Cryptonym: AMROD-3
A FBI memo on June 5, 1963, stated that "CIA is very interested in acquiring as much information as possible concerning Edith Garcia Buchaca de Ordoqui who is a top leader of communist women in Cuba and who is a key figure in Castro's propaganda operations." The memo was on Annie Garcia Brunet and Otto Garcia Buchaca, who were the sister and brother of Edith Garcia Buchaca respectively. They both lived in Miami at the time the memo was written. The memo added that Annie Garcia Brunet (married to Jesus Brunet) was possibly moving to Puerto Rico. The memo also stated that (Austin) "Horn inquired if the Bureau would be in a position to determine if Annie and Otto Garcia are receiving any mail from Cuba and if the contents were available, the information could be useful in further assessing Edith Garcia. Horn explained CIA's eventual objective would be to recruit Edith Garcia."
A FBI memo on June 12, 1963, directed the Miami office to find out where Annie and Otto Garcia lived in Miami, and investigate their backgrounds and activities, with a view to possible interviews in the future. In regard to Annie Garcia, the FBI San Juan's office "should determine details of background and activities of Jesus Brunet and in event Annie Brunet has moved to Puerto Rico conduct investigation along lines set out above for Miami. Results of investigation should be submitted in form suitable for dissemination at an early date."
Bill Simpich, in State Secret, and John Newman, in Oswald and the CIA, as well as other writers, have written about the AMROD operation.
06/05/63: FBI memo from S. J. Papich to D. J. Brennan: Subject: ANNIE GARCIA BRUNET; OTTO GARCIA BUCHACA: IS - CUBA: "The following information was furnished to the Liaison Agent on June 4, 1963, by Austin Horn, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): CIA is very interested in acquiring as much information as possible concerning Edith Garcia Buchaca de Ordoqui who is a top leader of communist women in Cuba and who is a key figure in Castro's propaganda operations. The captioned individuals are the sister and brother of Edith Garcia. Annie Garcia Brunet resides at 1515 West Avenue, Apartment 3, Miami Beach, Florida. She may be moving to Puerto Rico in the near future to join her husband Jesus Brunet, an engineer employed by Compania Barton, Santurce, Puerto Rico. Otto Garcia Buchaca, born February 5, 1918, is residing in Miami, Florida, address unknown. Horn inquired if the Bureau would be in a position to determine if Annie and Otto Garcia are receiving any mail from Cuba and if the contents were available, the information could be useful in further assessing Edith Garcia. Horn explained CIA's eventual objective would be to recruit Edith Garcia. ACTION: The above information and CIA request are being directed to the attention of the Nationalities Intelligence Section. In the event we are not able to comply with CIA's request, it is suggested that the reply be handled via Liaison."
06/12/63: FBI memo from Director to SAC, Miami: Subject: EDITH GARCIA BUCHACA DE ORDOQUI: FOREIGN POLITICAL MATTERS - CUBA: ..."Miami should immediately attempt to determine residences of subject's relatives and submit appropriate recommendation for mail covers on correspondence being received by them. Determine full details of their backgrounds and activities looking toward possible future interviews of them to obtain information regarding subject. San Juan should determine details of background and activities of Jesus Brunet and in event Annie Brunet has moved to Puerto Rico conduct investigation along lines set out above for Miami. Results of investigation should be submitted in form suitable for dissemination at an early date. NOTE: Information received from Central Intelligence Agency was furnished by Austin Horn to Liaison Agent S. J. Papich on date noted."
104-10100-10305: IDEN IS ASSIGNED CRYPT
10/29/63: Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: Charles Anderson, Unit: SAS/SO): Slugline RYBAT TYPIC AMROD: "IDEN has been assigned crypt AMROD-3." 201-736493. Releasing Officer: Bruce B. Cheever, AC/SAS. Authenticating Officer: Edward Marelius, A/SAS/EXO.
104-10529-10056: IDEN FOR DIRECTOR 78977
10/29/63: Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: Charles Anderson, Unit: SAS/SO): Slugline RYBAT TYPIC AMROD: REF: DIR 78977: "IDEN: Annie Garcia de Brunet, 201-736493. *Cable Sec: PLS use as reference, number assigned to attached cable." Releasing Officer: Bruce B. Cheever, AC/SAS. Authenticating Officer: Edward Marelius, A/SAS/EXO.
104-10077-10088: DIRECTOR CABLE REQUESTING CABLE REPLY
11/22/63: Cable from Director to JMWAVE: Slugline TYPIC AMROD: "1. Please cable reply to ref para 3. 2. Has any mail been received per ref para 1? C/S Comment: *Stated HQs processing AMROD-3 OA. Requested answers to PRQ Two Roman numeral sections seven through sixteen." Releasing Officer: Desmond FitzGerald. Authenticating Officer: Samuel Halperin, SAS/EXO.
John Newman, Oswald and the CIA, p.387
"The CIA saw to it that false papers had been planted on Proenza, documents that made the Vice Minister of Defense (note: Soviet-aligned Joaquin Ordoqui) look like a CIA agent who had betrayed the Soviet missile buildup in Cuba to the Americans. Actually, this official was a highly placed and extreme pro-Moscow Communist - and was probably the KGB's chief agent in the Cuban government. The CIA hoped that Moscow would jump to the vice minister's defense and that a collision would result between Moscow and Havana. The Proenza deception was associated with the Agency's AMTRUNK and AMROD anti-Cuban operations, part of a general CIA strategy to 'split the Castro regime' and sour relations between Moscow and Havana. Proenza, the vice minister, the vice minister's wife, and a subordinate of the vice minister were all arrested, tried for treason, and jailed for various terms. They were all innocent."
Bill Simpich, State Secret, Chapter 4: https://www.maryferrell.org/pages/State_Secret_Chapter4.html
Endnote 88: "The world of counterintelligence is revealed in LIFEAT’s monitoring of subjects of ZRKNICK interest, which included a tap on the home of Cuban commercial attaché Luisa Calderon: LIFEAT Progress Report, July 1963, NARA Record Number: 104-10413-10294; also see LIFEA Progress Report, August-October 1963, NARA Record Number: 104-10413-10293. Also see that on 11/9/63, a specific type of wiretap surveillance was conducted on the home phone of the Cuban commercial attache (HMMW-22536). This is almost certainly Luisa Calderon, whose office line was covered by LIENVOY. See reference to this in the Lopez Report, footnote 188, page 14 of footnotes." HMMW-22536 mentions that "the product...is of interest to Special Affairs Staff and JMWAVE" and that coverage of a home phone of a Cuban official was done to support the sensitive AMROD operation. A more redacted version is part of a file of Mexico City dispatches..." Also see 104-10528-10133: Charles Anderson sends a 10/4/63 AMROD memo about Mexico City officer Thomas Urquhart coming to town. The subject is 201-20481, (Joaquin Ordoqui Mesa). Joaquin Ordoqui Mesa is a key Cuban Communist figure and member of the National Directorate of the ORI (the "Integrated Revolutionary Organizations").