My name is Ronald Pelton. I was a Reservist serving as a strategic intelligence analyst in Washington at the time of the other Ronald's arrest. Family and friends quickly assumed I would not be coming home from this temporary period of active duty. Soon after the news broke, I rushed to a phone to begin unwinding the tension at home. Thus began a couple of years one Ronald made the other Ronald's life a bit perilous, disruptive, and comical thanks to nearly identical names, ages, and government security clearances. Phew!
I read your comment on Jacob Silverman's piece about the other Ronald Pelton, and I haven't stopped thinking about it. Two men with nearly the same name, age and clearance, in Washington, the week the story broke.
I'm Michael Melman. I make documentary videos on YouTube in a series called From the Record, and I'm working on an episode about the Pelton case and Operation Ivy Bells.
Would you be open to telling me a bit more about what those couple of years were like? A short phone call or a few written answers would be wonderful, and I'd never use anything without your OK on exactly how it appears.
Thanks for considering it, and thank you for your service.
My name is Ronald Pelton. I was a Reservist serving as a strategic intelligence analyst in Washington at the time of the other Ronald's arrest. Family and friends quickly assumed I would not be coming home from this temporary period of active duty. Soon after the news broke, I rushed to a phone to begin unwinding the tension at home. Thus began a couple of years one Ronald made the other Ronald's life a bit perilous, disruptive, and comical thanks to nearly identical names, ages, and government security clearances. Phew!
Hi Ronald,
I read your comment on Jacob Silverman's piece about the other Ronald Pelton, and I haven't stopped thinking about it. Two men with nearly the same name, age and clearance, in Washington, the week the story broke.
I'm Michael Melman. I make documentary videos on YouTube in a series called From the Record, and I'm working on an episode about the Pelton case and Operation Ivy Bells.
Would you be open to telling me a bit more about what those couple of years were like? A short phone call or a few written answers would be wonderful, and I'd never use anything without your OK on exactly how it appears.
Thanks for considering it, and thank you for your service.
Michael
Thanks for writing this up
https://www.ronaldpeltontribute.com/blog/remembering-dad
Very absorbing and well written!