Félix Rodríguez is one of the most famous CIA officers outside of recent times. It was at the tender age of twenty years of age that his actions shot him to fame as he was part of a group of pivotal Cuban dissidents who opposed the newly formed Fidel Castro regime. As part of this group he joined a CIA backed operation before becoming a part of the CIA.
If you have never heard of Félix Rodríguez then today is the day you should read on about this important and great figure in the support of United States intelligence.
Félix Rodríguez Prior to the CIA
Félix Rodríguez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1941. The family of Rodriguez had ties with the government prior to Castro as his uncle was a minister of Public Works. This meant at the time of the Cuban Revolution that swept Fidel Castro into power the whole of the Rodriguez family went to the United States in exile from the new regime.
Félix Rodríguez and his family settled in Pennsylvania where he attended The Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Here Félix gained a good, well rounded education until he dropped out to join the Caribbean Anti-communist Legion. The Caribbean Anti-communist Legion was an army of men developed by the Dominican President to try and overthrow the new Castro regime in Cuba; unfortunately it failed in its attempt.
After the failure of the Caribbean Anti-communist Legion Rodríguez went back to The Perkiomen School and finished his studies.
Félix Rodríguez Supported by the CIA
At 19 years of age Rodríguez left school for a second time, this time after graduating. After leaving school he travelled to Guatemala. The date was September 1960 when Rodríguez along with many other Cuban exiles formed Brigade 2506 and were supported by the CIA financially and through military training.
Before the Bay of Pigs invasion Rodríguez became a Paramilitary Operations Officer for the Special Activities Division and joined the CIA backed Operation 40. Through this he entered Cuba and started gathering intelligence for the Bay of Pigs invasion.
By 1967 Rodríguez was in Bolivia under CIA operations to capture Che Guevara. The capture was a success as Bolivian Special Forces caught their man and Rodríguez started interrogating him. Unfortunately the Bolivian President demanded Guevara be executed so Rodríguez had to carry out the order as he was undercover as a Bolivian Army Major.
In 1969 Rodríguez finally got his U.S. citizenship and was soon in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, although this was still a guise as he was working for the CIA also. During his time in Vietnam Rodríguez managed to fly 300 helicopter sorties and was shot down on numerous occasions, he still managed to complete his tour.
In the 1980’s Rodríguez was found to be working for the American government again, this time right up to the vice President George H W. Bush where he was involved in the clandestine Iran-Contra affair supporting the sale of arms to Iran.
Current Times
In the present day Rodríguez has become political by openly being critical of presidential candidates such as John Kerry whilst being supportive of George W. Bush (Junior) in the 2004 Presidential elections.
Rodríguez has also been became President of the Brigade 2506 Veterans Association as well as also being a major factor in the Bay of Pigs Museum and Library opening in Florida.
Little more is known about whether Rodríguez still has dealings with the CIA.
