Today, we also honor our friend, Colonel Félix Ismael Rodríguez Mendigutia. In September, 1960, at age 18, he joined a group of Cuban exiles in Guatemala, supported by the CIA, to receive military training. They were called Brigade 2506. He clandestinely entered Cuba a few weeks before the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion. Utilizing his familiarity with the country, he was able to gather critical intelligence to be used in the planning and preparation for the invasion. In 1967, the CIA recruited Rodríguez to train and head a team to hunt down Marxist guerilla Che Guevara, who was attempting to overthrow the government in Bolivia. After Guevara was wounded and captured by Bolivian special forces trained and supported by the CIA, Rodríguez interrogated him. Despite objections of the USG, The Bolivians executed Gueverra. Felix became a U.S. citizen in 1969, soon enlisting in the United States Army. He was awarded the Intelligence Star for Valor by the CIA and nine Crosses for Gallantry by the South Vietnamese government. In the Vietnam War, Rodríguez flew over 300 helicopter missions, and was shot down five times. He worked in MACVSOG, commanded by General John K. Singlaub and also worked with the famous Saigon CIA Station Chief, Ted Shackley. I was honored to be inducted as an honorary member of the 2506 Brigade by Felix, a true American Hero.
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 14:40:31 +0000