Cryptonym: CIRASH-6
https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/180-10143-10180.pdf
CIRASH-6 is identified in this HSCA crypt decoder as Orlando Garcia Vasquez.
Lisa Pease, Gunrunner Ruby and the CIA, https://kennedysandking.com/john-f-kennedy-articles/gunrunner-ruby-and-the-cia
The Warren Report tells of an incident in early 1959 where Ruby made "preliminary inquiries, as a middleman, concerning the possible sale to Cuba of some surplus jeeps located in Shreveport, La., and asked about the possible release of prisoners from a Cuban prison." 9 Ruby's sister indicated the jeeps might have been military surplus from W.W.II. 10 Both the story of the jeeps and the story of the prisoners tie Ruby to some interesting Cuban activities. Texas gunrunner Robert McKeown said Ruby "had a whole lot of jeeps he wanted to get to Castro." Ruby wanted McKeown to write a personal letter of introduction to Castro for Ruby so he could talk to Castro about releasing some unnamed friends detained in Havana. Also see 124-10350-10121, p. 3: "On June 9, 1961, Orlando Garcia Vasquez advised that he is a member of the Unity Movement of Aureliano Sanchez Arango which is called Revolutionary Junta of National Liberation (Junta) (AMEER)...the Junta does not accept any Americans, and is in no way associated with the few of the revolutionary organizations in Miami which consist of American adventurers."
8/10/61 memo from ONI, office 921-E (Counterintelligence): "Two airplanes were rented from Howe Aviation, Miami...these planes were flown to Davis Airport, where Gerald Patrick Hemming, Dick Watley, Frank Little and Orlando Garcia each made a parachute jump. Hemming, Watley and Little each belong to Hemming's organization, known as Intercontinental Penetration Forces. Orlando Garcia is one of the officials of the Revolutionary Junta of National Liberation. Also making a parachute jump was Leon Daniel, UPI Bureau manager from Knoxville, Tennesee." See 180-10104-10354, p. 7 - for the background on office 921-E - counterintelligence within ONI. "Contacts with both current and former NIS (Naval Investigative Service) knowledgable of both the services of both Op-921D and Op-921E during the period in question reveal no recollection of assignment of agents or other employees to maintain sources or otherwise investigate or monitor the Cuban anti-Castro groups in those cities. Their recollection was that the FBI and CIA did investigate such activities."
104-10227-10018: CABLE: FOLLOWING FROM ODACID OFFICER FROM CONVERSATION WITH
09/15/62: Cable from Caracas to Director (Castelon Acting): Slugline GYROSE AMSPELL: "1. Following from ODACID officer from conversation with Manuel Brana, member of Consejo Revolucionario recently arrived VENE: A. AMHINT-2 (Note: Juan Manuel Salvat Roque) in VENE as result request VENE Govt. Had conversations with rear admiral Armando Lopez Conde. AMHINT-2 attempting negotiate use of Orchila Island for training and operations site for AMSPELLS. Lopez assisted similar operations during Larrazabal regime for Fidel in 1958 and personally favors AMHINT-2 proposal, but Lopez needs Betancourt approval. AMHINT-2 asked use other VENE base if Orchila not available. 2. According to CIRAKE-2, AMHINT-2 and three other members (portion GBLD being SVCD) his parent organization spoke at private meeting of 20 to 30 Venezuelans, Cubans and two Americans 13 Sept. Purpose meeting urge Venezuelans form local organization to purchase boats for AMSPELLS. One pledge of ten thousand Bolivares received. 3. CIRASH-6 (Note: Orlando Garcia Vasquez) tacitly admitted responsibility AMHINT/2 visit Venezuela (portion GBLD) said AMHINT-2 planned depart VENE 14 Sept on Latin American tour. CS Comment: *No evidence support AMSPELL by Betancourt; however, CIARK-1 believes that AMSPELL visit VENE coordinated by CIRASH-6 who CIRATAL-1 advisor on Cuban matters."
3/23/64 cable from Caracas to Director: "CIRAKE-3 contacted 21 March by AMVANG-1 in Caracas and invited on behalf of AMBANG-1 to attend AMBANG organization meeting in Puerto Rico this week. Round trip expenses to be paid by AMBANG organization. CIRASH-6 (IDEN A) apparently included in same invitation." CIRASH-6 aka Orlando Garcia Vasquez is identified as IDEN A in this document: 104-10179-10202, see https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/104-10179-10202.pdf
4/17/64 FBI letterhead memo on Robert Ray McKeown: "Information concerning reported contact between Jack L. Ruby and Robert Ray McKeown was furnished the President's Commission on March 2, 1964, by report of Special Agent Manning C. Clements in Dallas, Texas...McKeown was one of the subjects in an extensive investigation conducted by this Bureau since 1952 concerning the activities of Carlos Prio Socarres...the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Unit...charged various individuals, including McKeown, with conspiracy to smuggle guns and related equipment, to Cuba..." The defendants included McKeown, Prio, CIRASH-6, Orlando Garcia Vasquez, also known as Orlando Vasquez, F. Valdez, Ramos...and about ten others.
HSCA Report, Volume IX Current Section: Trips to Cuba
Wally Weston, a comedian and emcee who worked for Ruby, informed (the HSCA) that while visiting Ruby in jail some time after Ruby was convicted, Ruby mentioned Cuba: "When I went to see him (Jack Ruby) that one time he was shook, he says, 'Geez, Wally, they're going to find out about Cuba. They're going to find out about the guns, find out about New Orleans, find out about everything.'"
104-10179-10197: CABLE RE: AMVANG-1 APPARENTLY FUNCTIONING IN CARA AS UNOFFICIAL AMBANG-1 REP
3/23/64 cable from Caracas to Director: "AMVANG-1 apparently functioning in Caracas as unofficial AMBANG rep. Although CIRAKE-3 and AMVANG-1 formerly on friendly terms, recent CIRAKE-3 propaganda campaign against AMBANG-1 resulted in cool relations. Consequently AMVANG-1 contacted CIRASH-6 on 20 March and requested him arrange meeting of CIRAKE-3, CIRASH-2 and AMVANG-1 to discuss broad subject of AMBANG organization...during lunch AMVANG-1 told CIRAKE-3 and CIRASH-6 that AMBANG-1 is anxious (to ) meet with both of them in Puerto Rico." It also mentions that CIRASH-6 is highly regarded in the Caracas Cuban exile community and was hostile to AMBANG-1/JURE. Also see 104-10178-10154, p. 137, in heavily redacted cable focused on Luis Posada. Also see 104-10178-10000, p. 202, 4/8/70: "Neither James Melville Hart nor Orlando Garcia have any operational relationship with this Agency, although their activities are of interest to us. We are not aware of any contact between them and Luis Posada...this Agency would appreciate receiving any information which the Bureau may develop between Hart and Garcia and the arms traffic in which they are reported to be involved."
Gaeton Fonzi, The Last Investigation, pp. 344-345
"By 1971, (Luis) Posada, using the nom de guerre of Comisario Basilio, was chief of DISIP's security division, in charge of surveillance and counterintelligence...he made the mistake of gossiping about a salacious conversation that had been recorded between a young politician and his mistress. The politician never forgave him for wagging his tongue about that and when Carlos Andre Perez later became President of Venezuela, Posada was out of a job. It was then that he opened his private security agency...after Posada, President Perez appointed another Cuban exile to be chief of state security, Orlando Garcia Vasquez, a dapper fellow with a gleaming bald head and an immaculately trimmed black beard, was the man Al Gonzales and I had to see to arrange our prison interviews with Posada and Bosch. We were impressed with his six telephones, his gold Rolex, his two heavy gold rings (one diamond encrusted), his thick gold chain, his fancy silk shirt and his maroon cashmere sports jacket. Quite friendly, he seemed particularly interested in our interest in his prisoners. At the time, we didn't know that Orlando Garcia, besides being the head of the Venezuelan secret police was also on the CIA's payroll."
"In late September 1976 a usually reliable source reported that Cuban exile leader Orlando Bosch was in Venezuela under the protection of Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez. Furthermore, Perez had appointed his security and intelligence adviser Orlando Garcia to protect and assist Bosch during his stay in Venezuela...Upon his arrival in Caracas, Bosch was met at the airport by Garcia and Luis Clemente Posada, a private investigator and one-time member of DISIP (Venezuelan intelligence) who escorted Bosch to his Caracas hotel. (Field Note: While currently naturalized Venezuelan citizens, both Garcia and Posada are native-born Cubans.)...a few days (later), Posada was overheard to say that 'we are going to hit a Cuban airplane' and 'Orlando has the details'...following the 6 October Cubana airline crash off the coast of Barbados, Bosch, Garcia and Posada agreed that it would be best for Bosch to leave Venezuela."
https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/2018/104-10177-10233.pdf
10/23/76 cable from REDACTED to Director, slugline NIACT (Night Action): "Ambassador has just been apprised of Taylor Branch story in 23 October issue of Miami News in which Ricardo Morales Navarette is identified as CIA agent with participation in Operation MONGOOSE against Cuba and service as mercenary in Congo. In view possible Venezuelan government attempt to pass blame for Cubana bombing onto USG by implying FBI and CIA had long time association with suspects in case, Ambassador would like to know as soon as possible full history of any Agency affiliation with the following, exclusive of time in Venezuela: "A. Orlando Garcia Vasquez, Cuban-Venezuelan (201-3267860). Employee of DISIP (Note: Venezuelan intelligence) B. Ricardo Morales Navarette, Cuban/Venezuelan (201-3285923). (Note: Morales had been also known as AMDESK-1) Employee of DISIP. C. Freddy Lugo, Venezuelan, suspect bomber. D. Hernan Ricardo Lozano, Venezuelan, suspect bomber. E. Luis Posada Carilles, Cuban/Venezuelan (201-0300985) former DISIP employee. (Note: Posada was WKSCARLET-3, prior to that AMCLEVE-15 and CIFENCE-4) F. Oleg Gueton Rodriguez. Venezuelan. G. Alfredo Gutierrez. Venezuelan. H. Francisco Nunez (illegible), former Cuban naval officer. I. Celso Toledo, female, believed Venezuelan, secretary for Posada, above...need full HQS traces on all of above Subjects (exclusive of Venezuela) to satisfy Ambassador's concern that we are aware of all info available to us and not be unpleasantly surprised by revelations in US media stories. Please reply NIACT."
"Letter from Orlando Bosch dated May 1977 instructs Coordinated Revolutionary Organization (CORU) to initiate large-scale terrorist action in Venezuela. Plans call for assassination of Orlando Garcia (201-0067860) and Ricardo Morales. Veciana to be involved in this action."