The spy skill that saved 71,000 lives

Lessons from the fall of Saigon [Image](https://) Greetings Everyday Spy, Today, you’ll meet one of America’s unsung heroes. Meet Conrad "Connie" LaGueux. It's 1944. Connie's just 22, but he's already commanding a 15-man OSS team behind enemy lines in France. Connie and his team, working with the French Resistance, derail a German troop train. The result? 5,800 Nazi soldiers surrender. That's right. At just 22, Connie was already changing the course of history. (And I can’t think of too many 22-year-olds today capable of the same.) He quickly earned a reputation for having a keen analytical mind and overcoming what looked like impossible obstacles. In 1949, he joined the newly-formed CIA. But Connie had no idea what was still in store for him. Fast forward to April 1975. LaGueux found himself deputy chief of the CIA's Saigon office. It was the largest overseas station in the world at the time. As North Vietnamese forces advanced, LaGueux knew the war was lost. But he refused to give up on the people who had risked everything to help America. Hopping on an Air America helicopter, Connie flew over the chaos below. What he saw confirmed his worst fears. The roads were jammed with fleeing civilians and soldiers. It was a nightmare scenario. Most people are frozen with fear, but not Connie. His World War II experiences had given him something invaluable... His operational mindset kicked into high gear. Connie knew time was running out. He didn't wait for orders. He acted. In the face of overwhelming odds, he orchestrated one of the most impressive evacuations in history. Now, here's a little-known fact: Remember the iconic photo of a helicopter landing on top of a Saigon building? That was LaGueux's apartment. Not the US Embassy, as many believe. That's right. Connie was so committed to the mission he turned his own home into an evacuation point. In just two days, LaGueux's efforts helped evacuate 6,000 Americans and 65,000 South Vietnamese. Imagine saving that many lives in 48 hours. The scene was something right out of a movie: Helicopters landing on rooftops, desperate people climbing aboard… Except it was real. And Connie was the director. 71,000 people could have been lost without one man's operational skills. Connie's story doesn't end there, though. Years later, he was invited to the home of a Vietnamese doctor and his family, whom LaGueux had helped evacuate to America. While eating dinner together, one of the doctor’s daughters turned to LaGueux’s wife and said, “I want you to look around, Mrs. LaGueux, and I want you to look at my family in this room. My family is your husband’s ‘Schindler’s list.’ We would have been dead if it had not been for your husband.” Powerful stuff, right? Now, you might be thinking, "That's awesome, Andy, but what does this have to do with me?" Everything. [Operational thinking isn't just for spies or war heroes. It's a skill anyone can learn.]( It's about staying calm under pressure. It’s about making quick, smart decisions when it matters most. It’s about being proactive, not reactive. Seeing the big picture when others are lost in the details. These are the skills that separate the elite from the average. The leaders from the followers. Imagine having that superpower in your daily life. At work. At home. During a crisis. Connie LaGueux's legacy lives on. Not just in the lives he saved, but in the lessons he left behind. Lessons in courage, quick thinking, and the power of operational skills. You have the same capabilities inside you. I’m committed to seeing you become the hero of your everyday life. Godspeed, #EverydaySpy Andrew Bustamante P.S. Connie LaGueux defined courage in the face of chaos. My time at CIA introduced me to similar unsung heroes who could succeed against seemingly impossible odds. But the only thing separating these heroes from you is having the training to remove doubt from your mind and step into the role of an elite operator. If you’re ready to take the first step, I’ll show you step-by-step how to [shatter your limitations and live a life with no compromises.]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Don't want to receive these emails anymore? [Unsubscribe]( EverydaySpy, 411 Walnut St. #20309, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043