Dooley, Thomas A. (Thomas Anthony), 1927-1961

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Thomas Anthony Dooley III (January 17, 1927 – January 18, 1961) was an American physician who worked in Southeast Asia at the outset of American involvement in the Vietnam War. While serving as a physician in the United States Navy and afterwards, he became known for his humanitarian and anti-communist political activities up until his early death from cancer. After his death, the public learned that he had been recruited as an intelligence operative by the Central Intelligence Agency, and numerous descriptions of atrocities by the Viet Minh in his book Deliver Us From Evil had been fabricated.

Dooley has been called "a key agent in the first disinformation campaign of the Vietnam War," garnering support for the US government's growing involvement there. Dooley, one critic said, is an example of "celebrity sainthood" and the "intersection of show business and mysticism occupied the space where Tom Dooley was perhaps most at home"; nevertheless, he "helped to pull American Catholicism away from its insular, angry anti-Communism" and he lived a life that does not "invite facile judgment."

Dooley authored three popular books that described his activities in Vietnam and Laos: Deliver Us From Evil, The Edge of Tomorrow, and The Night They Burned the Mountain.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc. records, 1899-2003 (bulk 1945-1989). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn American Medical Center for Burma Records, 1945-1966, (bulk 1959-1965) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Anchor, Cliff. Cliff Anchor papers, 1950s-2000. San Francisco Public Library, Main Library
referencedIn Monterey Public Library. California History Room. Dr. Thomas A. Dooley Foundation clippings 1961-1962. Monterey Public Library
referencedIn Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc. records, 1899-2003, 1945-1989 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Dooley, Thomas. The first United States tank action in World War II / prepared by Thomas Dooley. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Dr. Thomas Dooley in Laos. 1982-1999. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Abraham Aaron Roback papers, 1909-1965. Houghton Library
referencedIn Andrews, Robert Hardy, 1908-1999. Robert Hardy Andrews collection, 1925-1985. Boston University. School of Medicine
referencedIn Jean Burden Papers, 1931-1992 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Dooley, Thomas A. (Thomas Anthony), 1927-1961. Collection, 1950s-1970. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
creatorOf Gregory, John, Captain. A.W. Lawrence. Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
referencedIn Prescott S. Bush Papers., undated, 1952-1962. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
Relation Name
associatedWith American Medical Center for Burma person
associatedWith American Medical Center for Burma. corporateBody
associatedWith Anchor, Cliff. person
correspondedWith Andrews, Robert Hardy, 1908-1999. person
associatedWith Burden, Jean. person
associatedWith Bush, Prescott Sheldon. person
associatedWith Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. corporateBody
associatedWith MEDICO (Organization) corporateBody
associatedWith Monterey Public Library. California History Room. corporateBody
correspondedWith Roback, A. A. (Abraham Aaron), 1890-1965 person
associatedWith United States. Army. Forces, Far East. Tank Group (Provisional) corporateBody
memberOf United States. Navy corporateBody
associatedWith US Army Armor School. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York NY US
St. Louis MO US
Subject
Missions, Medical
Physicians
Vietnam Conflict, 1961-1975
Occupation
Humanitarians
Intelligence officers
Physcians
Activity

Person

Birth 1927-01-17

Death 1961-01-18

Male

Americans

English,

French

Information

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SNAC ID: 59740171