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Pseudonym: Beckhoff, James

Definition:
James E. Beckhoff was a pseudonym used by CIA officer Henry D. Hecksher.
Category:
pseudonym
Status:
Documented
Discussion:
A cable on November 20, 1963, stated that Sambora (USAF Lt. Colonel Manuel Chavez) knew Beckhoff as Henry Boysen. Henry Boysen was an alias used by CIA officer Henry D. Hecksher.

A cable from Mexico City on October 17, 1963, containing the slug AMWORLD, stated "station welcomes Beckhoff TDY. Choaden (David Phillips) will expect contact as outlined ref."

A dispatch on October 31, 1963, stated that "this will confirm arrangements made by (Mexico City) Station representatives and James E. Beckhoff in regard to providing AMWORLD with safehouse facilities in your area. This safehouse would serve as a meeting place between members of the Headquarters staff component in charge of AMWORLD and AMBIDDY-1 (Manuel Artime Buesa)."

A cable from JMWAVE on November 21, 1963, stated that on his return from a Central America trip on November 15th, AMBIDDY-1's briefcase containing sketches of sabotage items, a letter from Costa Rican President Orlich, and a notebook with HQs AMWORLD phone number was impounded by customs, for investigation of possible A-1 involvement in illegal arms shipment. The cable also noted that "per 20 Nov telecom with Beckhoff Reuteman (Theodore Shackley) requested Deputy Collector of Customs in Miami Walter C. Stankiewicz to handle matter personally but not reveal U.S. Government intercession."
Sources:

104-10093-10041: CABLE RE TDY

10/17/63: Cable from Mexico City to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC AMWORLD: "Ref received MEXI 16 October. Station welcomes Beckhoff TDY. Choaden (David Phillips) will expect contact as outlined ref. C/S Comment: Dissemination applicable to RYBAT (a high level of secrecy required to protect the message) YOBITE cables."

104-10211-10346: DISPATCH: SAFEHOUSE FOR AMWORLD

10/31/63: Dispatch from Chief, Western Hemisphere Division to COS, Mexico City: "1. This will confirm arrangements made by Station representatives and James E. Beckhoff in regard to providing AMWORLD with safehouse facilities in your area. This safehouse would serve as a meeting place between members of the Headquarters staff component in charge of AMWORLD and AMBIDDY-1 (Manuel Artime Buesa). Further steps in setting up these facilities would be contingent upon a dry-run, designed to test AMBIDDY-1's capability to enter and exit Mexico securely, i.e., without coming to the special attention of the Mexican authorities. It is intended to follow your advice and avoid the use of international aircraft landing in Mexico City. 2. As discussed with Michael C. Choaden (David Phillips), AMBIDDY-1 will be conveyed to the safehouse by Mr. Martin Ferrer (Raul Hernandez) (see Ref A, Para 6). It is not intended to put AMBIDDY-1 in touch with Station personnel, since this might needlessly widen his circle of CIA acquaintance ships - which is wide enough as it is. 3. Headquarters concurs in the advisability of having a Cuban couple live in to manage the safehouse and to discharge such housekeeping chores as may be required during meeting periods. The Station is aware of the extreme sensitiveness of any demonstrable linkage between the U.S. Government and AMWORLD and has offered to apply the most stringent precautions to obviate compromise through indiscretions committed by the Cuban people. There are of course limits beyond which such assurances cannot be extended." (CONTINUED BELOW)

104-10211-10346: DISPATCH: SAFEHOUSE FOR AMWORLD

10/31/63: Dispatch from Chief, Western Hemisphere Division to COS, Mexico City: "4. We presume that the visiting Headquarters team has your permission to contact Subject Ref B, Para 6. Mr. Martin Ferrer, upon arrival in Mexico City, will contact him by telephone, at home or in the office, introducing himself as 'Martin.' For purposes of briefing the safehouse keepers (rather than surrounding our meetings with an excessive aura of secrecy), Station may find it advisable to let leak that Mr. Ferrer is a Cuban national and to allude offhand to James E. Beckhoff as a publicity expert. 5. Headquarters is prepared to defray operating expenses and cc incident to necessary renovations. If this be desired, we shall also pay the safehouse keepers salary. As a basis for issuing you a sub-allotment we would appreciate a cost estimate at your earliest convenience."

104-10101-10066: CABLE: TRAVELLING INFORMATION

11/20/63: Cable from Director to Mexico City: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE AMWORLD: "1. Sambora (USAF Lt. Colonel Manuel Chavez) ETA MEXI O/A 25 Nov. Will stay MEXI until cover legend formalized, then proceed on balance trip. 2. Sambora traveling in true name as U.S. citizen. Knows Beckhoff as Henry Boysen. 3. Request STA discuss legend per MEXI 6976 (IN 64143)* * which arrived HQs after Sambora departure. 4. COS MANA has agreed to meet Sambora first week Dec in Mexico City.*** Could MEXI notify MANA when and where meeting will take place. 5. Sambora intends call on Mexican Air Force officers whose names given him by ODUNIT (U.S. Air Force) colleague who native Chihuahua. Request STA review possible security aspects those contacts...**Sambora's cover legend."

104-10241-10148: CABLE: ON RETURN FROM CENTRAL AMERICA TRIP 19 NOV, AMBIDDY-1 BRIEFCASE

11/21/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE AMWORLD: "1. On return from Central America trip 15 Nov. AMBIDDY/1 (Manuel Artime Buesa) briefcase containing sketches sabotage items, LTR from Costa Rican President Orlich, notebook with HQs AMWORLD phone number impounded by customs for investigation possible A/1 involvement illegal arms shipment. Per 20 Nov telecom with Beckhoff Reuteman (Theodore Shackley) requested Deputy Collector of Customs in Miami Walter C. Stankiewicz to handle matter personally but not reveal U.S. Government intercession. 2. A/1 questioned by Stankiewicz under cover routine inspection and briefcase with contents returned TOA/1. A/1 told Guertler (probably Karl Rohrer) that Stankiewicz took notes on all contents including addresses Atlantic-Chesapeake Corp., Interarmco, list of prices for equipment. A/1 expressed concern for repercussions if Orlich correspondence becomes known. Guertler told A/1 Stankiewicz will not reveal contents and suggested A/1 inform Beckhoff of incident soonest. 3. According to Stankiewicz concealment device not employed. Documents carried loose in attaché case. This appears to be lapse in judgement on part A/1. AMYUM/19 (Cesar Baro Esteva) guilty of same sin and Guertler will strongly remind him of incident and hope lesson not lost on AMWORLD principals."

104-10101-10116: CABLE: PLEASE ADVISE WHEN ( ) SENT LETTER TO AMBIDDY/1

12/03/63: Cable from Director to Mexico City: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE AMWORLD: "1. Please advise when Sambora (USAF Lt. Colonel Manuel Chavez) sent letter to AMBIDDY-1 (Manuel Artime Buesa) offering services, and gist of letter. 2. Per MEXI 6913 (IN 61943) para 1 expect finalized legend for initiation U.S. documentation. Advise when pouched. 3. For Ratteree: In devising contact arrangements, bear in mind Sambora to be fully integrated member of AMWORLD. Sambora not primarily viewed as CIA penetration of AMWORLD. In helping AMWORLD to plan security safeguards, counter-intelligence and vetting procedures and to execute necessary countermeasures, Sambora will be discharging HQs responsibilities vis-a-vis CIA which vitally concerned with security AMWORLD. Hence his CIA instructions are to concentrate on high professional performance and gain confidence of AMWORLD principals. Only if Sambora has reason for believing that certain important info pertaining to AMWORLD security may be withheld by AMBIDDY-1 and that CIA has to know in order protect overriding U.S. Government interests, should Sambora be (unintelligible) avail self of MANA emergency contact. In similar circumstances HQs may wish get in touch with him. 3. From 4 Dec including 7 Dec send reply paras 1 and 2 info PACY attention Beckhoff."

104-10186-10006: RECENT PRESS COMMENTARY CONCERNING POSSIBILITY GUERRILLA ACTIVITY SOUTHERN AREA AND RESULTANT INTEREST AND PRESSURE APPLIED SECURITY FORCES INDICATE THIS MIGHT BE GOOD TIME HAVE AMMUG-1 DO BRIEF

11/01/67: Cable from Withheld to Director: "1. Recent press commentary concerning possibility guerrilla activity southern Chile and resultant interest and pressure applied security forces indicate this might be good time have AMMUG-1 (Vladimir Lahera Rodriguez) brief (REDACTION) on Cuban threat, DGI operations and modus operandi. FUBRIAR-7 exhibited interest when Subject tentatively explored 31 October. 2. For RIOD: PLS request Beckhoff concurrence."

Contributors:
John Newman • MFF

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