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Pseudonym: Quijote, Don

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Definition:
Lt. Col. Harold Feeney, intelligence commander at Guantanamo.
Category:
alias
Status:
Documented
Sources:

Corpus-Christi Caller-Times, June 13, 2012: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/caller/name/harold-feeney-obituary?pid=189547076

FEENEY Harold 'Hal' Feeney, Commander, US Navy, retired, went to be with the Lord on June 9, 2012. Hal was born on September 22, 1922, in Bristol, TN, the son of Charles Wakefield Feeney and Florence A. Kaufman Feeney, and grew up in VA, PA, and Long Beach, CA. Hal attended Valley Forge Military College in PA (1941-1942). Later, while attending the University of Southern California, World War II broke out and word came that his brother Wakefield had been killed at sea. Hal immediately quit the University and volunteered to serve in the Army. Hal attended the War Department Military Intelligence Training Center and later the Infantry Officer's Candidate School. He was sent to the Command and General Staff School to help teach the course in Chinese to Army Officers from China. After World War II, Hal finished his studies, taught Spanish and French at the University of Southern CA, Un. of PA and the Valley Forge Military College in PA. In 1949 Hal accepted from the US Department of State the position of Director of the US-Ecuadorean Cultural Center in Quito, Ecuador (1949-1950). Meanwhile, he had switched his commission to be a US Navy Intelligence Reserve Officer to honor his brother. After the Korean War broke out, Hal was called to duty in 1950 in Naval Intelligence. He served as Special Agent in Panama (1952-1954). He was appointed from Reserve to Regular Navy (1943) and made it his career. He also served as Naval Attache at the US Embassy in Paris, France (1957-1959) and later as Chief of Intelligence Plans Unit at NATO Headquarters in France and in Belgium when NATO relocated there (1966-1968). Hal served as Chief of Intelligence at the US Guantanamo Base in Cuba (1960-1961) and helped to infiltrate and operate CIA-trained exile Secret Agents into Communist Cuba, at times accompanying them on missions. Hal was awarded the Medal of Valor by Brigade 2506 for his actions in the effort to free Cuba. (continued below)

Corpus-Christi Caller-Times, June 13, 2012: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/caller/name/harold-feeney-obituary?pid=189547076

(continued) During the Missile Crisis in 1962, Hal was appointed Chief of the Cuba Branch of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Hal served as an advisor at meetings of the Executive Committeeof the National Security Council chaired by President Kennedy at the White House. Hal was twice awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medals and numerous classified commendations for specific actions in the Intelligence Service. Foreign awards include the Spanish Navy Meritorious Cross and the International Eloy Alfaro Cross. In 1970 Hal gave up a promotion to Captain in order to start a new career as a Vice-President of Great Western Corporation, with Headquarters in Corpus Christi, TX. After a few years Hal quit the business world and became a Special Investigator under contract with several entities of the Federal Government. With his many years of experience in counter- intelligence, Hal enjoyed using his training and experience in counter-intelligence to serve his country during disturbing times. His knowledge of seven languages was called upon frequently in his career. Also a Blessed opportunity was introduced in 1974, when Shaklee's products saved Hal's life by restoring his health. Forever after, Hal gratefully shared that gift of a way to better health with people worldwide. An avid sportsman, Hal still played tennis into his eighties. He won many tennis trophies during his life. Hal enjoyed writing and was a regular Feedback Columnist for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times for many years. He also had may magazine articles published in Spanish and English.Commander Feeney is survived by his wife, Lydia (Lyke) Jansse Feeney; his sons: Harold Feeney, Jr., and wife, Barbara, Charles Wakefield Feeney and wife, Jennifer; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. His youngest son, David Whitney Feeney preceded him in death...Jack Modesett, Jr., Hal's longtime friend, will officiate the service...

CDR Harold Feeney, USN (Ret.) "The Night of the White Horse" (1988). http://bayofpigs2506.com/The%20night%20of%20the%20white%20horse.pdf

Late 1960: Hal Feeney became Base Intelligence Officer at Guantanamo. After diplomatic relations ended (1/61), urgent to infiltrate CIA-trained Cubans. His team included his assistant Jack Modesett, ONI civilian agents, infiltrators such as Tony Izquierdo and Rodolfo Hernandez. He met with RADM Frankel of ONI and then with CNO Arleigh Burke. The radio handles for him team was "Pete", an exile Cuban agent; Feeney was "Quijote", and Modesett was "Pecos". One of the agents recruited and trained by Pete was "Alonso Gonzalez, code-named 'Curita'." Feeney wrote that when placed before a firing squad, Gonzalez "cried out in a loud voice: Viva Cristo Rey! Long live Christ the King! To which many of us would add our fervent amen."

104-10163-10218: LUIS BALBUENA

Re 8/2/61: Index card states: "Balbuena, Luis; Res: Guantanamo." The report probably came from "201-208451" on 8/2/61. "Contact of AMTORRID-4. No further info." Marginalia then states: "Content: Through Mr. Luis Balbuena, made direct contact through Commander Finney (note: Clear reference to Harold Feeney) and Lt. Murlok, and was a member of Operation BETTY. (NOTE: Almost certainly a reference to Operation PATTY, which was planned to take place on 7/26/61). All records of his activities in Guantanamo Base." See 104-10163-10035, 11/28/61 - CIA responded to a request by Mr. DeMille of ONI to a name check on Luis Balbuena. Contains marginalia that might be legible.

104-10076-10207: JMWAVE CABLE RE AGENT MESSAGE

A memo from Otto on 12/9/63: "El Liberal, El Grande and Chan send felicitations to Don Quijote on his saints day. Otto."WAVE adds a note saying Don Quijote is their "father". Their names are blacked out in one version, but here they are revealed as AMBANTY-4, 5, and 7. The blacked-out version of this document can be seen at the HSCA Segregated CIA Collection, Box 17, 1993.08.04.16:41:08:870028, p. 10. "El Grande" is identified elsewhere as AMFAUNA-25. (Friend of Ignacio Otero) Carmina is identified elsewhere as AMCUTLER-2. AMCOBRA was later called AMBANTY. AMCOBRA originally had AMBANTY-1 and AMBANTY-2 infiltrating Cuba in March 62; by Oct 1962 it was one of the two teams Harvey got inside before RFK stopped him. Don Quijote was an alias for the ONI officer Harold Feeney.

104-10076-10411: JMWAVE CABLE RE PROPAGANDA FOR THE FRENTE UNION OCCIDENTAL (WESTERN UNITED FRONT)

12/13/63 cable WAVE 8980 from JMWAVE to Director, slugline RYBAT TYPIC AMBANTY FEDGUR COMMO: "Following is translation of (WAVE 8874 and WAVE 8875: Friend Otto. I understand that the booklet on vigilance and espionage is propaganda for the Frente Union Occidental (Western Union Front) and you cannot publish it for me...Please let me know if you contacted the husband and daughter of Irene. I am waiting for an answer. War name of Jose Campos is Edison. (also rec'd iden) Please give radio test to all men of Libertad 12. Don Quijote and Patria are well. They send regards to their sons. I am sending metascope (sp?) without flashlight. Marti lost it at sea on last operation...tell us if the cache is possible. Received message 91. Placido."

Contributors:
Bill Simpich

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