooks

In SPECIAL AGENT, VIETNAM, Douglass H. Hubbard, Jr., relates the story of a highly dedicated and professional group of men who served voluntarily as officers, enlisted men, and civilian special agents of the Office of Naval Intelligence in Vietnam. Through Hubbard’s eyes—he served three consecutive tours as one of about two dozen civilian agents—the reader enters the clandestine and often dangerous world of counterespionage and crime, all amid the sights, sounds, and smells of the Vietnam War. Civilian special agents, despite their rather uncertain combat status as civilians, left secure stateside jobs and families behind, donned military uniforms, and carried weapons. They lived and worked in the field with sailors and Marines. They shared the same dangers and discomforts as military personnel, and, sometimes cooperating with their Vietnamese counterparts, supplied the naval services with counterintelligence and criminal investigative support. From communist infiltrators and fragging incidents to the murder of a visiting singer, Hubbard skillfully portrays the underlying chaos of a tour in Vietnam. SPECIAL AGENT, VIETNAM is the only book that addresses this aspect of the Vietnam War. It will appeal not only to those with an interest in the U.S. presence in wartime Vietnam, but also to those interested generally in military history, intelligence, counterintelligence, and criminal investigation.

Genres: Nonfiction

268 pages, Hardcover

First published April 27, 2006

Reviews

[Barry Sierer · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the content could have been more fascinating, it wasn’t. This is a chronicle of the experience of NIS Agents serving during the Vietnam War. I was particularly interested in the details of the cases and investigations that come up in a wartime environment, and the challenges that come with it. “Special Agent Vietnam” does provide this, but not in nearly as much detail as I would have liked.

Many stories begin with a decent description of an alleged crime, but the investigations and outcomes are generally summed up quickly, leaving this reader disappointed in the lack of details or follow up. The author seems to spend much of his effort detailing the rigors of travel and living in Vietnam, and carefully noting which agent served at which office at what particular time.

Sometimes I felt like I was reading through some kind of yearbook.

Still, if you want to understand the experience of NIS Agents in Vietnam, it’s still worth your time, but don’t bother if you’re more interested in case details.

[Marilynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading this book because it was written by a coworker
of my brother, and he (my brother) is mentioned in the book,
along with a picture. It is interesting and takes place
just before our withdrawal from South Vietnam.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will give you a good idea of being a police investigator in the military, in country, during the Vietnam years.