Wes Kingsley

Episode #198: Wes Kingsley's remarkable journey takes us through his CIA assignments in various conflict-ridden regions, such as post-independence Congo, and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. It also takes us to Burma, which holds a special place in Wes's heart amid all his other adventures, as that is where he met his future wife and developed an appreciation of Buddhism.

Wes’s first CIA stint was in Eritrea, in Africa. During his time there, the Simba Rebellion in the Congo was heating up. A crisis developed in which American hostages were taken, and Wes was dispatched there to try and rescue them. Wes then went to Vietnam, experiencing the brutality of war and narrowly escaping attacks by the Vietcong, eventually leaving Saigon on one of the very last flights out of the besieged city.

Choosing Rangoon as his next destination, Wes hoped for a quieter atmosphere while combating Burma's narcotics trade. He witnessed the violent 1974 crackdown on student protests over the burial of U Thant’s body, but found solace in the peaceful nature of the Burmese people.

The uncommonly adventurous nature of his life even extended to his Burmese wife-to-be. Due to her inability to get a passport to leave the country, she escaped with gem smugglers to Thailand. Wes had to bribe Thai officials to marry them. Later, during his assignment in Jamaica, working for the State Department, he was “outed” as having worked for the CIA in Africa, resulting in he an assassination attempt on him and his family.

From Paris to Liberia to Central America to Manila, Wes’ adventurous life continued. But amid all the countries he visited and dangerous challenges he faced, the peaceful nature of the Burmese people and Buddhism still shine brightly in his memory.