Gerry P. Hemming

[Tim Gratz]

If I can add (and let Gerry complete it if necessary) Mr. Hemming and Mr. Davis were on the Allen Courtney radio show in Miami in December of 1962 (shortly after their release from the Monroe County (Key West) jail when a person identifying himself as Oswald called and wanted to join Hemming's group. Hemming let Mr. Davis handle the call. After the assassination, Mr. Courtney reported the call to the FBI. The statement given by Mr. Courtney has been posted (somewhere) on this Forum, by James Richards as I recall!

As Mr Hemming pouts in,

"Cereal"!

[Robert Howard]

If I can add (and let Gerry complete it if necessary) Mr. Hemming and Mr. Davis were on the Allen Courtney radio show in Miami in December of 1962 (shortly after their release from the Monroe County (Key West) jail when a person identifying himself as Oswald called and wanted to join Hemming's group. Hemming let Mr. Davis handle the call. After the assassination, Mr. Courtney reported the call to the FBI. The statement given by Mr. Courtney has been posted (somewhere) on this Forum, by James Richards as I recall!

As Mr Hemming pouts in,

"Cereal"!

Thanks for the info, greatly appreciated. I would like to say I am pretty aware of pertinent threads but sometimes I miss one. Thanks Tim

[Tim Gratz]

Reading Ron's post I saw I had a typo.

I did not mean to say, as Mr. Hemming "pouts it", but rather (of course) as Mr. Hemming "puts it". Call him what you will but few if any would call him a pouter!

Sorry for the error.

[Robert Charles-Dunne]

In my opinion, I think all the denunciation of Mr. Hemming is much ado about little. If his revelations, now or in the future, have any value, that fact will become self-evident. And if his postings are just more bovine excrement, that too will become self-evident. So I believe the best option is to encourage him to continue postings, to be either convicted or exhonerated by his own words.

And if he has become an irritation to some, such as Mr. Carrier...it just shows that he's discovered your Achilles heel, the point at which you will spew venom rather than information...and that he enjoys having that measure of control over you. Hemmings calls the tune, and Al dances in the manner Hemmings wants. While Mr. Hemmings may still be entertained by pulling Al's chain, I must say that I'm beginning to get bored with it.

While I don't know that Mr. Hemming can reveal any smoking guns to us--or would, if he could--I don't for a moment doubt that he might be able to flesh out some details and fill in a few blanks that might be helpful.

I admire your patience, Mark. But this has been going on for decades, and despite dangling the promising prospect of substantive information time and again, Hemming has been, and remains, all heat and no light. If one were to add up all the pertinent disclosures made to date, it wouldn't fill a gnat's jockstrap.

Instead, diversionary waltzes down blind alleys and dead ends are Gerry's specialty. There are many broad-stroke statements about persons whom we suspect or presume to have been key players, but requests for anything approaching proof for those statements are simply rebuffed as being stupid. After all, "real" big time operators like Gerry won't or can't tell us the truth because we little folk just can't handle the truth. Yadda yadda yadda.

Which, of course, raises the question of why Gerry continues to xxxxx through the JFK waters. [Weberman, Stone, Russo, Mellen, Gratz, et al] If he can't or won't disclose anything of any merit [and what he does disclose is ... um.... to be charitable, questionable at best], why doesn't he just spend his golden years playing Dominos with other faded SoF sycophants? Instead, he continues to intrigue the gullible and yank our collective chain. We are a spectator sport to this old man.

By all means, hold out hope that Gerry may actually reveal something of significance. But if an when that happens, dollars to donuts, it'll be unintentional.

[William Kelly]

Yo! Gerry,

I have a question:

Is it true that you first met Lee Harvey Oswald in Southern California - San Diego? maby?

At the Mexican or Cuban counsulate?

And had words with him?

Many thanks for your recollections,

And Gerry, I'm going to pass on your "dumn ass Peter Dale Scott" remark as a tease to see if I can get Peter to join us here and add his two cents to the proceedings.

Bill Kelly

bkjfk3@yahoo.com

[Pat Speer]

By all means, hold out hope that Gerry may actually reveal something of significance. But if an when that happens, dollars to donuts, it'll be unintentional.

Robert, I think Gerry has stated several times that he does not know who pulled the trigger, etc. My take on him is that he's a bit of a history buff, only with a more interesting history than most of us. While he has an encyclopedic memory for names, dates, and places, this doesn't mean his every theory is golden. I think the mistake many make is to assume he knows more than he does, and then get irritated with him when he won't tell them what he doesn't know. (I hope I'm being fair to the man, else he'll start calling me a Kazak or something.)

[Al Carrier]

In my opinion, I think all the denunciation of Mr. Hemming is much ado about little. If his revelations, now or in the future, have any value, that fact will become self-evident. And if his postings are just more bovine excrement, that too will become self-evident. So I believe the best option is to encourage him to continue postings, to be either convicted or exhonerated by his own words.

And if he has become an irritation to some, such as Mr. Carrier...it just shows that he's discovered your Achilles heel, the point at which you will spew venom rather than information...and that he enjoys having that measure of control over you. Hemmings calls the tune, and Al dances in the manner Hemmings wants. While Mr. Hemmings may still be entertained by pulling Al's chain, I must say that I'm beginning to get bored with it.

While I don't know that Mr. Hemming can reveal any smoking guns to us--or would, if he could--I don't for a moment doubt that he might be able to flesh out some details and fill in a few blanks that might be helpful.

I admire your patience, Mark. But this has been going on for decades, and despite dangling the promising prospect of substantive information time and again, Hemming has been, and remains, all heat and no light. If one were to add up all the pertinent disclosures made to date, it wouldn't fill a gnat's jockstrap.

Instead, diversionary waltzes down blind alleys and dead ends are Gerry's specialty. There are many broad-stroke statements about persons whom we suspect or presume to have been key players, but requests for anything approaching proof for those statements are simply rebuffed as being stupid. After all, "real" big time operators like Gerry won't or can't tell us the truth because we little folk just can't handle the truth. Yadda yadda yadda.

Which, of course, raises the question of why Gerry continues to xxxxx through the JFK waters. [Weberman, Stone, Russo, Mellen, Gratz, et al] If he can't or won't disclose anything of any merit [and what he does disclose is ... um.... to be charitable, questionable at best], why doesn't he just spend his golden years playing Dominos with other faded SoF sycophants? Instead, he continues to intrigue the gullible and yank our collective chain. We are a spectator sport to this old man.

By all means, hold out hope that Gerry may actually reveal something of significance. But if an when that happens, dollars to donuts, it'll be unintentional.

Amen Robert!

My only personal vendetta with Gerry is that he spouts off his importance but has never provided anything that would support this. Many have given their lives and even worse, their perspective on life by having to live with their actions through covert ops they were walked into and have remained silent. Then we have a blowhard from south Florida who associated himself with a like group of SOF pretenders who thought they were big xxxx and have nothing to support it. Just because they appeared in history in the same timeframe and somewhat region does not make them important or of value. It is time we all see this and call Hemming on the carpet to provide what he thinks he knows or was exposed to. He has lived off his own self-proclaimed legend long enough. There are those who take offense to his self proclaimed importance. Again Gerry, what in the hell have you done? Call me all the names you want, but you are the one who is spouting and are being called on the carpet. Answer or go away into your fantasy history.

Al

[Gerry Hemming]

Yo! Gerry,

I have a question:

Is it true that you first met Lee Harvey Oswald in Southern California - San Diego? maby?

At the Mexican or Cuban counsulate?

And had words with him?

Many thanks for your recollections,

And Gerry, I'm going to pass on your "dumn ass Peter Dale Scott" remark as a tease to see if I can get Peter to join us here and add his two cents to the proceedings.

Bill Kelly

bkjfk3@yahoo.com

---------------------------

YO !! Bill: ["...Meanwhile..back at the Oct. 28th Ranch.."]

Yo in Spanish means "I" or "Me" -- and in the "Old Corps" we never used the term because it was a favorite of the "Doggies" [u.S. Army pogues -- and even after I "went" Army -- never used it then, even for roll calls in formation.]

As previously stated, I was never "LHO's Sergeant at Atsugi..."!! He might have been amongst a group of MACS-1 Marines when I "touristed through" Atsugi, Iwakuni, Futenma, Ping Tung (North) Taiwan, etc. -- and the first face-to-face was at the Cuban Consulate in Monterey Park, California, a few days after Rafael Tapanes, Ismael Tapanes, and fellow "26th of July Rebels" took over said private residence [but Sovereign Territory of Cuba].

I blew him off the first few times he appeared at the Consulate. The "Last Time" was outside of the Main Gate at MCAF Santa Ana (LTA) where he was assigned to the MACS-9 GCI radar unit.

During April of 1959, Rafael Tapanes, now working inside the Presidential Palace in Havana, called me aside and said: "....Patrick...your friend from California was here looking for you...and he was surprised to see me here...!!" "...I don't know how he got inside here (The Palace)...I still have trouble every morning getting inside to go to work...even after you escorted me in here "hace dos meses" [2 months ago]"

I then reminded him that he needed more than a piece of paper with official stamps and government logos on it -- because the gate guards are all illiterate "guajiros" [peasants]; and though they might pretend to closely scrutinize your pass -- they can't read a word of it.

I asked Tapanes why he had not been issued a uniform and a sidearm yet, as that was the only way to get waved through any gate in this town. He answered saying that "they promised soon". "...They...who the hell is THEY?" "....El Teniente [the Lieutenant]...where I work.."! I then said: "....A goddamn snot-nosed teen-age pimply-faced jerk-off 'Teniente' ain't got the pull or cojones to get you squat..!"

"...Patrick...such language....there are 'mujeres' here...".

"...Rafael...go buy your own uniform off of the street...but make sure it is not 'Casquito' [batistiano] Khaki!!"

"...Then you go over to the San Ambrosio Armory...bribe at least a 'Capitan' there...get a pistol..and get a 'Tommy-Gun'...and then you don't need a goddamn pass to come here to work...!!"

"..Oh...by the way...was my California friend another of the Marines that Camilo gave papers to..??"

"..I think so...it was the 'enfante...Marine officer' from El Consulado in Monterey...but I didn't see any Camilo Cienfuegos papers...I just recognized him speaking with a Comandante and the American 'Teniente' Donal...!!

"...You mean Comandante Enrique Lusson and Donald Soldini.." "Yes.. and I came up and greeted him then and we walked to my office..".

"And what the hell did you tell him..?" "...That you were with Comandante Borbonett.. with the...Regiment.. 'Paracaidistas'...the Parachute Regimiento at the San Antonio de Los Banos Air Base..."

"..Just great...Rafael...I told you in California that he might be a 'Chivato' [snitch]...and now he knows where I am at...??!!" "Rafael...when you get the pistol...shoot yourself in the foot with it..!!"

LHO showed up a few days later at BAM San Antonio de Los Banos, but disappeared before I even saw him.

Other LHO mysterious encounters later -- Cough ! - Cough ! Hack and Wheez !!

Chairs,

GPH

______________________

[Richard J. Smith]

By all means, hold out hope that Gerry may actually reveal something of significance. But if an when that happens, dollars to donuts, it'll be unintentional.

This, in particular, is why I usually read these posts with interest(and suspicion). You never know what may inadvertantly come out.

Gerry posted this comment 8/27/05:

"The day of the JFK assassination, Jim Lewis was [as usual] playing Chess at "Little Joe's" apartment by the Miami River -- together with Eddy Collins, "Skinny", Dick Whatley, Bobby Willis, and Bill Dempsey. When Garman started dancing in the street soon after hearing the news from Dallas, Jim chastized him severely [along with Cuban pissed-off neighbors]; He reminded him that just four days before he had been a member of our security detail for JFK at MIA [Monday, 18th Nov.], and that he had been prepared to "take-a-bullet" for the President !!"

Anyone else think it odd that Garman would "dance in the street" after hearing of JFK's demise, yet was "prepared to take a bullet" for him 4 days earlier?

I wouldn't dismiss EVERYTHING GHP has to say.

RJS

[Gerry Hemming]

By all means, hold out hope that Gerry may actually reveal something of significance. But if an when that happens, dollars to donuts, it'll be unintentional.

This, in particular, is why I usually read these posts with interest(and suspicion). You never know what may inadvertantly come out.

Gerry posted this comment 8/27/05:

"The day of the JFK assassination, Jim Lewis was [as usual] playing Chess at "Little Joe's" apartment by the Miami River -- together with Eddy Collins, "Skinny", Dick Whatley, Bobby Willis, and Bill Dempsey. When Garman started dancing in the street soon after hearing the news from Dallas, Jim chastized him severely [along with Cuban pissed-off neighbors]; He reminded him that just four days before he had been a member of our security detail for JFK at MIA [Monday, 18th Nov.], and that he had been prepared to "take-a-bullet" for the President !!"

Anyone else think it odd that Garman would "dance in the street" after hearing of JFK's demise, yet was "prepared to take a bullet" for him 4 days earlier?

I wouldn't dismiss EVERYTHING GHP has to say.

RJS

--------------------------

Richard J:

Has "anybody" ever read a posting by "The Village Idiot" -- you know, one which might be construed as "Intentional" and "something of SIGNIFICANCE ??!!

Try as I might, I haven't found anything submitted by this nagging gadfly heckling xxxxx -- mayhaps one of the more "studious" members might discover same and re-post something ??

During the briefing for the MIA security detail [11/17/63] -- the day before JFK's scheduled arrival [Monday, 18th November 1963] the following individuals were in attendance:

Bernardo de Torres

"Nick" Navarro -- then with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (Chas. Siragusa unit] and later Sheriff of Broward County, Forida -- and a childhood friend of Felix Rodriguez, who, along with CIA agent Gustavo Villoldo, aided in training the Bolivian Rangers [w/ Green Beret Major "Pappy" Shelton, 8th SFGrp - Panama Canal Zone] and whom together, hunted down and murdered Cmdte. Ernest "Che" Guevara de la Serna, a true warrior who never told a lie in his life !!

Special Agent Ernesto Aragon, U.S. Secret Service, and whose reports are to be found in the Warren Commission Documents.

Special Agent-in-Charge Gene Michaels, Head of the Miami Office of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who two months later [at the beginning of the WC] was framed by a drug sting, and sent to the Federal Medical Facilty, Springfield, MO.

Gerald P. "Gerry Patrick" Hemming, Jr. [interPen]

Howard K. "Davy" Davis [interPen]

Detective Sgt. Anthony "Tony" Fontana [City of Miami Police Dept.] and one of the cops who identified the corpse of Eladio "Gito" Del Valle[1967]. I was permitted to verify the I.D. of "Gito" only after insisting that the N.O. D.A., "Jim" Garrison had a severe interest in the deceased !! Upon retirement, Fontana served regularly as Chairman of the Florida Parole Commission through the 1980s.

Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Hough [Dade County Sheriff's Dept. -- under the then Sheriff & Brig. Gen. Tom Kelly] who during the mid-1970s attempted to thwart our investigation of the World Finance Corp.!! WFC was founded by Hernandez Cartaya -- while he was busy founding BCCI type banks in the United Arab Emirates -- and was subsequently charged with absconding with almost $100 million+.

Hough was later laterally transfer to the Dade Co. Fire Dept. while under a cloud of corruption linked to a Cuban County Commissioner. Hough, during the 1990s, and by then in charge of Fire Service Internal Affairs, blackballed my son Felipe from being hired by said Dept.!! And this, despite already serving some 14 years as a professional Firefighter/EMT. And this despite the fact that Felipe Vidal Santiago Hemming had risen to #9 on a list of 300+ accepted applicants. [Only #9 -- due to the fact that extra points were given to the top 8 for lateral transfer from other NON-fire fighting Dade jobs. Otherwise, and with military service points, he would have ranked #1 !!

And others present unknown to either of us, but recognized as JM/WAVE CIA Officers. That is: save for CIA Officer David Morales, who having had words with me after the BOP; spent his time glaring in my direction !!

Suspicious that we were NOT invited to a "face-time" roll-call the next morning -- where all uniformed and plain-clothes officers posted at MIA, would know our faces. And that, coupled with a failure to issue special S.S. "buttonaires" -- convinced us that we would instruct our team to go "unarmed" the next day at MIA.

However, Interpen Instructor, Justin Joseph "Steve" Wilson informed me -- as Air Force One taxied toward us on the tarmac; that "Little Joe" Cavendish Garman had disobeyed our orders. And that he was armed with his Colt .45 Automatic Pistol. I thereupon approached "Lil' Joe" -- informed him to casually glance to his right rear, at the "suit" wearing sunglasses. He casually did, and said: "So...who is that weirdo..??" I responded: ".. That is the guy who is going to blow the back of your head off if you draw your pistol in defense of ["Lancer"] POTUS..!!

Later that evening, Little Joe remarked at the curiousity that he, and many others had been invited to Dallas later that week to meet the "Money People" !! He refused the invitation.

The evening of November 22nd 1963, Joe C. Garman was rebuffed by James Arthur Lewis for "dancing-in-the-streets"!!

While talking to Joe during 1994 [by telephone], after not havingspoken to him since 1967 -- I commenced to remind him of some of the humorous incidents which had occurred during the 1960s. I very cautiously asked him whether he remembered having ever seen "JFK in person" ??

His reponse was: "..You getting senile Patrick ??...of course...it was at the Miami Airport a few days before he got hisself kilt..!! "...Don't you remember giving me a hard time for packing my Colt to the Airport..??

I reminded him of the "suit" having stood behind him. He responded that: "..Had I the intentions...He would have been taken down first...and the only reason I didn't shoot that son-of-a-bitch Kennedy...was because he was still my COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF" !!"

Later,

GPH

__________________________

[Robert Howard]

By all means, hold out hope that Gerry may actually reveal something of significance. But if an when that happens, dollars to donuts, it'll be unintentional.

This, in particular, is why I usually read these posts with interest(and suspicion). You never know what may inadvertantly come out.

Gerry posted this comment 8/27/05:

"The day of the JFK assassination, Jim Lewis was [as usual] playing Chess at "Little Joe's" apartment by the Miami River -- together with Eddy Collins, "Skinny", Dick Whatley, Bobby Willis, and Bill Dempsey. When Garman started dancing in the street soon after hearing the news from Dallas, Jim chastized him severely [along with Cuban pissed-off neighbors]; He reminded him that just four days before he had been a member of our security detail for JFK at MIA [Monday, 18th Nov.], and that he had been prepared to "take-a-bullet" for the President !!"

Anyone else think it odd that Garman would "dance in the street" after hearing of JFK's demise, yet was "prepared to take a bullet" for him 4 days earlier?

I wouldn't dismiss EVERYTHING GHP has to say.

RJS

--------------------------

Richard J:

Has "anybody" ever read a posting by "The Village Idiot" -- you know, one which might be construed as "Intentional" and "something of SIGNIFICANCE ??!!

Try as I might, I haven't found anything submitted by this nagging gadfly heckling xxxxx -- mayhaps one of the more "studious" members might discover same and re-post something ??

During the briefing for the MIA security detail [11/17/63] -- the day before JFK's scheduled arrival [Monday, 18th November 1963] the following individuals were in attendance:

Bernardo de Torres

"Nick" Navarro -- then with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (Chas. Siragusa unit] and later Sheriff of Broward County, Forida -- and a childhood friend of Felix Rodriguez, who, along with CIA agent Gustavo Villoldo, aided in training the Bolivian Rangers [w/ Green Beret Major "Pappy" Shelton, 8th SFGrp - Panama Canal Zone] and whom together, hunted down and murdered Cmdte. Ernest "Che" Guevara de la Serna, a true warrior who never told a lie in his life !!

Special Agent Ernesto Aragon, U.S. Secret Service, and whose reports are to be found in the Warren Commission Documents.

Special Agent-in-Charge Gene Michaels, Head of the Miami Office of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who two months later [at the beginning of the WC] was framed by a drug sting, and sent to the Federal Medical Facilty, Springfield, MO.

Gerald P. "Gerry Patrick" Hemming, Jr. [interPen]

Howard K. "Davy" Davis [interPen]

Detective Sgt. Anthony "Tony" Fontana [City of Miami Police Dept.] and one of the cops who identified the corpse of Eladio "Gito" Del Valle[1967]. I was permitted to verify the I.D. of "Gito" only after insisting that the N.O. D.A., "Jim" Garrison had a severe interest in the deceased !! Upon retirement, Fontana served regularly as Chairman of the Florida Parole Commission through the 1980s.

Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Hough [Dade County Sheriff's Dept. -- under the then Sheriff & Brig. Gen. Tom Kelly] who during the mid-1970s attempted to thwart our investigation of the World Finance Corp.!! WFC was founded by Hernandez Cartaya -- while he was busy founding BCCI type banks in the United Arab Emirates -- and was subsequently charged with absconding with almost $100 million+.

Hough was later laterally transfer to the Dade Co. Fire Dept. while under a cloud of corruption linked to a Cuban County Commissioner. Hough, during the 1990s, and by then in charge of Fire Service Internal Affairs, blackballed my son Felipe from being hired by said Dept.!! And this, despite already serving some 14 years as a professional Firefighter/EMT. And this despite the fact that Felipe Vidal Santiago Hemming had risen to #9 on a list of 300+ accepted applicants. [Only #9 -- due to the fact that extra points were given to the top 8 for lateral transfer from other NON-fire fighting Dade jobs. Otherwise, and with military service points, he would have ranked #1 !!

And others present unknown to either of us, but recognized as JM/WAVE CIA Officers. That is: save for CIA Officer David Morales, who having had words with me after the BOP; spent his time glaring in my direction !!

Suspicious that we were NOT invited to a "face-time" roll-call the next morning -- where all uniformed and plain-clothes officers posted at MIA, would know our faces. And that, coupled with a failure to issue special S.S. "buttonaires" -- convinced us that we would instruct our team to go "unarmed" the next day at MIA.

However, Interpen Instructor, Justin Joseph "Steve" Wilson informed me -- as Air Force One taxied toward us on the tarmac; that "Little Joe" Cavendish Garman had disobeyed our orders. And that he was armed with his Colt .45 Automatic Pistol. I thereupon approached "Lil' Joe" -- informed him to casually glance to his right rear, at the "suit" wearing sunglasses. He casually did, and said: "So...who is that weirdo..??" I responded: ".. That is the guy who is going to blow the back of your head off if you draw your pistol in defense of ["Lancer"] POTUS..!!

Later that evening, Little Joe remarked at the curiousity that he, and many others had been invited to Dallas later that week to meet the "Money People" !! He refused the invitation.

The evening of November 22nd 1963, Joe C. Garman was rebuffed by James Arthur Lewis for "dancing-in-the-streets"!!

While talking to Joe during 1994 [by telephone], after not havingspoken to him since 1967 -- I commenced to remind him of some of the humorous incidents which had occurred during the 1960s. I very cautiously asked him whether he remembered having ever seen "JFK in person" ??

His reponse was: "..You getting senile Patrick ??...of course...it was at the Miami Airport a few days before he got hisself kilt..!! "...Don't you remember giving me a hard time for packing my Colt to the Airport..??

I reminded him of the "suit" having stood behind him. He responded that: "..Had I the intentions...He would have been taken down first...and the only reason I didn't shoot that son-of-a-bitch Kennedy...was because he was still my COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF" !!"

Later,

GPH

__________________________

So, who were the Money People?

[Terry Mauro]

By all means, hold out hope that Gerry may actually reveal something of significance. But if an when that happens, dollars to donuts, it'll be unintentional.

This, in particular, is why I usually read these posts with interest(and suspicion). You never know what may inadvertantly come out.

Gerry posted this comment 8/27/05:

"The day of the JFK assassination, Jim Lewis was [as usual] playing Chess at "Little Joe's" apartment by the Miami River -- together with Eddy Collins, "Skinny", Dick Whatley, Bobby Willis, and Bill Dempsey. When Garman started dancing in the street soon after hearing the news from Dallas, Jim chastized him severely [along with Cuban pissed-off neighbors]; He reminded him that just four days before he had been a member of our security detail for JFK at MIA [Monday, 18th Nov.], and that he had been prepared to "take-a-bullet" for the President !!"

Anyone else think it odd that Garman would "dance in the street" after hearing of JFK's demise, yet was "prepared to take a bullet" for him 4 days earlier?

I wouldn't dismiss EVERYTHING GHP has to say.

RJS

--------------------------

Richard J:

Has "anybody" ever read a posting by "The Village Idiot" -- you know, one which might be construed as "Intentional" and "something of SIGNIFICANCE ??!!

Try as I might, I haven't found anything submitted by this nagging gadfly heckling xxxxx -- mayhaps one of the more "studious" members might discover same and re-post something ??

During the briefing for the MIA security detail [11/17/63] -- the day before JFK's scheduled arrival [Monday, 18th November 1963] the following individuals were in attendance:

Bernardo de Torres

"Nick" Navarro -- then with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (Chas. Siragusa unit] and later Sheriff of Broward County, Forida -- and a childhood friend of Felix Rodriguez, who, along with CIA agent Gustavo Villoldo, aided in training the Bolivian Rangers [w/ Green Beret Major "Pappy" Shelton, 8th SFGrp - Panama Canal Zone] and whom together, hunted down and murdered Cmdte. Ernest "Che" Guevara de la Serna, a true warrior who never told a lie in his life !!

Special Agent Ernesto Aragon, U.S. Secret Service, and whose reports are to be found in the Warren Commission Documents.

Special Agent-in-Charge Gene Michaels, Head of the Miami Office of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who two months later [at the beginning of the WC] was framed by a drug sting, and sent to the Federal Medical Facilty, Springfield, MO.

Gerald P. "Gerry Patrick" Hemming, Jr. [interPen]

Howard K. "Davy" Davis [interPen]

Detective Sgt. Anthony "Tony" Fontana [City of Miami Police Dept.] and one of the cops who identified the corpse of Eladio "Gito" Del Valle[1967]. I was permitted to verify the I.D. of "Gito" only after insisting that the N.O. D.A., "Jim" Garrison had a severe interest in the deceased !! Upon retirement, Fontana served regularly as Chairman of the Florida Parole Commission through the 1980s.

Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Hough [Dade County Sheriff's Dept. -- under the then Sheriff & Brig. Gen. Tom Kelly] who during the mid-1970s attempted to thwart our investigation of the World Finance Corp.!! WFC was founded by Hernandez Cartaya -- while he was busy founding BCCI type banks in the United Arab Emirates -- and was subsequently charged with absconding with almost $100 million+.

Hough was later laterally transfer to the Dade Co. Fire Dept. while under a cloud of corruption linked to a Cuban County Commissioner. Hough, during the 1990s, and by then in charge of Fire Service Internal Affairs, blackballed my son Felipe from being hired by said Dept.!! And this, despite already serving some 14 years as a professional Firefighter/EMT. And this despite the fact that Felipe Vidal Santiago Hemming had risen to #9 on a list of 300+ accepted applicants. [Only #9 -- due to the fact that extra points were given to the top 8 for lateral transfer from other NON-fire fighting Dade jobs. Otherwise, and with military service points, he would have ranked #1 !!

And others present unknown to either of us, but recognized as JM/WAVE CIA Officers. That is: save for CIA Officer David Morales, who having had words with me after the BOP; spent his time glaring in my direction !!

Suspicious that we were NOT invited to a "face-time" roll-call the next morning -- where all uniformed and plain-clothes officers posted at MIA, would know our faces. And that, coupled with a failure to issue special S.S. "buttonaires" -- convinced us that we would instruct our team to go "unarmed" the next day at MIA.

However, Interpen Instructor, Justin Joseph "Steve" Wilson informed me -- as Air Force One taxied toward us on the tarmac; that "Little Joe" Cavendish Garman had disobeyed our orders. And that he was armed with his Colt .45 Automatic Pistol. I thereupon approached "Lil' Joe" -- informed him to casually glance to his right rear, at the "suit" wearing sunglasses. He casually did, and said: "So...who is that weirdo..??" I responded: ".. That is the guy who is going to blow the back of your head off if you draw your pistol in defense of ["Lancer"] POTUS..!!

Later that evening, Little Joe remarked at the curiousity that he, and many others had been invited to Dallas later that week to meet the "Money People" !! He refused the invitation.

The evening of November 22nd 1963, Joe C. Garman was rebuffed by James Arthur Lewis for "dancing-in-the-streets"!!

While talking to Joe during 1994 [by telephone], after not havingspoken to him since 1967 -- I commenced to remind him of some of the humorous incidents which had occurred during the 1960s. I very cautiously asked him whether he remembered having ever seen "JFK in person" ??

His reponse was: "..You getting senile Patrick ??...of course...it was at the Miami Airport a few days before he got hisself kilt..!! "...Don't you remember giving me a hard time for packing my Colt to the Airport..??

I reminded him of the "suit" having stood behind him. He responded that: "..Had I the intentions...He would have been taken down first...and the only reason I didn't shoot that son-of-a-bitch Kennedy...was because he was still my COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF" !!"

Later,

GPH

__________________________

***************************************************************************

"Cmdte. Ernest "Che" Guevara de la Serna, a true warrior who never told a lie in his life !!"

Why do you always refer to him that way? Are you being snide, or is this another one of your cryptic code messages, only known to those of the covert-ops persuasion?

[Robert Charles-Dunne]

By all means, hold out hope that Gerry may actually reveal something of significance. But if an when that happens, dollars to donuts, it'll be unintentional.

This, in particular, is why I usually read these posts with interest(and suspicion). You never know what may inadvertantly come out.

Gerry posted this comment 8/27/05:

"The day of the JFK assassination, Jim Lewis was [as usual] playing Chess at "Little Joe's" apartment by the Miami River -- together with Eddy Collins, "Skinny", Dick Whatley, Bobby Willis, and Bill Dempsey. When Garman started dancing in the street soon after hearing the news from Dallas, Jim chastized him severely [along with Cuban pissed-off neighbors]; He reminded him that just four days before he had been a member of our security detail for JFK at MIA [Monday, 18th Nov.], and that he had been prepared to "take-a-bullet" for the President !!"

Anyone else think it odd that Garman would "dance in the street" after hearing of JFK's demise, yet was "prepared to take a bullet" for him 4 days earlier?

I wouldn't dismiss EVERYTHING GHP has to say.

RJS

--------------------------

Richard J:

Has "anybody" ever read a posting by "The Village Idiot" -- you know, one which might be construed as "Intentional" and "something of SIGNIFICANCE ??!!

Try as I might, I haven't found anything submitted by this nagging gadfly heckling xxxxx -- mayhaps one of the more "studious" members might discover same and re-post something ??

Once again, my favourite leatherneck comes out swinging hard and fanning completely, as usual... none of which compensates for the dearth of any significant details, disclosures which always seem to be promised yet never actually delivered. My favourite jarhead likes to demean those of us who seek answers but cannot provide them, while he has dined out for 30-plus years on the supposition that he has those answers, but refrains from ever providing them. Even a village idiot could discern which one is a sincere seeker, and which one is a pompous opportunist, striving to achieve from the comfort of his Lazy Boy a significance never achieved in the field.

Below is the most recent case in point. According to my favourite life of the party and freelance blowhard, the authorities were so incredibly short of security personnel to protect the President during his Miami trip that they were forced to press-gang into duty the motley crew of irregulars described below. But, one must wonder just how depleted were the ranks of security personnel that they felt the necessity to lay on the rent-a-beef included in Gerry's roster. What's more, after Gerry's waltz down dubious-memory lane, I have appended the standard SS post-visit survey report for this occasion and invite anyone to find the slightest trace of those irregulars included in Gerry's embellished recollections. Why, according to the Secret Service, nobody mentioned by Gerry was there except for the one SS agent Gerry mentioned, whose presence was to be expected, SOP. No Navarro, no Fontana, no Hough, and certainly no Interpen playas.

As for his crew being unarmed, this is hardly surprising. If they did show up there [anyone got a photo of this?], it was not as invited security crew, and bearing arms would have earned them an arrest. If they were invited, then being unarmed rendered them all but useless. No matter how quickly Gerry and his boys might have moved, even they wouldn't have been faster than a speeding bullet. [Although in Gerry's embroidered reminiscences, even that law of physics may have to be repealed, suspended or amended.]

Little wonder, then, that even Gerry must admit they were not given security credentials, nor identified to those who did serve a legitimate security purpose that day, to wit: "Suspicious that we were NOT invited to a "face-time" roll-call the next morning -- where all uniformed and plain-clothes officers posted at MIA, would know our faces. And that, coupled with a failure to issue special S.S. "buttonaires" -- convinced us that we would instruct our team to go "unarmed" the next day at MIA."

But how does one explain being asked to participate in a security detail for the President, yet showing up unarmed, unaccredited and unknown to those in command of security? Jeez, Gerry, even roadies travelling with heavy metal bands get their backstage passes, because they need them to do their jobs. But then, they are demonstrably necessary to the function, paid to render the service and expected to do it. Whereas there seems to have been no purpose served by having your paramilitary Boy Wonders show up at MIA, and even less evidence that it happened, save for your gilded memories.

Were this the only instance in which Gerry had inflated his self-importance, one might be inclined to give the old soldier a 'free pass.' But this bloward behaviour is the rule, not the exception. One need only travel as far as one's closest bar to find somebody propping up a stool, regaling the regulars with tales of derring-do and the golden exploits of his youth. These stories are always fascinating, told with humour and vivacity, and, occasionally, have the distinction of containing some truth. After several decades of trying to decode Gerry's MO on this topic, my feeling is that there is an almost even split: where his stories are true, they are irrelevant to the assassination; where they are relevant to the assassination, they are untrue.

I await Gerry's next petulant, self-regarding hissy fit with the half-interest it will merit.

During the briefing for the MIA security detail [11/17/63] -- the day before JFK's scheduled arrival [Monday, 18th November 1963] the following individuals were in attendance:

Bernardo de Torres

"Nick" Navarro -- then with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (Chas. Siragusa unit] and later Sheriff of Broward County, Forida -- and a childhood friend of Felix Rodriguez, who, along with CIA agent Gustavo Villoldo, aided in training the Bolivian Rangers [w/ Green Beret Major "Pappy" Shelton, 8th SFGrp - Panama Canal Zone] and whom together, hunted down and murdered Cmdte. Ernest "Che" Guevara de la Serna, a true warrior who never told a lie in his life !!

Special Agent Ernesto Aragon, U.S. Secret Service, and whose reports are to be found in the Warren Commission Documents.

Special Agent-in-Charge Gene Michaels, Head of the Miami Office of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who two months later [at the beginning of the WC] was framed by a drug sting, and sent to the Federal Medical Facilty, Springfield, MO.

Gerald P. "Gerry Patrick" Hemming, Jr. [interPen]

Howard K. "Davy" Davis [interPen]

Detective Sgt. Anthony "Tony" Fontana [City of Miami Police Dept.] and one of the cops who identified the corpse of Eladio "Gito" Del Valle[1967]. I was permitted to verify the I.D. of "Gito" only after insisting that the N.O. D.A., "Jim" Garrison had a severe interest in the deceased !! Upon retirement, Fontana served regularly as Chairman of the Florida Parole Commission through the 1980s.

Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Hough [Dade County Sheriff's Dept. -- under the then Sheriff & Brig. Gen. Tom Kelly] who during the mid-1970s attempted to thwart our investigation of the World Finance Corp.!! WFC was founded by Hernandez Cartaya -- while he was busy founding BCCI type banks in the United Arab Emirates -- and was subsequently charged with absconding with almost $100 million+.

Hough was later laterally transfer to the Dade Co. Fire Dept. while under a cloud of corruption linked to a Cuban County Commissioner. Hough, during the 1990s, and by then in charge of Fire Service Internal Affairs, blackballed my son Felipe from being hired by said Dept.!! And this, despite already serving some 14 years as a professional Firefighter/EMT. And this despite the fact that Felipe Vidal Santiago Hemming had risen to #9 on a list of 300+ accepted applicants. [Only #9 -- due to the fact that extra points were given to the top 8 for lateral transfer from other NON-fire fighting Dade jobs. Otherwise, and with military service points, he would have ranked #1 !!

And others present unknown to either of us, but recognized as JM/WAVE CIA Officers. That is: save for CIA Officer David Morales, who having had words with me after the BOP; spent his time glaring in my direction !!

Suspicious that we were NOT invited to a "face-time" roll-call the next morning -- where all uniformed and plain-clothes officers posted at MIA, would know our faces. And that, coupled with a failure to issue special S.S. "buttonaires" -- convinced us that we would instruct our team to go "unarmed" the next day at MIA.

However, Interpen Instructor, Justin Joseph "Steve" Wilson informed me -- as Air Force One taxied toward us on the tarmac; that "Little Joe" Cavendish Garman had disobeyed our orders. And that he was armed with his Colt .45 Automatic Pistol. I thereupon approached "Lil' Joe" -- informed him to casually glance to his right rear, at the "suit" wearing sunglasses. He casually did, and said: "So...who is that weirdo..??" I responded: ".. That is the guy who is going to blow the back of your head off if you draw your pistol in defense of ["Lancer"] POTUS..!!

Later that evening, Little Joe remarked at the curiousity that he, and many others had been invited to Dallas later that week to meet the "Money People" !! He refused the invitation.

The evening of November 22nd 1963, Joe C. Garman was rebuffed by James Arthur Lewis for "dancing-in-the-streets"!!

While talking to Joe during 1994 [by telephone], after not havingspoken to him since 1967 -- I commenced to remind him of some of the humorous incidents which had occurred during the 1960s. I very cautiously asked him whether he remembered having ever seen "JFK in person" ??

His reponse was: "..You getting senile Patrick ??...of course...it was at the Miami Airport a few days before he got hisself kilt..!! "...Don't you remember giving me a hard time for packing my Colt to the Airport..??

I reminded him of the "suit" having stood behind him. He responded that: "..Had I the intentions...He would have been taken down first...and the only reason I didn't shoot that son-of-a-bitch Kennedy...was because he was still my COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF" !!"

Later,

GPH

TREASURY DEPARTMENT

UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE

White House Detail Washington, D.C.

December 11, 1963

FINAL SURVEY REPORT

RE: President's visit to Miami, Florida, on

November 18, 1963, to address the Inter-American Press Association

Mr. James J. Rowley

Chief, U.S. Secret Service

Washington, D.C.

Sir:

INTRODUCTION

This survey was conducted by Sas L. F. de Freese and J. Walter Coughlin, White House Detail, and SA Talmadge Bailey, Miami, at Miami and Miami Beach, Florida, from November 11 through November 18, 1963.

Approximately 3000 persons attended a rally on the President's arrival at Miami International Airport, and approximately 1200 delegates to the Inter-American Press Association convention attended the dinner at the Americana Hotel where the President spoke.

ITINERARY

5:10 p.m. USAF #26000 arrived concourse #$1, delta apron, Miami International Airport.

5:15 p.m. The President deplaned and "Ruffles and Flourishes" and "Hail to the Chief" were rendered. The President was greeted by Mr. Lee Hills, Editor in Chief, Miami Herald, and Mr. Romulo O'Farrell, President of IAPA.

The President was then escorted to the speakers' stand by State Senators Cliff Herrell and George Hollahan. Appropriate dress was business suit.

5:20 p.m. Congressman Fascell introduced other U.S. Congressmen and Senators on the speakers' stand, including Congressman Pepper.

5:22 p.m. Congressman Pepper introduced Governor Bryant, who introduced the President. The President spoke for approximately 10 minutes.

5:30 p.m. President left speakers' stand and, after shaking hands with many in the general public area and guests in the VIP section, boarded helicopter.

5:35 p.m. Helicopter departed airport.

5:45 p.m. Helicopter arrived heliport, Haulover Beach Park.

5:48 p.m. President departed helicopter by automobile. [ photo of route ]

5:50 p.m. President arrived Americana Hotel, was greeted by Mr. Charles Bogdahn, General Manager, and Mr. Alvin LeFaivre, Vice-President of the hotel, and was escorted to his suite.

6:40 p.m. President departed suite and proceeded via elevator to Suite 1169-1170-1171-and 1172 to greet selected local Democrats.

6:50 p.m. President proceeded via elevator to lobby floor, was greeted by officers of IAPA, including Mr. Hills and Mr. O'Farrell, and escorted to reception for head table guests near main ballroom.

7:10 p.m. President proceeded via elevator to lobby floor, was greeted by officers of IAPA, including Mr. Hills and Mr. O'Farrell, and escorted to reception for head table guests near main ballroom.

7:10 p.m. President proceeded to head table and, following invocation by Rev. Robert W. Shaw, dinner was served. Approximately dress for head table guests was black tie.

8:30 p.m. The President, after being introduced by Mr. O'Farrell, spoke for 28 minutes.

9:00 p.m. The President departed the hotel via automobile.

9:02 p.m. President arrived helicopter.

9:04 p.m. Airborne in helicopter.

9:13 p.m. Arrived Miami International Airport.

9:20 p.m. USAF #26000 airborne.

ROUTES

Miami International Airport to Haulover Beach Heliport and Return:

Via Helicopter Flight Time – 10 minutes

Helicopter to Americana Hotel: South on Collins Avenue to employees entrance to hotel

Distance –1 mile Travel Time –2 minutes

SECURITY

Miami International Airport

This is a recently completed and improved airport serving both overseas and domestic flights of major airlines, the runways of which are capable of receiving any type of aircraft flying today. Arrangements were made to restrict air traffic on the East-West runway used by USAF #1 during its arrival and departure. Maj. Charles Nedbal, representing the U.S. Air Force, assisted in arranging aircraft security at the airport.

The terminal building, 7/8 mile along and semi-circular in shape, utilizes protruding concourses to service arriving and departing aircraft. The area east of Delta Airlines concourse #1, southern most of the concourses, was used for arrival ceremonies. A diagram of this airport is attached.

Uniformed officers of the Dade County Metropolitan Sheriff's Office were stationed in waiting rooms overlooking the restricted and public areas, and on the roof of this concourse commanding an excellent view of the entire area. Entrance to the restricted area through the concourse and through a gate at the east side of the apron was controlled by uniformed officers. Officers were also placed around three tanks containing aviation fuel approximately 200 yards east of the public area. A permanent fence also separated the public from the tank area.

A temporary chain link fence, supported by tubular scaffolding and aircraft tow trucks, was constructed across the apron to separate the public and restricted areas. Uniformed officers were stationed every 10 feet along the fence. In addition, plainclothes Spanish-speaking officers were placed in the public are near the speakers' stand.

Individuals invited to sit on the speakers' stand, with others invited to stand in a VIP area near the speakers' stand, were assembled in the concourse, issued identification tags, and were escorted to their proper places in a body.

Uniformed police, plainclothes officers, and agents of this Service were posted near the ramp to USAF #1, around the speakers' stand, press and VIP areas, and at helicopter #1.

Americana Hotel

The Towers section of the Americana Hotel was completed in 1959 of concrete block and reinforced concrete. The first five floors contain enclosed auto parking areas. Atop this are seven floors of 22 sleeping rooms each. The presidential suite (see diagram) was on the top floor overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The suite immediately beneath President's was secured and used for the Democratic party reception. The presidential suite was inspected by agents of this Service and Metropolitan bomb squad detectives and was secured prior to his arrival.

One bank of two Otis elevators serves the Towers section. These elevators were inspected by qualified servicemen prior to the President's arrival. Normally self-service, for this occasion they were controlled manually by operators cleared by this Service.

Entrance to the Banquet Room, head table reception room. Democratic reception suite, employees entrance area, and routes of travel in the hotel were controlled by agents of this Service, with plainclothes and uniformed officers of cooperating police agencies. A Coast Guard patrol boat cruised the beach area adjacent to the hotel.

Lists of dinner guests and head table reception guests were screened, and hotel employees necessary to function in the vicinity of the President were cleared by SA Aragon, Miami.

These lists, as well as identification tags (see attachment), were used by agents in admitting guests to their specific area.

Officers of the Bal Harbour Fire Department inspected areas of the hotel that the President visited and were positioned strategically throughout the hotel.

The attic area above the Banquet Room, as well as the basement areas below, were inspected and secured by local police officers.

Haulover Beach Heliport [ see photo ]

This heliport, located adjacent to Collins Avenue, one mile north of the Americana Hotel, was approved safe for landing by Capt. Bruce Colbert, USMC. Uniformed officers of the Metropolitan Dade County Police, with agents of this Service, provided security. A roped area immediately north of the landing area was provided for the public. A fire truck with foam equipment and an ambulance was stationed at the helicopter for use if necessary.

Motor Route [ see photo ]

Uniformed officers of cooperating police departments controlled all intersections along this route, and a police boat cruised the waters under and near the only bridge along the route. Six motorcycle police were utilized as an escort, a Florida Highway Patrol car was used as lead car, and two motorcycles followed to prevent traffic from overtaking the motorcade.

In the event weather conditions had prevented use of helicopters, arrangements had been made to motor from the airport to the hotel and return. This route was not publicized.

POST ASSIGNMENTS

Miami International Airport

1. Ramp. USAF #1

SA de Freese

1 Metro. Detective

2 Uniformed Off

2. Front of speakers' stand.

SA Aragon

2 Metro. Detectives

2 Uniformed Offs.

3. Front of speakers' stand.

SA Blaine

4. Rear steps - speakers' stand.

SA Bailey, 1 Det.

2 Uniformed Offs.

5. West steps - speakers' stand.

SA McIntyre

1 Metro. Detective

1 Uniformed Off.

6. Press area

SA Bennett

1 Metro. Detective

6 Uniformed Offs.

7. Press area.

SA Kollar

8. VIP area.

ATSAIC Roberts

2 Metro. Detectives

4 Uniformed Offs.

Americana Hotel

1. Point where presidential limousine stops.

SA Coughlin

1 Metro. Detective

2 Uniformed Offs.

2. Elevator landing - basement.

Curry (3-11)

2 Uniformed Offs.

3. 12th floor elevator landing - suite entrance S

A Lawton

1 Metro. Detective

4. Lobby floor elevator landing.

SA Lawton

2 Metro. Detectives

5. Entrance to Medallion Room (check-point)

SA Jamison

1 Metro. Detective

1 Uniformed Off.

6. Entrance to head table reception room

(check-point) SA Zboril

7. Seated - ballroom.

ATSAIC Roberts

8. Seated - ballroom

SA Blaine

9. East end head table

SA Zboril

1 Metro. Detective

10. West end head table

SA Bennett

1 Metro. Detective

11. Departure ramp.

SA McIntyre

1 Metro. Detective

2 Uniformed Offs.

12. Hotel lobby.

SA Aragon

2 Metro. Detectives

5 Uniformed Offs.

13. Hotel lobby.

SA Kollar

Helicopter

1. Heliport.

SA Howell

2 Metro. Detectives

15 Uniformed Offs.

In addition to the above assignments for Special Agents of this Service, officers and plainclothes detectives of the Metropolitan Department of Public Safety, Miami, Bal Harbour, Surfside, Miami Beach, Hialeah, and Coral Gables Police Departments, Florida Highway Patrol, were positioned as needed throughout areas the President visited.

Representatives of the Metro-Dade County and Bal Harbour Fire Departments were utilized as necessary at Miami International Airport, the heliport, and Americana Hotel.

INSTRUCTIONS TO AGENTS

Sas Zboril and Lawton arrived aboard the press charter, were furnished transportation directly to the hotel, and were posted by SA Coughlin. ATSAIC Roberts, McIntyre (Sas), Bennett, Kollar, and Blaine were posted at the airport. Following the President's departure from the airport, these agents proceeded to the hotel with Sas Bailey and Aragon and were posted.

SAS Greer and Rybka, arriving on USAF #1, rode helicopter #1, Sas Sulliman, Berger, and Morey rode helicopter #2 and worked the follow-up car from the helicopter to the hotel and return. SA Jones, following the President's departure from the airport, was transported by SA Bailey to the hotel and was posted. SA O'Leary, with the President's luggage, came directly from Palm Beach to the Americana Hotel by automobile.

Sas Jones, O'Leary, and Lawton departed the hotel at 8:00 p.m. with SA Bailey and proceeded to the airport to effect departure security.

ATSAIC Roberts, with Sas Blaine, Zboril, McIntyre, Bennett, and Kollar departed the hotel at 10:00 p.m. with Sas Aragon and Jamison and proceeded to the airport for departure aboard the press charter.

ASAIC Boring, arriving on USAF #1, rode helicopter #1 and remained with the President on all movements.

All Special Agents wore their permanent lapel bars.

Security arrangements were supervised by ASAIC Boring and Sas de Freese, Coughlin, and Bailey.

Hotel employees necessary to function in secured areas wore orange ball lapel clips. All plainclothes police officers wore silver ball lapel clips.

In the event a motorcade had become necessary from the airport to the hotel, all agents arriving aboard the press charter would have been furnished transportation and gone directly to the hotel to be posted by SA Coughlin. Follow-up would remain the same with SA Jones being furnished transportation in the motorcade.

AUTOMOBILES

All cars used for the motorcade were furnished by the Ford Motor Company through the cooperation of Mr. James Golden, area representative. Cars used were those already assigned to Palm Beach. The presidential car, a Mercury convertible on arrival, and a Continental hardtop on departure, was driven by SA Greer. The Secret Service follow-up car, a Ford convertible, was driven by SA Rybka.

Wire service car was furnished by Bell Telephone Company. Vehicles used by the press were arranged for by Mr. Ed. Jones, press coordinator.

PROTECTIVE RESEARCH

SAIC Bouck, Protective Research Section, was notified of the President's intentions to visit Florida on November 8, 1963, who said that he would keep the Miami office advised of any PRS activity in the area. SA Aragon was in touch with PRS, Washington D.C., and will submit a separate report regarding the Miami Cuban Situation. SA Bailey, Miami, will submit reports of PRS significance under file #3-11-601.0 (ROHINSKI), and #3-11-5573-5 (DERBER).

COMMUNICATIONS

The following communications arrangements were made for the visit of the President to Miami on the 18th day of November, 1963. White House switchboard was installed in the Americana Hotel with direct facilities to Washington and other points to be visited by the President. Local White House lines were installed to the Miami Airport, the helicopter pad, and the Americana Hotel. Alternate routing and equipment were provided. Radio communications facilities for continuous motorcade contact were installed. Secure teletype communications from Miami Beach and courier service were located in the Americana Hotel.

PRESS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS

All press activities were under the direction of Assistant Press Secretary Kilduff, coordinating with Mr. Ed. Jones, local press representative. Press areas were established at the airport, hotel arrival area, and in the Banquet Room.

The President's speech was taped for television release at a later hour, with live closed-circuit telecast to the hotel press room, locate in the Caribbean Room.

CONCLUSION

Cooperating in this survey were:

Mr. Lee Hills, Executive Editor, Miami Herald

Mr. Edward Eicher, Sales Manager, Americana Hotel

Mr. E. V. W. Jones, Press Coordinator, IAPA

Mr. J. Skip Shepard (representing Congressman Fascell)

Mr. William Jibb (representing Senator Smathers)

Mr. Milton Herlong, Delta Airlines, Station Manager

Chief W. T. Norton, Dade County Port Authority

Maj. Floyd Alsbury, Dade County Sheriff's Office

Sgt. Charles Black, Dade County Sheriff's Office

Capt. F. S. Napier, Miami Police Department

Chief Rocky Pomerance, Miami Beach Police Department

Chief D. C. Kenneth, Miami Beach Fire Department

Chief D. C. Wayne Thurman, North Miami Police Department

Chief G. W. Owens, Bal Harbour Police Department

Chief Richard E. Creelman, Bal Harbour Fire Department

Chief Wiley Barefoot, Surfside Police Department

Sheriff Jesse Barkett, Metropolitan Dade County Sheriff's Office

Capt. J. K. Sox, (Airport), Metropolitan Dade County Sheriff's Office

Acting Chief Walter E. Foden, Bay Harbour Islands Police Department

Chief William E. Kimbrough, Coral Gables Police Department

Cooperating in the over-all security measures were:

White House Detail Agents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Miami Agents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

* Uniformed Patrolmen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

* Detectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

* Firemen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

219

* Uniformed and plainclothes officers listed above were enlisted from the city of Miami, city of Miami Beach, city of North Miami, Bal Harbour Village, town of Surfside, Metropolitan Dade County Sheriff's Office, Bar Harbour Islands, and city of Coral Gables.

Attached to this report are the following:

1. Local Press Credentials

2. Head Table Identification

Dinner Admission Ticket

3. Airport and Democratic Reception Identification

4. 12th Floor Plan, Americana Towers

5. Miami International Airport, Arrival Area

6. Ground Floor, Americana Hotel

7. Automobile Assignments

8. Helicopter Assignments

Very truly yours,

L. F. Freese

Special Agent

APPROVED:

Gerald A. Behn

Special Agent in Charge

Attachments (8)

2 ccs Miami

AUTOMOBILE ASSIGNMENTS

Heliport to Hotel

Lead Car

SA de Freese

Dr. Burkley

Presidential Limousine

The President

Senator Smathers

Mr. Boring

Mr. Greer - driving

SS Follow-Up Car

Sas Rybka - driving

Stout

Sulliman

Morey

Berger

Wire Service

Mr. Salinger

Car #1

Mr. O'Donnell

Congressman Pepper

Congressman Fascell

Car #2

Mr. Powers

Congressman Gibbons

Mayor High

Car #3

Governor Bryant

Mr. Kynes

General Mcbugh

Car #4

Mrs. Lincoln

Miss Camp

Mr. Baltimore

Mr. Jibb

Car #5

Congressman McDonald

Congressman Green

Mr. Vessels

__________________________

[Gerry Hemming]

By all means, hold out hope that Gerry may actually reveal something of significance. But if an when that happens, dollars to donuts, it'll be unintentional.

This, in particular, is why I usually read these posts with interest(and suspicion). You never know what may inadvertantly come out.

Gerry posted this comment 8/27/05:

"The day of the JFK assassination, Jim Lewis was [as usual] playing Chess at "Little Joe's" apartment by the Miami River -- together with Eddy Collins, "Skinny", Dick Whatley, Bobby Willis, and Bill Dempsey. When Garman started dancing in the street soon after hearing the news from Dallas, Jim chastized him severely [along with Cuban pissed-off neighbors]; He reminded him that just four days before he had been a member of our security detail for JFK at MIA [Monday, 18th Nov.], and that he had been prepared to "take-a-bullet" for the President !!"

Anyone else think it odd that Garman would "dance in the street" after hearing of JFK's demise, yet was "prepared to take a bullet" for him 4 days earlier?

I wouldn't dismiss EVERYTHING GHP has to say.

RJS

--------------------------

Richard J:

Has "anybody" ever read a posting by "The Village Idiot" -- you know, one which might be construed as "Intentional" and "something of SIGNIFICANCE ??!!

Try as I might, I haven't found anything submitted by this nagging gadfly heckling xxxxx -- mayhaps one of the more "studious" members might discover same and re-post something ??

During the briefing for the MIA security detail [11/17/63] -- the day before JFK's scheduled arrival [Monday, 18th November 1963] the following individuals were in attendance:

Bernardo de Torres

"Nick" Navarro -- then with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (Chas. Siragusa unit] and later Sheriff of Broward County, Forida -- and a childhood friend of Felix Rodriguez, who, along with CIA agent Gustavo Villoldo, aided in training the Bolivian Rangers [w/ Green Beret Major "Pappy" Shelton, 8th SFGrp - Panama Canal Zone] and whom together, hunted down and murdered Cmdte. Ernest "Che" Guevara de la Serna, a true warrior who never told a lie in his life !!

Special Agent Ernesto Aragon, U.S. Secret Service, and whose reports are to be found in the Warren Commission Documents.

Special Agent-in-Charge Gene Michaels, Head of the Miami Office of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who two months later [at the beginning of the WC] was framed by a drug sting, and sent to the Federal Medical Facilty, Springfield, MO.

Gerald P. "Gerry Patrick" Hemming, Jr. [interPen]

Howard K. "Davy" Davis [interPen]

Detective Sgt. Anthony "Tony" Fontana [City of Miami Police Dept.] and one of the cops who identified the corpse of Eladio "Gito" Del Valle[1967]. I was permitted to verify the I.D. of "Gito" only after insisting that the N.O. D.A., "Jim" Garrison had a severe interest in the deceased !! Upon retirement, Fontana served regularly as Chairman of the Florida Parole Commission through the 1980s.

Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Hough [Dade County Sheriff's Dept. -- under the then Sheriff & Brig. Gen. Tom Kelly] who during the mid-1970s attempted to thwart our investigation of the World Finance Corp.!! WFC was founded by Hernandez Cartaya -- while he was busy founding BCCI type banks in the United Arab Emirates -- and was subsequently charged with absconding with almost $100 million+.

Hough was later laterally transfer to the Dade Co. Fire Dept. while under a cloud of corruption linked to a Cuban County Commissioner. Hough, during the 1990s, and by then in charge of Fire Service Internal Affairs, blackballed my son Felipe from being hired by said Dept.!! And this, despite already serving some 14 years as a professional Firefighter/EMT. And this despite the fact that Felipe Vidal Santiago Hemming had risen to #9 on a list of 300+ accepted applicants. [Only #9 -- due to the fact that extra points were given to the top 8 for lateral transfer from other NON-fire fighting Dade jobs. Otherwise, and with military service points, he would have ranked #1 !!

And others present unknown to either of us, but recognized as JM/WAVE CIA Officers. That is: save for CIA Officer David Morales, who having had words with me after the BOP; spent his time glaring in my direction !!

Suspicious that we were NOT invited to a "face-time" roll-call the next morning -- where all uniformed and plain-clothes officers posted at MIA, would know our faces. And that, coupled with a failure to issue special S.S. "buttonaires" -- convinced us that we would instruct our team to go "unarmed" the next day at MIA.

However, Interpen Instructor, Justin Joseph "Steve" Wilson informed me -- as Air Force One taxied toward us on the tarmac; that "Little Joe" Cavendish Garman had disobeyed our orders. And that he was armed with his Colt .45 Automatic Pistol. I thereupon approached "Lil' Joe" -- informed him to casually glance to his right rear, at the "suit" wearing sunglasses. He casually did, and said: "So...who is that weirdo..??" I responded: ".. That is the guy who is going to blow the back of your head off if you draw your pistol in defense of ["Lancer"] POTUS..!!

Later that evening, Little Joe remarked at the curiousity that he, and many others had been invited to Dallas later that week to meet the "Money People" !! He refused the invitation.

The evening of November 22nd 1963, Joe C. Garman was rebuffed by James Arthur Lewis for "dancing-in-the-streets"!!

While talking to Joe during 1994 [by telephone], after not havingspoken to him since 1967 -- I commenced to remind him of some of the humorous incidents which had occurred during the 1960s. I very cautiously asked him whether he remembered having ever seen "JFK in person" ??

His reponse was: "..You getting senile Patrick ??...of course...it was at the Miami Airport a few days before he got hisself kilt..!! "...Don't you remember giving me a hard time for packing my Colt to the Airport..??

I reminded him of the "suit" having stood behind him. He responded that: "..Had I the intentions...He would have been taken down first...and the only reason I didn't shoot that son-of-a-bitch Kennedy...was because he was still my COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF" !!"

Later,

GPH

__________________________

***************************************************************************

"Cmdte. Ernest "Che" Guevara de la Serna, a true warrior who never told a lie in his life !!"

Why do you always refer to him that way? Are you being snide, or is this another one of your cryptic code messages, only known to those of the covert-ops persuasion?

--------------------------

Ms. Mauro:

I served with the man in Cuba. When I suggested [during 1959 in Havana] that he take up where he left off as a youngster [in Argentina] flying motorless gliders -- he went after flying like a demon possessed.

In very short order he had over 100 hours in a friend's [an instructor] single engine airplane. A couple of times, after watching us parachute from C-47s, he said: "...Don't ever expect me to do that stuff...flying is enough thrills for me..!!" I told him that Cmdte. [Major] Rene de los Santos was already flying left-seat in a twin engine Cessna 310; and that if he didn't get with it -- Rene was going to fill his pilot's log book up before he was even "checked-out" in a light twin.

After searching for Cmdte. Camilo Cienfuegos for 16 days, and discovering that he had been shot down by accident near San Jose del Lago, Las Villas Province -- we switched to doing some "water" parachute jumps

right in front of the Rosita de Hornedo Hotel, Miramar, Havana -- and I didn't see "Che for some weeks.

During January 1960, he arrived [with Aleda March] at my Air Base in western Pinar del Rio Province. We had no radio in the control tower, so I didn't know it was him arriving.

He popped out of the Cessna 310 [light-twin] and said someting which I couldn't make out. He always spoke in such a low voice, I would have to lean down close to listen. He repeated: "...Vos lo ves [you notice] that I am in the "left-seat" and driving this very fast and nice airplane..?" "..I have over 35 hours in the pilot seat recored in my log book already.." I almost told him he was now ready for parachute instruction, but thought better of it, and kept on talking about navigation, etc. !

He arranged for me to train the Sandinista guerrillas at my San Julian Air Base. He honored my request for reinforcements, because we had been attacked twice just after Christmas [Navidades - Noche Buena].

He got me released from La Cabana Fortress after having been arrested by limp-wristed secret police punks.

I left Cuba for Mexico enroute to fight against the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza during October 1960.

Upon learning that the Cuban authorities had jailed my close friend Cmdte. William Alexander Morgan, I opted to go north to the states on a gun-running mission -- expecting that once inside the U.S. -- I might get support enough to save William's life. Amongst those efforts was a sit-down with the famous liberal labor leader Harry Bridges [san Pedro - Los Angeles - December 1960] Harry Bridges promised to have his friends in the Latino labor movement inquire into the situation. Everything failed, and Morgan was executed on March 11th, 1961 !!

Skipping ahead to 1966. I was tasked by JJA's CI division to go to Ascension Island [british owned] and there prepare for an operation to kidnap "Che" [alive] from the Baraka, Congo [Leopoldville] area where he and many Cubans were advising the Simba rebels. However "Che" had already crossed over Lake Tanganyika and was on his way to Prague. We went back to the States [CONUS] just after July 4th, 1966.

While signing up for service in Vietnam with USAID/Public Safety -- I was once again approached to go to do the "Che" Op -- this time to Bolivia, so as to "snatch" Guevara out of there "ALIVE", or provide an aircraft for him to fly out so that we might intercept him in Uruguay, his 1st choice as "Safe-Haven".

I turned it down, and as you know, Felix and Gus tried to do that mission, but Banzer gave orders to Gary Prado to execute him. ["Code-Word 500"]

I feel today that had I gone, the outcome most likely would have resulted in his death anyway !!

Just by his diaries -- you can plainly see that this warrior never told a lie in his entire life !! He is missed terribly !! R.I.P.

I don't expert that everybody [including you] has the time to bone-up on these things. It is much easier for me [stressful also] because I was there, and I "walked-the-walk" !!

Regards,

GPH

______________________

[Terry Mauro]

By all means, hold out hope that Gerry may actually reveal something of significance. But if an when that happens, dollars to donuts, it'll be unintentional.

This, in particular, is why I usually read these posts with interest(and suspicion). You never know what may inadvertantly come out.

Gerry posted this comment 8/27/05:

"The day of the JFK assassination, Jim Lewis was [as usual] playing Chess at "Little Joe's" apartment by the Miami River -- together with Eddy Collins, "Skinny", Dick Whatley, Bobby Willis, and Bill Dempsey. When Garman started dancing in the street soon after hearing the news from Dallas, Jim chastized him severely [along with Cuban pissed-off neighbors]; He reminded him that just four days before he had been a member of our security detail for JFK at MIA [Monday, 18th Nov.], and that he had been prepared to "take-a-bullet" for the President !!"

Anyone else think it odd that Garman would "dance in the street" after hearing of JFK's demise, yet was "prepared to take a bullet" for him 4 days earlier?

I wouldn't dismiss EVERYTHING GHP has to say.

RJS

--------------------------

Richard J:

Has "anybody" ever read a posting by "The Village Idiot" -- you know, one which might be construed as "Intentional" and "something of SIGNIFICANCE ??!!

Try as I might, I haven't found anything submitted by this nagging gadfly heckling xxxxx -- mayhaps one of the more "studious" members might discover same and re-post something ??

During the briefing for the MIA security detail [11/17/63] -- the day before JFK's scheduled arrival [Monday, 18th November 1963] the following individuals were in attendance:

Bernardo de Torres

"Nick" Navarro -- then with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (Chas. Siragusa unit] and later Sheriff of Broward County, Forida -- and a childhood friend of Felix Rodriguez, who, along with CIA agent Gustavo Villoldo, aided in training the Bolivian Rangers [w/ Green Beret Major "Pappy" Shelton, 8th SFGrp - Panama Canal Zone] and whom together, hunted down and murdered Cmdte. Ernest "Che" Guevara de la Serna, a true warrior who never told a lie in his life !!

Special Agent Ernesto Aragon, U.S. Secret Service, and whose reports are to be found in the Warren Commission Documents.

Special Agent-in-Charge Gene Michaels, Head of the Miami Office of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who two months later [at the beginning of the WC] was framed by a drug sting, and sent to the Federal Medical Facilty, Springfield, MO.

Gerald P. "Gerry Patrick" Hemming, Jr. [interPen]

Howard K. "Davy" Davis [interPen]

Detective Sgt. Anthony "Tony" Fontana [City of Miami Police Dept.] and one of the cops who identified the corpse of Eladio "Gito" Del Valle[1967]. I was permitted to verify the I.D. of "Gito" only after insisting that the N.O. D.A., "Jim" Garrison had a severe interest in the deceased !! Upon retirement, Fontana served regularly as Chairman of the Florida Parole Commission through the 1980s.

Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Hough [Dade County Sheriff's Dept. -- under the then Sheriff & Brig. Gen. Tom Kelly] who during the mid-1970s attempted to thwart our investigation of the World Finance Corp.!! WFC was founded by Hernandez Cartaya -- while he was busy founding BCCI type banks in the United Arab Emirates -- and was subsequently charged with absconding with almost $100 million+.

Hough was later laterally transfer to the Dade Co. Fire Dept. while under a cloud of corruption linked to a Cuban County Commissioner. Hough, during the 1990s, and by then in charge of Fire Service Internal Affairs, blackballed my son Felipe from being hired by said Dept.!! And this, despite already serving some 14 years as a professional Firefighter/EMT. And this despite the fact that Felipe Vidal Santiago Hemming had risen to #9 on a list of 300+ accepted applicants. [Only #9 -- due to the fact that extra points were given to the top 8 for lateral transfer from other NON-fire fighting Dade jobs. Otherwise, and with military service points, he would have ranked #1 !!

And others present unknown to either of us, but recognized as JM/WAVE CIA Officers. That is: save for CIA Officer David Morales, who having had words with me after the BOP; spent his time glaring in my direction !!

Suspicious that we were NOT invited to a "face-time" roll-call the next morning -- where all uniformed and plain-clothes officers posted at MIA, would know our faces. And that, coupled with a failure to issue special S.S. "buttonaires" -- convinced us that we would instruct our team to go "unarmed" the next day at MIA.

However, Interpen Instructor, Justin Joseph "Steve" Wilson informed me -- as Air Force One taxied toward us on the tarmac; that "Little Joe" Cavendish Garman had disobeyed our orders. And that he was armed with his Colt .45 Automatic Pistol. I thereupon approached "Lil' Joe" -- informed him to casually glance to his right rear, at the "suit" wearing sunglasses. He casually did, and said: "So...who is that weirdo..??" I responded: ".. That is the guy who is going to blow the back of your head off if you draw your pistol in defense of ["Lancer"] POTUS..!!

Later that evening, Little Joe remarked at the curiousity that he, and many others had been invited to Dallas later that week to meet the "Money People" !! He refused the invitation.

The evening of November 22nd 1963, Joe C. Garman was rebuffed by James Arthur Lewis for "dancing-in-the-streets"!!

While talking to Joe during 1994 [by telephone], after not havingspoken to him since 1967 -- I commenced to remind him of some of the humorous incidents which had occurred during the 1960s. I very cautiously asked him whether he remembered having ever seen "JFK in person" ??

His reponse was: "..You getting senile Patrick ??...of course...it was at the Miami Airport a few days before he got hisself kilt..!! "...Don't you remember giving me a hard time for packing my Colt to the Airport..??

I reminded him of the "suit" having stood behind him. He responded that: "..Had I the intentions...He would have been taken down first...and the only reason I didn't shoot that son-of-a-bitch Kennedy...was because he was still my COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF" !!"

Later,

GPH

__________________________

***************************************************************************

"Cmdte. Ernest "Che" Guevara de la Serna, a true warrior who never told a lie in his life !!"

Why do you always refer to him that way? Are you being snide, or is this another one of your cryptic code messages, only known to those of the covert-ops persuasion?

--------------------------

Ms. Mauro:

I served with the man in Cuba. When I suggested [during 1959 in Havana] that he take up where he left off as a youngster [in Argentina] flying motorless gliders -- he went after flying like a demon possessed.

In very short order he had over 100 hours in a friend's [an instructor] single engine airplane. A couple of times, after watching us parachute from C-47s, he said: "...Don't ever expect me to do that stuff...flying is enough thrills for me..!!" I told him that Cmdte. [Major] Rene de los Santos was already flying left-seat in a twin engine Cessna 310; and that if he didn't get with it -- Rene was going to fill his pilot's log book up before he was even "checked-out" in a light twin.

After searching for Cmdte. Camilo Cienfuegos for 16 days, and discovering that he had been shot down by accident near San Jose del Lago, Las Villas Province -- we switched to doing some "water" parachute jumps

right in front of the Rosita de Hornedo Hotel, Miramar, Havana -- and I didn't see "Che for some weeks.

During January 1960, he arrived [with Aleda March] at my Air Base in western Pinar del Rio Province. We had no radio in the control tower, so I didn't know it was him arriving.

He popped out of the Cessna 310 [light-twin] and said someting which I couldn't make out. He always spoke in such a low voice, I would have to lean down close to listen. He repeated: "...Vos lo ves [you notice] that I am in the "left-seat" and driving this very fast and nice airplane..?" "..I have over 35 hours in the pilot seat recored in my log book already.." I almost told him he was now ready for parachute instruction, but thought better of it, and kept on talking about navigation, etc. !

He arranged for me to train the Sandinista guerrillas at my San Julian Air Base. He honored my request for reinforcements, because we had been attacked twice just after Christmas [Navidades - Noche Buena].

He got me released from La Cabana Fortress after having been arrested by limp-wristed secret police punks.

I left Cuba for Mexico enroute to fight against the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza during October 1960.

Upon learning that the Cuban authorities had jailed my close friend Cmdte. William Alexander Morgan, I opted to go north to the states on a gun-running mission -- expecting that once inside the U.S. -- I might get support enough to save William's life. Amongst those efforts was a sit-down with the famous liberal labor leader Harry Bridges [san Pedro - Los Angeles - December 1960] Harry Bridges promised to have his friends in the Latino labor movement inquire into the situation. Everything failed, and Morgan was executed on March 11th, 1961 !!

Skipping ahead to 1966. I was tasked by JJA's CI division to go to Ascension Island [british owned] and there prepare for an operation to kidnap "Che" [alive] from the Baraka, Congo [Leopoldville] area where he and many Cubans were advising the Simba rebels. However "Che" had already crossed over Lake Tanganyika and was on his way to Prague. We went back to the States [CONUS] just after July 4th, 1966.

While signing up for service in Vietnam with USAID/Public Safety -- I was once again approached to go to do the "Che" Op -- this time to Bolivia, so as to "snatch" Guevara out of there "ALIVE", or provide an aircraft for him to fly out so that we might intercept him in Uruguay, his 1st choice as "Safe-Haven".

I turned it down, and as you know, Felix and Gus tried to do that mission, but Banzer gave orders to Gary Prado to execute him. ["Code-Word 500"]

I feel today that had I gone, the outcome most likely would have resulted in his death anyway !!

Just by his diaries -- you can plainly see that this warrior never told a lie in his entire life !! He is missed terribly !! R.I.P.

I don't expert that everybody [including you] has the time to bone-up on these things. It is much easier for me [stressful also] because I was there, and I "walked-the-walk" !!

Regards,

GPH

______________________

************************************************************************

I've read his diaries, and not just the motorcycle ones, wiseguy!

"While signing up for service in Vietnam with USAID/Public Safety -- I was once again approached to go to do the "Che" Op -- this time to Bolivia, so as to "snatch" Guevara out of there "ALIVE", or provide an aircraft for him to fly out so that we might intercept him in Uruguay, his 1st choice as "Safe-Haven".

I turned it down, and as you know, Felix and Gus tried to do that mission, but Banzer gave orders to Gary Prado to execute him. ["Code-Word 500"]

I feel today that had I gone, the outcome most likely would have resulted in his death anyway !!

Just by his diaries -- you can plainly see that this warrior never told a lie in his entire life !! He is missed terribly !! R.I.P."

How could you have turned it down??? You'd even met his wife, Aleda!!!

Felix and Gus had tried to do that mission??? They killed him!!! If you respected him as much as you make out like you do, HOW COULD YOU HAVE LET HIM DIE that way???

"I feel today that had I gone, the outcome most likely would have resulted in his death anyway !!"

If you're as honorable as you claim to be, in all your bravado for the corp and the valor of your compadres, how can you believe that you couldn't have made a difference??? Or, are you simply trying to justify your refusal to go in there and help him, and the diastrous results that followed?