Gripping True Story of Longest-Held POW in American Historical past

Prisoner of Lies by Barry Werth

An inspiring story of exceptional fortitude and resilience.

Prisoner of Lies: Jack Downey’s Chilly Conflict delves deeply into the lifetime of the brave, remarkably resilient man who turned America’s longest-held POW, launched after spending over 20 years imprisoned in what was then known as Purple China. Almost all of this time was spent in solitary confinement underneath fixed surveillance and inadequately sheltered from extremes of chilly and warmth. His captivity spanned almost your complete Chilly Conflict from 1952 till his launch in 1973 after the US formally acknowledged the mainland Chinese language authorities.

Acclaimed journalist Barry Werth has peeled again layers of deceitful politics, secrecy and authorities complicity surrounding a botched, compromised mission that despatched 4 younger males crashing into Communist China in early 1952. The 2 pilots died and have been buried by a farmer in an unmarked grave. The 2 junior CIA officers, Richard Fecteau and John (Jack) Downey, Jr have been instantly arrested and charged with espionage. For 2 years all have been presumed lifeless.

Properly-Researched Historic Account

This completely researched and well-documented work of nonfiction relates Jack Downey’s story in addition to offering a concise historical past of the Chilly Conflict from the Korean “Battle” via the Joseph McCarthy period of anti-Communist fervor, the Cuban Missile Disaster, the Cultural Revolution in China, the Vietnam Conflict and profound political and social modifications in America.

Satirically President Richard M. Nixon, a member of the Home Un-American Actions Committee (HUAC) within the late Nineteen Forties, was the primary US President to make a ground-breaking 7-day diplomatic journey to mainland China in early 1972. Following the January 1973 Paris Peace Accords that ended the Vietnam Conflict, he was additionally the primary to acknowledge that Jack Downey was a CIA agent. Each actions paved the best way for his launch from an in any other case life sentence.

How a Pupil Grew to become a Spy

John Thomas Downey, Jr., referred to as Jack, was born in Connecticut in 1930 to a close-knit, upper-middle-class Irish Catholic household. His grandfather had been a state legislator and his father a Probate Decide. It was a contented, secure childhood till his father died in a automotive accident when Jack was 8 leaving his mom Mary a widow with three kids.

An excellent pupil and star athlete in wrestling and soccer, Jack was awarded a scholarship to the celebrated prep college Choate. He was an lively member of a number of organizations together with Choate’s Literary Journal and The Choate Information in addition to serving as Class President. Downey obtained a tutorial scholarship to Yale College the place he additionally excelled in sports activities and belonged to St. Anthony Corridor/Fraternity of Delta Psi, a social and literary fraternity.

The Central Intelligence Company, identified informally as “The Firm” or “The Company”, fashioned in 1947 lower than two years after the wartime OSS was dissolved, was nonetheless fairly a small group in the course of the Korean Conflict. Ivy League and different excellent schools have been prime recruitment facilities for the CIA. The present graduates had been too younger to serve in World Conflict II and anti-Communistic fervor ran excessive. Writer Barry Werth estimated as many as 100 Yale Class of 1951 Graduates initially joined though many shortly departed upon discovering employment didn’t embody a handy draft deferment. Following commencement, Jack patriotically deferred legislation college to hitch and stay in the ranks of the CIA.

The Aircraft Crash That Modified Every part

Throughout his senior 12 months at Yale, even skipping his senior promenade, Jack started coaching with paratroopers at Fort Benning, Georgia and in a secret facility exterior of Washington, DC realized important clandestine operative expertise together with lifeless drops. His household and associates weren’t knowledgeable he had joined the CIA and he solely vaguely referred to his posting to Asia as being associated to the Korean Conflict. He was certainly one of many new recruits despatched to a distant secret compound in Japan, the house of Operation Tropic, an ill-fated plan for the CIA to coach and create a guerrilla power inside China to combat and overthrow the communist authorities.

Downey was tasked with deciding on and coaching a workforce of Chinese language brokers to be air-dropped into southern China. Exact particulars of this mission, which concerned multiple workforce, are nonetheless labeled. Nevertheless, radio contact was obtained requesting meals, provides and to impact an untested, hazardous “snatch” pickup of a courier behind the strains. The 2 Chinese language crewmen assigned to this operation all of a sudden fell suspiciously ailing and it devolved to Jack Downey and new recruit Dick Fecteau to take their place. Though towards official protocol for them to participate in an airdrop, they nonetheless have been ordered to carry out this dangerous operation

The 25-year-old Fecteau had solely arrived on the base three weeks earlier. Robert Snoddy and Norman Schwartz, each veteran pilots, have been ordered to fly the C-47 cargo aircraft on the night time of November 29, 1952. The meals and provide parcels have been efficiently dropped however when the aircraft circled to hold out the pickup, it was ambushed and introduced down by anti-aircraft weapons. Downey and Fecteau escaped from the wreckage with cuts and bruises however the worst was but to return as they have been instantly surrounded by Chinese language gunmen. In a merciless accident, certainly one of these operatives had been skilled by Downey in Japan and promptly recognized him as being a CIA agent. 

Enduring a Harsh, Merciless Imprisonment

Present authorities coverage forbade brazenly acknowledging the id of spies, regardless of the results. When the C-47 didn’t return, the CIA invented a fictitious cowl story which it stood by via 4 presidential administrations. They issued studies stating a industrial flight between Korea and Japan carrying Protection Division civilian staff Downey and Fecteau, flown by Pilots Schwartz and Snoddy had gone down someplace over the Sea of Japan. 

CIA Director Walter Bedell Smith despatched letters informing the households that the boys have been lacking. As China didn’t notify the USA in regards to the deaths and the seize of the 2 males, Washington concluded they have been all lifeless and one 12 months in a while December 4, 1953 despatched follow-up telegrams to the households confirming they have been presumed lifeless.

The prisoners have been separated; shackled, cruelly psychologically tortured, sleep disadvantaged, interrogated as much as 24 hours per day, inadequately fed and positioned in solitary confinement in 5×8 cells lit continually by a 15-watt bulb. Initially, Jack Downey denied the reality by devising deceptive tales. After sixteen days of limitless interrogation, fearing even harsher torture and realizing the Chinese language brokers had recognized him on the scene of the crash, he wept when he admitted being a CIA operative.

Surviving the Trial and Lengthy Sentence

Two years elapsed earlier than he and Dick Fecteau noticed one another once more at a Chinese language army tribunal held on November 23, 1954 in a crowded courtroom geared up with cameras and lights. Upon seeing Jack decked out in his new black go well with and sneakers for the present trial, Dick whispered, “Who’s your tailor” which elicited his first smile since their arrest.

The 2 Individuals and the eight Chinese language operatives skilled by Downey in Japan all shortly pled responsible. Earlier than sentencing, the decide declared Downey to be “the arch-criminal”. 4 of the Chinese language prisoners obtained life sentences whereas 4 have been sentenced to loss of life. Dick Fecteau obtained a lighter sentence of 20 years as he was the extra junior agent, leaving Jack Downey with a life sentence.

It was again to isolation interspersed by hours of indoctrination by captor Wu, a fluent English speaker and ardent communist, who assured him he would certainly spend the remaining of his life in jail. Nevertheless, Jack Downey was from sturdy Irish American inventory and by no means totally relinquished hope.

The self-discipline and dedication that had made him a tremendous athlete and exemplary scholar who didn’t waste alternatives served him in good stead regardless of the mind-numbing tedium and disorientation resultant from the isolation inflicted upon him. He saved to a regimented every day routine to remain busy, starting with the studying of a Bible chapter, adopted by tidying his cell, doing calisthenics, working ten miles every day in a small house (58 laps across the small yard equaled 1 mile), and educating himself Russian and French. Closing his eyes and recalling his research, reliving sports activities occasions play by play together with the remainder of his younger lifetime of saved recollections helped to maintain alive the religion that he would in the future return dwelling.

America’s Combat for Jack’s Freedom

Following the trial, the Xinhua Information Company introduced two American spies had been captured, tried and sentenced which supplied notification to the US and by extension the 2 households that their sons have been alive. The US Authorities issued denials that Downey and Fecteau have been spies, claiming they have been civilian staff of the US Military. Chinese language Premier Zhou Enlai expressed willingness to launch the boys contingent on two circumstances: United States admission they have been CIA brokers and formal recognition of the Chinese language mainland authorities.

Arduous-line anti-communist Secretary of State John Foster Dulles representing the US unequivocally rejected this “blackmail”, wouldn’t negotiate with communists and additional wouldn’t subject passports to American journalists to go to China. In later years, although he seldom granted interviews, Downey did speak about Dulles’ culpability in selections which prolonged his incarceration by 16 years.

Whereas jail life was grim, following the information the boys have been alive they started to obtain common care packages of meals, nutritional vitamins, accredited magazines and books, toiletries, hotter bedding and clothes. Downing’s magazines included Sports activities Illustrated and the Yale Alumni Journal. Precise information was restricted and generally solely gleaned from journal adverts as when moon touchdown collectibles have been depicted.

In 1958, Mary Downing and her son Invoice have been permitted to journey to China to go to Jack for a number of days. The CIA discreetly made their journey preparations and once more on a subsequent go to years later.  After diplomatic relations with Purple China have been established, Dick Fecteau was launched in December, 1971 after 19 years of imprisonment. Jack Downey’s sentence was diminished to time served plus 5 years.

Nevertheless, Richard Nixon revealed the governmental lying by publicly acknowledging Downey’s CIA connection. Not lengthy after this Mary Downey was hospitalized with a large stroke and the Chinese language Premier agreed to an early launch for “humanitarian causes”. The now 42-year-old Jack Downey was transported first by aircraft, then practice to a border city throughout from Hong Kong. On the morning of March 12, 1973 he was informed to stroll throughout the Lo Wu border bridge into freedom.

Adjusting to and Having fun with Life After Imprisonment

The tradition shock of returning to America in 1973 after 21 years absence will need to have been mind-boggling with fashions and hairstyles representing solely the obvious modifications. America now had an interstate freeway system with similar fast-food franchise eating places at each exit. The Purple Scare receded and was supplanted by political cynicism.

Jack Downey noticed, accepted and was able to resume his life. He entered legislation college lower than six months after his return and graduated from Harvard Legislation Faculty in 1976, becoming a member of a legislation agency in New Haven, Connecticut. He additionally met Audrey Lee, a Chinese language American analysis assistant in Chemistry whom he wed in 1975. That they had a son, Jack Lee Downey in 1980.

The CIA’s denial of the botched 1952 mission delayed his launch however to their credit score compensated him financially. He remained on the payroll throughout his incarceration with common raises and promotions, accruing advantages with the cash effectively invested by his brother Invoice. Moreover, throughout his captivity, his mom obtained an allotment for care packages she despatched to him in jail. All through legislation college, he was paid via gathered sick go away, trip hours and convalescent go away.

Downey was capable of buy a house in New Haven with the investments made on his behalf.  The previous POW went on to a distinguished profession in politics, public service and as an esteemed Juvenile Courtroom Decide on the John T. Downey Courthouse named for him in New Haven. He obtained quite a few honors together with the Distinctive Service Medallion and Distinguished Intelligence Medal from the CIA in 1974 and the CIA Director’s Medal for service by CIA Director George J. Tenet in 1998.

What Jack Downey wouldn’t do was revenue from his imprisonment. He permitted few interviews, turned down ebook and journal presents and didn’t write his personal unpublished jail memoir till many years after his launch. He lived his life totally, on his personal phrases, and died in Connecticut on the age of 84 along with his household by his aspect.

Inspiring Story of Fortitude and Resilience

Prisoner of Lies relies partly on Jack Downey’s memoir and conversations with him, and a number of interviews with members of the family, Yale alumni, colleagues and associates in addition to many years lengthy in depth analysis in books and archives. The creator has included thorough footnotes and a prolonged bibliography for this worthy recounting that was 22 years within the making. 

Barry Werth fluently weaves biographical particulars with the Chilly Conflict occasions that decided Downey’s destiny. Like a le Carré novel, this can be a harrowing, chilling story of 1 man whose life is on the mercy of bigger forces exterior of his management; in Downey’s case as a pawn of the Chilly Conflict, and extra particularly the Oval Workplace and the State Division. His freedom got here following dramatic modifications in US overseas coverage. Above all, Prisoner of Lies is an inspiring story of exceptional fortitude and resilience.

Publish Date: 8/20/2024

Style: Biography, Nonfiction

Writer: Barry Werth

Web page Rely: 448 pages

Writer: Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 9781501153976