Cryptonym: AMDENIM-5
Captain Juan L. Cosculluela Iduate, in his memoirs, referred to the Tejana around the time of the Bay of Pigs invasion in April, 1961, stating "an old subchaser 110 feet with mixed crew but whose commander is former ship captain Armando Rodriguez Alonso whom I didn't know personally but of which I have great admiration."
A cable from JMWAVE on June 28, 1961, stated "in order bring Tejana matter to head WAVE is terminating ANDENIMs-4 (Larry Laborde), -5, and -6 (Manuel Rodriguez Alonso) immediately with 15 days severance pay."
A cable on February 1, 1962, with the slugs JMZIP, PM (Paramilitary), stated that Armando Rodriguez Alonso was among the members of the Tejana crew who JMWAVE requested renewal of their POAs.
The entry for the Legion Bolivar (LB) in April of 1965, in the Cuban Counterrevolutionary Handbook, stated that "Armando Rodriguez Alonso - Naval Force Commander (formerly in the Cuban Navy; commanded the frigate 'Maximo Gomez')", was a leading personality of the group in December, 1963.
In Ramon Font Saumell's memoir, Witness and Protagonist, he stated "we wrote another letter to the frigate captain RodrÃguez Alonso, in accordance with the suggestion that Jorge Salvat had done to us in his message." This letter was dated December 21, 1958.
The last two paragraphs above suggest that Armando Rodriguez Alonso was a senior Cuban navy officer, who would later have a documented connection to the Tejana vessel, and wider anti-Castro operations in the 1960's.
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/book/Ramon-Font-Saumell.pdf
Witness and Protagonist by Ramon Font Saumell: (translation from Spanish to English): Pages 52-53: ..."On December 21 at the house of Leoncito Macias, where we had slept the night above, we wrote another letter to the frigate captain RodrÃguez Alonso, in accordance with the suggestion that Jorge Salvat had done to us in his message. The letter in question was as follows: Dec 21, 1958, Cap. of Frag. Armando Rodriguez Alonso, MN. Dear Friend: Your correct action and the position that you assume in favor of the cause that today the people supports, it would not only result in a decisive contribution to the rapid end of the current state of belligerence throughout the island, but, on a personal level, it would ensure his future in the institution to which he you belong, also guaranteeing the support of Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz and the Army Rebel, and what is of vital importance for the tranquillity of our consciences, the affection and admiration of all Cubans who today see in each military man a corrupt man without scruples. We know that you love your profession and therefore you should be concerned about your position future and we believe we have the answer to what may confuse you today, especially when there are no doubts in relation to the knowledge that you (have to fear) regarding to the gravity of the current situation. That answer to the questions that you can ask yourself in your subconscious is easy and simple and everything depends on yourself, on what you do, nothing. His compatriots and his comrades-in-arms will thank him as much as he put his frigate on F-303, at the service of the people who have the power, because, after all, they pay for her and she has a right...J. Quevedo. Army Commander...The one who would deliver the note was the partner Rogelio Cisneros, who had had the opportunity to deal with said commander before..."
Cuba109 Correspondence DOS 2003-02-25 Grafeld-JHL
Circa January 1959: Department of State document: "MILITARY...Navy...2. 'Maximo Gomez' scheduled to greet Castro: Cuban Navy frigate 'Maximo Gomez' is scheduled to render 21-gun salute to Fidel Castro on his entry into Havana. (UNCLASSIFIED)..."
02/22/61: Cable from JMWAVE to BELL: JMZIP TEJANA: "1. Request crypts be assigned FOLL individuals who now crew and maintain the Tejana: A. Alberto Fernandez Hechevarria (note: became AMDENIM-1), owner. Will go on first few operations. B. Robert C. Stevens Jr., Captain. C. George Michael Kappes, engineer and operations officer. D. Lawrence J. Laborde (note: became AMDENIM-4) 27 Aug 09 New Orleans, Port Captain. Has been with Tejana for eight years and invaluable its upkeep. E. Naval Candidate 8501, senior Cuban officer aboard. F. Naval Candidate 8071, deck officer. G. Naval Candidate 8146, deck officer. H. Naval Candidate 8190, engine room assistant. Gunner. I. Eduardo Antonio Baez Ayala, 6 Aug 20, Havana, Cuba. Will be trained as gunner. J. Pedro Ernesto Diaz, 7 Nov 31, Santa Llora, diesel engineer. K. Eduardo Perez Gonzalez (note: became AMDENIM-11), 18 March 27 Santiago de Cuba. Ordinance man. Responsible for armament of boat. L. Rafael Casals y Fernandez de Cueto, 6 Oct 06, Cienfuegos, Cuba. Cook. M. Joaquin Powell Rubio, 7 Dec 24, Sancti Spiritus. Small boat operator (catamaran and/or raft from Tejana to shore) and gunner. N. Antonio Cuesta Valle (note: became AMDENIM-14), 13 June 26, at Santiago de Cuba. (Same duties as M above). 2. Request POA's SUBJ I thru N. Local ODENVY (FBI) checks negating..." - - - This version of the same document had number 5 next to "E. Naval candidate 8501, senior Cuban officer aboard." Strong proof that this is the crypt list of AMDENIM-1 through AMDENIM-14 who crewed and maintained the Tejana in early 1961.: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=52121#relPageId=22&search=
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/belligerence/Cosculluela.pdf
My Memoirs by Captain Juan L. Cosculluela Iduate collected in six periods, of my life Brochures I to VI included: Page 99 (Spanish to English translation): ..."Upon returning to the ship on Stock Island, the captain agreed with my return and new faces of Americans appear on the ship. The most Robert C Stevenson (with the alias of Bob Burke) and Grayston Lynch move with authority in the Terminal in which the yacht 'The Tejana' is also docked. An old subchaser 110 feet with mixed crew but whose commander is former ship captain Armando Rodriguez Alonso whom I didn't know personally but of which I have great admiration. Because of their service sheet in the army, they in The Tejana made operations along the coast (of) Northern Cuba..."
06/28/61: Cable from Director to JMWAVE: JMZIP: REF: WAVE 6901 (IN-31498): "Request hold ref action in abeyance pending outcome negotiations with AMDENIM presently being held WASH. *WAVE terminating A-4 (Larry Laborde), 5 & 6 (Manuel Rodriguez Alonso) in order be able to bring TEJANA matters to head. **Asked if authority granted 9 Feb (unintelligible) in effect for A-5 & 6."
104-10172-10042: CABLE: AMDENIM-1 HAS NOT SIGNED SUPPORT AGREEMENT
06/28/61: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: JMZIP: "1. AMDENIM-1 (Alberto Fernandez Hechevarria) has not signed support agreement. In order bring Tejana matter to head WAVE is terminating ANDENIMs-4 (Larry Laborde), -5, and -6 (Manuel Rodriguez Alonso) immediately with 15 days severance pay. 2. Also discontinuing non-operational support in form fuel and provisions. 3. Total savings effected approx $1500 per month. 4. Requesting A-1 move Tejana away from BARR (CIA maritime covert operations group located at Key West, Florida) dock. C/S Comment: *Queried if BELL (probably JMWAVE communications center in the Miami area) 1456 constituted authority to pay AMDENIM-5 and 6 $200 per month."
104-10218-10138: CABLE-REQUEST RENEWAL POAS ON FOLLOWING MEMBERS TEJANA CREW
02/01/62: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: JMZIP PM: "Request renewal POAs on following members Tejana crew: A. Armando Rodriguez Alonso 201-288181. B. Mario Esteban Redondo Fernandez 201-291919. C. Eduardo Perez Gonzalez (AMDENIM-11) 201-294665. D. Rafael Casals y Fernandez de Cueto 201-29468. E. Joaquin Powell Rubio (AMDENIM-13) 201-294671. F. Lawrence J. Laborde (AMDENIM-4) 201-294588. G. Alfredo Mir Viana 201-288192. H. Francisco Canizares Gamboa trainee 3166." Note: handwritten "Copies filed" at top of cable, with 201 numbers underlined for A, B, C, D, E, G, H. Lawrence Laborde (F), was terminated as AMDENIM-4 in 1962 (possibly after this cable).
1993.08.05.10:41:34:710005: HSCA MATERIAL REVIEWED AT HEADQUARTERS -- CUBAN COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY H
04/00/65: Cuban Counterrevolutionary Handbook entry for Legion Bolivar (LB): ..."E. Leading Personalities: (December 1963)...Armando Rodriguez Alonso - Naval Force Commander (formerly in the Cuban Navy; commanded the frigate 'Maximo Gomez')..."
08/21/70: Memo from SAC, Miami to Director of FBI: Subject: Cubanos Unidos (United Cubans): IS - CUBA: NM - CUBA: ..."On July 29. 1970, MM T-5, another Government agency which conducts intelligence investigations, reported that CU was planning an armed expedition to Cuba and the following individuals are principals in the operation...(First Name Unknown) Rodriguez Alonso, designated Military Chief of CU..." - - - It is unclear whether this refers to Armando Rodriguez Alonso or Manuel Rodriguez Alonso (AMDENIM-6).