The OSS and Ho Chi Minh: Unexpected Allies in the War against Japan (Modern War Studies)
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About this book
Some will be shocked to find out that the United States and Ho Chi Minh our nemesis for much of the Vietnam War were once allies. Indeed during the last year of World War II American spies in Indochina found themselves working closely with Ho Chi Minh and other anti-colonial factions-compelled by circumstances to fight together against the Japanese. Dixee Bartholomew-Feis reveals how this relationship emerged and operated and how it impacted Vietnams struggle for independence. The men of General William Donovans newly-formed Office of Strategic Services closely collaborated with communist groups in both Europe and Asia against the Axis enemies. In Vietnam this meant that OSS officers worked with Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh whose ultimate aim was to rid the region of all imperialist powers not just the Japanese. Ho for his part did whatever he could to encourage the OSSs negative view of the French who were desperate to regain their colony. Revealing details not previously known about their covert operations Bartholomew-Feis chronicles the exploits of these allies as they developed their network of informants sabotaged the Japanese occupations infrastructure conducted guerrilla operations and searched for downed American fliers and Allied POWs. Although the OSS did not bring Ho Chi Minh to power Bartholomew-Feis shows that its apparent support for the Viet Minh played a significant symbolic role in helping them fill the power vacuum left in the wake of Japans surrender. Her study also hints that had America continued to champion the anti-colonials and their quest for independence rather than caving in to the French we might have been spared our long and very lethal war in Vietnam. Based partly on interviews with surviving OSS agents who served in Vietnam Bartholomew-Feiss engaging narrative and compelling insights speak to the yearnings of an oppressed people-and remind us that history does indeed make strange bedfellows.
