The Intoku Code: Delta Force's Intelligence Officer―Doing Good in Secret

"If one aspires to live a noble and meaningful life, you’ll find an exemplar here. Of the many marvelous American traits, Ish’s notion of ‘Intoku' or “good done in secret” is the answer to so many of our current challenges as families, communities and Nation. Read on!" ― General Norton A. Schwartz, USAF (retired)

An American of Japanese ancestry is born in Hawaii just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He learns the value of an extended family and mentorship and applies those lessons throughout life. He joins the Army where he is drawn into intelligence and Special Forces where he embodies the life of a quiet professional and his watchword is “Intoku,” a Japanese word that means doing good in secret.

He rises through the ranks and receives a direct commission as a Captain. He is recruited by the legendary Colonel Charlie Beckwith to become a founding member of the Delta Force, an elite special operations unit. He leads a roadblock team on the ill-fated mission to rescue American hostages in Tehran in 1980 and destroys a fuel truck from penetrating the roadblock.

After retiring from the Army, he continued to contribute to national security against terrorism, extremism, and for global special operations and nuclear security. Part memoir of a remarkable life, this book will also be a valuable addition to Special Operations history as well as a guide to navigating extreme situations. The book pays tribute to those that have mentored him, along with those who embody the “Intoku” code and shows the value of mentorship and helping others succeed.

Table of Contents

I. Operation Plan Rice Bowl … Code Eagle Claw … April 24, 1980
II. The Early Years … The Forging of a Secret Warrior and the Value of an Extended Family
III. A rebel in school and the value of independence
IV. The Army Calls! Moving on from defeat
V. Growing Into A Soldier
VI. Learning the Craft of Intelligence and Leadership
VII. Between Korea and Vietnam
VIII. Vietnam and Resilience
IX. 5th Special Forces Group and Detachment B-57
X. The Green Beret Case
XI. Special Action Force Asia
XII. New Challenges and Opportunities
XIII. Waiting for the Next Challenge
XI The Beginning of Delta Force
XIV. Eagle Claw – Initial Preparations
XV. Eagle Claw – The Final Plan
XVI. Months of Preparation
XVIII. Eagle Claw – Conducting the Rescue Attempt
XVIII. Immediate Aftermath
XIX. Back to Business
XX. 1981 and Retirement
XXI. Another Career Begins – SAS of Texas, Ltd.
XXII. The Land of Enchantment – Albuquerque, New Mexico
XXII. The Branch Davidian Incident Review
XXIV. The Khobar Towers Review
XXV. Anti-terrorism

Wade Ishimoto was born in Hawaii shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He enlisted in the US Army in 1961and retired 20 years later. His military career saw him serving as a Military Policeman, a counterintelligence agent, a human intelligence case officer, and 14 years in Special Forces. Among his notable assignments were as the Project Gamma Operations Sergeant during the Green Beret Murder case in 1969, Special Force School Instructor of the Year in 1974, a founding member of the Delta Force, and leading a roadblock team on the fateful 1980 attempt to rescue 53 American hostages in Iran (Operation Eagle Claw). After his military retirement, he served on the investigation of the Branch Davidian incident, the Khobar Towers bombing, was the Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, and a Special Assistant to the Deputy Undersecretary of the Navy. He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow with the Joint Special Operations University, a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment, and was inducted into the Special Operations Command Commando Hall of Honor. He has been written about in Delta Force, The Guts to Try, Best Laid Plans, Those Gallant Men, Killer Elite, Never Surrender and A Murder in Wartime