The Cold War: Defense Clandestine Service: Agent Henry Odum

By Harry O'Quinn

Some people have the ability to understand different languages and learn to speak them quickly. This was the case with Agent Henry Odum. Being exposed to Southern black people at an early age in life taught him to speak the Gullah language and to respect their culture. That exposure placed him in danger of the KKK's vengeance and pushed him to leave home before finishing school.

The military quickly realized his potential to become a multilingual intelligence agent. Henry's desire to do the right thing plays a big role in his missions' success. This book is the first in series that tells of Henry's leadership skills and bravery during his missions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798890610416

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

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The Cold War: Defense Clandestine Service: Agent Henry Odum

Harry O'Quinn

Copyright © 2023 Harry O’Quinn

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-89061-040-9 (Paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89061-041-6 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

I want to express my love by dedicating this book to my wife, Martha, for pushing me to write my visions and thoughts about different story ideas. I thank her for taking on most of our household chores while I was secluded in my home office, writing.

Prologue

The events that led me to become an agent for the Defense Intelligence Agency started in 1951. I was five years old. My father, a sharecropper, lived and worked in Jasper County, South Carolina. Like most sharecroppers, we were poor and existed on what we could grow and sell.

Cotton was a good money crop, and the farm owner planted about a hundred acres. Needless to say, one man could not weed and pick all of it alone. Dad used family and farm labor to work the cotton. Most of the farm labor—black people—lived near Savannah on or near old plantations in the county. Unemployment in the black community has always been high, and normally they were a good source of labor and are ready to work when asked.

Chapter 1

Ms. Lula and Josephine, two black ladies, were assigned to make biscuits, ham, and ice tea for the laborers' lunch. Ms. Lula was an older lady, around seventy, and perceived to be too old for a field hand, while Josephine was younger and quite outspoken. I and my younger brother had been left in their care while Mom worked in the field with the farm labor. The kitchen was always a great place to hang out and play. Ms. Lula was a happy woman. She was deeply religious and sang hymns constantly. I tried to sing along with her, causing her to laugh out loud, saying, Boy, you still got some growing to do.

Josephine said, His momma ought to be here looking after them youngins and helping you in the kitchen while I's out dare in da field. I'd make more money dat way. But all here knows dat woman can't cook.

I sat listening for a moment and said, Momma can cook. She cooks really good.

Ms. Lula turned and looked at me. Boy, what did you say?

The surprise in her voice scared me, and I answered, Nothing.

Ms. Lula said, Henry, did you understand what Josephine was saying?

I responded, Yes, ma'am.

Ms. Lula said, She was speaking the tongue. You understand the tongue?

I said, I don't know what you mean. I heard her say that Momma can't cook.

Lord God Almighty, boy, you understand the tongue because I been talking in the tongue the whole time. Can you speak it too?

I said, All I know is that I understand what you said to me.

Ms. Lula was quiet for a while, then she sat down and held me in her arms. Henry, you got the gift. It's a gift from God, and he don't give it to all people. You are special. Not many white people understand the tongue. Not all black people understand the tongue. It comes from the Gullah language the older black people used. You will find as you get older, understanding the tongue or what other people are saying will give you power. You must be careful. There are bad people out there that don't think understanding the tongue is a gift. If they know you got the gift, they might hurt you. Josephine and I won't tell no one 'cause we too scared to say we got the gift. Now you don't tell a living soul you know the tongue. Dat's important, you hear me? Your momma, now, she is different. I'll tell your momma.

*****

A few weeks later, on a Saturday, a day when we all go to town to do the weekly shopping, Mom, my younger brother, and I were sitting in the drugstore eating ice cream when two ladies dressed in clothes, not seen in the low country very often, entered the store.

One lady said, "Je n'aime pas ce magasin."

I said, Mom, why did that woman say she doesn't like this store?

Mom looked around, as if to see if anyone was listening. She said, Hush, finish your ice cream. We have to go.

When we got back to the car, Dad hadn't arrived yet. Mom said, Ms. Lula told me you had the gift. Remember, she said that you had to be really careful and not let anyone know you have the gift.

I said, But, Momma, you already know.

She said, Yes, I do, but someone else could have heard you. My grandfather had the gift. Apparently, it has passed on to you. The Klan hanged your great-grandfather for collusion with black people when I was a little girl. I don't want anyone hurting you. So when you hear other people speaking a strange language, don't let on to anyone that you understood what they were saying.

Chapter 2

I'm not sure that seer is the right word to describe Ms. Lula. She was something of a healer, sometimes called black spiritual healer. She was God-fearing, warm, and a loving woman, and through the next ten years or so, I learned many things from her.

Ms. Lula worked for Momma throughout the years of my youth. When I was seventeen, I contracted a fever that lasted for days. Mom had a job in a shirt factory where she worked during the day. She paid Ms. Lula to sit and care for me, hoping to keep the fever down. Ms. Lula would wash my body, sing a hymn, and speak in the tongue, asking God to remove this fever and help me through life. She told God she knew he had a special purpose for me that others would not understand.

The next day, the fever broke, and I was awake when Ms. Lula arrived. She put both hands on the sides of my face and looked deep into my eyes. Boy, I knew you would be okay. God has a plan for you, but you still must be careful. There are those who will be jealous and try to hurt you. Ignore them, work hard, and do what you must do.

Ms. Lula, what does God want me to do?

She responded, My days are short now, and I won't be here to help you figure out or see what you must do. Follow God's lead. He will show you the way. Remember that God has a reason for everything. That day years ago, when you were five, I knew then that God wanted me to know that you had the gift. It was my purpose to help you and teach you.

Two weeks later, March 30, 1964, Ms. Lula Green passed on to be with her God. Even though Ms. Lula was of a different race, and my mother was still alive, I felt like I had lost a mother. I told my mother I wanted to go to the funeral.

She said, Absolutely not. If you feel that strongly attached, go to her home and see her son.

On April 3, I drove out to Marshland Road, where the Greens lived. It was still three days before the funeral. As I drove up to the house, I saw several black people sitting on the porch. Four of the young men stood up with hostile scowls, looking at me, wondering what a white boy was doing interrupting their solace. James, Ms. Lula's fifty-year-old son, came out of the house, took me by the arm, and led me a little way out of hearing.

James asked, Boy, what are you doing here? I told your mother not to let you attend the funeral. These times are bad and scary. It isn't safe here, today of all days. They are bringing Momma's body here to the house for the wake. Those boys on the porch know most white people thought Momma was a witch and troublemaker. They won't take kindly to your coming here. They will see it as an intrusion.

I'm sorry, James, I am having a hard time dealing with her passing. I just wanted you to know how I felt.

James said, I know all about your gift and your relationship with Momma. The word is out in town that you and Momma was closer than you should be. She talked to me about that and said that I should deny that you and she were close. I should tell them that you were just a kinfolk of your mom. She also said that you may want to go away for a while until things get cooled down. Henry, she was proud of you. Don't let her down now.

Chapter 3

I joined the military when I was still seventeen. There were some rumors about me and the seer at school, but nothing I couldn't deal with. It was five weeks of school before the summer break. I could tough it out. Mom was worried that something would happen at school, and word would get to the county Klan leaders. She wanted me to join the armed services. I liked the way the Navy sounded and checked the reserves out. They said that I could spend the weekends at the Reserve Center and attend school during the week until summer break. Mom was readily agreeable to sign the papers for me to join the reserves. Although, she didn't like the idea of coming home so quickly. I would be going to Great Lakes, Illinois, for basic training. When I finished basic, I could return home to finish high school.

Monday, May 18, 1964, I was en route to Great Lakes, Illinois. I had left home without any trouble from anybody about my relationship with Ms. Lula. The bus ride was short to the Savannah airport, then air flight to Atlanta. I was met by a Marine in Atlanta; he wasn't very friendly. He took my orders and said, Follow me. He then put me in a room with other recruits and said, Someone would come to get you. Three hours of listening to other recruits talking about the recruiter. How the recruiter said their career was all planned out as we boarded the final leg to Chicago. I felt like it was all BS, and they were in for a big surprise. We were met in Chicago by a Marine guard (for lack of a better term) who constantly screamed at us and called us names that would make a prisoner blush. We were herded on to a bus that transported us to the Great Lakes, Illinois, Camp Moffitt.

We were told to fall in to ranks of four lines and roll call was conducted for accountability purposes. One recruit was missing, so we stood there in formation for the next hour. He was found trying to go back home. We were marched to the chow hall and were fed. Then we were marched to clothing disbursement point and issued sheets, a pillowcase, and a blanket. We then marched to a barracks building where we were told to make our beds and prepare for inspection. We were up till midnight learning how to make a bed to pass an inspection. We were then allowed to go to bed and sleep. Every hour on the hour, the guard change woke us, and we had to stand at attention at the end of our bunks. I later learned that all the screaming and interruption of sleep was the military method of breaking the recruits down so that they blindly followed orders.

The next day, we were issued uniforms. I thought it was funny when one guy commented that the sizes were too small. He was rather chubby. The petty officer told him, It fits because the Navy said it fits. Chubby, we will slender you down so it will fit. He was right; Chubby lost weight.

Learning to march to cadence and to music was fun. In a few days, we were all keeping in step and reversing on command without colliding with each other. The calisthenics were difficult at first, but you got used to them after several days. Every waking second was planned on what you were supposed to be doing and how to do it. An inspection occurred several times a day.

The first Saturday on base, we had an early-morning run. We rose that day by the usual screaming to get up, get dressed, and get out. We did that to be told to get back inside and make our bunks; no one had made their bunks, after which we got in formation for a two-mile cadence run. That is where the drill instructor sang a cadence, and you took a step for every cadence. We returned to the barracks nearly an hour before breakfast. We had to shower, shave, and dress. Sixty men in the company and only ten showerheads. What an experience. Of course, we had an inspection before breakfast. After breakfast, we were marched back to the barracks to prepare for arms training.

Chapter 4

Someone once said that military intelligence was an oxymoron. As we assembled in the barracks, each one of us were standing at parade rest in front of our bunks. A commander, a shore patrol, and three civilians came into the barracks.

Officer on deck. This command caused each of us to snap to attention.

Our company petty officer said, These men have some questions and commands for you. You must respond to their commands without hesitation. Commander.

My name is Commander Winslow. I command Great Lakes Military Shore Patrol and the stockade or jail. I have with me today three civilians that will give you a command. As soon as you understand the command, take the action ordered. If I find that you are ignoring them by not responding, I will personally see to it that you spend the rest of the summer in the stockade. Gentlemen.

A tall slender man with long hair, dark glasses, and a good suit stepped forward. He took a moment and looked toward each of us. Odin shag vpered!

I immediately took one step forward. I looked to each side and saw that no one else had moved. I returned to my original position. The civilian took a look around and stepped up to my face and asked in Russian, Why do you speak Russian?

I replied, Sir, I don't speak Russian, sir.

He then said, I am speaking Russian now, and you seem to understand me perfectly.

I replied again, Sir, I don't speak Russian, sir.

He then stepped back to his group and whispered into an Asian civilian's ear.

The Asian stepped forward and said in Chinese, "Zuo' xia," and looked toward me.

I thought, Oh shit, they know about me, I had better do as commanded and then sit down. The civilian took a look around and stepped up to me and asked in Chinese, Why do you speak Chinese?

I replied, Sir, I don't speak Chinese, sir.

He then said, I am speaking Chinese now, and you seem to understand me perfectly.

I replied again, Sir, I don't speak Chinese, sir. He then stepped back to his group and whispered into the last civilian's ear.

The last civilian commanded me to stand up in French, "Se lever."

I stood up. He then said in French, "Quelqu'un d'autre parle-t-il France'? (Does anyone else speak French?) One other man stepped forward and said that he took French in high school and spoke a little. The Frenchman then said, You both may return to your formation."

The three civilians huddled together with the commander for a few minutes. The commander stepped over to me and asked, What is your name and rank?

I responded, Sir, Seaman Recruit Odum, sir.

The commander then told the shore patrol to arrest SR Odum. Take him to the patrol barracks and confine him with a guard.

The commander instructed the company petty officer to return my piece to the armory, place all my personal belongings in a duffel, and send it to the stockade.

I was placed in handcuffs and escorted out of the building. The shore patrol said, When we are out of sight of the barracks, I'll remove the cuffs from your hands.

I said, I don't understand.

He said, Don't worry, you will.

Chapter 5

I was taken to the patrol barracks which housed military intelligence and security and placed in a room and told to wait until I was called. I felt like my bowels were turning to water, and I asked permission to go to the head. The SP said it was two doors down on the right. When I finished, the guard was still at the door. He said, I thought you may run, and we don't need to start off that way. Report to the commander at the end of the hall.

I went to the commander's door and knocked three times, loudly. Enter.

I stepped in to front and center of the commander's desk and stood at attention, looking straight ahead over the commander's head. Sir, Seaman Recruit Odum reporting as ordered, sir.

At ease, sailor. I assumed a parade-rest position. Odum, why is it that you seem to understand Russian, French, and Chinese languages yet you claim to not speak the language? I find that very strange and interesting.

Sir, at an early age, I was told that I had a gift to understand casual conversations of languages other than my own.

Did you try to cultivate that at all?

No, sir. The language that I initially was found to understand was a dialect of Gullah. My mother thought it would be dangerous for me to let it be known that I was conversant in black people's language. Later I had the opportunity to hear some other language spoken on TV, and I was able to interpret it as well. Sir, I don't understand why I am arrested. I haven't done anything wrong.

The CO looked at me for a few seconds before speaking. I am from Georgia, and I know how problematic relationships with a different race can be, and it can be dangerous. Tell me, are you part of any gang or organizations like the KKK?

No, sir. My mother warned me about the KKK. She also said that the children of KKK members couldn't be trusted and to avoid association with them. My great-grandfather was hanged by the KKK in the 1930s for collusion with black people. Mom said he had the gift of understanding, and that's what got him hanged.

The CO said, "The gift of understanding the language or culture of others is not what got him hanged. Ignorance and fear are what got him hanged. The KKK and other groups like that are ignorant and a disgrace to America. The Army has a saying that everything and everyone in the Army is olive drab, OD. The only difference in people is officers versus enlisted and men versus women. Life outside the military is different. It can be cruel and scary.

Odum, I know you didn't do anything wrong. That was something I made up to get you out of the barracks without causing suspicion from others. We are going to send you to a language school here at Great Lakes where you will be assigned as a member of military intelligence. You will be put on a very fast-paced training program. You will learn to speak several languages fluently. You will attend classes twelve hours a day, six days a week. You will not be given liberty, but you will have identification that will get you anywhere on base. Let me warn you, you are not allowed to leave the base for any reason without your commander's permission. If you don't meet classroom expectations, or you get in trouble on base, you will be transferred back to basic as a recruit. Only petty officers, E-4, or higher ranks are allowed to attend this school. Your records are being altered, and insignia is being sewed on your uniforms as we speak. Your haircut will make you stand out in school. Let it grow out to a respectful length. Think of a logical excuse because your hair was cut short and stick with it. We don't want anyone recognizing you on base, so stay away from places that recruits may be visiting. The patrol officer that brought you here will take you to pick up your uniforms and get you signed in at the language center. Good luck.

Chapter 6

We picked up my uniforms, and I changed into dress whites to report in to the school. The SP with me said, There will be an E-4 at the check-in desk. Don't let him give you any shit. The reason he is on the desk is he is a fuckup. Good luck, and I'll see you around. One more thing, be careful around the intelligence pukes. Make sure who they are before you talk to them.

I entered the building and walked over to the desk, placed my orders on the desk, and said, I'm checking in. The E-4 looked at me like I was from outer space.

What, no medals on your uniform? You are out of the prescribed uniform. Get out of here until you know how to report!

I looked around and saw the CO's office and said, Don't give me any shit. Do you want me to go down to the CO and check in there? Give me a break, asshole.

I picked up my orders and walked to the CO's office and knocked on the door three times, loudly.

Enter.

I walked in and stood at attention and said, Sir, Petty Officer Odum reporting in to school, sir.

The CO asked, What languages do you speak?

Sir, I speak only English?

Then what are you doing here, sailor? This school in for advanced-language skills.

Sir, my orders should clarify my assignment.

The CO opened and read my orders. Then he said in German, What makes you think you can understand different foreign languages?

Sir, I don't understand every word, but I understand enough to know the meaning of a phrase or a sentence.

Then the CO said in Italian, When did you realize that you understood foreign languages?

I was about six years old when someone noticed that I responded to people speaking the ‘tongue,' which is a dialect of Gullah. I can converse somewhat in tongue.

I know about the Gullah language and have heard of tongue, but you are the first person I've met who admits to be conversant in it. Do you know it well enough to teach it?

No, sir. The Tongue changes with subject matter, and it has no rules that governs how it changes. People recognizes the tone or flavor of the words spoken and adapts accordingly.

That is about what I have heard of it and that it is very difficult to learn.

Sir, I was raised up in that environment, and it just came naturally. There was an elderly lady that worked for my mom that corrected me constantly until I got it right.

I heard people say that it is a gift, and people that know it are special.

I didn't want people to think that I think I am special, so I responded, I wouldn't know about that. This is who I am. I learned to speak English.

The CO pushed a button and called the PO in to the office. Mr. Odum, this is your curriculum. Be prepared for class at 0700 hours. PO Brady, assign Mr. Odum to a private room on the third floor. He is not to be assigned any lateral duties. His only assignment will be school. You or others will not question him about his assignment or what classes he's attending. Mr. Odum, if anyone violates this order or gives you any trouble, report it to me. Dismissed.

As we were walking up the stairs, the PO said, I should have read your orders before you went in to the old man's office!

I replied, Yes, you should have, then I would have had to kill you.

He had a look of shock on his face, as if he thought I was serious. He showed me to my room and gave me one of two keys. I said, Don't worry about the remaining key. I will change the locks today!

Chapter 7

I got up and went for a run every morning, then showered before chow. School was different than I imagined. I sat in a soundproof booth with a microphone and hearing cups. There was a recording playing of conversational French. When a beep was heard, I had to respond in French. The instructor would stop the recording to coach me. I had to repeat the phrase again and again until it was acceptable. I had French in the morning and Russian in the afternoon, five hours each with breaks and lunch to round out twelve hours a day. It was grueling.

At the end of the first week, the instructors evaluated me.

If you were a regular student that spoke the language when you arrived, you would be evaluated as a poor performer. Being that you did not speak the language, you are evaluated as fair. This means you have to work harder, put in extra hours. Tell one of us when you want extra hours, and we will work with you.

I said, I run every morning except Sunday from 0430 hours until 0530 hours. Then I shower and go to chow. I leave the training center every evening at 1500 hours and go to chow. I could put in another two hours after chow.

One of the instructors said that he runs in the morning as well and would like to run with me. We could converse in the required languages while running and in the chow hall.

I said, Great, see you Monday at the barracks at 0430 hours.

I left the barracks on Monday and found the instructor already warming up. I started before you did to warm up some. Let's pick up the pace a little and start talking.

You have already started talking. You have been speaking Russian since I arrived.

He said, Good. I didn't notice any surprise in your face or voice. We will run faster than you normally do to get your heart rate up. It makes you have to think more about what you want to say. You want words to come out without having to think. No hesitation in your word formation. It must come as natural. The other instructor will go to chow with you. He will be speaking French while you eat.

The following week was horrible. I was tired due to early rising and staying focused on discussions. At the end of the week, one of the instructors said I would get a better evaluation this time, but I still needed the extra hours' work. He also said that I should change my eating habits to a higher-energy food, and I won't be so tired.

Two weeks later, Sunday came, and I did my laundry and pressed my uniforms. My room had been neglected the past two weeks, and I started tidying up somewhat when there was a knock on my door.

I answered the door to find the CO with two of the agents that originally recruited me in the basic training barracks. I said, Good morning, sir.

The CO looked as if he was pissed off for being here. He said, PO Odum, these gentlemen would like to talk to you.

Come in. I am sorry, but I have only one chair. Commander, would you care to sit? I looked to the two gentlemen and asked, The commander didn't introduce you by name. Do you have identification?

The tallest agent said, You don't need to see any identification to talk to us.

I responded, I'm sorry, unless the commander wishes to vouch for you, I have nothing to say.

I saw the commander smiling out of the corner of my eye. So I thought I had made the right choice. Both men displayed their Navy Intelligence ID cards. We need some more information to complete your security clearance. Specifically, we want to know what type of relationship you had with the KKK, and did you know Mr. James Green?

First, I do not have or have I ever had a relationship with the KKK or any of their children. I despised the KKK and what they stand for. In the 1930s, they hung my great-grandfather for collusion with black people. He understood many languages too. James Green is the son of a lady that worked for my mom. His mother, Ms. Lula, was a very kind and sweet soul. She taught me a lot about life in general.

Mr. James Greene was shot and killed a week after we interviewed him for your security clearance. We don't know who or why he was shot, but we can imagine.

I said, Odds are it was Randal Cumby that shot him. He is the local enforcer in the southwestern part of the state. I heard rumors that he was interested in me when I was in high school.

Why would he be interested in you?

I was close to James's mother. She was the person that recognized my ability to understand different languages. James's mother, Ms. Lula, and my mother had told me to be wary of the KKK. They didn't like white people that associated with or had relationships with black people. My mother was the one who insisted I go into the service. Ms. Lula died five months ago, and James was all of her family left. I'll have to look into that when I go home.

Do you think you may be in danger from this Mr. Randal Cumby if you go home?

I don't know. There are one or two black people that will tell me if James was killed to set an example of what happens for collusion. If he was killed to make an example, then yes, I'll be the next example for white people. The KKK don't discriminate when it comes to hate and keeping people in line.

The taller agent said, I don't think you should finish high school back at your home. Commander, could we alter the schedule to let him concentrate on high school studies? Give him a test and get his school to issue a diploma dated for him to graduate this summer. It would appear as if he had to attend summer school to graduate. Being that this entire conversation has been in Russian, I think he can get a satisfactory evaluation for this class. He needs to move on to another language soon.

The commander took a moment to consider all that had transpired. Yes, we can do that. I'll get both instructors to proctor exit exams for him. When will you guys need him?

Well, we want to get him some small-arms training and into the Marines. Then he has more language schooling in California. He will need a high school diploma to do any of that, so the timing is in your hands.

I assume Chinese and German are the next languages you want him to learn.

That's correct, but he needs to concentrate on his high school diploma.

The two intelligence agents stood and left, closing the door behind them. The CO sat back and thought a moment, then said, Son, what do you think about all this? It is all in such a rush. Are you comfortable with all this?

Sir, if I may ask, why is the intelligence agency so all fired up by me? What was he talking about, transferring me to the Marines? Am I being led to the slaughter like a young bull?

"That is a good question, son. They think you are a prodigy. They want people that can speak several languages and understand many more. They will train you and prepare you before putting you in harm's way. They recognize you are gifted, and they need you. I think they will give you embassy duty in areas where your skill set suits them. Only Marines get embassy duty. You are on the fast track, so hold on to your