149. Telegram From the Commander of Special Task Group 81.8 (Clark) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)0
USS
Essex, Caribbean, April 19, 1961,
12:06 p.m.
191706Z. Bumpy Road. Exclusive for Dennison, Gray, Smith, McElroy, OʼDonnell from Clark. Bumpy Road. Your 191624Z.1
- 1.
- Para 3. Area held by CEF appears to be one quarter to one half mile along the beach to a depth of about one quarter under artillery fire with tanks and vehicles to both east and west. Believe evacuation impossible without active engagement with Castro forces.
- 2.
- Destroyers on the way for observation only.2
- Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Emergency; Exclusive. Repeated to JCS,COMCARIBSEAFRON, COMKWESTFOR, and COMNAVBASEGTMO.↩
- Document 145.↩
- Clark followed this telegram with another to Dennison at 12:44 which reads: “2 DD are proceeding to Blue Beach but feel I must point out that they will be subjected to air attack and surface artillery fire and in my opinion will not be able to make any contribution to decision as to feasibility of evacuation which is feasible if we stand ready to support by air cover and counter battery fire and start at once.” (CTG telegram 191744Z to CINCLANTFLT, April 19; Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials)↩