Pseudonym: Lapsley, Gerald
Gerald R. Lapsley was involved in logistical work on Project PBSUCCESS in 1954. Lapsley was named in a report, in circa November, 1954, in regards to logistics. In these documents in 1954 it was mentioned that Lapsley had "assistants", a "support team" and "a team assembled under" his direction, which suggested that he was a Chief/Director of Logistics.
According to Contact Report on June 22, 1963, Gerald R. Lapsley, as Carl Teels, met with Augustin Guitart in New Orleans on June 12, 1963. Carl Trettin was sent a Provisional Operational Approval for Guitart in July of 1963.
Lapsley, as case officer to AMTHEO-1 (Manuel Suarez Carreno), again used the alias of Carl Teels in a meeting in early September, 1963. In addition, on a routing slip to Carl Trettin on September 11, 1963, Henry D. Hecksher (then assigned to the AMWORLD project), requested of the former "could you ask AMTHEO-1 for the loan of AMBIDDY-1's (note: Manuel Artime Buesa) tape recording? What is the basis for his belief that A-1 belonged to the CP (note: Communist Party) (membership or leanings)?"
Trettin originated a cable on the AMCANOE operation on November 13, 1963. Lapsley was mentioned in a cable on November 27, 1963, on the AMCANOE operation. Carl E. Trettin wrote a memo in March, 1964, on a phone call from AMCANOE-1 (Eduardo Garcia Molina).
In a memo in April, 1967, A. E. Dooley stated that "in developing information regarding CIA's relations with the DRE, I conferred with...Carl Trettin, Deputy Chief of the Counterintelligence Branch of the Cuban Operations Group who knew Bringuier and was stationed in New Orleans at the time of the above incidents..." Moreover, in November of 1964 Dooley had written a memo about taking "Sam Halpern. Carl Trettin, Ray Monahan, and Nestor Sanchez of the Cuban desk (WH/SA) to the Warren Commission. Our mission was to examine some FBI reports..."
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000914571.pdf
01/02/54: Cable from LINCOLN to Director: Slugline PBSUCCESS RYBAT: ATTN LAPSLEY: "1. Forward Pivall (probably David Morales) contract when completed. 2. Inform this office status knee mortar and explosives situation. 3. Withdraw all secret manuals from Jan 14 shipment. Send all restricted manuals. 4. Query PQM/OIS for movies outlining principles of KUHOOK (CIA Paramilitary Operations Staff) operations. Sterilize by cutting sound and English wording and place on Jan 14 shipment. Films will be destroyed on use."
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000914257.pdf
01/11/54: Cable from LINCOLN to Director: Slugline RYBAT PBSUCCESS: WH PASS INFO TO: PM/AMD ATTN LAPSLEY: "1. The following instructions forwarded from Pres KMFLUSH (Nicaragua) for KMFLUSH flight as discussed AMD - Cadick (William Robertson): A. Approach airport over the lake from north and contact the control on frequencies 126.9 or 3105. B. Use the following license number only for your verbal identification: HP-195. C. The control tower will clear you in order to give you authorization to land direct. D. Avoid flying over the city and when you are in the traffic pattern, turn your navigation lights off. E. If you desire, use your landing lights on the final approach. F. You will receive from the control tower your taxiing instructions. The runaways have been checked and found suitable for your use. G. Only 100 octane available. Arrangements have been made for 4,000 gals to be standing by for use if requested. H. Plan to land 2000 to 2400. Definite ETA should be cabled LINCOLN (CIA's Guatemalan covert operations headquarters, a forward base in Florida) soonest for placing in proper hands, KMFLUSH. 2. Pan American landing instructions including elevations and traffic patters on field are available this office. Notify if desired pouch to AMD." Handwritten on page 1: "NOTE: Shown to AMB 12 Jan 54 + found satisfactory, by (Unintelligible) (REDACTION). Paras A-H (unintelligible) (REDACTION)."
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000923924.pdf
01/19/54: Memo from Jacob D. Esterline to Chief, WHD (Attention: Withheld): Subject: The PBSUCCESS Operational Support Plan: "The attached plan was submitted by LINCOLN (CIA's Guatemalan covert operations headquarters, a forward base in Florida) 19 January 1954 via telecon for action and/or approval. It has been prepared in draft so that the appropriate people in WHD may review, revise, and/or comment on the plan before it is finalized and submitted to Chief of Operations and the DD/P in a final form." - - - Pages 2-5: "Limitations on discussion of operational support plan. Lapsley urgently needs copy of proposed unit equipment kits prior to discussing packaging needs via KURIOT (CIA Technical Services Division). Cannot locate rough draft HQs...Other than discussion on kits and requisitions to be drawn up plus general nature of KUHOOK (CIA Paramilitary Operations Staff) plans Lapsley unacquainted details nor possesses draft to date...3..A. Pre D-day underground supply kits, water proofed and made single man transportable by Lapsley and support team between 25 Feb and 12 March, for transport from ROBOLO (Fort Clayton, Panama) to airfield near staging areas Honduras and Salvador by black flight, from airfield to staging areas by Seekford arranged black flight...Equipment inspected and repacked by Lapsley and support team between 12 March and 1 April...Packing for airdrop with sterile (if possible, French cargo chutes. This matter to be discussed Cadick-AMB in proposed Jan 26 meeting) equipment...for delivery ROBALO approx 25 Feb are as Lapsley's list except following...B. Also submitted by Lapsley will be packing material necessary for Category A equipment...2. Lapsley complete the packing equipment survey and required requisitions be submitted and approved by C/WHD and handed to (REDACTION) with same requirements as above..."
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000913590.pdf
02/09/54: Memo from Jerome C. Dunbar to Chief, DTROBALO: Subject: Operational: Logistical Support Plans PBSUCCESS insofar as Support by ROBALO is Concerned: "1. Headquarters tentatively intends to base Logistical Support of PBSUCCESS at ROBALO (Fort Clayton, Panama) . 2. On approximately 15 February 1954 (REDACTION) as Head of Support Activities, will arrive to fully brief Chief of Station, ROBALO on support needs. Accompanying Lapsley will be an experienced packer who will be interested in surveying available working-space and storage facilities. Both will arrive on tourist's cards and will reside at (REDACTION) Hotel until contacted for pick-up. A cable notification of true names and ETA (REDACTION) will be sent. 3. On approximately 20 February an experienced airborne packer will arrive under same circumstances. 4. Between 20 February and 25 February approximately ten cleared laborers will arrive in small groups under similar circumstances unless your station advises more secure method of arrival. 4. Between 20 February and 25 February approximately ten cleared laborers will arrive in small groups under similar circumstances unless your station advises more secure method of arrival. 5. Approximately 25 February thirty (30) tons of additional material, along with air-drop and sterile packing for burial equipment, will arrive (REDACTION) via black flight. Headquarters will provide all black flight arrangements and responsibility. 6. Packing of the material will be the responsibility of Lapsley and assistants. Loading onto planes for transport to dispersal points from (REDACTION) will be the responsibility of Lapsley and assistants..."
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000928348.pdf
Circa 11/16/54: Report on Project PBSUCCESS: Page 84: ATTACHMENT B: PBSUCCESS LOGISTICAL PLAN: ..."C. Preparation: The forecast for this requirement is to provide the necessary equipment in sufficient time to enable the packing and the preparation of special kits designed for this purpose. Lapsley, in consultation with TSS, has been requested to prepare the requirements for packing supplies needed for this logistical requirement and will submit same in requisition form to the Chief, WH, which will enable the supplies to be procured and shipped to DTROBALO (Fort Clayton, Panama) as required. The preparation of these kits will be accomplished by a team assembled under the direction of Lapsley, as indicated below under personnel requirements. This preparatory work should be done at DTROBALO. The foregoing equipment is to be used in the preparation of the following kits..."
Undated HSCA document from CIA: Titled: "AUGUSTIN GUITART CAMPIZANO: 201-727418... - CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN 'CARL TEELS' AND AUGUSTIN GUITART: Last correspondence appears to have been on Nov. 8, 1963. Contact with Guitart started 6/12/63. All correspondence relates to Guitart's attempts to set up contact with Rene Guitart in Cuba using special chemical paper. - - - Contact Report 6/22/63: Report of contact between Gerald R. Lapsley as 'Carl Teels' and Guitart. Guitart described as energetic; active in anti-Batista and anti-Castro activities. Will set up contact with Rene Guitart, representative of Pillsbury Flour of Canada. "1/28/63: Letter to Carl Teels from 'G': RE: contact with Guitart, recommendation of Guitart as possible recruit. Indicates Guitarts' wife is sister or very close friend of Sara del Toro. Sara and her husband Amador Odio are in prison in Cuba now - both were close to the Castro family in 1959 and 1960. In late 60 or 61 they were accused of conspiring against the government. Amador sentenced to 30 years, Sara to 6 years. They have 9 children, all believed to be in the U.S..." - - - The full contact report on 06/22/63: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=225782#relPageId=47
104-10172-10106: GUITART, COMPIZANO AUGUSTIN.
07/23/63: CIA document: PROVISIONAL OPERATIONAL APPROVAL: Memo for Chief, SAS/OS - C. Trettin: SUBJECT: Guitart Campuzano, Agustin. NUMBER: 201-727514. REFERENCE: Your memorandum, dated 18 June 1963. "A Provisional Operational Approval is granted for the use of this Subject as set forth below. A Provisional Operational Approval issued by CI Staff grants the same authority, on a temporary basis, for the use of an individual as the authority granted in an Operational Approval unless otherwise specified by CI/OA. It is based, however, only on preliminary file checks and investigation and is subject to a further final review when all investigation is completed." - - - Carl Teels is mentioned numerous times in this file.
104-10241-10051: REPORT - MEETING WITH AMTHEO/1, WITH ROUTING SLIP
9/6/63: meeting with AMTHEO-1 (Manuel Suarez Carreno), Charcoal Grill restaurant, Alexandria, Virginia; case officer Gerald R. Lapsley as Carl Teels. "...AMTHEO-1 first met Artime when Artime was (illegible) and belonged to a civics action group called 'Accion Cubana', of which AMTHEO-1 was one of the five directors...According to AMTHEO-1, Artime belonged to the Communist Party in Cuba at the age of 17, and he fears that some of the theoretical teachings of the party have stuck with him. AMTHEO-1 was aware that Artime was receiving financial backing of major proportions and said that he had no idea where it was coming from. AMTHEO-1 is a very knowledgeable man and I firmly believe he is sincere and honest." - - - 09/11/63: Official Routing Slip from Henry D. Hecksher to C. Trettin, EOB: "Remarks: Could you ask AMTHEO-1 for the loan of AMBIDDY-1's tape recording? What is the basis for his belief that (AMBIDDY-1) belonged to the CP (note: Communist Party) (membership or leanings)?" https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=21286#relPageId=2
104-10164-10294: MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD: MEETING WITH DOCTOR ORLANDO BOSCH AVILA 201-299292
11/04/63: Memo for the record from Gerald R. Lapsley: DATE: 31 October 1963 and 1 November 1963: PLACE: The St. Moritz Hotel, New York City: PRESENT: Doctor Bosch, Gerald R. Lapsley as F. Benton Damer, and AMPROVE-2: "1. This report will combine two meetings which were held with Doctor Bosch on Thursday and Friday of last week. AMPROVE-2 participated in the first meeting and, although he was not present for the second meeting, was briefed on what transpired since it was necessary for him to serve as the liaison between Doctor Bosch and ourselves. 2...AMPROVE introduced me to Bosch as Benton Damer, the legal counsel and executive secretary for one of the members of the group offering the financial backing which Doctor Bosch was interested. It was explained to Bosch that these gentlemen were concerned over the legal aspects of their providing funds for this activity. Specifically they were desirous of insuring that their support would in no way serve to be embarrassing to them..." - - - 11/13/63: Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: C. E. Trettin, SAS/EDE): Slugline RYBAT (scored out) TYPIC AMCANOE: Cable which mentioned AMCANOE-1, -4, -8, -9 -10: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=225389#relPageId=1
104-10077-10167: DIRECTOR CABLE RE TELECON
11/27/63: Cable from Director to JMWAVE: Slugline RYBAT YOBITE TYPIC AMCANOE: "1. HQs regrets WAVE disturbed by sequence events connected with AMCANOE-3 (Antonio Jose Ramirez Mendez aka Tony Ramallo) telephone call. It certain that HQs and WAVE share concern for all agent assets involved. All actions taken by HQs were, are and will be intended to enhance the security of these assets. 2. We have attempted keep WAVE apprised in most expeditious fashion any AMCANOE-3 developments coming to our attention. To this end AMCANOE-2 was instructed on 22 Nov 63 contact and advise WAVE of first AMCANOE-3 telephone call. AMCANOE-2 advised 23 Nov that he had done this. After receipt WAVE 8115 which reflected either misreading or garble of Ref C, Lapsley called Manganello (Stephen P. Mangello) to ensure that WAVE correctly informed in regard who originating call. Para four Ref B also opened door for WAVE discuss second AMCANOE-3 phone call with AMCANOE-2 before call was made..." - - - 03/03/64: Memo for the record from Carl E. Trettin, SAS/EDE: Subject: Telephone Call from AMCANOE-1: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=18063#relPageId=2
104-10517-10119: CABLE: AMWHIP/1 DUE ARRIVE PARI 26 APRIL
04/22/64: Cable from Director to Geneva, Bern: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC MHFREEZE AMWHIP/1: REF DIR 15094* "AMWHIP/1 (Carlos Tepedino Gonzalez) due arrive PARI 26 April. Due GNVA about 30 April. Briefed New York re GNVA contact instructions per para 2, GNVA 6495 (IN 63875). Lapsley should identify self at initial meet as 'Ben Damer, friend of Bill Thompson (William Wainwright).' FYI, it determined recent meet A/1 does not know any UNCTAD delegates personally, but feels can be of some use through ploy of 'mutual' friends. Most willing do what able. Please emphasize A/1 he to do nothing to compromise his 'apolitical' posture vis-a-vis Castroites. (FYI, this posture has recently proved most useful in giving A/1 entre to Cuban Embassy circles Paris). C/S Comment: *AMWHIP/1 unable leave New York prior 24-25 April." - - - 05/09/64: Cable from Geneva to Director: Slugline TYPIC AMWHIP: "1. AMWHIP/1 stated that IDEN remarked during one of their conversations held PARI circa 1 May that Cuban sugar crop would be 'in excess of four million tons.' 2. AMWHIP/1 plans see IDEN PARI after 12 May when IDEN returns PARI from Havana. Lapsley requested AMWHIP/1 to try develop additional info on sugar and report it to PARI Station contact." https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=68068&relPageId=2
104-10181-10113: MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD: POSSIBLE DRE ANIMUS TOWARDS PRESIDENT KENNEDY
04/03/67: Memo for the record from A. E. Dooley: Page 2: ..."5. It is abundantly clear that the DRE had no part in the Kennedy assassination. Oswald was never a member of the DRE, which in fact, rejected him. In developing information regarding CIA's relations with the DRE, I conferred with Howard Brubaker, of the Cuban Operations Group who recently returned from a tour with our Miami Station; Carl Trettin, Deputy Chief of the Counterintelligence Branch of the Cuban Operations Group who knew Bringuier and was stationed in New Orleans at the time of the above incidents; and Margaret Forsythe also of the Cuban desk who is thoroughly familiar with the DRE operation." - - - Dooley also wrote a memo on November 11, 1964, about taking "Sam Halpern. Carl Trettin, Ray Monahan, and Nestor Sanchez of the Cuban desk (WH/SA) to the Warren Commission. Our mission was to examine some FBI reports, called to our attention by Dr. Goldberg, containing references to persons in Cuba..." https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=6412#relPageId=2