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Pseudonym: Jimmy

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Definition:
PA CIA operative named "Jimmy" appeared in a number of documents in the 1960's, including one which mentioned Operation 40, in May of 1961. Possibly Jim Pekich.
Category:
alias
Status:
Speculative
Discussion:
Nino Diaz (AMNORM-1), in his memoirs written in 2008, recalled meeting CIA operatives named "Jimmy" and "Clarence." Clarence may have been Clarence E. Smeryage (probably Tom Clines). A CIA memo on February 27, 1961, mentioned that among those connected with recruiting for a training camp in Guatemala, before the Bay of Pigs invasion, was an American named "Jimmy", who was the "second chief of TRAV base."
Sources:

1993.08.02.09:49:33:710060: OFFICE OF SECURITY FILE ON ARTIME (BUESA) MANUEL

Mid-1960: "As the plans for a frontal invasion took shape, CIA men went to Guatemala and arranged with Rancher-Businessman Roberto Alejos to use three of his properties - coffee plantations named Helvetia and La Suiza near the town of Retalhuleu, and a cotton plantation called San Jose Buenavista, 35 miles from the Pacific port of San Jose - as camps to train an army of invasion ('No charge.' said Alejos. 'Remember me in Havana.'). Through Alejos, the CIA also arranged a 1 million surfacing of a 5000 foot airstrip at Retalhuleu. Starting in September, an airlift of US planes shuttled between recruiting centers in Florida and the Guatemala camps, bringing in the first of more than 2000 combat trainees. Later, Alejos helped establish two more camps, one at San Juan Acul, close to the Mexican border, the other at Don Lagunas in the jungles of northern Guatemala. A heavy-set, grey-haired CIA agent took charge of the Guatemalan operation, backed up there and in Miami by 'Jimmy', 'Clarence', 'Adams' and 'Roderick'." (4/28/61, "The Massacre", Time Magazine)

104-10179-10417: CABLE: IN TALK WITH AMCLATTER-1 ON 18 OCT, DR. MANUEL DE JESUS MENCIA

10/20/60: Cable from MASH to Director (Meigs Acting): "1. In talk with AMCLATTER-1, 18 October, Dr. Manuel de Jesus Mencia stated that he had contact with Ray/Chibas circle including Miami reps Pilin Estevez and Jorge Beruff, latter two of whom held recent conversations with American names 'Jimmy' and 'Clarence' and that Beruff said that the Americans would supply them with arms. Beruff added that so long as the Americans were 'flirting' with his group, his group could remain politically independent of AMRASP. 2. Mencia was concerned about the radical leanings of the Ray/Chibas group and although he and his nephew Gonzalo de Varona Jr. had maintained relations with them during the anti-Batista fight they now treated them with reserve because of their leftist orientation. 3. MASH Comment: Enzel and Windecker have not met either Pilin Estevez or Jorge Beruff. However, AMHOSE-1 has been in close contact Beruff both before and after latter's trip to Washington week 10 October 'to meet ODACID-KUBARK (U.S. State Department-CIA) officials.' (Beruff's language). AMHOSE-1 has also been in contact with De Jesus Mencia at least during week 17 October. Following according AMHOSE-1: Beruff in U.S. in capacity 'Chairman Finance Committee MRP' attempting line up funds. Although not intending undercut Chibas in any way, is also trying expedite arms deliveries to MRP groups. In particular interested obtaining arms and demo for his own segment of MRP which is Padre Bastarica's Juventud Catolico. AMHOSE-1 and Beruff engaged in 'ops planning' (with Enzel approval) as regards arms delivery possibilities. MASH notes AMHOSE-1 very probably advertising rather than concealing ODYOKE connections for purposes his own political/operational aggrandizement: This despite repeated warnings."

104-10296-10104: ALLEGED BATISTIANOS SIGNED UP FOR THE CAMPS.

02/27/61: Memo from James A. Noel: "1. Manolo Ray telephoned me Saturday night to tell me that he had heard from his Miami contact that a number of Batistianos had been recruited for training in the 'camps' and some had already been flown to the camp. He said he understood this resulted from inadequate checking and that he was sure that the presence of these people at the camps could cause considerable damage. He mentioned only one name - Cruz Vidal - but said he would seek additional info. Following Manolo's call I phoned Bob Reynolds and passed the info on to him. He was already aware of the problem and was taking remedial action. 2. On Sunday night, 26 February, Manolo called me again. This time he read to me over the phone the names of (1) a number of alleged undesirables who had been recruited and dispatched (2) a number who have signed up by who as yet have not been accepted and (3) names of people who are involved in the recruiting without necessarily implicating them in any questionable activity: A. Those recruited and dispatched: 1. Rafael Soler Puig. 2. Remiro de la Fe (brother of Ernesto). 3. Candido Mora Morales - (gangster). 4. Carlos Yanez (nephew Santiago Rey). 5. Armando Galles Menendez (body guard of Santiago Rey). 6. Harry Perez (captain in Batista's police). 7. Felix Birubides (formerly of the SIM). B. Those who have registered for training: 1. Rolando Masferrer. 2. fnu Martin Perez. 3. Cruz Vidal. 4. Gen. Diaz Tamayo. 5. Col. Ceferino Rodriguez. 6. Maj. Montero Duque. 7. fnu Montero Diaz. 8. Ex-Col. Martin Suarez. 9. Jesus Gonzalez Cartes AKA El Extrano, member of 'la Cruz' - a gangster. 10. Col. Carlos San Martin. 11. Sgt. Roberto Hernandez Cruzat - a man who murdered Dr. Escalona. C. Connected with recruiting...American called 'Jimmy' - who is 'second chief of TRAV base.' Felix Gutierrez (probably AMOT-31) - used to work for Fidel during Batista regime - now 2nd man to Sanjenis."

1993.08.05.15:01:22:810028: SECURITY FILE ON MANUEL ANTONIO DE VARONA Y LOREDO

05/24/61: Memo to the Director from Stanley Grogar, Assistant to the Director: "Sam Halper (of Time magazine) alleged that Captain Luis Sanjenis was fired from his job as director of intelligence for the Revolutionary Council by Tony Varona and replaced by Capt. Luis Despaigne in March of this year. After this, thugs of Sanjenis raided the office, extracted the files and stole a considerable amount of money (several hundred dollars) that had been designated for deposit for utility companies supplying the Council's electricity, telephone, etc. Then Despaigne went to 'Jimmy', a CIA agent who had been supplying aid to the Council. Despaigne asked for money. 'Jimmy' asked Despaigne who had appointed him to the job, replacing Sanjenis. Despaigne told him that it was Tony Varona, whereupon 'Jimmy' said that Despaigne could then get his money from Tony... Operation 40 was, according to Mr. Halper, an organization being trained by CIA to perform police functions in Cuba after Castro's fall." Also see 104-10236-10324, a 3/20/63 memo by Juan Paula/AMTIKI-1 who relates to Charles Banks how he got the files back from Capt. Ernesto Despaigne, that they will be returned to Sanjenis/AMOT-2, and that these files had been the subject of "bitter discussions and controversies". Note at bottom: "Check ILLEGIBLE Tony S." "Charles Banks" could be an alias for Tony Sforza, but more likely for "Carlos Blanco"/AMOT-2/Jose Joaquin Sanjenis.

104-10221-10020: CONTACT REPORT-WESTWARD HO RESTAURANT TO DISCUSS ROBERTO DE CARDENAS.

06/30/72: Contact Report: Agent: IUSTEER-1. Case Officer: Peter S. Jasutis: Page 2: ..."c. (At this time a Case Officer named 'Jimmy' was handling both Barker and Cardenas. 'Jimmy' spoke excellent Cuban Spanish). d. From 1962 to 1965 Cardenas worked with the Agency under the cover firm (REDACTION). (Cardenas' Case Officer during this period was (REDACTION). e. In 1965 the Agency sent Cardenas to IUSTEER/1 for duty in the Congo. In the Congo Cardenas claimed to have a heart attack and was hospitalized. He was later proven medically sound and released from his Congo assignment. f. During 1967-1968 Cardenas drove a truck in the Miami area. Between 1969 and 1970-71 Cardenas sold mutual funds in South America (GRAMCO and others). This ended when the funds went bankrupt..."

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/book/Nino-Diaz.pdf

2008: Memories of a Cuban nationalist fighter by Comadante Nino Diaz: Page 208 of PDF (book page 207): (Spanish to English translation): "In a couple of days we would arrive in Jacksonville. That was for December 28, 1959...In the distance I saw a person who was walking towards me. I followed walking, thinking that if it were a policeman and took me prisoner it would be a blessing, because I was going to sleep with heating and eat something solid, because I had been eating goodies for almost three days. Well, the person kept approaching me and when he was by my side I heard: Are you Commander Nino Díaz? I replied: Yes, and he immediately showed me his CIA ID, said his name is Jimmy, he asked me to accompany him, and we immediately headed to a car. We went to a motel, and there he registered me under a false name. While I was bathing I heard him say that he was going to get something to eat, and he asked me what number I wore and what size of clothes I wore. In the morning Jimmy brought me new clothes and I threw the old in the trash, because it smelled pretty bad. Then we took a plane to Miami, where they had safe houses, to stay until I could locate where I wanted. For now I stayed in a company house, with some money that he gave me for my expenses, and he told me that the next day another person from the company would come to talk to me. The officer who came to see me said his name was Clarence. After wondering for the general situation of the events in Cuba, and of our organization in particular, I explained the development of the M.R.R., without mentioning any name, I clarified that according to the direction of the movement our rules were we always manage our organization, even if we had the help of his government..."

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