Indochina Hand
Tales of a CIA Case Officer
Barry Michael Broman, Casemate, Philadelphia, 2024, 288 pages
Book Review published on: May 20, 2025
Very few U.S. citizens serve in the CIA, but Michael Broman spent twenty-five years within its ranks. Broman's book provides the reader with a glimpse into the world of one of the most famous of modern intelligence agencies. Indochina Hand: Tales of a CIA Case Officer is a collection of Broman's personal stories beginning from his high school days to his journey into the CIA. Broman's personal actions, exotic travel, and deep appreciation for people are closely examined.
The book is written in the first person as Broman regales the reader with a chronological memoir of the scores of his adventures. Chapters are short and very consumable, allowing the reader to move quickly through time from one unique experience to the next. The story covers a large span of time from when Broman was a military brat in the United Kingdom to his role as Associated Press photographer in Thailand where he fell in love with the people and the region. After university, he was thrust into jungle combat as a Marine infantry officer and later found himself as a CIA case officer working for the clandestine services. His exploits are written in a crisp style, which quickens the pace and adds a level of excitement for the reader.
Broman's life takes place in the backdrop of exotic locales. The author takes the reader to places that would be challenging for the most adept geographer to find on a map. From combat outposts and bases in the Vietnam conflict to European Embassies, from royal courts to ancient ruins and warlord hideouts, the book is a mix of James Bond and Indiana Jones. Broman has a photographer's eye for description, and he immerses the audience in the moment. In Cambodia, he dives into the grittiness and danger of the fall of Phnom Penh to the sublime and majesty of the ancient Temple of Prasat Preah Vihear. Although a good portion of the book takes place in the Indochina region, the author's extensive travels go much further abroad. There are tales of Haiti, China, the United States, Europe, and along the Silk Road in Uzbekistan. With a wide variety of well-trod places and details, the author leaves no doubt that he is an intrepid global traveler with an insatiable wanderlust.
This is a memoir about people. The book is about the author's experiences, but it is the cast of characters that Broman exposes you to that makes this a story. A colorful collage of eclectic backgrounds and personalities make one feel like they fell into "Alice's Wonderland." There are famous American actors, kings, ambassadors, journalists, military combatants, wives, girlfriends, guides, mercenaries, warlords, and guerrillas. All have been part of Broman's life, and he describes them with understanding, perspective, and a sense of personal relationship.
The book is well written and enjoyable. The story will resonate with anyone who works or has interest in the intelligence services or travel. This book is not about U.S. intelligence tradecraft or about CIA clandestine service training. The author will hint to these topics to provide context for the story but avoids going into any detail. For the layman, it provides a peek into a world experienced by a very few. Indochina Hand is an exploration of the unique career of Michel Broman, who in my opinion, has lived a very interesting life. I highly recommend it.
Book Review written by: Col. Robert Sherrill, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas