“When an Agent Retires”
With his debt tendered and gun surrendered,
Hands once steady and true may tremble a little now when out of view.
For all the times his nerves were frayed,
All for the love of the game he played.
With glory days long gone, shadows whisper “it’s time to move on.”
Now as he begins to ponder and dwell, soon he knows all that’s left
Are stories to tell, when an agent retires.
– Howard Oberst, DEA Special Agent, retired
I was delighted last December to hear from a local reader, Howard Oberst, asking if I’d be interested in interviewing him about his new book. Looking Back – A Small-Town Cop Becomes a DEA Special Agent is available online through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Target.
When Howard initially dropped off the book for me to read, I admit I wasn’t sure what I’d think about it. It’s not my typical genre. However, I quickly became engrossed in his story, and my knowledge of and admiration for Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents grew by leaps and bounds.
Soon, Howard’s stories drew me in. Agents like him sacrifice so much to keep us safe from the dangers that drugs pull people into.
Howard’s awards show his dedication. They include:
- DEA Exceptional Performance Award, 2002 and 2004
- DEA Excellence of Performances, 1995 and 2000
- US Department of Justice Award, 2000
- United States Attorney’s Award, 1996
- U.S. Customs Appreciation Award, 1993
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Award, 2003
His career with the DEA took him to 15 states and seven countries. After reading about his adventures, which actually include some comical situations, I was ready to ask him questions.
- Why did you write this book?
I started out just writing it for my descendants, but people told me, “You really should publish this.” My grandfather was in World War II, and I bet he had some great stories, which I never got to hear and are now lost to time. That was the first thing that got me on track to write this.
Three years and a lot of rewriting later …
I don’t consider myself an author, I just wrote what I lived. My wife spent a lot of hours editing it.
- What were your reasons for applying to become a DEA agent?
I grew up believing that federal agents were the ultimate in law enforcement. The only agency that was hiring at the time was the DEA –I knew about the FBI but I hadn’t heard much about the DEA. I talked to some of the older deputies and they told me they were the undercover narcs.
- Other than your dramatic plane ride where the aircraft plunged quickly – readers will be on the edge of their seats reading this scene – did you fear for your life at times? When and where?
Oh my, yes! I did some crazy stuff as you read in the story, but in the plane … I had no control. All the other times I felt like I had some control. With the mentality you develop, you sort of gain an immortal sense. “It’s not gonna happen to me.”
- You say your DEA experience was “the best times of my life” (quoting from the Bryan Adams song). Why do you say that?
It was like never having to grow up – a lifetime of cops and robbers. It was so much fun. The guys I worked with were funny. The camaraderie, you can’t compare it to anything. I lived for it. It was what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to miss out on anything. But it was difficult for the family.
I’ve been married over 50 years to my wife Luanne. The success of our marriage through those times … it’s all her … I retired because of my grandchildren. I drive them places, I go to all their games. I’ve transitioned from the sometimes-absent father to the doting grandfather.
- Do you have any events coming up where we can hear you speak/purchase your book?
I signed up for the Hamilton East Public Library Book Fair schedule for Sunday April 19 at the county fairgrounds.
- Do you plan to write other books? As readers will learn, your career involves more than your DEA experience.
Maybe! My wife says, “never again.” She spent so much time fixing my grammar.
I ended up working with Anti-Terrorism Assistance, a section of the State Department. I’m still doing that. I’m slated to go back to Pakistan this summer and teach a class there. There are just a ton of stories of traveling all over the world, working with foreign governments.
Finally, Howard added, “I hope the book came across as an education of how people get tangled up in drugs … I didn’t want to beat anyone over the head with it.” But I’ve learned so much and seen so much I felt I should pass it on.
Readers, I hope you’ll visit Howard in April or purchase his book online. It’s a remarkable, harrowing, often humorous, unforgettable story.
Amy Shankland is an empty-nester, writer, and fundraising professional living in Noblesville with her husband John and two dogs. You can reach her via email at amys@greenavenue.info.