Thomas Anthony Dooley III

Thomas Anthony Dooley III, MD

Thomas Anthony Dooley III (January 17, 1927 – January 18, 1961) was an American physician and United States Navy officer who was known for his work in Southeast Asia at the outset of the Vietnam War. While serving as a doctor in the region, Dooley became a prominent advocate for U.S. involvement in Vietnam, and his humanitarian efforts garnered significant media attention in the United States, contributing to the early American perception of the conflict.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Dooley was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and attended Saint Louis University for his undergraduate education. He went on to study medicine at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree. His early interest in medicine and international humanitarian work would set the stage for his later contributions in Southeast Asia.

Career

After completing his medical degree, Dooley joined the United States Navy and was stationed in Southeast Asia. His tenure in the Navy coincided with the First Indochina War, where he was deeply moved by the suffering of the local populations. Following his service, Dooley wrote a book titled "Deliver Us From Evil," detailing his experiences and the atrocities he witnessed. The book played a significant role in raising awareness in the United States about the situation in Vietnam and the surrounding regions.

Dooley left the Navy in 1956 and founded MEDICO, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing medical care to remote areas of Southeast Asia. Through MEDICO, Dooley established hospitals and clinics in Laos, providing much-needed healthcare services to the local population. His work in Laos, particularly in the anti-communist context of the Cold War, further solidified his status as an anti-communist icon in the United States.

Legacy

Thomas Dooley's contributions to humanitarian efforts in Southeast Asia and his role in promoting American involvement in Vietnam have left a complex legacy. On one hand, he is remembered as a selfless humanitarian who dedicated his life to helping others. On the other hand, his work has been critiqued for its close ties with American political and military interests in the region.

Dooley's life and work have been the subject of several books and articles, and he remains a controversial figure in the history of American involvement in Southeast Asia. Despite the controversies, his impact on American perceptions of Vietnam and his humanitarian contributions are undeniable.

Death

Thomas Dooley died of cancer on January 18, 1961, just one day after his 34th birthday. His death was widely mourned, and he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his humanitarian work.

See Also

• Vietnam War
• United States Navy
• Humanitarian aid