Dunkin to Billings
No Name Soldiers
[Reference
and NOTE: Dunkin Papers.
This
"memorandum" looks like a draft with words crossed out,
interjected and misspelled.]
4 June 1967
Memorandum
from
Tom Dunkin
to
Dick Billings
First contact with No Name Key group was in July or August,
1962, when
small group was camping on south shorts of Lake Okeechobee,
near
Pahokee-Belle Glade.
Among those present were Howard K. Davis, identified as "car
leader",
Gerald Patrick Hemming, aka "Jerry Patrick", Joe Garman, and
Steve
Wilson.
Group a bit publicity shy, but in September, at request of
WFLA-TV
Tampa friend, Don Starr, tried for footage on their
activities.
Met with Davis and Patrick in Miami on Sat. Sept. 15,
finally, around 2
a.m. Sunday Sept. 16, got approval.
Two carloads departed Miami for No Name Key, including
Davis, Patrick,
Cuban known only as Pino, among others. At the camp on
No Name
Key, Steve Wilson was in charge. Other Americans there
included
Ed Collins, Bill Seymour, Canadian Bill Dempsey, one
individual
identified as Finnish and in doubtful status with
Immigration, named
Edmund Kolbe [Kolby] (spelled Colby in some news accounts
later), also
Roy Hargraves.
Number of men transported by boat from No Name Sunday, Sept
16, for a
demonstration which was filmed on Big Pine Key, near No
Name, by
WFLA-TV sound crew, by myself with film going to WTVT Tampa,
plus
stills which were used in Miami Herald story on 20 September
and in
Glades County Democrat 21 September 1962. (Copy of
Democrat
attached).
Democrat article read by a friend Larry Newman Jr., managing
editor of
Dayton (Ohio) Daily News, resulting in request for a feature
with fresh
art, dated 15 October.
Returned to Miami on Saturday 20 October, or possibly
Friday. At
any rate, after beer-drinking session in bar of Hotel
Flagler, at which
time Dennis Harber first encountered, accompanied Roy
Hargraves to
tourist court on Flagler where he was living with female
know only as
"Betty" whom he later reportedly married.
Arrival at 2 a.m. brought protest from Betty, who rather
profanely
instructed Hargraves to "get the hell out of here and take
your queer
friend with you." Later gratifyingly learned she had
thought
Harber was outside instead of me.
She protested to Hargraves that he was wasting his time with
a
revolution. He advised her he had too much time
invested to
quit. We slept in my car outside Patrick's
headquarters,
Federico's Guest House, 220 NW 8th Ave.
Howard K. Davis at that time lived at 3350 NW 18th
Terrace. He
accompanied both trips to No Name Key, and was reported
leader of
group. (Davis, interestingly, was listed in Associated Press
Florida
wire story F56MH ( believed to be March 24, 1960, but could
have been
1959) as among 29 persons whom the Miami News listed as
banned from
aircraft rental on Border Patrol orders. Davis, and
another
American known only as "Art", later identified as Arthur
Gerteit, were
check pilots for CBS-Rolando Masferrer Haitian invasion "air
Force" in
November, 1966. Gerteit was later identified in United
Press
International dispatch from Tifton, Cal, early 1967 (Apr.
11) where
Cuban arrested with bombs as he rented an airplane, as "an
FBI Decoy")
On second trip to No Name on behalf of Dayton Daily News,
Harber
accompanied group, which included Cuban known to me only by
last name
of Pino, who also had been present at first filming
session. Pino
reportedly head of an exile group called Christian Army of
Anti-Communist Liberation (ECLA), and not quotable by name
at that time.
Harber was drunk on departure from Miami, and took one pint
of whisky
with him, which he asked be rationed to him slowly. I
performed
this task. Pino much amused at Harber, whom he called
"el
profesor."
Harber at that time was night clerk for the Flagler Hotel,
637 West
Flagler, and also taught English (to Cuban exile students)
at a
language school next door to the hotel.
Harber was described by Patrick at that time as having
terminal
cancer. At present, according to last report from
Patrick, Herber
was serving sentenced in Mexico for murder, undocumented to
me.
Harber lived in a small apartment behind Flagler Hotel, and
shared it
with various of the Americans occasionally, including
Seymour, Collins,
and a Czeck lad known as Karl Novak, who I don't recall
seeing on No
Name.
No firing demonstrations available on second visit to No
Name on Sunday
21 October. Got there at night. Took some night
shots of
interior of building, tried some campfire shots, and a
random look at
the camp the next day, including deportation of some unhappy
recruits
being sent back to Miami.
At the camp at this time was Ronald Ponce de Leon, age given
at that
time as 22, who said his mother was in a Castro jail.
She later
released and subject of a Saturday Evening Post
article. Also
present were Seymour, Wilson, Collins, Dempsey, Hargraves,
and an
American friend of Lewis' known only to me as "Craig."
We departed No Name next day, Monday, 22 October, and were
interested
in the number of Army Vehicles moving southward. It
was the day
JFK announced the Cuban missile crisis on network TV in the
evening.
Notes from this period show that Wilson at that time 27
years old,
served 5 years Marine Corps and 3 ˝ years Army,
including
Korean. He listed Mansfield, Ohio, as hometown.
He
identified in various later news stories as Justin J.
Wilson.
Joseph C. Garman, age 32 in 1962, gave Bowling Green, KY, as
hometown,
where his father a minor political figure, county judge if I
recall
correctly. Garman said he had served 5 ˝ years in
National
Guard and Army Reserve, as battalion sergeant-major,
battalion
intelligence sergeant, with rank of master sergeant.
Garman also
said he served 1 /2 years with 149th Infantry.
Garman said he was involved in situation there because "I've
always
liked to soldier," and because somebody had to do something
about Cuba
and "I'm tired of this peace at any price bit."
(Garman was to have headed the "American squad" in 1966
Haitian
invasion. At that time he showed me an exchange of
correspondence
with Congressman from his district, in which he sought
acceptance by
Central Intelligence Agency for Congo or Rhodesian
assignment, plus
letter from CIA advising him they would be most happy to
consider his
normal, routine application, but that they did not accept
recruits for
specified area tasks.)
Garman also said he was a senior ROTC student (have
forgotten which school) and failed to get commission due to
a lung spot.
Garman also mentioned in conversation as to having operated
a roadhouse
in Kentucky at one time. He was known as "Little Joe"
to the No
Name group.
Thirteen of this group was arrested 4 December 1962 in
Marathon-Sombrero Key area, allegedly embarking for raid on
Cuba.
They fought it through courts and won, late in 1964, with
their
attorney being Richard Booth, Miami, a former assistant U.S.
Attorney.
According to Miami News story in My files, Border Patrol
made the
arrest, around 10 a.m. 4 December. Group had
twin-engine cruiser
"Sally" 15 rifles, six pistols, ammunition, two cases of
plastic
explosives and blood plasma.
Two reportedly escaped, Roy Hargraves later said he was one
of the two,
but see according to list he was booked at Key West jail.
Those held and charged with violation of U.S. Neutrality Act
were:
James A. (Jim) Lewis, 29, of 12138 Biscayne Blvd. (Lewis is
an
ex-Marine, has masters papers and recently worked for Tom
McCrory,
owner if I recall correctly, of Searoad Shipping, Inc.,
Miami.
Gerald Patrick Hemming
Ramigio [Cucu] Arce, 43, 1145 SW 23rd Ave. (listed as Cuban)
Ronald P. Ponce de Leon, 22, Havana (Cuban, but I believed
he held U.S. citizenship.
Eleno O. Alvares, 26, Miami (listed as Cuban)
William J. Dempsey, 21, Ontario, Canada
Edmund Colby ? (Kolbe) [Kolby], 31, "a naturalized American
from Finland."
Lawrence J. Howard Jr., 27, Pico Rivera, Calif.
Edwin A. Collins, 27,
Justin J. Wilson, 26,
William Seymour, 25,
Joseph C. Garman, 32, all of 1925 SW 4th ST. (Nellie
Hamilton's boardinghouse).
Roy E. Hargraves, 1870 SW 12th St. (this may be the tourist
court where
he worked for a while, can't find it in phone book, having
forgotten
name an don't have city directory).
These people freed, don't have information whether bond
actually posted
or recognizance, and they later won the case, and I
understand had all
hardware returned to them. Trial if I recall
correctly, was in
June or July 1964, U.S. District Court in Miami.
Visited from time to time with these people, until
disassociated with
them for the month required for the Phoenix Project for
LIFE,
March-April 1963. This work enhanced standing with
these people,
and was in contact also on occasional more visit of some of
them for
parachute jumps at Clewiston jump center.
In early June, 1963, an old friend, David Laventhol, of N.Y.
Herald-Tribune's foreign desk suggested possible story or
series on
"The Fight for Cuba's Freedom Continues," resulting in
number of
weekend trips to Miami to dig up information on this
subject, regarding
anti-Castro activity among Cuban exiles.
This brought more contact with Harber, Seymour and Collins.
They and their activities I quote below from the unpublished
story; (written in June, 1963)
"A recent anti-Castro project undertaken with dubious
accomplishment
was a ‘psychological warfare' propaganda venture. This
involved a
scheme to broadcast by short wave radio from a vessel in
international
waters, with messages aimed at the Cuban people, with a view
to
augmenting whatever disenchantment with their revolution
there may be
among Cuba's captive populace.
"The broadcast plan was the idea of Rudolfo Fasco, 31, a
former
Pentecostal minister, described by one American as a person
"with a
masochistic urge to be martyr."
With the single mindedness peculiar to the dedicated Cuban
revolutionary, Fasco's idea originated last January.
It grew to
fruition with the active assistance of three U.S. citizens
providing
the major part of the aid needed.
"Fasco's dream prompted him to give up a $3 an hour job as a
welder in
Chicago, and come to Miami. He borrowed money to buy
the 32-foot
motor launch "Little Ann," which resembles a relic from
prohibition
rum-running days.
"The ‘Little Ann' was renamed ‘La Cucaracha' and outfitting
began. Sympathetic individuals contributed a piece of
equipment
here and there, and some money. A Kato power plant, to
generate
the electricity needed, x to broadcast, was installed,
equipped with a
1 ˝ horsepower gasoline engine.
"A Cuban radio technician volunteered to set up the
broadcast
equipment. A Bay of Pigs veteran loaned a 500-watt
short wave
transmitter. Another 250-watt transmitter also was
borrowed.
"La Cucaracha" is powered by a 60-horse power Chris Craft
marine engine
which has seen much better days. It is capable of
thrusting ‘La
Cucaracha' through the seas at all of nine knots. The
Gulf Stream
flows northward at almost half that speed, which proved a
problem.
FASCO'S MAJOR ASSISTANT is Dennis Harber, 35, an Omaha,
Neb., native,
who works as an English teacher in a foreign-language school
in Miami,
and as a hotel night clerk.
"Harber, who has a Columbia University Master's degree in
Education,
also had a bit of an educational experience in Colombia,
where he was
employed as a private tutor for about a year for the family
of
ex-Presidente Gustavo Rojas Pinilla. Harber also says
he has
lived at various times for several months duration, in the
Dominican
Republic, Cuba and Mexico.
"Also enlisted were two young ex-servicemen, who have been
active in
various capacities during the last two years in exile
anti-Castro
endeavor. They are EDWIN A. COLLINS, 27, of
Shreveport, La., and
WILLIAM H. SEYMOUR, 26, OF Tucson, Ariz.
"Collins reports 8 ˝ years of military service in the U.S.
Army
including duty in Japan, Korea, Okinawa and Europe.
Seymour spent
3 ˝ years in the U.S. Navy, in the Asiatic-Pacific area.
"Both had volunteered to instruct exiles with the
Intercontinental
Penetration Force, a group of ex-servicemen who have
conducted infantry
training programs at various times during the last 2 ˝ years
in
the Florida Everglades an the South Florida keys. With
action
lagging with this organization, the duo joined with
Fasco. As
usual, with no pay forthcoming, Collins and Seymour worked
at odd jobs
from time to time, for subsistence and to buy necessary
parts to get
‘La Cucaracha' relatively seaworthy. They were aided
again by
Harber, who provided living accommodations for Seymour and
Collins.
"After more than five months of preparation, which included
refloating
‘La Cucaracha' which was found sunk in about four feet of
water at her
berth several weeks ago, the broadcast undertaking neared
target date
early in June.
"Harber served as coordinator of the broadcast message
content.
He rounded up tape-recorded discourses from Humberto
Medrano, a former
Havana newsman now a columnist with "Diario Las Americas,' a
Spanish-language daily in Miami, and Sergio Carbo, another
exiled
newsman. Medrano, known for his pungent wit, taped a
message
aimed at Cuban militiamen, which urged them to compare their
present
lot with their fortunes in the days before Cuba became a
Communist
satellite.
"Other messages were recorded by the leader of ‘Comando
2506' a new
action group which has yet to see action, a statement from
former
members of Brigade 2506, of Bay of Pigs invasion infamy, and
from a
University of Miami psychologist. There were taped and
recorded
in Spanish and readied for broadcast. Harber also
taped a
statement in English, explaining purpose of the
broadcasts.
Others messages in Russian and Czech languages were taped:
for later
broadcast.
"The first try at broadcasting came June 9, on Sunday.
It was a
typical Cuban ‘fracaso' (failure. Two small support boats
were used to
ferry out the transmitter equipment, apparently more to give
several
Cubans the opportunity to have had a part, than from
necessity.
"The plan was to rendezvous about five miles off Miami
Beach, in
international waters. ‘La Cucaracha ran around in the
Miami
River, delaying the meeting for three hours. The Radio
Contact
(the name given their operation) members later opined this
was a
deliberate effort by their volunteer Cuban Skipper to Abort
the
mission. They later said it was certain he was in the
pay of the
CIA for the purpose of foiling their efforts.
‘La Cucaracha' plodded southeastward, her nine knots reduced
by the
north ward four-knot flow of the Gulf Stream. After a
couple of
hours, the volunteer captain, Mateo Diaz, exercised a
captain's
prerogative, he turned back. He explained to Fasco
that they were
making too little progress for the voyage to be
practical. Fasco
wasn't wholeheartedly in accord, but he agreed to turn
back.
Among other unforeseen problems the galley stove didn't
work, and the
crew faced an undetermined siege of subsistence from cold
canned foods.
"After a one week delay, Fasco set said again. This
time he took
only Collins and Seymour. ‘La Cucaracha, proceeded
slowly to a
point just east of Alligator Reef, and the broadcast began
shortly
after noon, Saturday, June 14, 1963. A minor oversight
on the
part of the Radio Contact group was remedied-providing a
short wave
monitor set back in Miami so it could be determined how the
broadcast
was received. The monitoring crew never managed to
pick up the
broadcast.
"However, the Coast guard heard the transmission. On
Sunday, June
15, La Cucaracha had a visit from a Coast Guard launch for a
‘routine'
safety inspection.
"Collins reported the Coast Guard crew also was curious
about whether
they had a license for the broadcast, and was informed such
was not
necessary for broadcasting outside the U.S.
"The Coast Guard advised the Cucaracha crew that it wasn't
in
agreement. "La Cucaracha was advised to proceed to the
Islamorada
Coast Guard station.
"There the trio was questioned extensively and Fasco advised
he was
under arrest. According to Collins and Seymour,
Customs, Border
Patrol and Immigration officials took part in the
interrogation as well
as several "spooks"–CIA agents.
"Their inquisitors appeared crestfallen when it was decided
there
actually was not law violation for which they could be held,
and after
four hours the three men were released, and ordered to get
their vessel
out of mooring area as it was considered a fire hazard."
...I find I described Harber as "a balding six-footer who
occasionally
quotes from Thomas Jefferson's the tree of Liberty, from
time to time,
must be nourished by the blood of patriots" (without adding
the
complete quote ending" It is its natural manure.")
Harber not specifically asked why he was involved in the
undertaking. However, Seymour and Collins were.
Seymour
said "I got fed up with the situation (lack of U.S. action
against
Castro) about a year and a half ago and volunteered my
services."
He said he found training exiles in the keys a bit
disillusioning,
specifically lack of organization.
Collins said his interest was due to the fact "there are
many
propagandists and preachers against communism, but very few
people who
are doing anything about it. I feel after being in
military
service the best thing I could do would be to put into
action what
knowledge I had."
As to U.S. - Cuba policy, Collins said "I don't know what
our plans
are. They keep advising us of the ‘big picture'
outlook. I
know what they told us were the reasons for the Korean War,
which I
feel accomplished nothing but to get 30,000 Americans
killed.
"I was in service during the Hungarian rebellion.
There were
rumors that we would help them. We didn't and just let
them get
slaughtered. If something like that should happen
again, I'd
rather meet it with rifle in hand."
***
Biographical date on Gerald Patrick Hemming, from copy of a
letter to
Dr. Max Raffer, 3 July 1962, who later became California
Supt. Of
Public Instruction, states:
Born at Los Angeles, California 1 March 1937
Served in the U.S. Marine Corps 1954 to 1958
Military schools include air traffic control tower (FAA
license)
GCA Radar Final Controller, Link Instrument flight
instructor.
Served with Recon Marines, 4th Marine Regiment, (Far East)
3rd Marine Air Wing, completed underwater swimmers school,
qualified parachutist (military and skydiving)
During 1958 attended and graduated from U.S. Naval Academy
Prep School,
Bainbridge, MD., and due to interest in Cuban situation,
received
honorable discharge at U.S. Naval Academy October 1958.
Served in Castro's revolutionary forces (Rebel Army and
Rebel Air force
until late August of 1960. Served as a parachute
instructor and
platoon leader in the rebel army and as a recon and fighter
pilot in
the rebel air force. Due to activities in the summer
of 1960 was
arrested and imprisoned a number of times by Castro's secret
police
(G2). After getting companions out of the country,
made way to
the U.S. via central America. Upon arrival in U.S.
spent long
hours typing out reports for the CIA, and after that was
completed, I
made myself available for reinfiltration into Cuba, or
reinfiltration
into Communist sponsored groups in Central America.
After a period of weeks with no response from the CIA, I
decide to drop
my cover and proceed to the Miami area to aid many old
friends that
needed instructors for their personnel. After arrival
in Miami
(March , 1961) I proceeded to help organize a group of U.S.
and foreign
Guerrilla Warfare Instructors that was baptized "Interpen"
(International Penetration Force). (end gerald patrick
hemming biog
date)
***
OPERATION CONTACT ceases to exist when Collins, accompanied
by friend,
Dan Parrish, took boat out for Sunday afternoon outing of
fishing and
beer drinking late in September. Boat ran a ground on
Miami
Beach, and surf pounded it to pieces. Fasco charged
Collins with
theft, and he jailed but later charges dismissed by Peace
Justice Jack
Ferguson. Collins maintained he had permission to use
to boat.
***
Undated AP dispatch datelined Miami (believed to be sometime
in 1963 but not certain) says.
"Federal agents said yesterday four Americans who were
members of a
secret organization were arrested with a large quantity of
arms and
ammunition taken from a Cuban married couple.
"Agents also disclosed a Cuban was apprehended and a .75
millimeter
recoilless rifle, 37 millimeter and 20 millimeter cannons, a
Russian
machine gun, rifles submachine guns and thousands of rounds
of
ammunition were confiscated in raids on two houses Wednesday
night.
"Customs supervising agent Joseph A. Fortier said the
Americans were
members of a group called Inter-Continental Penetration
Forces and had
headquarters at No Name Key in the Florida Keys.
"The Five were charged with violating the national firearms
act by
possessing automatic weapons. They were ROY HARGRAVES,
23, JOSEPH
C. GARMAN, 33; JUSTIN WILSON, 26; JAMES LEWIS, 30.
The Cuban was Michael R. Marino, 28."
Hall and Seymour, with 1950-ish blue Oldsmobile and a
rectangular,
wooden, home-build two-wheel trailer appeared at Glades
Country
Democrat Office on Thursday 24 October 1963. Hall at
that time
unknown to me.
Hall showed me on of what he said were some 20 m-14 rifles,
or the
Urriaga conversion of M-1's to M-14 type. Hall also
said he had,
if I recall correctly, some 20,000 rounds of .30 caliber
ammunition,
plus one 20 millimeter Finnish cannon. He also had a
35mm
Honeywell Pentax camera, and a 16mm Bolex, with two 25 mm
lenses, one
of which he insisted was wide-angle, and a 3-inch telephoto
lense, if I
recall correctly.
Hall and Seymour said they had a promise of $30,000 for any
usable 16
millimeter footage for television use, with sponsor to be
the
manufacturer of Dr. Ross' dog food. What they were
after, Hall
said, was film which would be beneficial to Goldwater
campaign,
specifically "Russian missiles in Cuba."
Having encountered suggestions in previous year that
tremendous market
existed for films which could be used for fund-raising among
exiles,
and having been skeptical of validity of such projects, was
a bit
dubious of news value of such an enterprise...but felt it
might be
worth looking into, particularly in view of the fact that in
field of
equipment, photographic and otherwise, he was in pretty good
shape.
This was a press day. Hall and Seymour arrived just
after midday,
and said they had been driving all night, and had been, Hall
at least,
picked up by Dallas cops–don't remember whether city or
county–and was
in sticky position due to barbiturates in possession,
although arms and
ammunition were parked safely in trailer separated from
vehicle.
No charges made, and while no specific name mentioned as to
who wielded
influence, later heard from Hemming (Jerry Patrick) that
Lester Logue,
oilman in Dallas, responsible. Did hear name "Logue"
mentioned
several times during next few days, by Hall, Howard and
Seymour.
Hall and Seymour slept on porch at my boardinghouse while I
published
paper, after they painted trailer (blue over its original
black, if I
recall correctly).
After paper distribution made in evening, and for all
practical
purposes finished for week, having agreed to serve as chief
of
photographer for the mission, departed behind Hall who was
alone towing
trailer. Seymour rode with me. We lost Hall one
time
between South Bay and Andytown, when he got ahead of us
considerably as
we doubled back from time to time to check on his having no
problems.
Got to Miami, and he stored the equipment, and began looking
for a
boat. I introduced him to Santiago Alvarez, who said
he could do
nothing, had lost the Alisan and all his equipment
Hall finally made connection with Manolo Aguilar, head of
FRAC (Frente
Revolucionario Anti-Comunista), for use of Aguilar's boat
the
"Putusa". Quartered Hall, Seymour and Howard, who they
met in
Miami, for next few days in apartment of transient
cropduster pilot
associate of mine, William Jacob Tillman, at, if recall
correctly, 1814
NW 14th or 22nd Ct...apartment was upstairs from friend who
worked with
Delta Air Lines in operations, Worth Davidson, now in
Honolulu (will
check with him to determine correct address).
Boat arrangements not final until Monday 28 October,
meanwhile had
rounded up film necessary through purchase of film from ABC
cameraman
(Martin was first name, I believe) and also still film
supplies.
Hall ran short of money, and telephoned, to Dallas, I
understand, for
more. Got it wired to Fort Lauderdale, don't know
exact
sum. At one time overheard the phone number, and wrote
it in my
checkbook, but have been unable since to locate the
checkbook.
Hall traded the 20 millimeter, I understand, did not see the
transaction, to Aguilar for transportation. Also was
to give him
small amount of .30 caliber ammo as well as what 20
millimeter he had.
During the period from arrival in Miami to departure, either
Saturday
or Monday, or both, hall visited both Revolutionary Council
(Biscayne
an 17th, I believe) and the Unidad Revolucionaria offices 10
SW 9th
ST., trying to engineer some deal for a .30 caliber
machinegun, he
said. He never accomplished this.
Hall essentially had a four-man unit or five, including me
in charge of
all cameras, including two 35 mms of my own and my 16
millimeter motion
picture camera. His group was Seymour, Howard and
another lad, a
Cuban known only to me as Luis. He was rather young,
and whether
he was the "Sardinia" referred to later in a letter from
Seymour, I
don't know. Do know Luis furnished his own weapon, a
.30 caliber,
which he lost, and his landlord mentioned to him several
days after
mission failed that the FBI was looking for him.
Departure date, around nightfall on Tuesday 29 October,
found three
vehicles to be used. Earlier; Hall, Aguilar, Howard
Seymour and I
had driven to launch site suggested by Aguilar, which was on
road to
Ocean Reef Club on Key Largo, on south side of key.
Hall suggested use of my car to tow boat, with no
weaponry. To
avoid debate, I agreed. I drove Aguilar's car, with
Luis, Howard,
Seymour, and myself, plus all camera gear and a .357 Magnum
with 6-inch
barrel which Hall issue me.
Drove to rendezvous point, which was made a bit troublesome
due to fact
that despite fact turnoff dirt road was exactly (if I recall
correctly)
6 ˝ miles from junction with U.S. 1, Aguilar's car had a
broken
speedometer and there were several dirt road turning off to
right.
Finally found right one, and drove to launch spot. No
one else
arrived. At one time, heard car with engine racing
some distance
in woods east of our position, and it sounded like my
Mercury.
Arrived about 8 p.m., if recollection accurate. After
couple of
hours, backtracked to marine on U.S. 1 and telephoned
Aguilar's house
to see if he departed. Wife said he had been gone for
several
hours.
Returned to launch point and waited until midnight.
Had Seymour
posted at road entrance to launch point. Aguilar and
hall never
showed. Figured impossible to reach Cuban coast in
darkness with
launch post midnight and rounded up crew to return to
Miami. En
route, about four or five miles back from Ocean Reef
highway, spotted
Hall's car with boat on trailer halted on west shoulder,
where he had
been stopped while southbound. About 50 yards behind
was a
station wagon with buggywhip antenna. I called it to
attention of
troops (Luis, Seymour and Howard were asleep, but I awoke
them) and
kept going. Hall had stressed that if there was
trouble, it was
every man for himself.
Fed the three in Homestead, and drove them to
apartment. Felt I
would check Aguilar home, and Customs shed area in case of
arrest, and
no need for all to miss sleep. Found Hall walking from
Customs
shed, he jumped in car and said "Let's get out of here."
He explained he had been stopped towing boat, Cesar Diosdado
had stuck with him and made _____.
Arrest came when Manuel Barbarito Perez Goyanes, according
to
subsequent information, turned up driving my car which had
been used to
transport arms, and stopped to see why Hall had stopped.
Disposition of car handled in attached copy of letter o 7
Feb 1964 attached.
Around midmorning Hall and Aguilar went to Customs to see
what they
could retrieve in way of personal equipment not
contraband. I
went with them in capacity as Miami Herald correspondent,
shot pictures
of seized contraband.
Had to purchase $50 auto which caught fire in carburetor,
(not
seriously) when driven back to Aguilar's house. That
evening,
Harber, Pinow, and Collins showed up at Aguilar's to
commiserate with
the unfortunates. Thought Hemming also was there, but
don't
believe he was. Harber was most unhappy, " could just
cry" was
his first utterance, if I recall correctly.
I returned to Moore Haven. In the mixup of sorting out
belongings, I ended up with wallet and plastic envelope
owned by
Seymour. Among his belongings was payment book on plot
of land
(small) he was buying on installment in Hawaii. Got
subsequent
letter from him postmarked Houston 9 Nov 1963, which later
got damp and
caused running ink problems. But, inspection with
magnifying
glass gives this as content:
Address to Editor, Glades County Democrat, Moore Haven,
Fla., return address Bill S., 1008 Simmons St., Tucson,
Ariz.
Text is:
Nov. 9
Dear T.D.
Homeward bound. Washed out. Brushmush (Hall, who
had beard
which he shaved after arrest and released..no charges made
against him
or others) is left in Miami with the goodies. He
couldn't find
transportation (too Hot) so Larry and I asked for a small
token from
the pile for a little vacation we had on the side. It
was no __
so we took off west with Sardinia.
Stopped at your place on the way but got word you were in
Fort Myers at
a football game. Would you like very much if you would
dump the
contents of my wallet in an envelope and send it address
1008 Simmons
St., Tucson, Ariz. I won't need the red envelope until
December
at which time I will send some money for it and for some
pictures
(whatever you have handy). I'll also send your watch
too if you
want it. I'd be very glad to hear from you at any
time. As
far as I know, Mr. H's wife won't send him loot. He
wasn't
smiling.
Sincerely,
B.S.
The watch referred to was a $3.25 pocket watch loaned which
I did not
ask returned. Sent Seymour's belongings to him and had
no further
word from him, Howard nor Hall...with exception that the day
after my
return, or on 1 Nov. 63, upon receipt of telephone call from
Hall in
Miami, made him prints of pictures involved, including
seized boat
parked in Jones Boatyard, arms in Customs shed, and himself
and group,
which I understand he wanted to show to his sponsors to
prove his
misfortune. At this time, or rather before returning
to Moore
Haven, reclaimed three rolls of film on early preparations
which had
been mailed on street drop boxes to LIFE in Miami for
possible use if a
worthwhile story developed.
Hall said his home in Monterrey, Calif., and that he was a
John Birch
Society vice-president. Seymour kidded him
occasionally about
being extremist. Hall strongly anti-JFK, and if I
recall
correctly had expressed opinion "that son of a bitch ought
to be shot"
and expressed strong Republican and pro-Goldwater
sentiments.
Hall said he had been in Cuban hills with Castro rebels in
1958.
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