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Cryptonym: PBRAMPART

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Definition:
PBRAMPART was the cryptonym for G-2 U.S. Army Europe (G-2 USAREUR) plan for staybehind in the former American zone.
Status:
Documented
Discussion:
PBRAMPART was often included as a slug in cables and dispatches. These documents mentioned a range of individuals from Mitchell WerBell, Joe Merola, and defector Vladimir Sloboda. In addition, CIA officer Frederick C. Randall was a PBRAMPART officer in the Far East in the 1960's.
Sources:

https://www.archives.gov/files/iwg/declassified-records/rg-263-cia-records/second-release-lexicon.pdf

CIA document: Research Aid: Cryptonyms and Terms in Declassified CIA Files Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Disclosure Acts: Page 44: ..."Term: PBRAMPART. Definition: G-2 U.S. Army Europe (G-2 USAREUR) plan for staybehind in former American zone..."

Anthony Summers, Conspiracy, pp. 146-147

Re 1945-1960: "Former CIA officer Victor Marchetti observes that the 11/23/63 Oswald call (from jail) was directed at a number in the same general area as the North Carolina base where - says Marchetti - US Naval Intelligence once planned infiltration missions into the Soviet Union...It is reported that, in all the fourteen years between 1945 and 1959, only two American enlisted men defected to the Soviet Union. In the eighteen months up to 1960, however, a good number of known defectors either went direct from the military or had sensitive backgrounds... "(endnote): "The five Army men were a Sergeant Jones, Sergeant Ernie Fletcher, Bruce F. Davis, Sergeant Joseph Dutkanicz, and Specialist 5th Class Vladimir Sloboda. The two NSA employees were William H. Martin and B. Ferguson Mitchell. The former OSS official was Maurice Halperin, the former Air Force major Licero Ricciardelli, and the Rand Development Corporation employee Robert E. Webster." "In a sudden rush of turncoats, no less than five were Army men stationed in West Germany, and two were former Naval men and employees of the National Security Agency...of the civilians who went to the Soviet Union, one was a former official of the OSS...another was a former Air Force major, and a third a former Navy enlisted man currently working for the Rand Development Corporation. Then of course there was Lee Oswald, fresh out of the Marines."

1994.05.09.10:49:12:880005: Reel 17, Folder J - VLADIMIR SLOBODA.

Re August 1960: "(Source learned) from Lt. Col. Henryk Zmijewski, deputy director of the Polish state security service (UB) Department II (counterintelligence) and head of the American section, that American Section, that Subject was a KGB agent. (See https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=pl&u=https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henryk_%25C5%25BBmijewski&prev=search&pto=aue) ...According to Zmijewski, Subject was not particularly important...he headed an interpreter unit or worked in some analysis section in the 503rd MID unit (near Frankfurt, West Germany). Subject had fled to East Germany as a result of countermeasures taken by the Americans as the result of 154 MID (military intelligence department) agents in August 1960. These agents were involved in a double agent operation run by the KGB for five years...subject was reported missing from his unit (513th MID) on 3 August 1960, only seven days after Izvestia reported the defection of Sgt. Joseph Dutkanicz, also a Polish-born naturalized American citizen. The arrest of 147 'American agents' was reported by the East German press on August 24, 1960." Also see another copy at 104-10181-10046 - 1/16/62 memo from SR/CI/Research Stuart C. Duncan.

1994.05.09.10:49:12:880005: Reel 17, Folder J - VLADIMIR SLOBODA. Document View

Went on TV on 8/28/60, stating: "an attache of the American embassy in Moscow had helped the United States 'get spies into the Soviet Union disguised as tourists, delegates and diplomats." At p. 32: Sloboda said this attache was Col. Theodore Hoffman, "now in West Germany". At p. 28: A good summary. At p. 24: NY Times ran similar story on 8/23/60, quoting Sloboda as saying "A method most widely practiced by the US intelligence service is the smuggling of agents from the FRG, and in particular from West Berlin, into the German Democratic Republic, the USSR, Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia... "Intensive preparations for a new war are going on now at units of the US intelligence service and at the headquarters of the United States army formations in Europe. "In particular they are smuggling an increasing number of agents into the GDR, the USSR, and other socialist countries to collect intelligence information on vital establishments in these countries. Group 513 has topographical maps of the USSR, Poland, Czechoslovakia and other countries on which the targets for future bombings are marked. I know that one of the purposes of U-2 flights over the territory of the Soviet Union is to collect data for these maps." Claim was "subject had fled to East Germany as a result of countermeasures taken by the Americans following the arrest of 154 MID agents (Military Intelligence District) in August 1960. These agents were involved in a double-agent operation run by the KGB for five years." Sloboda claimed he was blackmailed and framed into defecting. At 104-10150-10136, p. 247: Col. Theodore Hoffman was the army attache in Moscow from May 1959-May 1961, told the CIA his work was compromised during this era.

UNABLE THUS FAR FIND ANY EVIDENCE SLOBODA HAD ANY CONTACT KUBARKERS.

09/03/60: Cable from Frankfurt to Director: Slugline CART PBRAMPART CABEZONE: REF DIR 48082 (OUT 64181)*: "1. Unable thus far find any evidence (Vladimir) Sloboda had any contact KUBARKers (CIA). 2. Capt Jack Manning ODIBEX (U.S. Army) rep SES informed Lyack 2 September he knew Sloboda well as member his section 525 MI Group Fort Meade in 1958. Says S. had access then to considerable personality info ODIBEX intel. S. visited Manning SES offices late last winter to borrow fifty dollars which later repaid. Visit lasted 20 minutes during which safes locked and no classified material exposed. Manning says S. knows generally purpose of CABEZONE (note: Camp King, a Defector Reception Center - DRC - in Frankfurt, Germany) and SES out not Manning's functions. According CABEZONE records this only visit S. to CABEZONE. 3. No KUBARKers in CABEZONE had dealings any nature with S. One KUBARKer thought he had heard member ODIBEX detachment CABEZONE say just after defection that S. had occasionally assisted them in some way but unable now identify speaker or otherwise verify this statement. Assume such impression could have been gained from S. visit to Manning para 2 above. 4. Alias Loring says he known to S. in capacity of UPHILL (West German Foreign Intelligence Service - BND) liaison Camp King but not as UPHILL liaison CABEZONE. 5. MKTOPAZ (CIA Technical Services Division) liaison to Camp King had no dealings with S. 6. Will report any additional items but tentatively conclude S. had no intimate knowledge KUBARK. 7. Request identity army type and full report all his statements to assist investigation here. C/S Comment: *HQs requested estimate SUBJ's knowledge KUBARK activities and personnel."

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/GRCROOND%20GRREPAIR%20%20%20VOL.%204%20%20%28GRCROOND%20OPERATIONS%29_0060.pdf

05/10/61: Dispatch from Chief of Base, Salzburg to COS, Austria (Info: Chief, EE): Subject: GROOVY/Operational Progress Report - Salzburg Operations Base: Page 5: ..."3) PBRAMPART: During the past year we have conferred regularly with first ODOPAL (U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps) and later, CAMOG (note: Cable indicator for operations and support activities in Munich not related to the BND) officers responsible for operations in this area. Our initial coordination was largely centered on the DIZTAG (Czechoslovakia) installation and primarily in the direction of monitoring activities rather than with a view toward engaging in a joint effort. At COB's direction, we are gradually tending more and more to pool assets and work together with both CAMOG and ODOPAL against both East Bloc offices here..." - - - For the above cryptonyms see pages 42, 18 and 25 respectively: https://www.archives.gov/files/iwg/declassified-records/rg-263-cia-records/second-release-lexicon.pdf

104-10222-10012: RANDALL, FREDERICK C.

09/19/63: Memo from Robert Chin, Acting Chief, FE/JKO to FE Career Management Committee: Subject: Recommendation for Promotion of Mr. Frederick C. Randall from GS-13 to GS-14: "1. Mr. Frederick C. Randall joined the Agency in September 1951 and has served in Headquarters and the Field on Indonesian and Japan affairs. He is currently assigned to Tokyo where he is chief of a section concerned with PBRAMPART and operational support activities. Mr. Randall has been in grade since September 1958 and was recently recommended for promotion to GS-14 by Tokyo Chief of Station. 2. In handling his primary duty, Station PBRAMPART responsibilities, Mr. Randall has set a pattern and established procedures which have been copied throughout FE Division. His work with his (REDACTION) colleague in Tokyo is excellent and his unassuming patience based on solid experience continues to be a distinct advantage for the Agency in the PBRAMPART field in Japan. The vast improvement in the local coordination business has been in large part due to his good work..."

104-10100-10121: CABLE RE OPERATIONS

10/3/63 cable from HQ to Mexico City, DIR 73144 PBRAMPART: "Urgent. Private meeting (illegible)." Next page: "On October 2, a memo went out from CIA headquarters discussing the danger that the FBI's field office in Mexico City had been penetrated. "Re coordination of FBI (oper?)ations in MEXI, -__ in liaison with ODENVY (note: FBI) is still delicate matter which ___ AMDEAD at HDQS 0-- directives foresee that certain types of operations may be coordinated at HDQS rather than in the field. on the whole our relations with FBI on world-wide and PBPRIME and CE (note: US and counter-espionage) matters are extremely productive and still improving and we do not wish at present time to raise new issues in Mexico...FBI has agreed and has instructed its MEXI rep to discuss with you pertinent details of such Russian CE ops as LAROB case."

104-10222-10012: RANDALL, FREDERICK C.

03/22/65: Memo from Clarence W. Edwards, Chief, FE to FE Career Management Committee: Subject: Recommendation for Promotion of Mr. Frederick C. Randall from GS-13 to GS-14: ..."2. Mr. Randall's primary duty at the Tokyo Station is Station PBRAMPART responsibilities. Those responsibilities are broad and highly important to all PBRAMPART relations throughout the Far East...4. In the most recent fitness report on Mr. Randall, he was rated over-all 'Strong' and was given 'Outstanding' for the Specific Duty Number One, 'PBRAMPART Officer'...Mr. Randall has been able to play a prime part in our excellent PBRAMPART posture'"... Also see 104-10182-10071, p. 134: 05/03/69: Cable from Director to Bangkok (Orig: Withheld, FE/TBL/T): Slugline PBRAMPART: "1. We note LNSHOE query dated 2 May to its HQs asking for traces on Mitchell L. Werbell. Wish to bring to your attention ref which replied to recent station request for traces on Werbell. Suggest you may wish pass gist of ref on FYI basis to local LNSHOE reps. 2. File: 201-259910. (note: WerBell's 201 number)"

104-10187-10009: CIA FILE (ASSET) PHOTO SURVEILLANCE OP.

10/28/70: Dispatch from COS, Mexico City to Chief, WH Division (Info: Chief, SB Division): Subject: LIEMPTY Project/Operational Report, 1 July - 30 September 1970: Page 3: ..."8. LIEMPTY-9 (LICALLA), in addition to his picture-taking (perched for seven hours daily atop a ladder arrangement to see above the heightened garden wall), regularly provides a detailed 'attendance sheet' and a monthly summary of MHHARSH personnel activities. The photos are an indispensable tool in the day-to-day REDTOP operations program, providing photo identification of PCS and TDY MHHARSHers and assisting to determine probable RIS affiliation based on observed associations within the compound. The detailed 'attendance sheet' helps in keeping track of MHHARSHers present, their patterns and changes in pattern of activities. This information is often the principal tool in PBRAMPART activities, assisting in identifying the probable MHHARSH contacts of double agents dispatched to the MHHARSH installation..."

104-10435-10071: [RESTRICTED]

Unknown date: Dispatch from COS, Athens to Chief, NE (Info: COS, Madrid, Chief, European Division): Subject: PBRAMPART Dimitrios Dimitrof: "1. Subject is Dimitrios Dimitrof aka General Dico Dimitrov; DPOB: 24 May 24 in Bulgaria; Citizenship: Unknown; Occupation: Movie film producer; Address: c/o Majorie Dare, 360 West 22nd Street, New York, New York; Miscellaneous: Claims to have worked for WOFIRM..."

104-10106-10034: CABLE RE JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA

12/06/74: Cable from Director to LA/Miami: Slugline MHABYSS PBRAMPART: "1. Regarding Joseph Raymond Merola (201-257804), U.S. citizen, Subject para 1 ref, please inform DEA the following...Merola, an occasional contact of our overt office in Miami since 1961. Periodically provides that office with foreign positive intelligence information. It is suggested that the FBI be contacted for additional information. 2. DEA HQs informed BKHERALD (CIA, Soviet Bloc division.) June 74 that Merola was of operational interest. They requested traces and stated he reportedly worked for BKHERALD in late 1950's. We replied that Mr. Merola had never worked for BKHERALD, although we were aware that he had made such claims on number of previous instances...7. FYI only: POA granted 63 for Subject's use in PM boat operations. However POA cancelled when he claimed he unable satisfactorily treat his seasickness. In 64, Subject interviewed by FBI in Los Angeles, California re group of Cubans in Miami involved in drug operations. Subject revealed his BKHERALD connections to FBI..."

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Contributors:
Gavin McDonald • Bill Simpich

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