1 | | JFK Assassination System - Date: 5/27/201 | Identification Form iH Agency Information AGENCY: FBI | RECORD NUMBER: = 124-10298-10255 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILENUMBER: 2-1693-18 Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: SAC,MM TO: DIRECTOR, FBI TITLE : DATE: 06/28/1961 PAGES: 12 SUBJECTS : ~ INTERPEN, GPH, AKA, DESCR, RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, | MEMBERS, ARRESTS DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: — Unclassified . RESTRICTIONS: 4 CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: 08/05/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE COMMENTS : INC LHM eeeeeeeeeSeSeSeSsFsFeFeFeFeeSeeeeee v9.1 29 ) Docld: 32309468 Page 1
FD-36 (Rev. 12-13-56) , a i 4 e 9 TF BI Date: G va $-C/ PLAIN TEXT Transmit the following in - (Type in plain text or code) Vig AIRTEL AIR MAIL | | . (Priority or Method of Mailing) eye [0 DIR CTOR FBI (2-1693) gl “ per EOL 39 6/ | be | PROM: (2-312) ROS 5 . nn 7 RE: ye? . &/ T¥TERCONTINENTAL PENETRATION FORCES DEG an BYSTERMC/ Gee CA INTERPEN) an RD | NEUTRALITY MATTER . The title of this case is being changed to reflect the new name,of this organization, which was previously known as”"'Anti-Communist Legionnaires." ReMiamitel to Bureau, 6/27/61, entitled: "Anti-Communist Legionnaires" and telephone call from Mr. F. BAUMGARDNER at Bureau to Miami, 6/27/61. Enclosed herewith are 9 copies of a letter- head memorandum, dated and captioned as above. Af MM T-1 isfm 639-S3(¥ i | | MM T-2 is JORGE MORAN , Assistant Coordinator, , . “FRD, Miami. "(Yas Zz Miami will continue to folldw ac tivities of a captioned organization through MM 36s Wh y. | MCT = 2p Ao Ab7S- /f h ¢ ap Ni 16), - Bureau (Encl. - a (AM - RM) oe ey ya JUN 29 1961 2 - Miami (2-31 _ | . ©) & a a . TL ey, eae Ww { Ne Agent-in' Charge | ee te | LL 62 JUL ie oo ) wee Docld: 32309465 Page 2?
Ne on STATES, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION "In Reply Please Refer to “} MGM / 2-312 CIA HAS NO OBJECTION TO ‘SATION ANDVOR, DECLAS®: REI EASE f  copmatiggtamts Florida ANY THs DOCUNE fir. Cp 1-16-47 aaa (HK) : Res. tales nth ental Penetration Forces ' ‘icin « yy Nature Of Organization Uy we MM ‘Tel, who has been involved in Cuban . mf revolutionary activities for the past four years, _ | ay and who has furnished reliable information in the | | =N¥ past, is closely associated with}Gerald Patrick aN Hemming,. head of the Intercontinental Penetration es Forces, also” known | ‘as Interpen. ;<- cS — X(uy Genre d PATRICK elt ert ome ew, MM Tel enn that Jerry, Henning “ita and Gerald Patrickfenning aré naiies used by. the ‘press and by other individuals referring to Gerald Patrick “~Ylemming, and are ar feat with Hemming. Gas rik that Interpen, until recently, was known as the Anti-Communist Legionnaires, and is — an organization made up of American volunteers, mere .. cenaries, vagrants and adventurers, having a member= ship of fifteen to:twenty individuals. The membership has a high turnover, inasmuch as newspaper publicity caused these adventurers to come to Miami, Florida to join the organization, but lack of any serious accomplishment causes them to become disillusioned _and leave. At any one time, there are several members in jail in Miami for fighting, vagrancy and drunkenness. They beg food from Cuban grocery = ae feces gAFA CEC O “DATE FORW. HOW FORW. BY 2 ENCLOSURH 2— | Docld:3230946% Page 3
Re: Intercontinental Penetration Forces On May 17, 1961, Sergeant Sapp advised that Redmond and Roma had again been arrested for vagrancy ‘Bayfront Park, along with AlfredypGshane and. Albert . ae AMariner , who were also charged with vagrancy. ; ae Sergeant Sapp advised that these members of Interpen have developed inte a police problem, are rowdy and drunken, and cause considerable comment by. residents ef Miami and tourists visiting the city. Contact with Frente Revoluctonarte Democratico | © T=-1, ‘on. June. 5, 1961, advised that Tom_ Main. ange (last. name unknown) , Interpen. members, / _ “about a month previously, went to Chicago, "Illinois yh ae ahd contacted headquarters of the Frente Révolicionario Democratico (Revolutionary Democratic Front - FRD), an — alliance group of anti-Communist Cuban revolutionary. organizations. Cain and Frank were seeking aid and backing for Interpen from the FRD, and received a letter of introduction, addressed to Mr. Gamba, FRD headquarters, Miami. Yan MM T-1 said that at that time, Interpen consisted. ef about fourteen members, most of whom i i e I i 4 were staying at 1925 Seuthwest 4th Street, the residence of a Mrs. Hamilten, who allows them to stay there free, and frequently provides meals for nem. (Gf Ary ofeRente REVOLUETENARIO Dem ecRAT/ ce fy T-2, who is an offictal-of~the-FRD;~and <7 whe has furnished reliable information in the past (9) u) advised that Tomas/Gamba is an assistant to Manue a Antonio dexVarona, Coordinator of the le ERD, MM pa aap a Neca ORO ia wrt wea oe 30. \ - ! Docld: 32309463 Page 4
t 4 é ' \ Hemming had offered his services tofPerez Jimenez fo Willis, members of Interpen and assistants to Hemming, : . im ' . a a : - 2 Res . Intercontinental Penetration Forces said that it would be extremely doubtful that Gamba, or any other FRD official, would in any way help or take inte membership any American group of volunteers. and fom Cainxtontacted sGamb ~,©RD headquarters en June 8, 1961. {they were tredted courteously, but received ne promises of help or offers of membership in the FRD, and were politely referred to Manuel Antonio de Varona, Coordinator of the FRD. MM Tel: explained that the FRD’s policy has always been against accepting Americans, and it was extremely che FROG QA Interpen would receive any aid from the FRD ey) ; Hu | fom ro tained that Hemming and Interpen members have contacted many other Cuban organizations and individuals, seeking money donations, equipment and members, but they have always been refused... 1 subse cand advised that Hemming On May 25, 1961, MM T-1 advised that Heaming fad made contact with a (first name unknown)<Prato, an a aioe — of Venezuela, presently residing in Miami Beach, Florida. ]( ‘future revolutionary activity im Venezuela, ({") ayo "t as Prato later took DickY(atley and Robert 2, cl aes oe to see Perez Jiménez. “However, Perez Jimenez was unable - to confer with them because he was too busy with the Chay Docld: 32309465 Page 5 fmenez, former dictator ; ce ; Ake)
Re: Intercontinental Penetration Forces matter concerning his pending deportation hearing, to be held in the United States District Court in Miami. Prato said that Perez Jimenez wondered how it was : possible for American adventurers, such as the Interpen members, to maintain a training camp, wear uniforms | -and practice military maneuvers in the United States, after they have publicly stated they plan te vielate United States neutrality laws by proposed military attacks against Cuba. Perez Jimenez expressed some apprehension in. cooperating with them, for fear they | would be arrested by United States authorities. Willis — and. Watley planned to make an appointment to see Perez - Jimenez at a later time concerning offering their — services and those of Interpen to Perez Jimenez. bef) On June 5, 1961, MM T-1 advised that (first _ name _unknown)(Peleaz, 5733 Northwest 6th Place, Miami, Foe! PO representing Perez Jimenez, bought one hundred sixty dollars worth of food for a donation to Interpen. This food consisted mainly of rice, beans, and canned | items. @)(m) On June 28, 1961, MM T-l advised that representatives of Perez Jimenez were supposed to visit a camp site established at Key Largo, Florida by Imterpen. At the camp site, they would be given demonstrations in military training and jungle survival by Heaming (i Ar) / Interpen_Unacce ptable to Leading Cuban Organizations "WM Tel advised that although Interpen had wisited mest of the leading Cuban revolutionary (yu) mS \ j . ' mo “ — es : . Lote 1 . : f L : i : a . _ . ee ee \e i ee ee ee ee ee en orate f . | DocId: 32309468 Page 6
Re: Intercontinental Penetration Forces organizations, these organizations have refused to . support, donate, take into membership, or cooperate with Interpen, 569, (ua) During May and June, 1961, the following individuals advised that. their organizations would have nothing to do with Interpen Antonipffaceo, member ef the Cuban 1: Revolution- ary Council” - | Orlands}€ercia, Assistant to. Aureliano. Sanches _|/ Arango, head of. the. Revolutionary. Junta. of... po Cuban” “Liberation... ‘ ; S ELA. Poh a Exnestolatepatsne, in charge of of intelligence i a for FRD as | iam aie Neneencceny Rafaely w\iteiace, a leading member . of the __White ite Roge Organization, and presently ‘work=" “ing wi with ¢ Carlos Prio _ SOCATE aS 5 former | President o£ Guba elie . ee > a . MM Pel explained that many of the irresponsible. plans of. Hemming have failed. fone involved driving a car from Miami. , Florida, to Guatemala, for some unknown revolutionary purpose. Hemming also was involved in another. plan with Agustin Capo, a Cuban national, to go on a recommaissance trip by. beat to the Cay Sal Bank ef islands, nerth ef Cuba, and later establish a base for Interpen there for. future commande raids against ' Cuba. This failed, inasmuch as. Capo is being watched by the United States Border Patrol, and is afraid if - he leaves. on his boat, he will be arrested tw) Failure of Plans o 6 « A. Be ee En RE EE Sennen Sc i woe Roane i { i i Docld: 323094635 Page fF
\ es ° ~ an Re: Intercontinental Penetration Forces Hemming had another plan to obtain a 106 foot salvage beat to take his group on a commando raid against fiowever, he was unable to obtain access. to this ~ M T-1 explained that Hemming has a new and different . daily, dees not follow through on any of them, and _ none of them ever succeed.) _ Exess Publicity The "Miami Herald," a daily newspaper published in Miami, Florida, on June 27, 1961, contained an article ~ concerning Interpen, stating that most members are’ Americans, although the leaders claim the group includes Canadians, Venezuelans, Cubans and other anti-Communists. ‘The — article stated that the existence of this group was known | by the Herald, but it became generally known to the — public on June 26, 1961, after Plorida Senator George A. Smathers disclosed that Cuban exiles are training in ‘Florida. The article said that Senator Smathers’ dis- clesure on a nation-wide radio network brought other _ . newsmen and television cameramen to Interpen headquarters on June 26, 1961. re The article described Hemming as a "young giant, 6 feet 7 inches tall, with long wavy hair, a trimmed beard, an Australian bush hat, who looks like Errol Flynn in his earlier matinee days." The article stated that. Hemming said the recruits are first housed at the headquarters, and then sent to a training site in. the Everglades, accessible only by boat. The article continued, stating that Interpen holds parachute rigging classes in the middle of a _. Street in. Miami, and one elderly Miami couple stated Docld: 32309465 Page &
Re; Intercontinental Penetration Forces — x they told the police, but the police said there was Se oo nothing they could do about it.. The article said ~ that the climax of Interpen training is parachute NS Jumping at an abandoned South Plorida airfield. the article continued that. ‘Hemming hires a sky diving instructor and rents a light plane for the exercises, and during the jumping drills on the. _. previous Saturday, the Sheriff's patrol officers — | looked ‘om and made no attempt to interfere. The | article went. on that. _Interpen has about one hundred. . members, including some at bases in California and in the North, and its purpose was to fight Communism, look for adv ture, or “because they just like soldier- ing." Jo Gorman, a member from Kentucky, was quoted - . as. saying: "I would rather be shot to death than bored to death." Ee A. | - aber CK Yu EMM T-1, on June 27, 1961,fadvised that the above-mentioned article was out of proportion ‘to. the true situation, and served ne other ‘purpese than to obtain publicity for Hemming and attract ‘more adventurers to the Miami area. | MM Tel explained ‘that. on: June 27, 1961, i a plane was. ‘rented at Howe Aviation, Tamiami. Airport, if Miami, and flewn to an abandoned field at Davie, \ ! 4 Florida, where the plane was met by Hemming, Joe “=Gorman, Larry} Worley ,|FrankxLittle and. one other Ho. individual, name unkhgwn, all Imterpen members. PLA. hho Also there were Frankf iorini, a HOCOFLOUS would-be [ ———~ soldier of fortune, a fourteen year © old Cuban bey, and a news photographer from the "Miami Herald" newspaper. ‘YQ mh 2 Bo | ! Docld:32309468 Page 9
were practice jumps, and fortunately, nobody was inijured, _ dmasmuch as none of these individuals has had any train- ~ lot, and in his @arine camouflage suit, Australian ‘ bush hat, wavy hair and beard, he has the look of ‘ /- by stating that Hemming is convinced that the pro= oo ‘not on training exercises in the Everglades Swamps, ‘or parachuting ‘at an abandoned airfield, they. practice “Res Intercontinental Penetration Forces a _ Joe Gorman and Larry Worley got im the. airplane, and each madé a parachute jump. When these two only available parachutes were repacked, Frank Little and Hemming bearded the airplane and made ‘a parachute jump. The photegrapher took photegraphs, which appeared in 4 later issue of the "Miami Herald." -y6a) em MM Te1 said that these were the firet and only parachute jumps made by Interpen members. -They ing or experience, and they are not in adequate physical condition. . " 7 : mary - ye a pee. 8 ‘ me = Of June 28, 1961, the "Miami Herald" contained an article stating that Interpen's Commander is the "biggest, strodgest, and most handsome member of the an old-time French musketeer." The article continues Commmnist Government of Cuba will be overthrown only by infiltration of guerrilla fighters; that he and his men live in a rooming house, and when they are. / rigging parachutes in the street. The article con- tinues that neighbors have complained, but. the police _ contend there is nothing they can do. Hemming ‘claims he does not try to hide the fact that Interpen is part of the International Anti-Commmist. Brigade, which is associated with the Revolutionary Junta of National _ Liberation, led by Aureliano Sanchez Arango. (2 Q9o 232309463 Page 10
, it i | oa: WynaBollinger, born_at_Buffalo, New York, on _ Largo, Florida, later returned, and brought six — _ others with them to establish: a survival. training | : camp somewhere ia Key Largo in the ‘Elerida Keys. OF AA) ‘site at Key Largo, and ebserve Hemming. and: his eight - Companions. im their training maneuvers. MM T-l this is just one of the many combat squads of Interpen, and that many other squads are standing by at other Florida, received a call from fishermen off Julia _ Survey training class, and Hemming had in his possess- ion only one .22 caliber rifle, a small amount of Re: Intercontinental Penetration Forces _MM T-1; on June 27, 1961, advised that on that day, Hemming and three. of his men went to Key . MM Tol explained that Hemming met some- ene who knew an individual ' owning: property in Key Largo, and allewed them to use this property. MM Tol explained that on June. 28, 1961, ‘representatives ; of Marcos Perez Jimenez are going to visit: the camp — said that: Hemming will: tell the Venezuelans that places. Hemming hopes to fool the Venezuelans into giving him large donations of arms, equipment and © food. An) On June 27, 1961, the United States Border Patrol, Miami, ativised that Inspector Harry Rhodes, of the United States Border Patrol at Homestead, Island im the Florida Keys that. seme shooting was. going on. Upon arrival, Inspector Rhodes discovered that Hemming and his group were conducting a jungle ammunition and seme equipment. The rifle shot apparently ricocheted and barely missed hitting a nearby fisherman. Those with Hemming were identified April 27, 19433 Larry@iorley, born at born at Mansfield, Ohio, on _7-2/-/439 eeesehetnmmnemiona care teet eee tat eed eaxkcd een - 10 Ee A amr _Docld: 32309466 Page 11