Memorial Hall Library

King of spies, the dark reign of America's spymaster in Korea, Blaine Harden

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 243-249) and index

individual biography

mapsplatesillustrations

index present

non fiction

King of spies

bibliography

971929601

Blaine Harden

the dark reign of America's spymaster in Korea

In 1946, master sergeant Donald Nichols was repairing jeeps on the sleepy island of Guam when he caught the eye of recruiters from the army's Counter Intelligence Corps. After just three months' training, he was sent to Korea, then a backwater beneath the radar of MacArthur's Pacific Command. Though he lacked the pedigree of most U.S. spies -- Nichols was a 7th grade dropout -- he quickly metamorphosed from army mechanic to black ops phenomenon. He insinuated himself into the affections of America's chosen puppet in South Korea, President Syngman Rhee, and became a pivotal player in the Korean War, warning months in advance about the North Korean invasion, breaking enemy codes, and identifying most of the targets destroyed by American bombs in North Korea. But Nichols's triumphs had a dark side. Immersed in a world of torture and beheadings, he became a spymaster with his own secret base, his own covert army, and his own rules. He recruited agents from refugee camps and prisons, sending many to their deaths on reckless missions. His closeness to Rhee meant that he witnessed -- and did nothing to stop or even report -- the slaughter of tens of thousands of South Korean civilians in anticommunist purges. Nichols's clandestine reign lasted for an astounding eleven years

Introduction: The spy who came in from the motor pool -- Part I. Most valuable spy -- Nichols of Korea -- Rhee and son -- Muzzling Mr. Nichols -- Part II. War spy -- Dark star -- Code break bully -- Any means necessary -- Empire of islands -- Famous in Pyongyang -- Part III. Ruined spy -- Sacked -- Shocked -- Adrift and accused -- Nolo contendere -- A spy's grave