Zach Robertson

David, Thanks for the link to the new book. Using the "Inside Feature" to check the index, it is always interesting to see the names mentioned throughout the book and in this case, the names not mentioned. Zach

Norman Gall Publications Trujillo murder victim Jesús de Galíndez below Zach

Some interesting links regarding Generalissimo Rafael Leónidas Trujillo (1891-1961): The Era of Trujillo Latin American Studies TIME Magazine: Dominican Republic - Blood on the Beach excerpt below: Felix Bernardino - Click here for Background and photo below: Zach

This photo was taken in 1986, a year before Lansdale's death. Lansdale was meeting with a group of individuals intent on waging the Cold War in Latin America. Left to right Andy Messing Jr., Executive Director National Defense Council; Lansdale; Medardo Justinano; Major Gen. John Singlaub, US Army (Ret.); Lt. Col. Oliver North USMC (Ret.) North, a controversial figure in the Iran-Contra scandal of the mid-1980s, described himself as "Lansdalian," and according to the Washington Post, "was already Lansdale-ized when he reached the NSC." Lansdale Papers, Maxwell Air Force Base see: Edward Lansdale's Cold War By Jonathan Nashel (photos follow p. 126)

Another photo of an older Lansdale with grayer, whiter hair. This one is from 1979. Zach

Left to right - Andy Messing Jr., Ed Lansdale, unknown, John Singlaub and Oliver North I believe the photo was taken in the 1980s. Zach

Thank you Michael! I think the ZRJEWEL Project [Document 1 and Document 2] and researching the MAAG in both Laos and Vietnam in the early 1960s is very important. That is also a great interview of Conein - thanks for posting up that transcript snippet and the link to the Vietnam: A Television History 'master' page on the Diem Coup. Speaking of Lansdale, here is his 6 part interview and the transcripts: General Edward Geary Lansdale A couple other things should be mentioned here: Lansdale and Conein were best of friends for a long time. In Conein's 1961 Personal History Statement, Lansdale is listed as his top character reference. It also is interesting to see who Conein lists as his references in his 1968 Resume. Also, I find it very curious that Conein was recommended for a Honor and Merit Award just one month after both Diem's and Kennedy's assassinations. Perhaps Henry Cabot Lodge was responsible for this? Lansdale and Conein are also both buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Although I do not think Vietnam had anything to do with JFK's death, I believe that a small aspect of the conspiracy had an eye toward war in SE Asia and this included Conein and Lansdale. Below is a photo of Lansdale and Conein: Here is a photo of Lansdale and Oliver North. The man on North's right is John Singlaub. (photo credits: Mr. James Richards) Last but certainly not least, according to Conein's 1947 Personal History Statement, I am pleased to see that he lists himself as a "Good" basketball player. I can definitely see him as a strong defender/rebounder. Perhaps Conein's basketball statistics can also be dug up through future research? Zach

I think to completely understand what Lucien Conein was doing in SE Asia in 1963 one must study a project called ZRJEWEL and figure out exactly what it was. Covert Security Clearance Reassignment Can anyone make out what the pseudo is for Conein in the second document? It looks like Arthur R. Schwigmrath? With a ZR crypt, one would be tempted to believe it had something to do with assassinations. These are the only 2 documents I have found mentioning JEWEL. Conein’s file has been sanitized – virtually all of his documents concern the establishment, maintenance and use of cover during his career with the Agency as a military detailee and Career Agent from 1954-1968. For further research into Agency activity in Indo China, I think it would be beneficial to look into something called MAAG - Military Assistance Advisory Group - and the people who worked there. Prior to the ‘Americanization’ of the Vietnam conflict, all US Forces in Vietnam at this time [early 1960s] were under command / Employ of MAAG – MAAG, in turn, was run by the CIA. In my opinion, this would be a good place to start when looking for individuals who had military/special forces training who were capable of performing ‘off the books’ black ops within a project such as JEWEL. Zach

In an interview with Dick Russell, Colonel William Bishop talked about having seen that same film. -- Zach

Firstly, here are a couple links on WerBell: American Mercenary Video 1-5 (it was removed from youtube) Mitch WerBell in 1963 Our Man in Powder Springs + Discussion Here is an interesting interview with Mitch WerBell in Saga Magazine, 1981 -- Zach

Thomas & Robert-- Thanks, and thank you for all the invaluable information. Great thread! -- Zach

Thomas, That is troubling to hear. Do the links below work? If not, I will have to try again... http://s3.postimage.org/x6l9rjhe/mex_63_22.jpg http://s3.postimage.org/x6hyouhu/Claude_Barnes_Capehart.jpg If anyone else besides me can see the pictures above, please let me know so I know I am not losing my mind. Zach

I believe there is a photo of someone in front of the TSBD who looks like Claude Capehart. I have been unable to find it, but if I recall, it bears a resemblance to these embassy photos. Anyone have a copy of that photo and can post it? This Capehart thread is interesting and Jim D did a story on Claude Capehart in his publication Probe V4 #1 entitled "The Capehart Caper" I couldn't upload the Jim Murray photo but here's link to it on Robin Unger's great website: http://www.jfkassassinationforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=41&pos=18 --Thomas Hi Thomas, I missed this earlier, for whatever reason, but the above link is dead -- is this the photo?: This picture was snapped right after the assassination in front of the TSBD. The guy on the left walking thru looks familiar. He looks like this man at the Cuban Embassy: What do you think? -- Zach

Michael, Thank you for your kind words; the feeling definitely is mutual James Richards of Australia was the first to find and post this photo of Sague a few years ago, but I thought it would be beneficial to put it back up. Here are a couple of other related items worth reading: Mario Tauler Sague HUGO TULIO MELENDEZ I would also like to echo Mr. John Kelly’s statement from last April: Hi Todd, Here is the photo of Antonio Cuesta Valle. It would appear to me that this picture was taken in May of 1966 when Tony and his team infiltrated Cuba. Two team members were killed, one being Sandalio Herminio Diaz Garcia, and two were captured, including Tony. Cuesta, who always vowed that Castro would never take him alive, attempted suicide by setting off a grenade, which blinded him and blew off his right hand. Cuesta spent a long time in hospital as a result of his serious injuries. The story is told on page 75 of Castro’s report: No Title No doubt this was a major victory for Castro in capturing the leader of Comandos “L.” Here is another photo you may have not seen, a young AMLASH: -- Zach

Church Committee Interim Report: Cuba Gerry Hemming on "Saul Sage" Mario Tauler Sague Mario Sague -- Zach

Hi Bill, The photo is from "Castro's Black Book" that was given to Senator George McGovern in 1975. McGovern in turn handed it over to DCI William Colby. By that time there were about 30 attempts made on Castro's life, but official CIA records could only account for 5 or 6. The "Black Book" was later used by the HSCA in this report: No Title There are photos of Tony Cuesta and Rolando Cubela in there as well among many others. Sague is on page 8. It is also discussed here: A List of Assassins As to when the photo of Sague was taken, I can only guess [maybe July, 1960; when he was nabbed in Havana by authorities unloading weapons which had been secretly smuggled into Cuba?] but in my opinion, it does not look like Sague is the Mexico City Mystery Man based on these images. -- Zach

Mario Tauler Sague below: Comparison to Mystery Man: -- Zach

The following is from Larry Hancock's book Someone Would Have Talked pp 206-207: Below is the LIFE photo of Manuel Artime (right) and Hector Varone (left) with a DC-3 / C-47 in the background. An image of Mr. Wayne January: -- Zach

During the implementation of the AMWORLD program in the spring of 1963, several high level meetings were held by Stanley R. Zamka [David Morales], Andrew K. Reuteman [Theodore Shackley], and Nelson L. Raynock with AMBIDDY-1 [Manuel Artime]. One meeting lasted for 4 and a half hours. The role and obligations of Artime were spelled out. Here is the detailed cable: Meeting with AMBIDDY-1. Along with that, here is AMBIDDY's Progress Report. Here is a cable from the summer of '63 where Zamka, Reuteman, and Raynock met with AMBIDDY-1 again to "placate his impatience with ZRMETAL [Washington DC]" June Meeting to Director Anyone know who Nelson L. Raynock might be? Here is a cable about how he is returning to WAVE after spending time in Mexico City: RAYNOCK A clue might be that RAYNOCK dealt with AMTHRILL-1. AMTHRILL-1 in turn would later deal with AMBANG-1 who was Manuel Ray Rivero, leader of the Revolutionary Movement of the People (MRP) and later Junta Revolucionaria Cubana (JURE). Maybe I missed something, can anyone help me out? Zach

Here is page with some nice images of Nestor Antonio 'Tony' Izquierdo: Halcones Dorados -- Zach

Some information on the AMOT program: After leaving Havana, David Morales assumed the responsibility for training and organizing an exile counter-intelligence/security operation: AMOT – the CIA’s shadow intelligence organization – in support of the 1962 effort against Castro. AMOTS were Cubans in Miami who gathered information primarily from debriefing Cuban refugees. The AMOT program involved more than two dozen people and lasted for several years. John Koch Gene received AMOT training. Some information below: AMOT Project AMOT Memo AMOT Report on Exile Groups Recruiting Cubans for Services Zach

For those who may be interested, here is a video interview with Lucien Conein in 1981 accompanied with a complete transcript. Vietnam: A Television History, Episode 103 Zach

John Koch's Case Officer was Ross Crozier AKA "Harold R. Noemayr," "Roger Fox," and "Clarence Smeryage." Crozier was mentioned in Gaeton Fonzi's great book The Last Investigation under the name Ron Cross. Among other things he confirmed David Atlee Phillips was "Bishop." Crozier was the liaison between JM/WAVE and the Miami DRE, run by Carlos Bringuier. Crozier has stated that the DRE was the first to report the missiles in Cuba, but the information was ignored. Despite this, the DRE remained the most troublesome anti-Castro organization in the United States. It had concluded 1962 by publishing verbal attacks on President Kennedy and Crozier failed to adequately control the student group to the satisfaction of station chief Ted Shackley. The DRE refused to spend its money as ordered or confine its activities to propaganda (which David Atlee Phillips oversaw) rather than sabotage. With financial backing from wealthy cold warriors like William Pawley and Clare Booth Luce, the DRE was on its way to setting up an independent military capability (which David Sanchez Morales oversaw). Richard Helms stepped in and assigned George E. Joannides, a young, well-educated, and experienced junior officer on a fast track inside the agency, to take over as the DRE's contact officer. Helms picked Joannides because Ross Crozier had failed to earn the respect of the DRE and therefore had little control over these CIA assets. When Joannides took over, all of this changed. Joannides was the chief of the Psychological Warfare Branch of the Miami station for more than a year before the JFK assassination. He was the directorate's paymaster, keeping the exile group in funds to the tune of $25,000 a month. More than any other CIA officer, Joannides, who worked under the name Walter Newby (code name "Howard"), knew about the real operational purpose behind Oswald's staged pro-Castro activities in New Orleans and his carefully scripted contacts with the DRE during the month of August 1963, just weeks before he left for Mexico City. In November 1963, Joannides was working on psychological warfare operations in the CIA's Miami station [JM/WAVE]. The purpose of psychological warfare, as authorized by U.S. policymakers, was to confuse and confound the government of Fidel Castro, so to hasten its replacement by a government more congenial to Washington. The first revelation was that Joannides had agents in a leading Cuban student exile group [DRE], an operation code-named AMSPELL in CIA files. These agents had a series of close encounters with Oswald three months before JFK was killed. This was the reason Helms worked so assiduously to keep Joannides's name from ever surfacing in any of the investigations into the JFK assassination. Even when the so-called 1992 JFK Records Act forced the CIA to surrender Joannides's 201 file, the file was purged. It was Helms' concern that if John Whitten, who Helms initially appointed to undertake the Agency's in-house investigation, was allowed to continue he would discover the FBI reports on Oswald's "pro-Castro" activity in New Orleans and concentrate the inquiry on the CIA's JM/WAVE station. In 1963, with a team of thirty agents and a staff of thirty clerical workers Whitten might have shaken loose any operational secrets involving Joannides and the DRE and exposed a clearer picture of the CIA's interest in Oswald. Helms was determined to keep these "family jewels" securely locked away and out of reach of a colleague whose ethical integrity made him a poor risk as a co-conspirator. It was this looming threat that prompted Helms to remove Whitten from the investigation and turn it over to James Angleton. Angleton, like his professional counterpart, J. Edgar Hoover, dropped the Cuban angle in the assassination and turned the investigation over to Counter-intelligence's Soviet Division to determine whether the KGB had influenced Oswald in any way. The Road to Dallas David Kaiser on the DRE DRE Newsletter DRE Propaganda John Koch's Tradecraft below -- Zach

Actually guys I think that list is from 2004-05. I don't think Andy has updated his webpage. I think the best thing to do is call to check on the availability of certain books. I hope to make a trip up to the shop soon. Zach

From Organización Auténtica, Brigada 2506 and Cubans trained at Fort Benning: from left to right, Reinaldo Torrente, Tomas Vasquez, Humberto Cortina, Dr. Rene Lamar, Noelia Montero Duque and Felipe Silva --Zach