Bob Kelley spied on Soviet forces in East Germany for three years
The Lake Oswego resident served as a Military Intelligence liaison from 1970 to 1973, a role he described as the most exciting time of his life.
By Chinedu Schneider ·
Bob Kelley spent three years secretly observing Soviet military movements in East Germany, a tenure he now calls the most thrilling period of his life. From 1970 to 1973, the Lake Oswego resident worked as a liaison for United States Military Intelligence. His primary duty involved monitoring military detachments and collecting visual intelligence on Soviet operations.
Kelley’s path to this role began with a draft notice. Rather than wait for assignment, he enlisted in the Army Security Agency to control his own destination. Although he had spent a decade in Berlin studying communist bloc politics, his security clearance for the new post took time. His proficiency in German, however, caught the attention of a general during advance training. The officer asked if Kelley spoke the language, and after Kelley responded fluently, he was pulled from the line destined for Vietnam the following day.
His orders simply listed Germany as the destination, with no specific unit named. In Berlin, a colonel instructed him to wait for an interview. Kelley drove a reinforced Ford across the country to complete a test, which he passed. He then began his work as a German-speaking driver and later a military liaison. His task was to scout airfields and other locations for changes in equipment, using long telephoto lenses to take photographs.
As the first college-educated German speaker on the team, Kelley used his knowledge of the local terrain to his advantage. He navigated fields, forests, and bogs in the East German countryside without a map. His familiarity with the area proved so valuable that Soviet informants created a file on him. Kelley noted that much of the information in that dossier was fabricated, including a claim that he attended Howard University, a detail he called ludicrous.
Kelley served as a sergeant in the military from 1969 to 1973. He is originally from rural Missouri and had previously studied in Berlin for ten years. His father was a World War II pilot who served in the North Atlantic. Kelley enlisted to prove the draft board could not force a specific placement on him.
After his military service, Kelley returned to Yale Law School. He practiced law in various locations across the United States. He now lives at Mary’s Woods Senior Living Community in Lake Oswego. He moved into the facility because his sister-in-law is also a resident there.
Kelley reflected on his time in the field with enthusiasm. He said he enjoyed the work immensely, ranking it only behind his marriage in terms of life excitement. The classified nature of his position meant he could not discuss the details with many people for decades.
The United States Military Intelligence operation relied on Kelley’s linguistic skills and geographic knowledge to gather information on Soviet airfields. He and his team looked for specific modifications to airplanes and other military assets. His service ended in 1973, after which he transitioned back to civilian life and legal practice.
