The Unlikely Spy 

By Arthur Edward Lindberg 

The True Story of “Operation Lemonade” and the Capture of Soviet Spies

LCDR Arthur Edward Lindberg, US Navy, Retired, was a resident of Sun City Anthem from June 10, 2013 through his passing on November 8, 2021. Natives of New Jersey, he and his wife Patricia moved to SCA shortly after their Jersey Shore Bayfront home was destroyed by Super Storm Sandy. One of the compelling reasons to move to the desert was that there were no hurricanes here! 

Art was active as Vice President and President of the SCA Veterans Club and also served on our HOA’s Board of Directors as Vice President. He was a highly respected member of the community and volunteered for many worthwhile organizations. A graduate of the University of New Mexico’s Naval Reserve Officer’s Training Program, Art later served as President of the NYC Chapter of the UNM Alumni Association after his retirement as a 20 year career Naval officer. He served on ships in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, as well as on tours in Antarctica and the Philippines. 

While he was serving as Command Duty Officer at the Naval Air Engineering Center in Lakehurst, NJ, with access to highly classified information, the FBI recruited him for a dangerous undercover mission. In one of the most famous cases in FBI history, Art became a double agent with the code name of Oscar Peel, to break up a Soviet KGB spy ring operating out of the United Nations. Two captured spies were later swapped for five Soviet dissidents and more than 200,000 Russian political prisoners were freed from Soviet gulags as a result of his bravery, for which Art was rewarded by President Jimmy Carter with the Legion of Merit.

Art completed his book, “The Unlikely Spy”, about his adventures as an undercover double agent during the Cold War shortly before he passed away. His wife Patricia promised him that she would see that his story would be published and she fulfilled that promise to him. 

Art was buried with full military honors on May 3, 2023 at Arlington National Cemetery, a fitting tribute to an American hero.

Patricia Lindberg will share Art’s heroic story at the September 12 meeting of the Veterans Club. She is also an active member of the Veterans Club, serving as chair of the Nominating Committee. She was the President of the SCA Women’s Club for two years. She is currently the Co-Vice President of the SCA Singles Club.

In 2019, she co-founded the Rose Bud Auxiliary in support of the St. Rose Dominican Health Foundation. She currently serves as President of the Auxiliary which has raised over $250,000 for Cardiac Care Services at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena campus. Her professional background is in fundraising as Senior Vice President of several major NJ Healthcare and Higher Education Foundations. During her career, she raised over $300 million for nonprofit organizations and continues volunteering for other worthwhile organizations today. 

Art’s book, “The Unlikely Spy”, is available on Amazon.com.