Pseudonym: Cabal, Bill
The memo by Desmond FitzGerald, then Chief, Western Hemisphere Division, on the CIWOOD course, may have been written sometime in 1965 instead of 1966. A Mr. Wall is mentioned in this memo, this could well be Robert Wall, a CIA paramilitary officer. The memo was distributed to DDP/TRO, CI/Staff, FI/OPS, TSD/TRNG, SOD/Ground, C/WH/Plans and WH/3/V (as well as to the office of C/WHD himself).
104-10183-10346: SUBJECT: COVERT TRAINING FOR MEMBER OF ORGANIZATION.
CIA Official Routing Slip: From: Hal. To: 1.Jack Flynn. 2. Hal Swenson. Remarks:
104-10183-10346: SUBJECT: COVERT TRAINING FOR MEMBER OF ORGANIZATION.
01/01/66: Memo from Desmond FitzGerald, Chief, Western Hemisphere Division to Director of Training (Attention: Chief, Covert Training/OS/TR): Subject: Covert Training for member of CIWOOD organization: Reference: Proposed Training Curriculum for CIWOOD Trainees From CC/OS/TW: "1. It is requested that covert training be given to the CIWOOD trainees listed below for the period of 8 March - 30 April 1965. This will be the second group of CIWOOD trainees under this program which was initiated by the Venezuela Desk of Branch Three of WH Division through Mr. Rawleigh Taylor, Chief, Covert Training, in September 1964. The first group was given an 8 weeks covert course ending on 26 February 1965. The trainees will be in Washington under the notional cover of 'participating in military training courses' or possibly a 'purchasing mission' for their Government. As such, they will not be formal liaison visitors and will not be expected to enter Headquarters Buildings, except for one day training in the R & S Building, or to meet Agency officials. 2. Project CIWOOD is a Caracas Station liaison activity which has as the objective the establishment of a liaison relationship with the Venezuelan Armed Forces Intelligence Service, (SIFA), to permit CIA to improve the efficiency and capabilities of SIFA and provide CIA access to its intelligence take, and to eventually recruit a member of SIFA. Jacob B. Hurschwood, a Staff Agent under non-official cover in Caracas is providing advice and guidance to SIFA and is obtaining intelligence information in return. It is believed that covert training can help improve the efficiency and internal security of SIFA, which will enable this organization to more effectively counter/contain the extremist guerrilla band terrorist activity fomented by the Communist Party of Venezuela with aid and encouragement from Cuba..." - - - 03/18/2025 release: https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/2025/0318/104-10183-10346.pdf
104-10183-10346: SUBJECT: COVERT TRAINING FOR MEMBER OF ORGANIZATION.
01/01/66: Memo from Desmond FitzGerald, Chief, WHD to Director of Training (Attention: Chief, Covert Training/OS/TR): Subject: Covert Training for member of CIWOOD organization: ..."3. The responsible desk operations officer for this course will be Mr. William E. Cavan, who will be known to the trainees as 'Bill Cabal', the same identity he used with the first group. An Agency serviced telephone number, 638-3120 has been arranged and will be given to the trainees as a number where 'Bill Cabal' can be reached in an emergency. This number is serviced 24 hours a day and Mr. Cavan is immediately notified to call the persons who asked for him at that number. Mr. Cavan is located in room 3B2613 of Headquarters Building, extension 4521..." - - - "5..."It is assumed that the trainees are aware of the Agency affiliation of Hurschwood and that the training will be conducted by CIA. The Director of SIFA is aware of Hurschwood's CIA association and was also received by the DCI on 21 July 1964 during a visit to the U.S." Paragraph 6 discusses training requirements: Training to be held in a safehouse, conducted in Spanish, one-day indoctrination in Seals and Flaps and Audio Surveillance. One-day orientation course in Counter Insurgency, and an extensive two-week course in Flaps and Seals for Mayor Ochou at a TSD safehouse. Paragraph 8 discussed counter insurgency. One passage reads: "It is proposed that Mr. Cavan who would use the alias of 'Bill Cabal' - take the trainees to the office of Valeriano and that Valeriano be introduced as a consultant of CIA who is very knowledgeable of counterinsurgency problems. Valeriano as a member of the International Police Services Academy..." - - - Page 7: ..."Through Mr. Ellis, Chief of the Ground Branch of SOD, and Mr. Wall (note: Possibly Robert Wall), of the same branch..." Hurschwood and a Mr. Luria also mentioned on this page. - - - 03/18/2025 release: https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/2025/0318/104-10183-10346.pdf