Tomorrow marks the 61st anniversary of my father’s still CIA-classified death in Vietnam. As I reflect, I’m drawn to the 400 letters he wrote that I discovered in my mother’s bottom dresser drawer 26 years after his mysterious death as a passenger on a CIA Air America plane. These letters became the impetus for my […]
Author: James b. Wells
JAMES B. WELLS is a retired criminology and criminal justice professor in the School of Justice Studies in the College of Justice, Safety, and Military Science at Eastern Kentucky University, and is the recipient of the 2025 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences John Howard Award, an award given intermittently, upon significant demand, to recognize an individual who has made significant and sustained contributions to the practice of corrections. A former carpenter, soldier, and correctional officer in a super-maximum-security prison and later as a researcher/planner assisting architects in prison design, he has multiple degrees, including an M.S. in Criminal Justice, a Ph.D. in Research, and an MFA in Creative Writing. He’s authored or co-authored over sixty-five books, chapters, articles, and essays, as well as over a hundred and fifty research reports for various local, state, and federal agencies. Recent essays from his research and memoir work appear or are forthcoming in Collateral Journal, About Place Journal, Wild Roof Journal, Military Experience and the Arts, The Wrath-Bearing Tree, Shift, Proud to be: Writing by American Warriors, Trajectory Journal, and From Pen to Page III: More Writings from the Bluegrass Writers Coalition.
His investigative memoir about his father's still CIA-classified death in Vietnam in 1965, titled Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, will be launched on Father's Day weekend, 2025. Links to publications, presentations, trailers, social media, blog, and other information can be found at https://jamesbwells.com. James enjoys spending much of his leisure time with his spouse on their Lexington, Kentucky farm located on the palisades of the Kentucky River, where he is an organic gardener and beekeeper.
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September 9 Hold Special Memories
September 9 holds several deeply special meanings for me. It’s both my mother’s birthday and my parents’ wedding anniversary. I’ve shared a photo of my mother, likely from when she was in the 9th grade around 1942. It’s easy to see why my father wrote her dozens of letters during WWII before they married. And […]
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Homegrown Author’s Event
Our day at the Carnegie Center’s Homegrown Author Table at the Lexington Farmer Market was nothing short of extraordinary. By noon, only a single paperback remained unsold. The true highlight, however, was the privilege of connecting with a variety of fascinating individuals, each drawn in by the compelling story behind my investigative memoir, Because: A […]
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Odysseys to Find Peace
Brenda and I finally managed to see The Odyssey before it left theaters. The film immediately reminded me of my own investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. Some have pointed out the striking parallels between my search for my father and the legendary journeys […]
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9th Street Neighborhood DC Event
Some of the most extraordinary author events I have experienced, thanks to my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew, have been orchestrated by cherished friends. Maureen Buell, a collaborator on several NIC Cooperative Awards for which I served as principal investigator, has been a […]
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One of USAID’s Best
Ollie Davidson, a legendary figure in the annals of USAID, had already traversed the far corners of the globe by age 20, journeying by jeep and bus through Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, the Nile, Sudan, and East Africa. His adventures rivaled those of any explorer, each […]
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Reknown Whistleblower Advocates
One of the most gratifying aspects of being invited to the National Whistleblower Day banquet on Capitol Hill was meeting not only supporters of my investigative memoir but also many dedicated advocates for whistleblowers. Among them were Jane Turner, the FBI whistleblower and founder of Whistleblower Network News; Stephen Kohn and David Colapinto, senior partners […]
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NWD Event
One purpose of the National Whistleblower Day banquet in the Russell Senate Building on Capitol Hill was to allow each of the more than 50 whistleblowers being honored to briefly share their remarkable stories. Here is what I said:
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Sequel to Because? Perhaps!
I’m genuinely elated by this glowing five-star Amazon review of my investigative memoir, Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew. To have my story likened to Man of La Mancha—portraying my quest as an impossible dream—feels both humbling and inspiring. The reader’s eagerness for a sequel fills […]
So many wonderful things happened this past week in DC as a result of my award-winning investigative memoir, “Because: A CIA Coverup and a Son’s Odyssey to Find the Father He Never Knew.” There’s so much to share, it will take several posts to cover all of the amazing things that happened. Our days and […]
