Home/ Resources / Projects / CIA Pseudonyms / pseudonym: DARGUZIS_THOMAS

Pseudonym: Darguzis, Thomas

Return to Main Pseudos Page

Definition:
Thomas L. Darguzis was a pseudonym used by Bradley E. Ayers. Assigned to the CIA at JMWAVE in 1963-64 from the U.S. Army. Author of several books on the subject of his CIA placement. Bradley Ayers died in February, 2017, aged 81.
Category:
pseudonym
Status:
Documented
Sources:

104-10109-10355: MEMORANDUM: CAPTAIN BRADLEY EARL AYERS AND MAJOR EDWARD THOMAS RODERICK

05/06/63, Memorandum from Vincent J. Heyman, Chief, SAS/Support to Deputy Director of Security (Personnel & Physical Security): Subjects: 1) Captain Bradley Earl Ayers, DPOB: 7 March 1935, Minnesota #078210. 2) Major Edward Thomas Roderick ASN 1686654. "1. The Subject Army officers have been loaned to the Agency on a TDY basis for use in a training program and for operational planning at JMWAVE. They will not be assigned to the Agency, nor will the Agency handle any of their administrative records. They will have access to an official installation. MMPD has been made aware of our use of these officers. 2. Colonel Frank Garrett, Special Group, The Pentagon (11-73032) has verbally certified that Captain Ayers was cleared for Top Secret in 1958...Colonel Garrett's office has also advised that both officers were LCFLUTTERED on 3 May 1963 with non-derogatory results. Both officers have been granted 'SI' and 'T' clearances. 3. Colonel Garrett's office is in the process of forwarding written certifications of their clearances. However, since both officers will depart for JMWAVE on Wednesday, 8 May 1963, it is requested that clearances be issued immediately in order that they be properly briefed before departing this area. For your information, a search of GS indices was conducted on 1 May 1963 resulting in no record on either officer. The written certifications will be forwarded to your office when received..."

http://jfkcountercoup.blogspot.com/2012/04/mission-on-cia-raider-ship-rex.html

Reprinted from "The Zenith Secret", by Brad Ayers: "I was eventually given three separate cover identities, each for use under different, special circumstances. One was the Army civilian employee ID/ cover under my true name. The second was to be used in any internal CIA communications, reports, memos, accounting records, etc. – anything that would go into the agency files. I was to identify myself and sign-off as Anthony P. Darguzis, supposedly a fictional name. Later, I learned the CIA used the London telephone directory to come up with this and other pseudonyms for in-house purposes. At JM/WAVE, I was given another operational cover identity, to be used in external activities while working with the Cuban exiles, in any capacity. This was Daniel B. Williams who would be listed as a legitimate employee on a variety of corporations set up to cover covert operations against Cuba. A plausible personal history was fabricated and memorized for use with both the Army cover and the covert operational cover. Cover documents, IDs, drivers licenses, etc. were produced by the agency cover branch and appeared to be absolutely legitimate."(p. 265) The Rex and the Leda were converted WWII Naval vessels configured and maintained by the JM/WAVE Maritime branch for use in the station’s covert paramilitary operations against Cuba. Each vessel had an American case officer that managed the crew, coordinated missions, arranged dockage in the U.S. and elsewhere undercover, and dealt with all the financial details associated with the operations of the ships. The Operations and Maritime Branches were closely intertwined but often at odds. Sometime later I learned that the Plantation Key complex (used for training) had, in fact, been a base for paramilitary operations prior to my occupancy, apparently by commandos directly under Morales’ control. The site had a good, small seaside basin for securing V-20s. It had been vacated because neighbors had become suspicious..."

104-10076-10339: JMWAVE CABLE RE ARRIVAL PLANS.

12/11/63, Cable from JMWAVE to Director: REF: DIR 87901* "Thomas L. Darguzis will arrive evening 11 Dec. Will call per ref. C/S Comment: *Requested Thomas Darguzis return for discussion personnel matters."

104-10241-10087: DISPATCH: AMBIDDY-1 ORIENTATION PROGRAM

01/09/64, Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Special Affairs Staff: Page 5: "ORIENTATION PROGRAM: Program Period: 6-18 January 1964. Total Hours: 83: "PERIOD: 13 January:...1700-2200: SUBJECT: Small Unit Operations, Training and Application in Clandestine Environment: INSTRUCTOR: Darguzis: INTERPRETER: Deconbard..."

104-10163-10041: ARTIME BUESA, MANUAL (VOL XII).

03/24/64, Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Special Affairs Staff: Subject: TYPIC/AMWORLD/Operational/Evaluation of AMBIDDY-1's Training During Period 6 to 18 January 1964: 2. Evaluations:...a. Small Unit Operations and Training:..."Thomas L. Darguzis was the primary instructor in this phase of the training, and he assessed AMBIDDY-1 as being an intelligent, alert, highly-motivated individual who has a realistic appraisal of his own limitations and capabilities..."

104-10109-10340: CABLE: PCS CONVERSION DATE DARGUZIS STILL NOT FINAL. BRADLEY E. AYERS.

06/19/64, Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: Roy W. Forslund, Unit: WH/Personnel): (Handwritten note at top of cable: Bradley E. Ayers file): "PCS conversion date Darguzis still not final. SUBJ originally brought aboard on basis army clearance only, conversion to PCS status requires full CIA clearance. Security forms, twice requested Refs B & C, not received from Col Garrett until 11 June. KUSODA handling case as priority but will not grant approval until sufficient data on hand to make judgement. Will advise soonest upon receipt of clearance target data still 30 June. WH/SA/Comment: Would appreciate reply subject's conversion."

104-10109-10334: CABLE RE AYERS, BRADLEY EARL

07/10/64, Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: J.J. Mullans, Unit: WH/Security): (Handwritten note near INFO: Ayers, Bradley Earl): REF: HQS/WAVE Telecon 9 July* "Prior ref HQs not aware WAVE proposal FLUTTER Thomas L. Darguzis as he on loan from military cannot be tested on routine basis. Strong justification necessary for required KUSODA approval to FLUTTER. WH Comment: *Inquired re approval to test military officer on assignment to WAVE."

104-10109-10335: CABLE RE AYERS, BRADLEY EARL

07/10/64, Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: Roy W. Forslund, Unit: WH/Personnel): (Handwritten note at top of cable: Ayers, Bradley Earl): "1. KUSODA (CIA Office of Security) advised field investigation Thomas L. Darguzis will not be completed before end July. Meanwhile PLS initiate LCFLUTTER test and advise HQs results. 2. ODIBEX (U.S. Army) orders delivered Darguzis. Agency orders and personnel action to be back-dated 1 July when KUSODA approval received."

104-10109-10333: CABLE RE AYERS, BRADLEY EARL.

07/15/64, Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: Roy W. Forslund, Unit: WH/Personnel): (Handwritten note at top of cable: Ayers, Bradley Earl): "Ignore Ref C. Permission granted to LCFLUTTER Darguzis as requested Ref B. WH/SA Comment: Pls see DIR-34597."

104-10102-10236: DISPATCH ON OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

08/24/64, Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Deputy Chief, WH/SA: Page 15: ..."b. The following CIA staff employees were in contact with AMICE-27 and are therefore considered known to Volsky:...Thomas L. Darguzis as Dan (Training Instructor)..."

1993.08.02.09:51:09:560060: OFFICE OF SECURITY FILE ON AYERS, BRADLEY

04/02/75, Memorandum from Stanley L. Smith, Security Analysis Group to Chief, Security Analysis Group: Subject: Ayers, Bradley E. #366 085: "1. Subject is a native born U.S. citizen who as a U.S. Army Captain was utilized by CIA in 1963 and 1964 in the JMWAVE Project. Subject's security file reflected that he was 'loaned' to CIA on a TDY basis in May 1963. Security approval for PCS assignment to CIA as Military Assignee was granted 10 August 1964. Subject was returned to parent service on 14 December 1964. 2. In a Washington Post article dated 18 April 1971, Subject was quoted by Jack Anderson as the source of information pertaining to CIA operations against Cuba launched from Florida. On 27 April 1971, an article by Anderson published in the Washington Post listed Subject as the source of information pertaining to alleged CIA cache of money buried for use by Cuban exiles. 3. Current interest in Subject stems from an article published in the Minneapolis Star on 4 March 1975. In the article, Subject is quoted as stating he was involved in a CIA plot to assassinate Castro. Subject also alleged in the article that CIA harrassed him in various ways after he leaked information to Jack Anderson in 1971. 4. The recent article indicated that the above accusations against CIA will be published in a book tentatively titled 'The Captain,' in which Subject will also describe his alleged 'adventures' with CIA. 5. This memo is for information only and in view of the circumstances, no further research is deemed necessary at this time. Subject's retired file will be reactivated, however, so that any additional publications by Subject pertaining to CIA may be monitored and appropriate notations made in Subject's file."

https://www.swedberg-taylor.com/obituary/4113714

"Bradley E Ayers: March 07, 1935 - February 10, 2017: Ayers, Bradley E., age 81, of Frederic, Wisconsin, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2017 at his cabin home on Somers Lake. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 7, 1935, he was the son of Earl and Josephine Ayers. He was raised in Stillwater, Minnesota and graduated from Stillwater High School in 1953, where he was a three sport letterman. During high school, Bradley worked for the Stillwater Gazette as a reporter. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served as an Airborne Ranger and was promoted through the ranks from private to captain. In early 1963, he was temporarily assigned to the CIA to train anti-Castro exiles in South Florida. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1964. He graduated from Metro State University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Individualized Studies. Over the course of his lifetime, Bradley had a fascinating and varied career. During the 1980s, he worked as an undercover operative with the DEA’s South Florida Task Force. He also worked as a licensed commercial pilot and flight instructor, a private investigator, a real estate broker and journalist. He published two books: 'The War that Never Was' and 'Zenith Secret,' and wrote a number of articles on a variety of topics for local and national publications. Brad had a passion for Native American Culture, the environment, and family history. He loved adventure (made his 301st parachute jump at age 79) and always made a home for stray cats and dogs. Bradley was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, David Ayers, and nephew, Doug Ayers. He is survived by his brothers, Mike and Joe, sons Dan, Brad and Steven, and several grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Bradley’s life will be recognized on Thursday, February 23, 2017, at 12:30 PM (visitation 12-12:30 PM) at Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel in St. Paul. Interment will follow at...Ft. Snelling National Cemetery."

Contributors:
Gavin McDonald

© Mary Ferrell Foundation. All Rights Reserved. |Site Map |MFF Policies |Contact Us