Richard Secord

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Richard Secord
Birth name	Richard Vernon Secord
Born	(1932-07-06)July 6, 1932 LaRue, Ohio, U.S.
Died	October 15, 2024(2024-10-15) (aged 92) Port Orange, Florida, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1955–1983
Rank	Major General
Commands	603rd Special Operations Squadron Military Assistance Advisory Group United States Air Force Director of International Programs
Battles / wars	Vietnam War Secret War in Laos Battle of Lima Site 85
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross

Major General Richard Vernon Secord (July 6, 1932 – October 15, 2024) was a United States Air Force officer who worked in covert operations. Early in his military service, he was a member of the first U.S. aviation detachment sent to the Vietnam War in August 1961, Operation Farm Gate. Secord left Vietnam in 1965 to attend Air Command and Staff College. Afterward, he returned to Southeast Asia, being detailed to the Central Intelligence Agency for duty in the Secret War in Laos. While in Laos, he was responsible for several notable military actions. One was the Battle of Lima Site 85. Another was the only successful prisoner of war rescue of the Vietnam War. Both of these came about because of his responsibilities for overseeing the operations of the Royal Lao Air Force, Air America, and Raven FACs.

After his Southeast Asian service, Secord commanded the 603rd Special Operations Squadron and underwent further advanced military education at the Naval War College. He then served on staff duty in the Department of Defense from June 1972 through September 1975. His next posting returned him to Iran, this time managing all U. S. military assistance to the Iranians. He was involved in the Iran–Contra affair, making $2 million on the arms transactions and charged with lying to Congress about it but acquitted. Secord went into business in the private sector after his retirement from the USAF.