THE CIA'S CLASS OF '52

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000100170046-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 28, 2011
• Sequence Number: 46
• Publication Date: September 7, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/28: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100170046-6
112
ARTICLE AFPZAR
ON PAGX
THE WASHINGTON POST
7 September 1980
The CIA's Class:~f'52
No t far from one of the country's
busiest tourist attractions, colonial Wil-
liamsburg, Va., is one of the govern-
ment's most secret installations
Camp Peary, the Central Intelligence
Agency's training facility.
Known in the agency as "The Farm,"
Camp Peary is rich in memories of
long-departed spooks who were trained
there. But of all the strange classes that
matriculated in its poison-ivied ,halls,
none is remembered with, greater awe
than a 30-man group that was put
through its paces there in 1952. The
most famous-or infamous-member
of the 1952 class was a man who could
have inspired the character of Kurtz in
"Apocalypse Now." Let's call him Luke.
Luke's physical stamina was noted as
exceptional even during his training
days at Camp Peary. Unfortunately, his
resistance to fatigue was not matched
by his resistance to the effects of alco-
hol. One evening at the camp bar, he
overreacted spectacularly to a few
beers. In full regalia-black commando
uniform topped by a black World War I
army hat, and a dagger in his belt-he
dived headfirst out, the (fortunately)
first-floor window,.., shouting, "Geroni-
mo! Geronimo! Geronimo!;'
After leaving Camp Peary, Luke;was
assigned to northeastern Thailand. Sur-
veying his isolated outposts on foot, he
wore out the hardy tribesmen assigned
as his guides. The Thaimourxtaiaeers had
to work out a system of relay teams tor.
keep up with the indefatigable Luke.
From Thailand, Luke was assigned to
lead the Meo tribesmen of Laos in their
doomed, years-long struggle against the,
communist Path ,t Lao.
tective coloration. He went native, aiut+
married a tribal chieftain's daughter_r
He won the.he4rts and minds of the.-,
natives by carrying a wounded tribe3
man on his back for miles through the,
wilderness, saving the man's life. -
The Meo hill people regarded Lukea#y
invincible. But a CIA station officer-ir
Vientiane refused to believe the stariey t
of Luke's exploits. What's more, be let-,:.
Luke know that he thought his reports,'
of Pathet Lao dead were exaggerated...:
Furious, Luke stormed into thei,
doubting desk man's office anit.
dumped out a sackful of human ears t'a
substantiate his latest kill claims. -
The Meo tribes fought gallahtLv"
under the CIA's leadership, but the vic.};
torious Pathet Lao exacted bloody-rel.
ribution. The tribes have been so deci-.,
mated that only a few survivors can beik
found-in refugee camps in Thailand. - '('
Like the tribesmen he led for 10 years,
Luke was apparently crushed by defeat4
"The last time I saw him," said LulCe'srx
ane-time colleague Ralph McGehee. `hest-
'was lurking near the Bangkok mb
cafeteria, avoiding everyone:'
~,+t9eo,I7ntissik'eaWra~SynClcate;Tnc, ,-- 'F'~
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/28: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100170046-6