This is a true story:
On September 1, 1983, I was a 2d Lieutenant serving as a
B-52 Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) in Strategic Air Command (SAC). On that day a SU-15 fighter from the Soviet
Air Defense Forces shot down a Korean Airlines flight KAL-007.
As a B-52 EWO, I had a top secret security clearance with
special access to various programs. Because
I was born outside the US (in Chile), I had been scrubbed and scrutinized
beyond squeaky clean. In any case, one
of the security requirements we had was to report any contacts we may have with
communist countries. I subscribed to a
number of Soviet periodicals and journals [mostly politico-military stuff], I dutifully reported my contacts.
After the Soviets shot down KAL-007, in protest, I cancelled
all of my journal subscriptions; including my subscription to “Soviet Life” with the
Soviet Embassy. Coincidentally, around
this same time, I received a mailer from Greenpeace complaining about Japanese,
Norwegian and Soviet whaling practices. The
mailer included a return card adding my voice to protest the whaling. Now, I admit that I knew little of the issue
but since it involved the Soviets and I was upset at them, I sent back the response card
to Greenpeace without further thought.
About a month after I sent the mailer back to Greenpeace, my
squadron commander called me into his office one morning and told me to report
to the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) immediately as they wanted to
speak with me. The OSI is responsible
for counter-intelligence in the Air Force. I was a bit
taken aback but did not think too much of it—no idea why the wanted to talk to me.
I reported to the OSI office. There I was met by three individuals in civilian
clothes… Two of them in particular looked like the spitting-images of the Hollywood
version of what intelligence officers look like.
“I am the Commander of the OSI for the mid-west region of the
United States” said one.
“We’re Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of
Investigation” said the other two individuals showing their badges.
I am now thinking: “DAMM…
this is not good…”
Keep in mind that this was a difficult security environment
in SAC. In May 1981, 2d Lieutenant Christopher Cooke, was arrested for passing information
about the Titan II missiles to the Soviet Embassy. Cooke was given immunity in exchange for information
of what he told the Soviets. After
hearing what Cooke had told the Soviets CINCSAC General Richard Ellis said “this
man is a traitor” and wanted to have him court-martialed. The SAC JAG BG Claude Teagarden screwed up
the case and Cooke was set free. General
Teagarden lost his job.
Back at the OSI office, very pleasantly they began to ask me
what I thought of President Reagan’s policies, etc. We chatted for a few minutes speaking in
generalities about generalities. Finally
I said: “I know that you did not call me
here to discuss my political views. Why am
I here? What do you want?”
The OSI commander then said: “Why did you write to the
Soviet Chancellery in New York? What did you tell them? And why didn’t you
report it?”
My jaw dropped. “I
have no idea of what you are talking about.
I have never written to the Soviet Chancellery in New York and I always
report my contacts.”
“We have information that on such and such a date the Soviet
Chancellery received some correspondence from you” said one of the FBI agents.
Now I began to get scared because I had never written to the
Soviet Chancellery. I started to wonder in the back of my mind if this was a
trick or they were trying to set me up...
DAMM… “Sir, I have no idea of
what you are talking about because again I have never written to the Soviet Chancellery,
I always report my contacts.”
“Then how and why did the Soviet Chancellery receive a letter
from you?” the OSI commander asked.
“Sir” I said “I have no idea. But I’m not a Soviet agent. Just look at my bank account and you’ll see
that I’m not profiting from anything. I don’t have a single clue…”
They chuckled and then OSI commander asked me, “Is there
anything you have written? What have you
written lately that could have gone to the Chancellery?”
“I really haven’t written anything to the Soviets… I
cancelled my subscription to ‘Soviet Life’ but that’s through the Embassy… I don’t
… the only other thing out of the ordinary is that I sent back a card to
Greenpeace about Norwegian, Japanese and Soviet whaling practices…”
The OSI Commander slapped his head with his hand… “Lt.
Vergara. Did you know that the card was
sent in your name to the Soviet Chancellery?”
“YOU MEAN THAT GREENPEACE SENT MY CARD DIRECTLY TO THE
SOVIET CHANCELLERY IN NEW YORK?” I asked incredulously… “I DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE THAT THEY WOULD DO
THIS.” “They didn’t tell me that they
were going to do it.” Or obviously I
didn't read the card carefully…
The OSI commander and the FBI agents now had knowing smiles
on their faces… The mystery had been solved.
That’s exactly what Greenpeace did! They sent my card to the Soviet,
Japanese and Norwegian UN offices…
The OSI commander told me I had violated an Air Force
regulation, they would prepare a report and send it to my commander who would
take disciplinary action, if any, against me.
Then I was dismissed from the office.
I was really shaken… I could’ve been arrested, court-martialed…
I went to my squadron commander’s office and told him about it. He said not to worry and that when he got the
report he would call me. About a week
later, he called me back. The report
basically said that I had violated an Air Force regulation but otherwise did
not cause any harm to our national security.
My squadron commander said:
“Gonzo, don't do it again."
“Yes, sir. I promise I will never send back any Greenpeace
response cards again.”
