PHUNG HAUNG DONG TIEN

Isshin-ryu Karate-Do Dojo
(Member of the Isshin-ryu Brotherhood Order)
David D. Evseeff, Sensei
2417 Hannon Court, Ellicott City, Maryland, 21042-1764
(410) 461-5103
E-mail: ChocIce2@AOL.COM
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May 29, 1996

Dear Mr. Powell;

I will forward the written information for my book regarding Harry G. Smith as soon as the text nears completion this summer.  I would appreciate it if the information I send could be verified and approved by Mr. Smith as soon as possible so as not to delay the publication of my book.  I have made every effort to check and re-check all factual information regarding every Isshinryu Karate practitioner named in the text and feel as though this is the most accurate text yet published on the history of Isshinryu Karate and O'Sensei Tatsuo Shimabuku.

In that regard, I have had the office of Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett contact the Congressional CIA Liason in order to verify Mr. Smith's involvement in the Phoenix program during the Vietnam War.  Rep. Bartlett's office informed me that the CIA has no record of either Harry G. Smith or Tatsuo Shimabuku being involved with this operation.  Further, after discussions with other U.S. Marines who were involved with the Phoenix program, no one has any recollection of Mr. Smith's involvement.  In addition, Capt. Ernie Cates, not Mr. Shimabuku, trained the Phoenix program operatives in hand-to-hand combat.  Capt. Cates, as you may know, was the All-marine Judo Champion and was the leading hand-to-hand combat expert in the Marine Corps at the time.

In order for Mr. Smith to verify that he was involved in this operation, I would appreciate his defining the following terms so that I may have them verified by my contacts: Black Eye, Group Hand, Map Link, Red Team, Green Team, and Blue Team.  Please have Mr. Smith get back to me as soon as possible on these terms.

In Mr. Smith's letter to me, he stated that, "If you have any doubts, absolute proof will be supplied." I would greatly appreciate his supplying me with copies off all of his certificates/diplomas and other written records involving Mr. Shimabuku and his training in Isshinryu Karate at Kyan Village and Agena.  I would also appreciate documentation concerning when he actually began training in Isshinryu Karate at Kyan Village and when he returned to the island, as well as documentation of Mr. Shimabuku's involvement in training the CIA for the Phoenix program if it can be provided.  I will not print anything concerning Mr. Smith unless I can verify its legitimacy.

I would greatly appreciate your response as soon as possible.  I am only trying to verify all information completely so as to produce the most accurate book possible.  I appreciate your cooperation and assistance in this matter.  Thank you.