Cryptonym: AMHINT-53
Hernandez Rocha used the war name "Luciano" in 104-10181-10337.
7/7/64 FBI letterhead memo based on info from Ramon Machado, aka MM T-1: Luis Fernandez stated that he retired from the DRE but that he still agrees with their program. He points out that it very difficult to stage raids on Cuba outside of the US "because of the large distances involved and the problem of obtaining the necessary equipment in other countries." Machado reported, however, that Fernando Rocha resigned because he disagreed with the hit and run attacks favored by Isidro Borja/AMHINT-5, who was on the DRE executive committee.
104-10138-10170: MEMO: DRE - DIRECTORIO REVOLUTIONARIO ESTUDIANTIL (STUDENT REVOLUTIONARY DIRECTORY)
In an apparent typo, this document states Fernandez-Rocha first came to the US in May 1960. (Note: He arrived May 1961 - see 104-10181-10337). Polygraphed March 1962, suspected of being G-2. Clearance granted 4/18/62 for use in DRE, given crypt AMHINT-53. "Featured on Channel 4 TV 26 Sept 62 as having been organizing DRE underground (in) Cuba since 20 May and directed the attack 24 Aug on Teatro Blanquita. Also see 104-10171-10042,5/31/62 report on infiltration of AMHINT-53 and AMHINT-40 into Cuba. The AMHINT structure remained intact even after a firefight ensued upon their departure from the island. "This operation was mounted by AMHINT-53 who was becoming understandably desperate about DRE internal conditions...subject's primary mission is to identify and confirm appointments within clandestine apparat at national and provincial levels..His secondary mission is to organize the National Reception Committee for materiel supply and infiltration of paramilitary instructors, radio operators, and intelligence agents. For this purpose, AMHINT-40, who has operated as National Reception Committee organizer for almost two years, formed the team with AMHINT-53."
104-10171-10334: DISPATCH: OPERATIONAL/AMSPELL PROGRESS REPORT - JULY 1962
5/31/62 letter from AMHINT-53, war name "Felipe" to AMHINT-2 (Manuel Salvat): "...Upon arrival I found the DRE in the following situation...the organization has undergone a crisis in leadership due to lack of "absolute authority". (Note: Probably owing to recent turnovers caused by arrests and executions.) This also combined with the existence of some conflict between 'Frente de Accion' and the 'Frente Civil' originating at the loss of Carlos (arrested), and apparently both sectors dispute control. MONTY (AMRONC-5) acted as mediator in this conflict, and in one way or another, surfaced the facts...From all indications, Monty (AMBRONC-5) has been arrested...The MRR is totally infiltrated and everything must be left alone at least for several days...here are the details of my exfiltration. It will be Sunday 10 June. A fishing boat will place me in Cayo Sal for you to pick me up with the JUNNIN."
104-10171-10010: MEMO: EXFLITRATION OF AMHINT
6/20/62 from C/TFW/PA-PROP Seymour Bolten to C/TFW William Harvey: Urgent need of AMHINT/53 to be exfiltrated from Cuba as soon as possible, "discussed in the context of the arrest of AMBRONC/5 and the apparent roll-up of a large part of the MRR, along with the arrest of three chiefs in the DRE clandestine apparatus...the DRE is one of the most effective organizations engaged in operations against Cuba, both overtly through propaganda and covertly through an organized apparatus inside Cuba." See 104-10170-10027, page 4 of 4, which depicts Newby/Joannides meeting AMHINT-53 and taking over as case officer for project. AMHINT-53 had let it be known that he knew the name of high CIA officials and reserved the right to break with CIA if the two groups could not agree on policy issues.
Commission Document 395 - FBI O'Connor Report of 25 Jan 1964 re: Oswald
Circa 1962-1963: "Luis Fernandez Rocha, secretary general of the DRE...stated that he had been made aware of the article which appeared in the December 4, 1963, edition of the Pompano Beach, Florida, "Sun Sentinel" newspaper, and his inquiries as to the identity of the alleged DRE spokesman mentioned in the article resulted negatively. He stated that the only DRE officers authorized to make announcements in the English language are Jose Antonio Lanusa and Joaquin Finillos, and neither of these members had made any such statements as contained in the Sun Sentinel article...the DRE has no knowledge of any incident in which the FBI was susceptible of 'suppressing the facts' relative to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy". Nor that Oswald had ever been in Miami, as well as a host of other inaccurate statements. At page 15: Frank Fiorini told this FBI agent that the article was written by a good friend of his named Jim Buchanan (not the same writer as the Miami Herald reporter), and he believes Buchanan's source frr this inaccurate information was Eduardo Diaz Lanz. a DRE member that recently arrived from Cuba in the summer of 1963. See 1/16/64 memo by SA James J. O'Connor.
Alan Weberman, "The Oswald Code"
Circa 1962-1963: "Julio Fernandez" was Jose Lanusa (or another DRE member or ally). "Dr. Guillermo Belt, the former Cuban Ambassador to the United States from 1945 to 1947 advised the Washington Field Office of the FBI on November 26, 1963, that he had received a call from Jose Antonio Lanusa November 25, 1963 last, in connection Subject. Lanusa advised Subject appeared in Miami one or two months ago and attempted to infiltrate anti-Castro organization DRE. Subject stated he could train DRE members in guerrilla warfare to be used against Castro. Subject later observed in New Orleans passing out Communist literature and therefore labeled Communist and Castro supporter. DRE had nothing further to do with Subject. [FBI DL 89-43-699 NARA FBI 124-10159-10416] Jose Antonio Lanusa later retracted his statement that linked Oswald to Castro." Also see Betty Beale, “Clare Boothe Luce Weaves a Fascinating Tale,” San Francisco Examiner, November 15, 1975. Cf. 10 AH 83; NARA #104-10310-10080, p. 7: "It was the captain of my motorboat. A young man not more than 25, a young student lawyer. He said, 'Mrs. Luce, I want to tell you about Oswald.' He said that immediately after the 1961 missile shutdown, FBI men had come to Miami and told the Cubans to break up all resistance groups and disperse. He and the other two members of his crew had moved to New Orleans where they formed another 'Free Cuba' group. They had been there a year and a half when who made contact with them but Oswald! The Cubans all thought he was a kook. Oswald bragged about having been in Russia and said he was an ex-Marine. He said he could shoot anybody and he would be happy to shoot Castro...they followed him and found he was in a Fair Play for Cuba Communist cell to whose members he was giving the same line...Oswald was telling the cell he could shoot anyone, including the secretary of the Navy (Fred Korth)..." They had tapes of some of Oswald's meetings and had photos.
Deadly Secrets, Warren Hinckle and William Turner (Thunder's Mouth Press, New York: 1992), pp. 147-148
Circa 1962-1963: "The former ambassador (William Pawley) envisioned the DRE as a sort of waterborne Flying Tigers, speeding in and out of Cuba on intelligence-gathering missions. He and a friend, Justin H. McCarthy, vice-president of the St. Regis Paper company in Jacksonville, persuaded some of their well-heeled acquaintances each to sponsor a boat and crew, much the way Catholic schoolchildren used to sponsor foreign orphans whom they called 'pagan babies'. One of those who signed up enthusiastically was Clare Boothe Luce, the wife of Time-Life publisher Henry Luce and an ambassador to Italy under Eisenhower. The anticommunist blonde took a maternal interest in the three-man crew she 'adopted', referring to them as 'my young Cubans'. She brought them to New York three times to mother them."
Circa 1962-1963: A CIA summary on "Jose Antonio Lanuza" states that during Nov. 1963 he was providing info (to someone unstated) on Commandos L. For "Jose Antonio Lanusa, 201-339258" it states that he was in the Inter-Source Registry since at least 1962, and that the Army terminated him without prejudice as of 11/1/68. There is also a statement saying "no traces Justin MacCarthy". MFF has no info for "Justin Maccarthy", but 208 hits for "Justin McCarthy".
104-10171-10003: G-2 PENETRATION ACTION AGAINST AMSPELL ORGANIZATION AND OTHER GROUPS
1/22/63 dispatch from Chief of Station, JMWAVE to Chief, TFW: "On 4 January 1963 AMHINT-27 (Manuel Baro Esteva) met with QUANTUM-51 in New York City, and QUANTUM-51 advised him that Jorge BRINGUIER Medina, the Secretary General of AMSPELL/DRE in Cuba, is a G-2 agent. Medina and AEDO (first name unknown), who was said by QUANTUM-51 to be on the AMSPELL National Executive, were actually G-2 penetrations. They planned to "roll up" the entire AMSPELL organization in "one sweep" and then escape and contact AMHINT-53 in the JMWAVE area. Medina was in contact with AMHINT-53 while in (Cuba) and planned to use AMHINT-53 to establish his bona fides with (CIA)." Also see 104-10171-10268: AMHINT-53 very upset about the penetration of his group, describes penetration as "mortal blow AMSPELL KUTUBE (Foreign Intelligence - FI - division of CIA) KUWOLF (Psychological and Paramilitary Staff) urban apparat and said would have to rebuild practically from scratch..."
104-10171-10255: DISPATCH: OPERATIONAL DECISION TO CONTINUE RAID POLICY
4/4/63 cable from Chief, JMWAVE to Chief, SAS: "On 3 April AMHINT-53 stated that AMSPELL had decided to continue with its program of projected raids. He added that he, personally, as well as (DRE) regretted to reach the point where a parting of the ways (with CIA) was necessary. By way of formalizing the decision, AMHINT-53 handed the case officer a letter dated 2 April which sets forth the (DRE) position..."
104-10132-10236: CABLE REGARDING ARREST OF LEE HARVEY OSWALD
11/22/63 cable from JMWAVE to Director, WAVE 8049: "Local Miami radio stations carrying report one Lee H. Oswald arrested as prime suspect in President assassination. AMHINT-53 reports AMSPELL (DRE) delegate had radio debate with Lee H. Oswald of Fair Play for Cuba Committee sometime in August 1963 on New Orleans station WDSU. According AMSPELL files, Oswald former US Marine who had traveled Moscow 59 at which time renounced American citizenship and turned passport over to American consulate. Allegedly lived in home Sov foreign minister for two months. In course radio debate subj confessed he Marxist. Above info has not been passed ODFOAM/Navy, ODACID/State or ODENVY/FBI as AMSPELL plans news release circa 1300 hours November 22." This message was sent 2242 Zulu time - Central Standard Time is 5 hours earlier, or 5:42 pm. It seems evident that there was a typo, and the press release probably went out at 1800 hours, or 6 pm Central Standard Time.
Peter Dale Scott, Dallas 63: The First Deep State Revolt Against the White House
1963-1975: There is an "allegation of Pawley’s close friend and political ally Clare Boothe Luce, about a story from her 'young friend,' the skipper of one of the anti-Castro DRE raider boats she and Pawley were sponsoring. Luce claimed that her friend (to whom she gave the pseudonym 'Julio Fernandez'), told her the night of Kennedy’s assassination that he 'had these tape recordings of Oswald' in New Orleans, tapes which included Oswald’s 'bragging that he could shoot anyone, even the Secretary of the Navy.' Luce phoned CIA Director William Colby about the story on October 25, 1975, telling him chiefly about the tapes...by the end of the day of the second phone call, October 31, 1975, Colby had been dismissed as CIA Director by Ford’s White House Chief of Staff Donald Rumsfeld and his assistant Dick Cheney. This was part of the notorious 'Halloween Massacre' that also ended Henry Kissinger’s career as National Security Adviser."
104-10515-10101: ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET: INFORMATION REGARDING CUBAN EMIGRES IN MIAMI
6/19/67, FBI letterhead memo: Jose Antonio Lanusa also advised that he had been previously contacted (date not indicated) by Mr. (note: Jim) Alcock, an investigator of Garrison. Alcock accused Lanusa of having knew about Oswald's activities prior to the assassination of President Kennedy. Alcock stated that this information had been furnished by Claire Booth Luce (actual spelling - Clare Boothe Luce). Lanusa denied this and said all that he knew about Oswald prior to the assassination had been furnished to him by Carlos Bringuier..." Bringuier also saw Alberto Fowler on 6/15/67 - Fowler told him the case was getting complicated because Garrison had information that an identical double of Lee Harvey Oswald existed and this individual was a 'double agent' of the FBI."