EX-CIA MAN AFFIRMS MERCENARY HIRE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000100170002-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 11, 2012
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 26, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/11: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100170002-4
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IRIICLE THE WASHINGTON POST
ON FAGIA _ '26 December 1980
x-CIA. Man Affirms Merc~~ary HIre''.
Startling new evidence contradicts their own, and had no connection with "acting on representations made to me'
statements made by former secretary of the CIA. by CIA agents," he assured Gearhart
state Henry Kissinger and the CIA to In his affidavit, reviewed by my as-. that his wife would be compensated if.
Congress about the agency's role in re- f sociate Indy Badhwar, Bufkin swears he were killed in Angola. But Gear-
cruiting American mercenaries to fight that the CIA sent him to Kinshasa, hart's widow, Sheila, has gotten no-,
in Angola's civil war in 1976. Zaire, in January 1976, "where I re- thing.
A sworn statement by a onetime CIA ceived orders from CIA agents to return ."I believe the CIA really led these
recruiter, David Floyd Bufkin, reveals to the United'States and recruit Amer- guys down the garden path," says Bill
that at least two Americans - Daniel ican citizens as mercenaries with the Wilson, a St. Louis attorney who repre
Gearhart and, Gary Acker were re- [U.S.-backed faction] in Angola." He.'rented both Acker and Gearhart at
cruited by the CIA to fight for the U.S. swears he was given $20,000 in fresh their trial in Angola, and still represents
backed 'faction in Angola. Both were $100 bills by the CIA. ? Mrs. Gearhart and Acker's parents.
captured by'.the Soviet-supported re- Returning to California, Bufkin re- Wilson spent four years tracking down
gime that eventually won the war. laths, he placed an ad in the Fresno Bee Bufkin, and persuaded him to make his
Gearhart was - executed by a , firing soliciting mercenaries. Acker responded, sworn statement for Acker's parents.
squad and Acker is serving a 16-year to the' ad, and Bufkin later met Gear- The CIA's denials haven't impressed
sentence in a Luanda prison. , . ' hart through another man -who had i ' one conservative congressman who's
Bufkin's> statement belies testimony ? seen the ad. Bufkin flew back to Kin- been assisting the Acker family and is
given by Kissinger, and written State shasa with a list of potential recruits. ' familiar with the case. Rep. Robert
Department assurances to the Senate, 'There he met with one Nick Hall, a' Doman (R-Calif.) said that the `official '
Foreign Relations Committee, which "General Garcia" and a CIA agent he 'denials and misrepresentations to the
investigated U S. covert action in An- knew only as Frank. They authorized victims' families and even members of
gola in 1976. "The CIA has not directly him to hire the recruits, according to Congress ... have done little to inspire
or indirectly recruited any Americans Butkin's statement. confidence."
to serve as mercenaries in Angola," The recruiter flew back to the United "It's really frustrating," said Acker's
Kissinger testified. States, rounded up his handful of mother, Joyce. "The affidavit shows
"We have. consulted with the' CIA mercenaries and escorted them to Kin- that the government recruited Gary to
'and have been assured that no U.S.. shasa. There, he says, the recruits "met fight in Angola, but I couldn't even get
funds are being used directly or indi-' with United States CIA agents who the State Department to deliver a
rectly to recruit, train or deploy Amer- briefed the individuals .... as to military Christmas package to him."
ican mercenaries," Robert . J.. matters pertaining to Angola." He Footnote: A CIA spokesman reiter-
McCloskey, then assistant secretary of adds:"At this time a CIA agent known ates the government's position that the
state for congressional relations, in- ' as Frank paid Daniel Gearhart $2,900 agency "neither paid nor authorized
formed the committee. for expenses and compensation." funds to Mr. Acker or other Americans
Recruiting American citizens to fight The CIA then transported the engaged in armed combat in Angola;"
for a foreign power is a criminal viola- ' mercenaries to Angola, Bufkin claims, and that none of them was flown there
tion of the Neutrality Act. When Gear- and they "participated in several mili- "by or for the CIA." The State Depart-:.
hart and Acker were captured, U.S. of- tary operations under the direction and ment says it is trying to persuade the G
ficials insisted that they were "soldiers orders of CIA personnel." Angolan government to release Acker
of fortune", whho went to Angola on' - , In his statement, Bufkin says that,. or reduce his sentence.
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JACK ANDERSON
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/11: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100170002-4