198-10007-10025] = ia nomena JFK Assassination System Date: 6/24/201 Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY: ARMY RECORD NUMBER: — 198-10007-10025 RECORD SERIES: CALIFANO PAPERS AGENCY FILE NUMBER : . . Document Information ORIGINATOR: ARMY FROM: JAMES K. PATCHELL TO: TITLE: TRAINING OF CUBAN OFFICERS IN EXILE DATE: 01/12/1963 PAGES: 12 SUBJECTS : CUBAN OFFICERS IN EXILE - TRAINING DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: > Not Marked RESTRICTIONS: 1A CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: 04/08/1998 OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : Califano Papers, Box 2, Folder 12. Note from Patchell re: report on training of Cuban officers in exile. Deparment of the Army EO 198268 Declassity [3 Exclude Authority uae Exempt El Refer To Review Date 5/121 2¢ By ICES pee v9.1 34 HW 50955 Docld:37474018 Page i
” DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY . . WASHINGTON, D.c. yy thes — - a HY 50955 DBoctd: 327424016 Page 2?
HW 0955 12 January, 1963 Memorandum for Mr, Joseph A, Califano, Jr. | Sub jects: Training of Cuban officers in exile. . 1. Herewith is a re-typed original and carbon copy of ny memorandum of 12 November, 1962, together with three appendices, Lists A, B and C, containing respectively the names of profes- sional Army officers, “Rebel Arny" and "Liberation Arny" offi- cers in exile. The "Rebel Army" officers are those who acquired their rank in Castrots rebel forces in which they served in over- throwing Batista, and from which they went into exile during the communist take-over. The "Liberation Army" officers are those who were trained for and served in the April 1961 invasion, 2. 1 have learned that my original memorandum, which was transmitted to Washington after a check of the names, was re- turned to Miami this week with instructions that I transmit it direct to the Pentagon. The delay is unexplained and certainly regrettable. 3. During this week, a list was prepared for me of the pro- fessional (career) officers (formerly in Cuban Army) who served in the Brigade and were returned to Miami in the ransom operation. I am enclosing a copy of this in duplicate, as “Addition to List A™, These should be considered along with those .on "List A" as professional army officers, 4, I am asking today that a list also be prepared of other, non-career officers among these ex-prisoners of the Brigade, who. were given officer assignments in the Brigade for the April '61 expedition. I should nave that list by the middle of the week 16 - 19 January, and will send it to you as an "Addition to List Cc", 5. The biographical sheets for each of the men on ny ori- ginal Lists A, B and C presumably have also been, or will be, re- turned to Miami for me to transmit directly to the Pentagon. Hence I nope that I shall have them in my hands by 15 or 16 Janu- ary and I shall mail them to you as soon as I have them. 6, If there are any questions or if any further details are needed, please call on me. BDoclda: 327474018 Page 4
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HY 0955 Le Noveuber, L962 Memorandum for Record, No. . Subjects: Recommendations for training of additional Cuban officers in exile, Le Reference is made to; _ a4, Biographies of Cuban professional army officers and rebel army Officers in exile, transmitted by memorandum from Miami during the past eleven months, recommending they be considered for training in the U.S. service establishments, - -}», Informal discussions on this sub ject: (1) By Dr, Miro Cardona with DOD and Department of State re- presentatives, (2) By Dr. Miro's U.S. contact in conversation with DOD and Department of State representatives. (3) Between DOD representatives and Dr. Miro, Dr. Varona and Capt. Despaigne on 14 October, 1962, in Hotel Carillon, Miami Beach. ec. Current program for training Cuban Army and Air Force offi- cers (total of ‘8 Arny and 4 Air Force). dad. Recruiting program for Cuban exiles. 2, The recommendations in this memorandum take into consideration: a. That only a limited number of Cuban exile officers can readi- ly be trained in the established courses in U.S. service schools due to the length of these courses, the lack of vacancies in each class, and the language problem for most Cubans, and other factors. b, That it would seem desirable to train a considerable number” of Cuban officers in a relatively short period of time in the immediate future. ec, That it would be desirable to have Cuban officers receive training similar to that given to Cuban enlistees in the current program for training Cubans in their own units and-using the Spanish language. d. That it would be advantageous to have Cuban officers in exile become directly associated with Cuban enlistees in the U.S. Arny train- ing program for Cubans, so that this association may .continue after ter- mination of the 20-week training program and establishment. of a Cuban Reserve Unit (or Cuban Expeditionary Force). e. In addition to this training for the majority of available and qualified Cuban exile officers, training in counter-insurgency oper- ations appears desirable for four or five specially selected officers, Flight, gunnery and navigation training for Air Force officers also is deemed "desirable, Of less importance but deserving of consideration is training for the relatively small number of Cuban navy officers in Bocld: 327474018 Page 6
HY 4S0954 Para. e (cont.) exile. Training for medical officers has also been proposed by Dr. Miro and his medical advisors. . 3S. It is understood that during the 14 October meeting at Miami Beach of DOD representatives with Dr. Miro, the possibility was explored of using Cuban professional officers as "civilian advisors" to U.S. Aruy officer instructors of the Cuban enlistee training program, and using Cuban "Rebel Army" and "Liberation Army" officers as "cadre" in the training program for Cuban enlisted men, In view of these exploratory proposals which were conveyed to me by Dr. Miro, I discussed the matter at some length with him as I interpreted the general idea, and convinced him and his military assistant, Capt Despaigne, of the many advantages to be gained if such a program could be worked out. I requested Capt.. Despaigne to prepare a list and biographic data of the available professional officers and Rebel Army officers under 43 years of age deemed to be qualified for this rather arduous training. These have been furnished to me and are attached hereto as appendices, It is to be assumed that twenty to twenty-five per cent of these officers would be unable tc undertake training due to physical disqualification or personal reasons, In addition to these lists, Dr. Miro has given me his personal recommendations as to the officers whom ne considers should be given counter-insurgency training in Panama if this can be arranged. I informed him that this type of training is such that it would be suita- ble for those officers who might be given responsibilities at a°later date for counter-intelligence and counter-—espionage and counter-—insurgen-— cy duties in Cuba and who, in turn, would be able to train other person- nel in such duties. 4, In view of the observations and discussions mentioned above, the following recommendations are submitted for consideration: a. That at least four (4) and not more than six (6) of the fol- lowing named officers be provided with invitational orders for training at the earliest possible time in the counter-insurgency operations course of 10 weeks duration given in Panama to Latin American officers and government representatives; (Dr, Miro recommends and I concur in his recommendation, that one or two of the officers selected be "Rebel Arny" officers and the others be professional army officers). . Rolando Zubizarreta Besu.... 85, Capt. . (Prof, arny Orlando Enriso Martinez ... 32, Maj. . (1 " Gerardo Machado Fernandez . . 31, Capt. . " " Juan Consuegra Valdes, Jr. . . 22, 2nd Lt. ( " " Ricardo Lorie Valls .... . 35, Maj. . (Rebel Arny Emilio Armendo Cosic Romeu . . 36, Capt. . (J.A.G. Rebel Arny) Higinio Diaz Ane... . . « » 37, Capt. (Rebel & Liberation Army) Juan Manuel Rodriguez Pineda , 25, Ist It. (Rebel Aruy) Ste: It might alse be advantageous to send one of the officers who was imprisoned for ayear after the Bay of Pigs and is now free in the U.S. 'b,. That several professional officers on attached List A be Boctld: 327474018 Page 9
HY 0955 Para. 4b (cont.) sent to the Jungle Warfare course in Panama at an early date. Officers trained in "Liberation Army" also suitable (List C). . ce. That the other officers on attached List A (professional arny officers), if physically and mentally qualified, be brought into the 20- week training program for Cuban exiles at the earliest possible date as "civilian advisors" to U.S. instructor personnel, or in such other capa- city as may be deemed advisabie, dad, That the other officers on Lists B- and C ("Rebel" and "Li- beration Army") if physically and mentally qualified, be brought into this program at the earliest possible date as "cadre", or in such other capacity as may be deemed advisable, e. That these officers participate in the same training as the enlisted personnel, but with appropriate status being given to them; subsequently, it may be found desirable to send selected individuals to officers! candidate courses for further training, oO 5. Consideration must be given to the need for allowances for the dependents of officers taking the training and for their own uniforms and living expenses, If these factors present a difficult problem, a Possible solution would be to have these men enlist for the twenty- week training program with provisions for the special status indicated above, eligibility for dependent allowances, and possibly promotions to N CO grades in order to draw higher pay. If they received the same al- lowances for dependents, as is accorded U.S. personnel, they would be as well off, financially, as they are now (or better in some instances). 6. Such a solution has been discussed with Dr. Miro and Col. J ose Monteagudo, presently. representing the "Military Sector" in the Cuban Revolutionary Council and serving as military adviser to Dr. Miro. They recognize the advantages of training the officers much the same as the enlisted Cubans. However, they comment that for career (profession® al) officers it would tend to conflict with their honor, dignity and past training. But since they cesire preparation to help liberate Cuba, Col. Monteagudo (and Dr, Mire concurs) feels that most of the officers would agree to enlist and go through the twenty-—week program if it were arranged along the following lines: a, That all professional officers enlist and be inducted on the same day (as a special group) 5 b. That they be sent to the training camp on the same day (as a special group); and ec. That they be trained as a separate unit apart from the re- cruits, with befitting preferred conditions, dad. That those qualified be subsequently sent to officers! candi- date or officers! training course, Docld: 327474018 Page i0
HY 0955 -4— Para, 6 cont. e. That in accordance with their demonstrated abilities they ultimately be assigned as officers or advisers to the Cuban units. 7. Dr.. Miro and Col. Monteagudo also recommend that if such a procedure is adopted for the professional officers, a like procedure be adopted for the "Rebel Army" and "Liberation Army" officers; i.e. that they enlist as a group and be sent to camp as a@ group and there be trained as a separate unit with appropriate special conditions, These officers would be less sensitive about their status and would be more inclined to accept such a procedure which might offend the career arny officers. 8. Unfortunately most of the officers of all categories are older than 26, the current upper limit for enlistment, and would-be ineligi- ble for induction unless the age limit is raised to 30, or preferably 535. Only 3 professional, 6 "rebel" and 3 "liberation" officers are in the 18 ~ 26 bracket. Nineteen professional officers, 32 "rebel" and 9 "liberation" are 55 or under, Twenty-four professional, 9 "rebel" and 4 "liberation" are 36 to 42. There are at least 15 to 20 officers. in exile over 42, whose names are not included in the attached lists and biographies but may be among biographies transmitted previously to Washington, : 9. If Cuban cfficers are included in the current training program for Cuban enlisted men in any advisory, cadre or enlisted status, it is suggested that recommendations be made by the U.S. instructor person- nel as to their fitness for continuing with appropriate assignments in the Cuban Reserve unit, and that when the training period is completed and a Cuban Reserve is formed that the officers who are qualified be as-— Signed appropriate positions in that unit. 10. There are many Cuban physicians in the U.S, and many in the Miami area, Many have been going to school in the U.S., qualifying themselves to praétice here, Many would welcome an opportunity to train and to serve as physicians with the Cubans who are being recruited for this special program. They are anxious to learn medical field work and also to study and train for health and sanitation work when Cuba is li- berated. It is suggested that 10 or 15 Cuban exile doctors who volun-— teer be brought into the Cuban training program on a contract basis. ll. There are approximately as many Cuban Air Force officers in exile as Army officers and as many civilian pilots as there are "Rebel Aruy" officers, approximately 50 of each. Their biographies have been transmitted to the Defense Department. In the current program for train- ing Cuban officers, there are only 4 Air Force officers included in the program, three beginning training at this time in November and one be- ginning training next June, all at Maxwell Air Force Base, where they will receive rather high level training. There are available in the U.S. enough Cuban pilots and Air Force officers for several Cuban sguad— rons and it appears desirable, therefore, to give them flight training, tactics, gunnery, navigation, maintenence and other types of training. 12. It is reported that thirty to forty Cuban Navy officers are in exile. The biographies of about half of them have been transmitted to Docld: 327474018 Page it