Home/ Resources / Projects / CIA Pseudonyms / pseudonym: STATEN_SAMUEL

Pseudonym: Staten, Samuel

Definition:
Samuel Addison Staten was the Technical Services Division (TSD) alias birth certificate for Jack Wallen, aka Victor Wallen. In turn, Wallen was probably a pseudonym for Harold Swenson.
Category:
alias
Status:
Probable
Discussion:
A memo from Erich W. Isenstead on November 2, 1973, on Howard Hunt, contained a numbered list of true names, along with a corresponding TSD alias birth certificate list. Most of the alias birth certificates were issued in connection with the Bay of Pigs operation. Jack Wallen was number 149 and his alias of Samuel Addison Staten was number 149.

Jack/Victor Wallen was a CIA liaison agent with the FBI in 1962 and Chief/TFW/CI. Richard M. Tansing, C/SAS/CI. in 1962-1963 was probably a pseudonym for Harold Swenson.

In testimony to the Church Committee in May of 1976, Swenson stated that he joined the Special Affairs "Staff at the time it was known as the task force at the time of the missile crisis in Cuba, and I continued with the task force, which later became known as SAS, up to 1965, within the United States as Chief of Counterintelligence. My first job was Assistant to the Director of the Task Force for the crisis in Cuba, the missile crisis. I then became Chief of Counterintelligence."
Sources:

104-10310-10020: FILE: DDCI DOCUMENTS

CIA document: Titled: JMARC COUNTERINTELLIGENCE PLAN: Pages 3, 5: "2. Operational Tasks: a. The Branch/4/CI officer will...(2) Keep FI Deputy, WH Division and Deputy Chief, CI Staff, and the latter's appointed staff representatives (Victor Wallen, Robert Brown, (REDACTION) and Birch O'Neal), informed on CI matters in which they have an agreed interest (see low)...(3) Victor Wallen, Operations Division, CI Staff: Responsibility for committing records and studies on Cuban Intelligence and Security Services. To this end, Victor Wallen will: (a) Prepare and maintain a briefing notebook on Cuban Intelligence and Security Services (accomplished). (b) Prepare a guide for screening WH/4/Reports personality cards and other record assets in order to identify suspect persons aiding or abetting Cuban clandestine activities (accomplished). (c) Prepare lists of suspect persons and maintain these lists on a current basis for exploitation by all Branch/4 sections and other Agency components with operational interest. (Initial lists have been prepared in 13 books). (d) Prepare or assemble CI requirements, as requested, which pertain to the maintenance of CI notebooks of the Cuban services. (Initial requirements have been drawn up for Ernie Sparks use)..."

124-90139-10039: No Title

04/18/62: FBI memo from S. J. Papich to D. J. Brennan: Subject: ANTI-FIDEL CASTRO ACTIVITIES: IS - CUBA: "The Liaison Agent has been maintaining regular contact with Central intelligence Agency (CIA) for the purpose of obtaining the identities of Cuban exiles and exile organizations in the U.S. in whom CIA has any operational interest...On April 16, 1962, the Liaison Agent met with William K. Harvey, CIA, who exhibited a list of approximately 60 pages listing 300 names on this list, together with brief identifying data. Included were the identities of many Cubans who already are in Cuba. Harvey stated that he was reluctant to furnish all these names unless we absolutely need the data...Addendum: This question was previously raised in Papich to Brennan memo 3-8-62. At that time, Jack Wallen, CIA, advised that CIA, through its involvement with Cuban exiles and activities at Miami interrogation center, was periodically picking up information of possible interest to Bureau. Wallen stated such data was being disseminated to Miami Office and to Bureau at headquarters level. He inquired whether Bureau would prefer that dissemination be restricted to Miami. Wallen was advised that CIA should disseminate the data to Bureau headquarters and that it was free to include our Miami Office in the dissemination if it cared to do so..."

104-10221-10176: FRANK ANTHONY STURGIS, ALSO KNOWN AS FRANK FIORINI NEUTRALITY MATTERS

06/28/62: FBI memo from Director to Director, CIA: "Reference is made to my memoranda dated June 13 and June 15, 1962, in the captioned matter and to a discussion between Mr. Victor John Wallen of your Agency and Mr. S. J. Papich of this Bureau on June 25, 1962. This will confirm information orally furnished to Mr. Wallen by Mr. Papich on June 25, 1962..."

124-90147-10062: No Title

07/25/62: FBI memo from W. O. Cregar to D. J. Brennan: Subject: FAIR PLAY FOR CUBA COMMITTEE: IS - CUBA: "In previous memorandum dated July 17, 1962, Liaison furnished Nationalities Intelligence Section with a thermofax copy of a letter received at Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) headquarters. On July 24, 1962, Mr. Jack Wallen, CIA, furnished the Liaison Agent with a thermofax copy of a letter (attached) signed 'Dick.' According to Wallen, this letter was sent to Mr. Thornton Hagert...Falls Church, Virginia. Hagert in turn turned the letter over to Philip K. Reiss, employed in Room 6114 South Building, 12th Street and Independence Avenue, S. W., Department of Agriculture. According to Wallen, Reiss is a brother-in-law of Hagert and a former employee in the Office of Logistics of CIA. It was Wallen's opinion that the letter dated July 16, 1962, from 'Dick' and the letter furnished Nationalities Intelligence Section as an attachment to referenced memorandum were written by the same individual; namely Richard Gibson. CIA has no objection to the Bureau talking to Reiss or Hagert and indicated they would be willing to contact Gibson in New York and arrange a subsequent meeting with him in Montreal, Canada, if the Bureau so desires. ACTION: Be furnished the Nationalities Intelligence Section for their information."

104-10176-10147: CABLE: HAVE INFORMED ODENVY INFO REFS. WILL ADVISE

10/10/62: Cable from Director to JMWAVE (Orig: W. Kerbe, TFW/CI): GYROSE: "1. Have informed ODENVY (FBI) reps. Will advise. 2. Wish take no action para five Ref B pending ODENVY reply. TFW Comment: *Ref RYBAT. **Ref RYBAT." Releasing Officer: William K. Harvey, C/TFW. Authenticating Officer: Kerbe for Victor Wallen, C/TFW/CI.

124-90137-10275: No Title

11/16/62: FBI memo from S. J. Papich to D. J. Brennan: Subject: ALPHA 66: INTERNAL SECURITY - CUBA: "The following information was furnished to the Liaison Agent on November 15, 1962, by Jack Wallen, CIA. CIA now has an operational interest in a dissident faction of the captioned organization. CIA feels that certain individuals in this group possibly could be useful in the agency's programs directed against Castro. At this point CIA is only exploring potential future use of the referenced faction. The agency so far is not furnishing any financial support, guidance or instructions. Wallen advised that the Bureau will be kept informed concerning any change in CIA's relationship with the group. ACTION: The above information is being directed to the attention of the Nationalities Intelligence Section."

104-10308-10250: CABLE: POSSIBLE PLOT ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT KENNEDY

12/08/62: Cable from CIA to White House (Orig: R. Horn, TFW/CI): "1. On 7 December 1962 a letter was turned over to a representative of this Agency. It was postmarked Havana 29 November 1962, sender Jose Menendez, 5th Avenue 2611, Reparto Miramar, Marianao. It was addressed to Bernardo Morales, Apartado 1624, Miami 1. It was delivered on 4 December 1962 to post office box 1624, Miami, Florida. 2. Post office box 1624 belongs to the Radio Libertad la voz Anti-Comunista de America. Miami representatives of this organization are Olga Duque de Heredia and Aida Mayo Coetara. Since Morales was unknown to these women, they turned the letter over to a contact of this Agency..." Releasing Officer: Rufus A. Horn, Jr., CI/LIAISON (by direction of Victor Wallen, C/TFW/CI). Authenticating Officer: Rufus A. Horn, Jr., for William K. Harvey, C/TFW (by direction of Victor Wallen, C/TFW/CI).

https://documents3.theblackvault.com/documents/jfkfiles/jfk2022/104-10105-10290%5bc06932214%5d.pdf

11/02/73: Memo from Erich W. Isenstead, Chief, Cover & Commercial Staff to Acting General Counsel: Subject: Mr. E. Howard Hunt - Alias Birth Documentation: ..."3. Later in the afternoon of 30 October 1973 Mr. Franklin came to my office with a number of documents. They consisted of a form memorandum signed by me which was addressed to Mr. Hunt dated 29 June 1970 (Tab B), a list of names numbering from 1 through 154, representing true names (Tab C), and a second listing similarly numbered, representing aliases (Tab D). Number 63 on the true name list reads E. Howard Hunt and on the alias list, Edward Joseph Hamilton. Mr. Franklin explained - which I had forgotten - that we had obtained from TSD this list of outstanding alias birth certificates issued by TSD in an attempt to recall - if possible - as many of these documents, or to determine what had happened to them. (Most of these alias birth certificates were issued in connection with the Bay of Pigs operation)..."

Partial of 104-10105-10290:

"TRUE NAME...149. WALLIN, Jack..." - - - Page 4: "ALIAS...149. STATEN, Samuel Addison..."

157-10014-10048: TESTIMONY OF HAROLD SWENSON, 10 MAY 1976

05/10/76: SSCIA testimony of Harold Swenson: ..."Mr. JOHNSTON: Would you state the date and position you occupied in the Special Affairs Staff of CIA? Mr. SWENSON: I joined the Staff at the time it was known as the task force at the time of the missile crisis in Cuba, and I continued with the task force, which later became known as SAS, up to 1965, within the United States as Chief of Counterintelligence. My first job was Assistant to the Director of the Task Force for the crisis in Cuba, the missile crisis. I then became Chief of Counterintelligence..."

Contributors:
Gavin McDonald • Bill Simpich

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