Editorial Capitán San Luis Havana, Cuba, 2009 Translation: Rose Ana Berbeo Design: Eugenio Sagués Díaz Cover design: Toni Gorton Desktop publishing: Luisa María González Carballo Original title in spanish: Girón, la batalla inevitable © Juan Carlos Rodríguez, 2009 © About the present edition: Editorial Capitán San Luis, 2009 ISBN: 978-959-211-337-4 Editorial Capitán San Luis Calle 38 no. 4717 entre 40 y 47, Playa, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Email:
[email protected] All rights reserved. Without previous authorization from this publishing house, the partial or total reproduction of this work, including its cover design, or its distribution in any form or through any means, is totally prohibited. To Fidel, architect of the victory at Playa Girón, who made the Cuban Revolution an integral part of the history of the Americas, and who, 45 years later, continues to be its principal safeguard. To José Ramón Fernández, Hero of the Republic of Cuba, who encouraged the writing of this book, removed obstacles, and supported it to the end. One’s capacity for being a hero is measured by the respect paid to those who came before. JOSÉ MARTÍ 1959 is a new opportunity offered to you by life; it is as if we were providing a blank sheet of paper upon which you will write, with your actions, the course of your lives.1 1 Horoscope published in Bohemia magazine in December 1958, just one week before the victory of the Revolution. Contents Preface / XI H-hour / 1 A tremendous year / 15 Infiltration teams / 39 The psychological environment / 53 Imitating Fidel / 67 Trax Base / 79 The cage / 95 The key to entering the CIA / 115 En route to the Southern Coast / 131 The CIA did not fool Fidel Castro / 155 Mission: Paralyze Havana / 169 Now we have a highway / 189 “Gentlemen, the time has come!” / 203 “An artilleryman in the United Nations” / 273 The inevitable battle / 283 Epilogue / 357 Preface Bay of Pigs: The Inevitable Battle is testimony exploring the origins, development, and climax of one stage of the U.S.