Jack Kemp was a Congressman and MIA watchdog when he and O'Daniel met. In 1981, O'Daniel briefed Kemp's staff member on the issue. Kemp and Senator Roger Jepsen were treating the POW crisis as a human rights violation for legislation in Congress. Kemp wrote - "All my best from a 'comrade-in-arms' in the 'good fight.'"
Kiet Van Nguyen was in Vietnamese Special Operations during the war. He is one of the few Vietnamese to ever earn the Navy Cross. His exploits of rescuing a downed POW near the DMZ were immortalized in the book and movie, "Bat 21." Kiet recently wrote to O'Daniel about Trails of Deceit, "Hi Dai Uy... Your book is really 'must read' for those who are concerned about the POW/MIA issue."
The POW Task Force is one of the few groups in the government who had access to reports and raw information on POW sightings. These men also held many hearings attempting to ferret out the truth. In January 2000, one of the former heads of the Task Force, Gerald Solomon, was asked by O'Daniel if basically we (the activists) were wrong in pursuing getting men back. The context was "I hope to God we are wrong and none are alive" (meaning - we need to get the men back - alive or dead - but the horror of having to know you've been abandoned for up to 35 years - must put these men at a strain that death would be preferable). Solomon looked at O'Daniel and said, "You are not wrong" (meaning they are alive).
Others from the Task Force who have known O'Daniel have said
* "Thanks for Remembering our heroes" - Robert K. Dornan - author of the introduction to Missing in Action: Trail of Deceit. On Dornan's talk show in mid 2001, O'Daniel was introduced this way to the radio audience, "O'Daniel is a walking encyclopedia of POW/MIA facts. In his book are details that I was not even aware of. It's a must read!"
* "Larry, keep on fighting" and late in 2000, when interviewed on POW Freedom Radio, O'Daniel asked LeBoutillier a question on Tail Wind and POWs, LeBoutillier quipped, "Larry, I'm the one that should be asking you questions."
* Ben Gilman - "With best wishes for a successful book and congratulations for a worthy and significant effort."
* The late Tennyson Guyer - "Larry, one who remembered."
* Bill Hendon - "Larry, many thanks for all you've done."
* Stephen Solarz - "Larry, don't give up."
Two parts of the book, the POW rescue mission attempt, and the evidence of POW mistreatment, torture, and medical experimentation have drawn criticism as "never occurring." One who knows, Joe D. Douglass Jr., debriefed GEN MAJ Jan Sejna over an 18 year period. A defense analyst well respected in Washington, D.C., Douglass has written at various times in publications like the Wall Street Journal. Douglass wrote about Trails of Deceit, "Larry, certainly you can use my endorsement... 'Trails of Deceit' is a breakthrough in the search for the truth. O'Daniel combines his intelligence training and experience -- he was there. He has uncovered not a mere 'trail,' but a superhighway of deceit, deception, and dereliction of duty at the highest levels in our government."
One who would know about the 1981 rescue attempt, Richard Allen, Reagan's National Security Advisor, wrote, "Larry, thanks for all your efforts." This was at a National League of Families Meeting and after Allen autographed a picture of the two of them at CPAC '81- the site of much of the background "color" to the only post war attempt to rescue POWs from the Vietnam conflict.
COL Earl P. Hopper (AUS - Ret), father of the last "POW" to be declared KIA in North Vietnam, and active in Task Force Omega, wrote concerning both books, "Many thanks, Larry, for a well written and accurate book."
Senator Jesse Helms is one who has seen much of the information on POW - MIAs over the years. His staff has always been on top of the newest and most accurate information. Helms wrote - "Larry, I'm proud of you, and grateful to you."
Even Senator John McCain had some kind words, back when he was active in the issue, "With gratitude for all your dedication to our MIAs, God Bless you."
To find out the reason for all this excitement about one author and his work on the POW issue over a period of 20 years. One must read Trails of Deceit - Solving a decades old mystery utilizing the methods of the legendary Phoenix Program.
O'Daniel says about his latest effort, "When I wrote my first book, Missing in Action: Trail of Deceit, I issued a challenge to those in Washington, D.C. - 'Prove me wrong and I'll change it in the book.' The challenge is still out there - now also on Trails of Deceit. They couldn't do it then, and I don't believe they will be able to do it now. The reason for this Forum or discussion place is simple. Too many people are falling for the MYTH that all our POWs were returned. Some self-proclaimed 'cult busters' have put out stuff that would have got them fired in my Phoenix shop. So, I use my unique perspective to tell the story from the front row seat I had in many of the situations outlined in the book - and present them here. These men deserve our best efforts to bring them home - and the sooner the better - for them and our country. As General Tighe stated eloquently, the best information never made it to decision makers. It was bottled up by those with a vested interest in keeping it from rising to the top. This is an effort to bypass the bottle necks and make the information available anew to those who have the power to bring our men back."