Semper Fi

In the past year or so, I’ve had the honor of knowing and working with former combat soldier and FBI agent Don Goulet. The man, when coaxed, can tell the most amazing stories, each a little more hair-raising than the last. He’s currently at work co-authoring a book about his combat experience and his undercover work with the FBI in northern Maine. In the meantime, he’ll be writing the occasional piece for Above the Fold and I started by asking him to jot down his autobiographical information. What follows is a resume that would impress Oliver Stone. Meet Don Goulet. And stand by for more tales from the trenches.

Born October 8, 1947 on Lincoln St, Lewiston, Maine of French Canadian Roman Catholic parents, Tony and Cecile. Educated at St Peter and Paul grammar school and St. Dominic High School (class of 1965).

Enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in February of 1966 and volunteered for duty in Vietnam in July. Arrived in Vietnam in October 1966 and during 11 months, fought in several battles being wounded three times, twice in one battle. Received two purple hearts and combat citations. The most significant battle was Operation Swift where Father Vincent Capodanno lost his life and received the Congressional Medal of Honor. I have been devoted to Father Cap since. He is currently being considered for sainthood by the Catholic Church.

Married Donna Lee Nelson on August 30, 1969 and am still married to this remarkable woman. She bore our three children, Karen (35), Keith (33) and Kristen (30). We have four grandchildren ranging in age from four years to six months.

Attended the University of Maine in the fall of 1965 and again in January of 1969 until January of 1972. Was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management. Served as a Customs Inspector from September of 1972 until February of 1982 when I was sworn in as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As a Customs Inspector, served in the ports of St. Aurelie in Northwestern, Maine, Jackman, Maine, Montreal, Canada and Calais, Maine. Enforced smuggling and drug statutes as well as currency smuggling statutes. Made numerous arrests along those lines.

As an FBI Special Agent, I served our country in Muncie, Ind., New York City (7 years), Bangor, Maine (7 years) and finally, Boston, Massachusetts. My wife and family faithfully accompanied me throughout my career without complaint. As an FBI Special Agent, I received numerous assignments in various fields of criminal law enforcement. I was honored to work public corruption,civil rights, frauds and swindles, bank robberies, prostitution, narcotics distribution, murders, and other significant matters. I had a brief participation in the John Gotti installation of electronic recording devices at the Ravenite Club in lower Manhattan.

I also worked the Hell’s Angels New York Chapter on the East side of Manhattan. For 12 months in New York City, while working surveillance, I and a team of other Special Agents relentlessly pursued Bonanno crime family member Tommy Karate Pitera following him wherever he went.

After my transfer to Bangor, Maine I was heavily involved in the Francis Boots case involving attempted bribery of Native American Police Chief Frederick Moore of the Passamaquoddy tribe of Indians. I was also involved in several highly sensitive Native American Matters dealing with fraud, theft from Indian organizations etc. I was deeply involved in the fugitive investigations of Salvatore Micky Caruana, Roderick Hotham and to a much smaller degree, Whitey Bulger.

During my service in Bangor, Maine I received six exceptional performance awards from 1992 until 1997 when I became mentally ill and dependent on alcohol. In February of 2002 I retired from the FBI and federal government service. In 2005, Donna and I returned to our hometown, Lewiston Maine.