[[Vietnam]] was the site of a protracted conflict involving the [[United States]] and other international powers. Several individuals who served there later became involved in covert operations and intelligence activities, and the U.S. military alliance with Nicaragua's Somoza dynasty — which contributed troops to Vietnam — later facilitated the creation of the [[Contras|Contra]] army.[^1][^2] ## Notable Veterans [[Michael Hand]], co-founder of [[Nugan Hand Bank]], was a highly decorated [[United States Army Special Forces|Special Forces Green Beret]] soldier in Vietnam. After his first stint in Vietnam, Hand moved to the clandestine [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] war in [[Laos]].[^1] [[Bo Gritz]] was also a highly decorated [[United States Army Special Forces|Green Beret]] in Vietnam. Both Gritz and Hand had special knowledge of intelligence operations in the [[Golden Triangle]].[^1] [[Robert Booth Nichols]] was reportedly in Vietnam, working for a wealthy U.S. businessman in the private sector.[^1] ## Somoza's Military Support [[Anastasio Somoza]] sent [[Nicaragua|Nicaraguan]] troops to fight in Vietnam as part of his military alliance with the United States. Somoza boasted of his contributions to American foreign policy: "In 1965 he'd sent troops into the [[Dominican Republic]] to help the United States quell another leftist uprising. Hell, he'd even sent Nicaraguans off to fight in Vietnam." He also reminded Ambassador [[Lawrence Pezzullo]] that when the CIA needed a base for the [[Bay of Pigs]], he provided it. Somoza cited these contributions when pleading with Pezzullo not to abandon his National Guard, framing them as evidence of the shared investment between his regime and the U.S. government. He argued that the National Guard officers trained at [[Fort Gulick]], [[Fort Benning]], and [[Fort Leavenworth]] were products of American military education.[^2] --- ## Footnotes [^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. [^2]: Gary Webb, *Dark Alliance*, Ch. 4.