Pseudonym: Rochon, Sherwood
A dispatch in May of 1959 on AMBANG-1's (Manuel Ray Rivero) PRQ Part II stated that Sherwood P. Rochon was Woodrow C. Olien's (Jim Noel) predecessor, and A-1 also knew him as a U. S. State Department officer. The dispatch also mentioned that AMBANG-1 knew Wallace A. Growery (Earl J. Williamson).
In addition, Rochon also approved two Field Information Reports by John P. Kempton in November, 1956, and June, 1957.
A FBI memo from the Director to CIA Director in May of 1961 stated that a reporter for the New York Journal-American had recently been in Miami, Florida, covering the failed Cuban invasion and had spoken to many Cuban exiles and personal sources. The memo noted that "the reporter stated he was able to ascertain from his sources the names of the CIA personnel allegedly responsible for the invasion. He furnished these names as Bernard Barker, David Morales, one Williamson, one Caldwell, one Carranza, one Avignon and a colonel who had been assigned as Air Attaché at the United States Embassy in the Dominican Republic." Williamson referred to Earl Williamson, Caldwell referred to William Caldwell, and Avignon referred to Arthur Avignon. Gerard Droller was also mentioned in the memo.
Henry Hecksher, in a FBI memo on September 27, 1963, mentioned that William Caldwell had been stationed in Australia for the past two years, and that Caldwell had been in the United States for a few days in the middle of August.
William Caldwell later worked with William K. Harvey and Harold F. Swenson in Bishop's Service. Caldwell headed the Florida branch.
104-10071-10066: FIELD INFORMATION REPORT ENTITLED "INTERVENTION OF CATTLEMEN'S FEDERATION
11/19/56: Field Information Report from Havana: Report No.: HKH-1376. Report Made By: John P. Kempton. Approved By: Sherwood P. Rochon. Source Cryptonym: AMBULL. On page 4 source was described as a "Cuban with good contacts in labor circles (C)."
104-10170-10091: PLANS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE DIRECTORIO ROVOLUCIONARIO
03/11/57: Report from Habana: Made by: Humphrey I. Eberwein. Approved by: Sherwood P. Rochon. "Source: (REDACTION)...2. Source, whom Eberwein had previously met through a mutual acquaintance, sent word through another student contact of Eberwein that he wanted to talk to Eberwein. Since source is wanted by the Cuban authorities, he was met clandestinely. The information in the attached report was elicited from him during meetings on 9 and 10 March 1957..."
104-10074-10138: COMMUNISM IN THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY
06/11/57: Field Information Report from Havana: "Report No.: HKH-1502. Report Made By: John P. Kempton. Approved By: Sherwood P. Rochon...Subject: Communism in the Tobacco Industry. Source: Paragraphs 1 and 2 - AMBULL from Justo Quijano Martinez, director of the tobacco group of the Asociacion Cubana pro-Democracia. Paragraph 3 - AMBULL. Paragraph 4 - Samuel Powell."
104-10291-10013: OP FILES. (STAFF EMPLOYEE)
02/12/58: Memo from J. C. King, Chief, Western Hemisphere Division to Director of CIA: Via: Deputy Director (Plans): Subject: Appointment of Mr. James A. Noel, Chief of Station, Havana, Cuba: "1. The appointment of Mr. Noel as Chief of Station, Havana, Cuba, effective on or about 7 September 1958, is recommended. Mr. Noel would replace Mr. William B. Caldwell whose reassignment to another field station is under active consideration..."
104-10177-10066: CABLE RE: CIRCUMSTANCES LED NUNEZ PORTUONDO RESIGNATION
03/20/58: Cable from Havana to Director: INTEL: "Source Emilio Nunez Portuondo to Rochon (B)..."
104-10215-10214: COLLECTED DOCUMENTS:CROZIER, ROSS, 201-168881
04/10/58: Dispatch via Air Pouch from COS, Habana to Chief, WHD: Subject: General - Operational/Arthur G. Vaivada. Specific - Commendation for Successful Completion of Mission to Sierra Maestra: "1. The writer wishes to commend Station and Base personnel whose work contributed to the successful preparation, mounting, and execution of the clandestine operation that recently placed a KUBARK (CIA) Career Agent, Arthur G. Vaivada (Ross Crozier), in the Sierra Maestra headquarters of Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz for sixteen days in March 1958. This mission resulted in acquisition by KUBARK of considerable important and timely information regarding the Castro revolutionary movement that was being urgently requested by customer agencies. In the writer's opinion the operation was a team effort. Giving credit to the staff personnel will in no way detract from the praiseworthy performance of Vaivada himself. 2. With regard to Vaivada the personal courage and professional ability as an intelligence officer demonstrated on this mission were of the highest order and should be highly commended. Headquarters is aware, as is the Station, that Vaivada is desirous of acquiring staff agent status with KUBARK. The writer believes that his desires in this respect should be given consideration as part of any action taken in recognition of Vaivada's services in the subject operation. 3. Station and Base personnel directly concerned with laying on this operation, arranging for proper briefing and support of Vaivada, and recovering him securely when he left the Sierra Maestras, were Humphrey I. Eberwein, James R. Palinger, and Nelson L. Raynock (Henry Hecksher). Sherwood P. Rochon."
05/29/59: Dispatch from COS, Habana to Chief, WHD: PRQ Part II: AMBANG-1: "Section I: Contact and Development: Woodrow C. Olien (Jim Noel) met Subject in October 1958 when the latter was head of the Civic Resistance Movement in Habana. Three clandestine meetings were held with Subject prior to 1 January 1959, which, in addition to Olien and Wallace A. Growery (Earl Williamson), were also attended by Ignacio Mendoza, a member of NRC (civic resistance) who originally introduced Subject to Olien. Subsequent to 1 January 1959 Subject was given an important post within the revolutionary government and Olien has seen him only twice since then and on a social basis. Subject believes Olien to be a political officer of (REDACTION)...Subject knew Sherwood P. Rochon, Olien's predecessor, but also as an ODACID (U.S. State Department) officer. He had also met Wallace A. Growery."
05/12/61: FBI memo from Director to Director, CIA: Subject: CUBAN SITUATION: INTERNAL SECURITY - CUBA: "A reporter for the 'New York Journal-American', on May 8, 1961, furnished the following information: The reporter stated he had recently been in Miami, Florida, covering the Cuban invasion and had spoken to many Cuban exiles and personal sources. As a result, he came to the conclusion that the invasion had been badly handled by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from every aspect. He stated that some of the exiles were of the opinion that the invasion was doomed to failure by design on the part of CIA and they are holding CIA responsible. The reporter stated he was able to ascertain from his sources the names of the CIA personnel allegedly responsible for the invasion. He furnished these names as Bernard Barker, David Morales, one Williamson, one Caldwell, one Carranza, one Avignon and a colonel who had been assigned as Air Attaché at the United States Embassy in the Dominican Republic. In addition, he stated he had heard that one Frank Bender (Gerard Droller) of CIA was also among those responsible. The above- mentioned reporter identified two of his sources of the foregoing information as former Colonel Mariano Faget and Enrique Parajon, who were formerly connected with the Bureau for the Repression of Communist Activities (BRAC) in Cuba. BRAC was an active organization in Cuba during the Batista regime. Reportedly, the reporter checked the above-mentioned CIA employees with Faget who apparently maintained a file on the subject. Faget allegedly verified the information the reporter had received concerning the part played by these individuals in the invasion."
09/27/63: FBI memo from D. J. Brennan, Jr. to W. C. Sullivan: Subject: ANTI-CASTRO ACTIVITIES: INTERNAL SECURITY - CUBA: "During the past few weeks the Bureau has received information from time to time concerning anti-Castro activities based in Nicaragua. This information has suggested that Cuban exiles probably were in the process of organizing another invasion force. We do know that Manuel Artime, a prominent Cuban exile, has been spending considerable time in Nicaragua allegedly organizing exiles and we also know that he has been getting support from CIA. On 9/25/63, the Liaison Agent met with Henry Hecksher, CIA, for the purpose of determining where CIA fits into the picture in Nicaragua. Such information naturally is useful to us as we plan and supervise our investigations of Cubans in this country. Hecksher furnished the following: He made reference to information developed by the Bureau concerning a high-level meeting of Cuban exiles which allegedly was held in New York City in July, 1963. Our information indicated that the meeting involved American and Cuban businessmen and that one of those in attendance was a Mr. Campbell identified as the Commercial Attaché of the U.S. Embassy in Australia. The Bureau source had suggested that Campbell might be identical with William Caldwell, a CIA intelligence officer who had been assigned in Cuba at one time. Hecksher stated that his agency does not know anything about this meeting and that Caldwell has been stationed in Australia for the past two years. Caldwell was in the U.S. for a few days around the middle of August but he has not been involved in any Cuban matters since his assignment in Australia..."
1993.07.21.08:58:07:430620: ROBERT A. MAHEU: OS/SAG FILES PROVIDED TO THE HSCA
11/00/70: Article which stated that ..."Among the recent appointees by (Harold) Swenson is William B. Caldwell (1941-46), of 4739 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, who heads the Bishop's Service office at 1402 S.W. First Street, Miami..." - - - Caldwell was photographed sitting on the left hand side, with William K. Harvey standing behind him. Swenson was sitting on the right hand side in the photo. All three were former CIA officers.
157-10005-10250: TESTIMONY OF ALFRED J. SARNO (CIA EMPLOYEE)
06/25/75: SSCIA document: Testimony of Alfred J. Sarno (probably Tony Sforza): Pages 34-35: ..."Mr. WIDES: When Mr. Shackley was the station chief, did you report to him or someone else? Mr. SARNO: I reported to my branch chief. Mr. WIDES: And what was that branch? Mr. SARNO: FI Branch, Foreign Intelligence. Mr. WIDES: And that was the same procedure throughout the period? Mr. SARNO: Yes, sir. Mr. WIDES: Up til '67? Mr. SARNO: Through '67. Well, let's see, now. No, sir. Well, it was, because later they made the AMOTs group, it became a branch, and they brought in a very senior officer to be the Branch Chief, and I was considered the Deputy Branch Chief. Mr. Dimmer brought in the senior officer. Mr. WIDES: And you don't feel like you can give us his name? Mr. SARNO: There's no reason not to. He is retired now. Bill Caldwell..."
07/27/76: HSCA document: Memo from Gaeton Fonzi to Troy Gustavson: Page 4: ..."Ray's first contact with the American Embassy in Havana was when he was working underground for Castro before the Revolution. That was in 1958 and it was with a man named Cadwell. (Question: Could this as it seems likely, be our man Jack Cogswell? If so, our impression of him as a freelance intelligence informant may need revising - and therefore, too, does our view of Godoy and his relationship with Veciana). Ray later dealt at the Embassy with CIA station chief Jim Knoell (note: Noel) and his assistant named Williamson. Williamson doesn't fit the Bishop description and, from what I recall of Paul Bethel's description of Knoel, neither does he..."