Knife given to Dr. Tom Dooley and his assistants
While serving in the US Navy, St. Louisan Dr. Tom Dooley was sent to Vietnam in 1954. There he assisted more than 600,000 North Vietnamese refugees resettling in South Vietnam. He was also a Central Intelligence Agency informant, though many of his claims of Viet Minh atrocities were later proven false. Though Dooley’s medical care positively impacted countless people, his legacy is clouded by concerns about his part in disinformation campaigns that bolstered America’s role in Vietnam. Patients gave Dooley many gifts, like this knife, as a thank-you for his medical service.
Object Title and Accession Number
Knife given to Dr. Tom Dooley and his assistants. Unknown maker and date. 2022-013-0006.
A vintage knife with a large, decorated blade and wooden handle, accompanied by a matching sheath. Both the knife and sheath feature metal accents in geometric patterns. It is photographed against a white background.
A close-up of the wooden knife handle with silver accents. An engraved inlay in the center depicts a standing figure surrounded by small floral patterns. The wood is dark brown, and the metal bands are silver.
Close-up of the tip of the knife blade with intricate engraved patterns. It has a pointed tip and is photographed against a white background.
Close-up of a knife blade with intricate engravings, depicting geometric patterns and designs. The blade has a dark silver, weathered appearance. It is photographed against a white background.