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Pseudonym: Pirnack, Alton

Definition:

Unknown identity. Used the alias "Larry". He was a paramilitary trainer and a case officer to Ricardo Morales Navarette. By November 1961, Pirnack was acquainted with AMHAZE-2523 (Carlos Hernandez).

Category:

pseudonym

Status:

Unknown

Discussion:

In January 1964, Alton Pirnack was an instructor at a AMWORLD Orientation Program, and Manuel Artime Buesa was in attendance. In addition, according to a dispatch in January 1964, Pirnack was one of the JMWAVE officers exposed to AMTRUNK-13. Pirnack was also one of the case officers known to Ricardo Morales Navarrete (AMDESK-1). Furthermore, a dispatch in April 1964, listed Pirnack in a Damage Report on Operation Zorro. Also, in January 1968, Alton T. Pirnack was listed as one of the JMWAVE officials exposed to AMHINT-56 (Juan Francisco Blanco Fernandez). Alton T. Pirnack used the alias "Larry" over a fairly long period of time. Pirnack might have been someone like Carl Hicks. This memo in late August of 1961 stated that Hicks was responsible for training and infiltration of agents, also a case officer for certain high level agents: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=147798&relPageId=36&search=carl_hicks This would seem to conform with meeting someone like Carlos Hernandez in 1961. On the other hand, Pirnack and Masengill appear in a same document so there is an obvious problem if Masengill was Hicks. Pirnack was probably not Morales or Robertson. As an aside, this memo in January of 1961 is interesting, some well-known CIA officers, Phillips, Hicks, Morales, Esterline, Reynolds/Al Cox, Sileo, Fravel Brown, Kent. Looks like there was a Ops Officer called James Riley (just below Hicks - perhaps a pseudo given Reynolds inclusion on list?), someone called John D. P. (something), and the others are redacted (at least three are instructors): https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=159376&search=#relPageId=146&tab=page

Sources:

104-10193-10175: DISPATCH: TRANSMITTAL OF AMOT-6 REPORT DATED 13 SEPTEMBER 1961

10/17/61, Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, WHD: Pages 7-10: CONTACT REPORT from Alton T. Pirnack: PARTICIPANTS: Smeryage, Pirnack, and Lazaro: DATE: 17 October 1961: SUBJECT: Lazaro Debriefing (Carlos Bandin, National Coordinator of the MRR): REFERENCE: WAVE 8632 dated 19 October 1961

104-10172-10114: HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ, CARLOS EDUARDO.

11/01/61, CIA document: PRQ Part II: Cryptonym: AMHAZE-2523 (Carlos Eduardo Hernandez Sanchez):..."3. List other case officers who have handled Subject or whom he knows or has known. Give names by which they have been known: Enzel as 'Jimmy Smith'; Theodore Windecker as 'Clarence'; Harold R. Noemayr as 'Roger Fox'; Dominique Pantleon as 'Peters'; Clarence E. Smeryage as 'Tom'; Alton T. Pirnack as 'Larry'; Irving Cadick as 'Rip'..."

104-10241-10087: DISPATCH: TYPIC/OPERATIONAL/AMWORLD/AMBIDDY-1 ORIENTATION PROGRAM

01/09/64, Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Special Affairs Staff - this paramilitary military planning course was specifically designed for AMBIDDY-1/Manuel Artime. Other instructors included Shackley and Morales as well as Darguzis/Bradley Ayers, Faitelson, Masengill/Cal Hicks? and "Tattersfield" and Pages 4-5: "ORIENTATION PROGRAM: Program Period: 6-18 January 1964. Total Hours: 83....PERIOD: 8 January:..1700-2200: SUBJECT: The Infiltration Team Principles and Concepts, Organization of a Resistance Net: INSTRUCTOR: Pirnack...PERIOD: 10 January: 0900-1200. SUBJECT: Caching and Sabotage Techniques. INSTRUCTOR: Pirnack. 1300-1500. SUBJECT: PM Techniques, Reconnaissance, Raid and Ambush. INSTRUCTOR: Pirnack... PERIOD: 14 January: 1300-1800. SUBJECT: Weapons Familiarization and Range Firing. INSTRUCTOR: Pirnack..."

104-10216-10148: DISPATCH: TRANSMITTAL OF OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR AMTRUNK VII

01/22/64, Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Special Affairs Staff: Page 9: DAMAGE REPORT:..."C. CIA Personnel Exposed to AMTRUNK-13:...Alton T. Pirnack as 'Larry'..."

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: Page 2: ..."c. Resistance Activity and Guerrilla Warfare: AMBIDDY-1 received training on the principles and concepts inherent in organizing an infiltration team. In addition, he was trained relative to the principles of organizing a resistance net. Additionally, he was trained in caching, demolition and sabotage techniques. AMBIDDY-1 also received instruction in the principles and concepts of guerrilla warfare. AMBIDDY-1 was also given an opportunity to familiarize himself, through actual range firing, with those weapons which are normally used by anti-AMTHUG-1 forces. Alton T. Pirnack was the principal instructor for this bloc of training. Pirnack reports that AMBIDDY-1 was responsive to the subject material which was presented to him...."

104-10234-10312: DISPATCH: OPERATION ZORRO

04/23/64, Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Special Affairs Staff: Page 8-9: ..."B. DAMAGE REPORT:..3)...Alton P. Pirnack as Larry..."

104-10103-10110: DISPATCH: ACTIVITIES OF JORGE VOLSKY

08/24/64, Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Deputy Chief, WH/SA: Page 25: ..."b. The following CIA staff employees were in contact with AMICE-27 and are therefore considered known to Volsky:...Alton T. Pirnack as Larry (Training Instructor)..."

104-10247-10060: DISPATCH: OPERATIONAL POSSIBLE UTILIZATION OF AMICE-14 IN STUDENT ACTIVITIES.

09/18/64, Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Various COS (Santiago, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Caracas): Page 9: Memorandum from Chief, Training Branch, JMWAVE to Chief, PM Branch, JMWAVE on 06/18/64: Subject: Training Evaluation Report on AMTRUNK Team: "I. During the period 20 May through 5 June 1964, the AMTRUNK Team was given training by Alton T. Pirnack and John K. Tartarillo at Safesites #211, #216, and #116 in the following PM Subjects:..." Training included Map Reading, Caching, Weapons.

104-10215-10145: DISPATCH: TERMINATION OF AMHINT-56

01/26/68, Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, WH Division: Page 5 (Page 2 of Damage Report): "WOFIRM Personnel Exposed:...Alton T. Pirnack/Larry

180-10143-10345: HSCA DOCUMENT

07/21/78, File Review - Ricardo Morales Navarette by Betsy Palmer: Page 2: ...."9. PRQ - Part II: 27 April 1964:...Case Officers known to Morales: Clarence E. Smeryage - Glen; Kenneth R. Sakovich - Pat; Charles F. Masengill - Frank; Anton T. Pirnack - Larry..."

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