Cryptonym: TURNIP
104-10262-10024: CABLE: REQUESTED ODURGE SP TREATMENT FOR 4 CUBANS TO BE EXFILTRATED
03/13/61: Cable from JMWAVE to BELL: "1. Requested ODURGE (U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service-INS) SP treatment for 4 Cubans to be exfiltrated during Operation TURNIP on 14-15 March as follows: A. Edel Montiel Lozenzo (traveling as Juan Garcia). B. Ricardo Rodriguez Ramirez (traveling as Jose Gonzalez). C. Rodolfo Ramirez Ruiz (traveling as Pedro Diaz). D. Juan Consuegra Valdes. 2. All above, except Ricardo Rodriguez were due to be exfiltrated per Ref B but operation aborted. C/S Comment: *Approval requested for OPN TURNIP. Also planned infiltration of 9 man team and exfiltration of individuals listed."
104-10262-10023: CABLE: MATUSA TIME RETURNED BASE 161400Z. EXFILTRATED EDEL
03/17/61: Cable from JMWAVE to BELL: Slugline JMZIP TURNIP: "1. Matusa time returned base 161400Z. Exfiltrated Edel Montiel Lorenzo, Escambray insurgent leader, and Rodolfo Ramirez Ruiz ('Nino') brother of Poriofiro Ramirez of Santa Clara student fame. 2. Preliminary debriefing Montiel indicates he most concerned but optimistic re situation. He states insurgents inflicting many casualties amongst militia and bodies being buried in hills by GOC to avoid this becoming known. Montiel wants to return to Escambray ASAP despite fact he recovering from wounds and carrying a piece of shot in one leg. Claims insurgent casualties limited: i.e., he knows of only about 40 insurgents killed in action. 3. No enemy activity in rendezvous area, however, matusa time was in hailing contact with two fishing boats in the area who were lead to believe by A-3 that matusa time was a GOC patrol craft. A-3 and aide (unintelligible) OPN to (unintelligible) infil by RE9 if necessary. 4. After matusa time encounter with fishing boats it was assumed there would be no reception. NT closed distance to shore and dispatched powered RE9 for search of Key made by A-3 aide. While this in process reception boat with exfiltrees came out from behind Key where it had been hiding believing matusa time was a GOC patrol. 5. Per para two Ref A, TURNIP was also to have infiltrated nine man team but this called off at last minute because A-3 not sure reception for entire team. Now that A-3 has had opportunity talk with reception group on the scene WAVE planning infiltrate nine man team on 18-19 March. Will advise. C/S Comment: *OPN mounted 15 Mar. Gave details."
104-10262-10022: CABLE: REQUEST ODURGE SP TREATMENT FOR 4 CUBANS TO BE EXFILRATED
03/20/61: Cable from JMWAVE to BELL: "1. Request ODURGE SP treatment for 4 Cubans to be exfiltrated during OPN RUTABAGA on 21-22 March as follows: A. Ricardo Rodriguez Ramirez ('Merejo'), traveling as Jose Gonzalez. B. Joaquin Membibre (possibly/speculative AMSKIF-4). C. Juan Consuegra Valdes. D. One other not identified. 2. 2 of these were to come out on OPN TURNIP but did not show up for the reception."
04/14/61: Cable from JMWAVE to BELL: Slugline JMZIP ZRPERUSAL: "1. Ricardo Rodriguez Ramirez, 'Merejo' of Escambray fame and former lieutenant of Osvaldo Ramirez, arrived in WAVE area 6 Apr accompanied by wife, Juan Consuegra Valdes, and three fishermen..." Page 4: ..."7. Merejo and his wife stayed with the fishermen for about 14 days, being shifted from boat to boat, while trying to make receptions with boats from PBPRIME (U.S.). Contact with the boat from PBPRIME was prevented each time by the presence of a GOC patrol craft which hung around the reception area at Cayo Dutton. (WAVE Comment: Merejo was to be exfiltrated via Ops CARROT, TURNIP, RUTABAGA and BOWLINE all of which failed because of no reception). Merejo and the fishermen believed that the GOC patrol craft was aware that a reception in the Dutton area was to take place..."