Cryptonym: JMTRAV

Official History of the Bay of Pigs Operation, Volume III: Evolution of CIA's Anti-Castro Policies, 1959 - January 1961 Current Section: Part III: Changing Concepts

Identifies JMTRAV as an infantry training base in Guatemala being used for the Bay of Pigs.

Official History of the Bay of Pigs Operation, Volume II: Participation in the Conduct of Foreign Policy Current Section: E. November Revolt -- Policy Makers vs Pragmatists

"...the voice of the US government in Guatemala during the months when the ground and air training bases -- JMTRAV and JMADD, respectively -- were being established was that of the Central Intelligence Agency."

Official History of the Bay of Pigs Operation, Volume II: Participation in the Conduct of Foreign Policy Current Section: C. Cover, Security and Latin Pride

Carl Jenkins was the Chief of Base for JMTRAV.

1993.08.02.09:49:33:710060: OFFICE OF SECURITY FILE ON ARTIME (BUESA) MANUEL

Mid-1960: "As the plans for a frontal invasion took shape, CIA men went to Guatemala and arranged with Rancher-Businessman Roberto Alejos to use three of his properties - coffee plantations named Helvetia and La Suiza near the town of Retalhuleu, and a cotton plantation called San Jose Buenavista, 35 miles from the Pacific port of San Jose - as camps to train an army of invasion ('No charge.' said Alejos. 'Remember me in Havana.'). Through Alejos, the CIA also arranged a 1 million surfacing of a 5000 foot airstrip at Retalhuleu. Starting in September, an airlift of US planes shuttled between recruiting centers in Florida and the Guatemala camps, bringing in the first of more than 2000 combat trainees. Later, Alejos helped establish two more camps, one at San Juan Acul, close to the Mexican border, the other at Don Lagunas in the jungles of northern Guatemala. A heavy-set, grey-haired CIA agent took charge of the Guatemalan operation, backed up there and in Miami by 'Jimmy', 'Clarence', 'Adams' and 'Roderick'." (4/28/61, "The Massacre", Time Magazine)

Official History of the Bay of Pigs Operation, Volume I: Air Operations, March 1960 - April 1961, C. JMADD: Air Training Base, Retalhuleu, Guatemala

(p. 107): By 23 September (1960) Cuban personnel at the base numbered 39 pilots, 2 navigators, 18 mechanics, a chaplain, and a doctor. In addition, 8 PDQ's, 2 radio operators, and a number of guards had been recruited from the Cuban infantry contingent training at Finca Helvetia (JMTRAV) and were undergoing training at JMADD -- the crypt assigned to the air base. The coffee plantation, Finca Helvetia, was owned by Roberto Alejos, a confidant of President Ydigoras and a brother of the Guatemalan ambassador to the USA. It has been stated elsewhere that Alejos donated his land in Guatemala for the Bay of Pigs operation. (p. 76): "As a final note on the Agency's relations with OSO/DOD, it should be emphasized that without exception the air operations personnel -- and others familiar with the air operations -- who were interviewed by the author were universal in their agreement that Col. Fletcher Prouty, the DOD/OSO USAF representative, was REDACTED, particularly as the decision was made to withdraw USAF personnel from the overseas base in Guatemala. Gar Thorsrud put it in the following, rather explicit terms: 'There was a guy over there [at DOD/OSO] by the name of Fletcher Prouty -- who was REDACTED -- and he did everything he could to put stumbling blocks in front of the Agency, all through that operation ••• There were some situations with our liaison with the Air Force through Fletcher Prouty that I think were ...."

104-10301-10004: INTERNAL DRAFT HISTORY OF THE BAY OF PIGS PREPARED BY JACK PFEIFFER , VOL III. EVOLUTION OF CIA'S ANTI-CASTRO POLICIES, 1959 - JANUARY 1961

"Even as the size of the Cuban exile force was being debated, Headquarters cabled to Guatemala (4 November 1960) that the small team concept had gone by the board and that planning should begin for training a conventional amphibious assault force of at least 1,500 infantrymen. Outlines sent to the infantry training base in Guatemala (JMTRAV), emphasized the need to instill an esprit de corps among the trainees. To do this JMTRAV was urged to provide for unit separation, competition in the military arts, and specific identities for the individual units through the use of scarfs, caps, or some other device. This new training program was to be instigated in November 1960 and be completed by the end of January 1961."

104-10240-10238: CABLE: FOR ZABOTH PLANNING PURPOSES AMBIDDY-1 DESIRES FOLLOWING TRAINEES

1/24/61 cable from JMRAND to BELL: "For ZABOTH (Carl Jenkins) planning purposes AMBIDDY-1 desires following trainees for his ops infiltration team: 2588 or 2517, 2535, 2821, 2616, 2576 and 2768."

104-10162-10098 CABLE RE SEVEN AGENTS MENTIONED IN PARA 5 REF A NOT AMBIDDY-1'S TEAM MEMBERS.

2/8/61 cable from JMRAND to BELL: "...Total pax would then be (AMBIDDY-1) and his team members 2535, 2821, 2616, 2576, 2768 plus two additional teams consisting of 2516, 2520, 2581, 2705, 2525, 2701, 2586 and two conducting officers...trainees 2508 and 2517 are w/t operators who departed JMRYE 5 Jan for training hqs area."

104-10240-10269: CABLE:AMBIDDY-1 NOW AT TRAV TO JOIN WITH STRIKE FORCE. HE

04/01/61: Cable from JMTRAV to BELL: JMZIP: "1. AMBIDDY-1 (Manuel Artime Buesa) now at TRAV to join with strike force. He urgently requests his infiltration team members join him TRAV soonest to be employed by brigade infiltration role benefit brigade. Team members are: A. Garcia Martinez. B. Frank Bernardino. C. Jorge Rodriguez Fleites. D. Carlos Hernandez. E. Nestor Izquierdo. Artime requested for them to be made available (they were in Mexico).2. TRAV concurs request hoping members available." "TRAV concurs" - that sounds like Carl Jenkins speaking.