Office of the Historian

141. Telegram From the Chief of Naval Operations (Burke) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)0

Washington, April 19, 1961, 3:41 a.m.

190841Z. Exclusive for Adm Dennison from Burke. Your 190701Z1 not very helpful. You may have to evacuate CEF or wounded only. We realize US forces would be involved but we would want to hold involvement to as low a level as possible. If you evacuate wounded hold them in Essex and I will inform you location of haven. God knows this operation is as difficult as possible and we are trying to do all we can without much info and without having been in on all initial stages. I too am irked and tired and I realize many of these suggestions are most difficult. Yet we will have to do all we can to help even if it is not the way we would like to do it. Donʼt let the flag etc.

  1. Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Exclusive.↩
  2. Document 138.↩