Richard V. Secord: A Legacy in Covert Operations
Richard V. Secord, a former Air Force general and C.I.A. operative, passed away on Monday at the age of 92. His family, who chose to remain anonymous, confirmed his death but did not provide additional details. Until recently, Mr. Secord had been residing in an assisted-living facility in the Daytona Beach area of Florida.
Secord was not only a highly decorated fighter pilot but also a prominent figure in the clandestine operations of the Vietnam War, flying 285 missions and skillfully directing the C.I.A.’s secret air operations in Laos. These missions were aimed at disrupting the crucial Ho Chi Minh Trail supply route, which was vital for North Vietnamese forces. He was renowned as a master of covert operations and was credited with orchestrating the only successful rescue of American prisoners during the tumultuous Indochina conflict. Additionally, he commanded the defense of a strategic mountaintop radar site against overwhelming numbers of North Vietnamese regulars.
However, Secord’s prominent role in the Iran-Contra affair, which rocked the Reagan administration, marred his reputation. The scandal involved illegal arms sales to Iran, ostensibly to secure the release of American hostages, while simultaneously diverting the profits to support the right-wing Contra rebels in Nicaragua. Despite his assertions of innocence, Secord became associated with shadowy dealings and was believed to have made millions in commissions through these operations.
In the aftermath of Iran-Contra, Secord faced significant legal repercussions. He pleaded guilty to the felony of lying to Congress and was subsequently placed on probation. Furthermore, prosecutors implicated him as a silent partner of Edwin P. Wilson, a former C.I.A. operative who notoriously sold large quantities of plastic explosives to Libyan leader Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi and spent over two decades in prison for his actions.
Amidst the cloud of suspicion stemming from the Wilson controversy, Secord retired as an Air Force major general and resigned from his position as deputy assistant secretary of defense in 1983. Transitioning to civilian life, he became involved in another covert operation orchestrated by Marine Lieutenant Colonel Oliver L. North, who was then serving as the deputy director of military affairs for President Ronald Reagan’s National Security Council and was a close associate of Secord’s.
Over a span of several years, this clandestine operation reportedly generated around $47 million from the unlawful sale of weapons to Iran. In blatant defiance of a congressional directive, a portion of these profits was redirected to supply arms, medical supplies, and other essential provisions to the Contra forces, who were engaged in a fierce struggle to overthrow the democratically elected Sandinista government in Nicaragua.
