Office of the Historian

156. Telegram From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)0

Washington, April 19, 1961, 8:42 p.m.

JCS 994464. Exclusive for Adm Dennison and Adm Clark from JCS. Bumpy Road. Direct one destroyer to remain off beach during night outside of shore based gun range. Destroyer boat to patrol off beaches to pick up any evacuees. Destroyer keep boat under radar control. Destroyer depart area one hour before sunrise. Report results of search during night and on completion of patrol.1

Realize this is most difficult and hazardous assignment but it is necessary.2

  1. Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Limited Distribution; Exclusive. Repeated to CTG 81.8.↩
  2. At 5:10 p.m. Burke pressed Clark for more information: “Dammit, make lots of reports. We need data. Even negative helps.” (CNO telegram 192210Z to CTG 81.8, Exclusive for Clark from Burke, April 19; ibid.)↩
  3. The JCS informed Dennison at 8:52 that existing instructions with respect to air and surface protection remained in effect, but there was no further requirement for an air CAP in the beachhead area. Dennison was directed to instruct his naval units in the area, with the exception of CTG 81.8, to resume normal operations. (JCS telegram 994465 to CINCLANT, April 19; ibid.)↩