Pseudonym: Tardock, Harmon
A memo by Calvin Thomas in March of 1967 stated that he was assigned to JMWAVE from the spring of 1961 to the late summer of 1963. Thomas stated that "one of the cases on which I worked from then until shortly before my reassignment to Headquarters in late summer 1963 concerned funding of overseas elements of the DRE (Student Revolutionary Directorate) which had its main office in Miami (the case officer for this group during this period was Mr. Ross Crozier, since resigned)." This matched Tardock's AMBARB task mentioned above. In addition, Calvin Thomas stated that he met Luis Fernandez Rocha several times. As mentioned above, Tardock handcarried letters from Fernandez Rocha to HQs in 1962.
A dispatch on March 21, 1962, from Chief, Task Force W, stated that Harmon V. Tardock was the identity in Attachment B. The dispatch also asked of the Chief of Station (COS), JMWAVE, "is it feasible for DRE to set up an office in Paris? Would it be worthwhile to extend the AMBARB operation to Paris; and, for that matter, to other European cities where there are numbers of Cuban students?"
A dispatch on July 10, 1962, stated that "we are forwarding, under separate cover, a Spanish-to-English translation of a copy of the letter which was obtained by Harmon V. Tardock from AMVANG-2 during the former's TDY (note: temporary duty) at WAVE. Tardock was on his way to the airport at the time and therefore did not have an opportunity to furnish Station a copy."
104-10171-10301: OPERATIONAL: ACTION IS REQUESTED IN SUCH PARAGRAPH
03/21/62: Dispatch from Chief, Task Force W to COS, JMWAVE: "1. Attachment A is a copy of a (unintelligible) prepared by Harmon V. Tardock, who is Identity in Attachment B, giving his understanding of the AMBARB (propaganda project to place DRE members in universities throughout Latin America) (unintelligible). With respect to instructions on the training of the AMBARB now in the Dominican Republic in DIR 28413 (a question [unintelligible) that cable has been (unintelligible) by subsequent (unintelligible)...2. (Unintelligible) forward PRQ Part II to the following personnel as soon as possible so that they can be processed (unintelligible): AMBARB-1, (unintelligible), AMHINT-26 (John Koch Gene), AMBARB-2, (unintelligible), AMBARB-59, AMBARB-4, AMBARB-60 (?)...5. Headquarters wants to publish in Prensa Libre the photos of the letters from two students in La Cabana prison, which were sent to Headquarters with UFGA-2047, 2 August 1961. Does WAVE have any objections? 6. Attachment D is a memorandum of conversation (unintelligible) by a BGACTRESS (CIA International Organizations Division - IOD) case officer in Paris on a discussion he had with several Cuban attendees there. It is for your information and consideration of ways that the Cuban student group in Paris might be utilized operationally in the overall (unintelligible) effort. For example, is it feasible for DRE to set up an office in Paris? Would it be worthwhile to extend the AMBARB operation to Paris; and, for that matter, to other European cities where there are numbers of Cuban students? 7. Attachment S is a copy of an FBI report on the DRE and some persons associated with it."
104-10171-10036: MAY PROGRESS REPORT - AMSPELL
06/23/62: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Task Force W: Pages 3-5: ..."B. AMHINT (probably a branch of the DRE that conducted paramilitary and infiltration operations in Cuba. Their case officer was JMWAVE chief of operations David Morales): 1) General: The entire AMSPELL (the Directorio Revolucionario Estudiantil, or DRE - Cuban Student Directorate) progress report has been held up pending the exfiltration of AMHINT-53 (Luis Fernandez-Rocha). His debriefing would have provided detailed and updated AMHINT organizational and operational data. In the absence of this information, three of AMHINT-53's couriered letters are the only point of reference. (Two of these, dated 5 April 1962 were handcarried to Headquarters by Tardock)...B. AMBARB (propaganda project to place DRE members in universities throughout Latin America): 1) General...Also, in addition to normal processing of AMBARB assignments, a visit by Mr. Tardock from Headquarters resulted in a study of AMBARB funding which has prompted guidance for all stations concerned (Book Dispatch 3211)...g. Ecuador - (Assigned: AMBARB-28 and 65): AMBARB-28 is a Quito station controlled asset and while no station reports are available as yet, Tardock reports that information from his sources describe AMBARB-28 as extremely active in GYROSE (routing indicator for Task Force W's internal communications within the CIA regarding Cuba) operations..."
07/10/62: Dispatch from Chief, Task Force W to COS, JMWAVE: "1. Although you have probably received a copy of subject letter through your sources, we are forwarding, under separate cover, a Spanish-to-English translation of a copy of the letter which was obtained by Harmon V. Tardock from AMVANG-2 during the former's TDY at WAVE. Tardock was on his way to the airport at the time and therefore did not have an opportunity to furnish Station a copy. 2. Also enclosed, under separate cover, is a memorandum commenting on the subject letter, which was prepared by a KUWOLF (Psychological and Paramilitary Staff) staff member at Headquarters." Originating Officer: M. Tharpe, TFW/PA-PROP. Coordinating Officer: Seymour R. Bolten, C/TFW/PA-PROP. Releasing Officer: Unintelligible.
104-10181-10117: MEMO: POSSIBLE DRE ANIMUS TOWARDS PRESIDENT KENNEDY
03/08/67: Memo for the record from Calvin Thomas, SB/O/PT: "1. This memorandum makes record of a recollection which has been brought to mind in recent weeks since my return from Yugoslavia in late November 1966. 2. In spring 1961, upon returning from Berlin I was assigned to JMWAVE. One of the cases on which I worked from then until shortly before my reassignment to Headquarters in late summer 1963 concerned funding of overseas elements of the DRE (Student Revolutionary Directorate) which had its main office in Miami (the case officer for this group during this period was Mr. Ross Crozier, since resigned). 3. I believe that it is this group, the DRE, which has been referred to in investigations into the President's assassination as the Cuban Student Directorate, whose New Orleans rep...is said to have had contacts with Oswald. 4. I have assumed that, since the time I was transferred from Miami and scheduled for my next assignment as COB, (REDACTION), officers better and more recently informed than myself have probably examined in detail all aspects of the DRE involvement with Oswald, in order to rule out any slight possibility that compromise of the CIA sponsorship of this organization might in any way embarrass the Agency. Recent news reports of investigations centering in New Orleans on the assassination have once again brought to mind the concern I felt in November 1963, by which time, however, I was far removed from current knowledge of the operation. 5. I do retian a distinct recollection that the DRE leadership, specifically Luis Fernandez Rocha, whom I met several times, did hold sentiments of chagrin and embitterment that President Kennedy had not more forcefully pursued a 'liberation' of Cuba. Whether or not this animus, which could be discerned as occasional signs of anger...might have been translated into a wish for revenge, may be better known to other officers who dealt with this group after the summer of 1963."
02/28/68: Memo: "1. Mr. Calvin Thomas of the SB Division wrote a memorandum entitled 'Possible DRE Animus Toward President Kennedy' and dated 8 March 1967. At that time Mr. Thomas had recently returned from a tour of duty in Yugoslavia. While there he had read about the Warren Commission's investigation and had noted the pre-assassination encounter in New Orleans between Carlos Bringuier of the Student Revolutionary Directorate (DRE), and Lee Harvey Oswald. He recalled his own dealings in Miami with the DRE, a CIA-subsidized group. He considered the DRE members whom he knew to be unpredictable and untrustworthy. He speculated as to whether DRE elements could have been involved in the Kennedy assassination. He recommended that CIA investigate this possibility if it had not already done so. Thomas was assigned to Miami from July 1962 to August 1963. Neither CI/R&A nor SB has a retention copy of the memorandum, but Mr. Thomas is still at Headquarters..."