NOVEMBER  STORMS

NOVEMBER  STORM

Poem for November 21, 2014

 WRECK OF

THE EDMUND FITZGERALD

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down

of the big lake they called "Gitche Gumee."

The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead

when the skies of November turn gloomy.

With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more

than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty,

that good ship and true was a bone to be chewed

when the "Gales of November" came early.

The ship was the pride of the American side

coming back from some mill in Wisconsin.

As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most

with a crew and good captain well seasoned,

concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms

when they left fully loaded for Cleveland.

And later that night when the ship's bell rang,

could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?

The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound

and a wave broke over the railing.

And ev'ry man knew, as the captain did too

'twas the witch of November come stealin'.

The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait

when the Gales of November came slashin'.

When afternoon came it was freezin' rain

in the face of a hurricane west wind.

When suppertime came the old cook came on deck sayin'.

"Fellas, it's too rough t'feed ya."

At seven P.M. a main hatchway caved in; he said,

(**2010 lyric change: At 7 p.m., it grew dark, it was then he said,)

"Fellas, it's bin good t'know ya!"

The captain wired in he had water comin' in

and the good ship and crew was in peril.

And later that night when 'is lights went outta sight

came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Does any one know where the love of God goes

when the waves turn the minutes to hours?

The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay

if they'd put fifteen more miles behind 'er.

They might have split up or they might have capsized;

they may have broke deep and took water.

And all that remains is the faces and the names

of the wives and the sons and the daughters.

Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings

in the rooms of her ice-water mansion.

Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams;

the islands and bays are for sportsmen.

And farther below Lake Ontario

takes in what Lake Erie can send her,

And the iron boats go as the mariners all know

with the Gales of November remembered.

In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed,

in the "Maritime Sailors' Cathedral."

The church bell chimed 'til it rang twenty-nine times

for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down

of the big lake they call "Gitche Gumee."

"Superior," they said, "never gives up her dead

when the gales of November come early!"

Music and lyrics ©1976 by Gordon Lightfoot

BAKING SODA BISCUITS

Poem for Today - Thursday - November 20, 2014

JUST THINKING

I was just thinking

one morning

during meditation

how much alike

hope

and baking powder are: quietly

getting what is

best in me

to rise,

awakening

the hint of eternity

within.

I always think of that

when I eat biscuits now

and wish

that I could be

more faithful

to the hint of eternity,

the baking power

in me.

© Macrina Wiederkehr

in Seasons of Your Heart

BREAD AGAIN

Poem for Wednesday, November 19, 2014

BREAD

For Wendell Berry

Each face in the street is a slice of bread   

wandering on

searching

somewhere in the light the true hunger   

appears to be passing them by   

they clutch

have they forgotten the pale caves

they dreamed of hiding in

their own caves

full of the waiting of their footprints

hung with the hollow marks of their groping   

full of their sleep and their hiding

have they forgotten the ragged tunnels

they dreamed of following in out of the light   

to hear step after step

the heart of bread

to be sustained by its dark breath   

and emerge

to find themselves alone   

before a wheat field

raising its radiance to the moon

© W.S. Merwin,

From The Second

Four Books of Poems,

Port Townsend,

Washington,

Copper Canyon Press,

1993

ZACH

He felt small, so so small, so why would God want to have anything to do with little old Zach.

Yes that’s how he felt at  times when he thought of God – and that wasn’t too often – only when he felt "agita" or anxiety in his chest – near his heart -  or his wife or kids weren’t feeling that well.

So he spent so much of his life trying to feel big, important, rich, and he succeeded. He succeeded in everyone’s eyes but his own.

But – as everyone also knows – success breeds in others who spot or spy on us - jealousy – envy - and sometimes some strains of nastiness.

In other words – with his classy house – classy clothes – classy title of “chief” – at times came comments – crude comments – dirty digs – each of which implied  – that underneath the rings and things – was simply: a small – sneaky self-centered little man – who really didn’t care much about anyone but himself.

It was those kinds of comments that pushed him further and further from God and closer and closer to the edges of loneliness and hurt.

He heard those words from others. Sometimes they were like acid – like acid thrown in a famous person’s face. Did he feel he had to retaliate? No, but he did admit at times to himself, that he too had some of that same ugly stuff we really don’t want to admit is possible to have there in a bottom drawer in a desk we have in our hearts – these thoughts and feelings about others that we are a prone to have at times – especially if they are ugly towards us.

Sad to say, nobody  likes the person – who has it all. People assume everything comes so easy to them.

Let’s be honest – under a rock there in a swampy or damp part in our brain, we have those feelings we don’t like to feel about another We felt these thoughts when we were kids in the playground or classroom. It wasn’t anger – but it was something like that. It was that  feeling we have that has an “eh” sound in it. We make that sound when we think of others who were straight A students – or had a great musical ear – or could sing or play the piano and the harmonica – as well as be the star athlete – in school – and they never really had to practice.

Enough of that – we know that reality.

Well, Jesus comes along – and everyone is all ears – all eyes – all buzz  - all excitement – at his arrival in our town.

Without anyone noticing him,  Zach  climbs a tree to get a better view of Jesus – who was coming up the street.

He knew his past feelings in crowds – being so small that he couldn’t see.

Zach had heard only good news about Jesus – how he was saying wonderful things about God our Father – how we should  be reaching out to all kinds of people – sinners and strangers.

“Maybe me – maybe me – maybe he will reach out to me.”

Then he heard his familiar response, “Not me – not me – this Jesus would never reach out to me.”

Surprise! Jesus spots him up a tree - out on a limb.

Surprise! To the surprise of all Jesus  stops to talk to him.

“Whoever you are, come down. Come down from that tree.”

Zach comes down from the tree.

Zach sheepishly walks over  to Jesus.

And Jesus says, “How about inviting me to your house for lunch today?”

Zach says, “Great! Come follow me.”

It’s then that comments started erupting and surfacing from the crowd.

“Doesn’t this Jesus know who this guy is?”

“Doesn’t Jesus know he’s a sinner -  a tax collector – taxing us to death?”

“Jesus is like all the rest – hobnobbing with the rich – and not us the poor.”

Zach hears  all these comments.

Zach speaks up then and there and says, “Talk about stewardship. Lord I’m going to give half of my possessions to the poor – and if I’ve twisted and extorted anything from any one of these people here I’ll repay them 4 times over.”

Jesus says – with a great smile, “Did all of you hear that? Today salvation has come to Zach. He too is a descendant of Abraham. Didn’t you know I have come to seek and find lost sheep of the house of Israel. Now let’s eat.”

“And by the way, I love lamb!”

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O

[This was a homily story I wrote last night for this 33 Tuesday in ordinary time. The gospel is the wonderful story of Zacchaeus of Jericho - a short guy - who climbs a tree to see Jesus. [Cf. Luke 19:1-10]  I began by re-reading the ending of today's first reading from the Book of Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22. I wonder if those who put together these two readings were aware that they were putting together two great texts. Here's the text I read: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with them, and they with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears out to hear what the Spirit says to the churches." [Revelation 3:20-22]

OOOOOOOOOO

Painting on top: Zacchaeus in the Sycamore  Awaiting the Passage of Jesus, Brooklyn  Museum, James Tissot - between 1886-1894

MORE ON BREAD

Poem for Today - Tuesday - November 18, 2014

POEM OF BREAD

Bread,

the most simple language

the most fraternal food

Whether it is called bread,

rice, manna or millet,

it is everywhere in all ages

Bread,

which fundamentally unites men 

and for which they wage war

Bread,

what is most familiar to me

and what is most necessary for me

To give a morsel of bread

to one whom I want to love

is already to give myself

To receive my daily bread

from heaven

is to lift up my gaze beyond myself

Bread made of a thousand grains of wheat:

one single grain that falls into the earth

yields one-hundredfold

Bread,

the universal symbol

of that which can be shared

Bread,

silent word

of a gesture of friendship

Bread:

a morsel of which

betrayed the Beloved

Bread,

to which God Himself

wanted to be identified

Bread,

by which God saved humanity

when He took it into his hands

Bread,

from thousands of crushed grains,

made and kneaded by our wounds

Bread:

in which we all recognize ourselves

in our broken bodies

Bread,

without which 

we could not survive.

All of us,

we are hungry for bread,

but also for more than just bread

The world 

runs wild

earning its bread

Men 

will do just about anything

for a crust of bread

In certain camps,

a single crumb of bread

is worth its weight in gold

Sometimes thrown into garbage cans,

it scandalizes the enormous eyes

of starving children

Bread,

which is useless to hoard in the attic,

for tomorrow it will go stale or another will take it

Bread,

which God made rain down from heaven,

but which could not be preserved from one day to the next

Bread,

braided by the hands of so many women

throughout the centuries

Bread,

which in the world,

shaped humanity like an invisible chain

© A Monastic Sister

of the Monastic Family

Of Bethlehem of

The Assumption of the Virgin

and Saint Bruno,

The House of Bread

r               

WHERE ARE  

YOUR  LAMPSTANDS? 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 33 Monday in Ordinary Time is, “Where Are Your Lampstands?”

Today’s first reading from the Book of Revelation ends with a warning from the Lord from John,

     “Realize how far you have fallen.

Repent, and do the works you did at first.
Otherwise, I will come to you
and remove your lampstand from its place,

unless you repent.”

LAMPSTANDS

As you know our sacred scriptures are from way back - way before electric lights  – and all light back then was from the sun, the moon, torches, candles and lamps.

Jesus often talks about lamps and lampstands. He told us that he was the Light of the World – and sin was what brings darkness into one’s world.

Don’t snuff out the lamps; don’t blow out the candles.

When it comes to lights – just roam around your mind – and picture the lights and lamps in your home.  Which ones do you use regularly? Have you ever muttered a semi-curse when the bulb is out in your favorite lamp? How about when the whole house is out – because of a power failure – and you can’t find your flashlight?

WHERE ARE YOUR SPIRITUAL LAMPSTANDS?

The title of my homily is, “Where Are Your Lampstands?”

Where do you get your spiritual insights and lights?

Make a list: coming to Mass, reading a good book, reading the scriptures, taking a walk, making a retreat or day of recollection or attending a parish mission or talk now, or grabbing some time to pray, meditate or what have you?  

What and where are your lampstands.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s gospel - Luke 18: 35-43 - tells  the story of a blind man of Jericho who cries out to Jesus over and over again, “Son of David, have pity on me?” 

People in the crowd are telling him to shush.

So he cries out even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me?” 

Jesus hears him and asks a great simple question, “What do you want me to do for you?”  

The blind man replies, “Lord, please let me see.”

Jesus tells him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”

The gospel of Luke says: “He immediately received his sight.”

PRAYER IS A GREAT LAMPSTAND

St. Alphonsus – is famous – for his basic teaching: “Pray and you’ll be saved; don’t pray and you’ll be lost.”

Pray for light - otherwise we'll stumble and fall.

THE JESUITS KILLED IN EL SALVADOR

Yesterday I was thinking about November 16, 1989. It was the anniversary of the 6 Jesuits and their cook, Elba Ramos, and her daughter Celina who were shot to death in El Salvador.

Question: How could anyone do that? 

An answer: Evidently the moral light went out in the minds and hearts of the Salvadoran Government and their army troops who were behind this. 

I'm sure you know that religious and human rights activists have been protesting the United States facility in Georgia that train soldiers from around the world in such tactics.

The man in the today's gospel couldn’t see. He was blind. 

It is my opinion that folks in our government and in many governments are  blind and can't see or don't want to see the implications of what they are doing. 

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, "Where Are Your Lampstands."

The theme and hope of my message is to look into our lives and see if any of our lamps are out - and darkness has taken off. 

O O O O O O  

Check out these articles:


http://ncronline.org/news/global/murder-salvadoran-priests-galvanized-jesuits-us

http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/jesuit-threatened-human-rights-work-speak-soa-watch-vigil

What Is The SOA?

History The School of the Americas (SOA) is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 2001 renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC). It was initially established in Panama in 1946 however it was expelled from Panama in 1984 under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty (article iv) and reinforced under the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal (article v). Former Panamanian President, Jorge Illueca, stated that the School of the Americas was the “biggest base for destabilization in Latin America.” The SOA have left a trail of blood and suffering in every country where its graduates have returned. For this reason the School of the Americas has been historically dubbed the “School of Assassins”. Since 1946, the SOA has trained over 64,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins. SOA Changes its Name to Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation On January 17, 2001 the School of the Americas was replaced by the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. This was the result of a Department of Defense proposal included in the Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal 2001. The measure passed when the House of Representatives defeated a bi-partisan amendment to close the school and conduct a congressional investigation by a narrow ten vote margin. The amendment was sponsored by Representatives Moakley (D-MA), Scarborough (R-FL), Campbell (R-CA) and McGovern (D-MA) . The following is a summary comparison of the "new" school with the School of the Americas. In a media interview last year, Georgia Senator and SOA supporter, the late Paul Coverdell, characterized the DOD proposal as "cosmetic" changes that would ensure that the SOA could continue its mission and operation. Critics of the SOA concur. The new military training school is the continuation of the SOA under a new name. It is a new name, but the same shame. The approach taken by the DOD is not grounded in any critical assessment of the training, procedures, performance, or results (consequences) of the training program it copies. Further, it ignores congressional concern and public outcry over the SOA’s past and present link to human rights atrocities. COMPARISON OF THE SOA AND THE NEW SCHOOL AUTHORITY: School of the Americas: "The Secretary of the Army may operate the military education and training facility known as the United States Army School of the Americas." U.S Code: Title 10, Section 4415 Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation: Secretary of Defense authorized to "operate an education and training facility..." Secretary of a department of the military designated as the executive agent to run school U.S. Code: Title 10, Section 2166. Concerns and Comparison of Authority: Currently the Secretary of the Army, who is under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, operates the SOA. With the new proposal, the Secretary of the Army, or another department of the military, will still operate the school as an agent of the Secretary of Defense. The proposal offers no substantive change to the SOA. PURPOSE and MISSION: School of the Americas: provide "military education and training to military personnel of Central and South American countries and Caribbean countries." US Code: Title 10, Section 4415 provide "military education and training to the nations of Latin America", "promote democratic values and respect for human rights; and foster cooperation among multinational military forces."SOA Course Catalogue, 1998/99 Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation: provide "professional education and training to eligible personnel of nations of the Western Hemisphere," defined as military, law enforcement, and civilian personnel "while fostering mutual knowledge,[ ...] and promoting democratic values, respect for human rights". U.S. Code Title 10, Section 2166. Pentagon officials state this will include counter-drug operations, peace support, and disaster relief. Concerns and Comparison of the Purpose and Mission: The purpose for the proposed new school as described varies in scope and detail from the original language that authorized the SOA. However, the current "working" mission of the SOA as reflected in the 1998/99 SOA course catalogue together with the actual day to day practice at the SOA is consistent with what is being proposed. In short there is no change in purpose between the new school and the SOA as its mission has evolved. As with the "working" mission of the SOA, the purpose stated for the new school downplays the militaristic aspects of the training offered and focuses instead on "leadership development, counter-drug operations, peace support, and disaster relief."These courses existed at the SOA but have never been well attended. The 2000 SOA Certification Report to Congress shows that in 1999 a scant 14% of SOA soldiers took the peace operations, civil/military relations and the like. Over 85% took the standard SOA fare: commando tactics, military intelligence, psychological operations, and combat training. A recent newspaper headline sums it up: "Bombs and Bullets Most Popular Classes at the US Army School of the Americas." Nothing in the Defense Authorization Bill changes that at the new replacement school The new school allows for the training of police and civilian personnel. That practice already was in place at the SOA. Further,the new authorization allows any and all military training that has been core to the SOA, including advanced combat arms, psychological operations, military intelligence, and commando tactics. The consequence of this kind of training has been at the heart of the public and congressional controversy surrounding the SOA. It hones the skills of Latin American soldiers who then can use what they learned against their own people. For example, some of the Salvadoran soldiers cited in the UN Truth Commission report for the massacre of six Jesuit priests and their women co-workers had just returned from taking the SOA commando operations course. The Jesuit massacre by all accounts was a commando-type operation. CURRICULA School of the Americas: No specific detail in original congressional authorization Practice: 8 hours human rights instruction tacked on Western Hemishpere Institute for Security Cooperation: Includes "mandatory instruction for each student, for at least 8 hours on human rights the rule of law, due process, civilian control of the military, role of the military in a democratic society" U.S. Code Title 10, Section 2166 No restrictions on type or amount of military training Concerns and Comparison of the Curricula: The new school includes human rights instruction, but that is not new. As the public outcry grew and congressional censure mounted, the SOA instituted first a four-hour human rights component and then upped it to eight hours in an effort to quell critics. While the eight hours of human rights training is not harmful, it is minimal and inadequate for a school that touts its mission mandate as "promoting democratic values, respect for human rights." There is no requirement that the new school seek input from noted outside human rights specialists and no provision to modify the content to address specific human rights issues in particular countries (for example, paramilitaries in Colombia). In addition, there is no attempt to evaluate or to measure the effectiveness of the training through long-term monitoring of graduates or by any other means. Although the bill is careful to minimize any mention of military training, the fact remains that, like the SOA it replaces, this is a military institution and Latin American troops will be sent there to learn military skills. The clearest proof of this is to ask how many soldiers would come to the school if it removed ALL combat-related training? We must also ask, if the primary purpose of the institution is to teach democracy and human rights, as claimed, isn't this more appropriately done in a civilian setting? BOARD OF VISITORS: School of the Americas: No mention of a Board of Visitors (BOV) in the original congressional authorization. 6-member BOV Not independent oversight board Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation: BOV membership: 2 military officers; 1 person selected by Secretary fo State; 6 people selected by Secretary of Defense including "to the extent practicable" members of the academic, religious and human rights communities; chairs and ranking minority members of House and Senate Armed Services Committees included on BOV meets at least annually to "inquire into the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters" Reports its actions and recommendations to Secretary of Defense U.S. Code Title 10, Section 2166 Concerns and Comparisons of the Board of Visitors: In response to congressional and public criticism, the SOA instituted a six-member Board of Visitors (BOV) that was reconstituted in 1999. The BOV has been a handpicked group of SOA proponents that, according to the 1998 SOA Certification Report to Congress, focused significant energy on PR campaigns in the media and Congress to polish the SOA’s image. Despite the illusion, the SOA’s BOV does not provide independent, outside critical review or oversight of the SOA. The authorization calls for a BOV, but gives the Secretary of Defense the broad authority to determine the composition and actual members of Board. Though provision is made for the possible inclusion of members of the human rights, religious and academic communities, these communities are not defined, nor is any selection criteria established. Furthermore, nothing mandates the inclusion of independent human rights experts, religious leaders, and other potential critics. It is up to the discretion of the Secretary of Defense to determine whether or not it is "practicable" to include them. The Congressional make up of the Board of Visitors, limited as it is to members of the Armed Services Committees would exclude many of the school's congressional critics. The Board of Visitors proposed would – like the SOA BOV -- be primarily a handpicked group of SOA proponents. The problem persists: The new BOV does not provide for independent, outside oversight or critical review of the school. ANNUAL REPORT School of the Americas: No provision in the original congressional authorization In recent years, Appropriations Committees have required report on school and "general assessment" of graduates Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation: Within 60 days of meeting the BOV must submit to the Secretary of Defense a "written report of its action and of its views and recommendations pertaining" the new school. By March 15 the Secretary of Defense must submit a report on the "activities of the Institute during the preceding year" to Congress U.S. Code Title 10, Section 2166 Concerns and Comparisons of Annual Report: While the SOA authorization did not mandate an annual report, in practice, the SOA has been required recently to make a report to the Foreign Operations Committee. The new provision simply codifies the current practice, but weakens even the minimal reporting requirements that have stood for the last few years. The Annual Report – unlike the SOA Certification Report – does not require even the minimal tracking or monitoring of recent graduates that was called for in the SOA Certification Report. The proposed Annual Report is not an analysis, critique, assessment, evaluation, appraisal or examination with recommendations from an outside, independent source. It is simply "a report" of the "activities" of the school. TRANSITION FROM US ARMY SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS: Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation: Secretary of Defense ensures that the Secretary of the Army provides for transition from SOA into new school The proposal calls for the repeal of original congressional authorization of the School of the Americas. Questions and Recommendation: By repealing the original congressional authorization for the SOA, the bill closes the School of the Americas on paper. Inexplicably, however, it does so with no word of analysis. Why close a school that is without fault? Why open another that is, for all intents and purposes, identical except for name? The DOD proposal to close the SOA and replace it with an SOA clone skipped over one vital step: Evaluation of the SOA model upon which it is based. The opening of the new school is not grounded in any critical assessment of the training, procedures, performance, or results (consequences) of the training program it copies. Further, it ignores congressional concern and public outcry over the SOA’s past and present link to human rights atrocities. At the very least, a thorough independent investigation and report on the SOA are warranted before Congress can adequately consider the merits of any new proposal for an SOA-like training facility. A rigorous outside investigation of charges against the SOA is a reasonable approach to resolve the controversy over the School of the Americas or its replacement. The new school is substantially the same as the SOA it purports to replace. The issues raised by critics of the SOA are not addressed by the recently enacted changes. As the United States is pouring money, military hardware and military training into Colombia and SOA human rights abusers continue to operate with impunity in Colombia, Guatemala and elsewhere, these issues remain as crucial and immediate as ever.

Notorious Graduates From El Salvador

For a summary of the most notorious graduates from El Salvador click here EL SALVADOR Name: Colonel Francisco del Cid Diaz Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 2003, Cadet Troop Leader Training; 1991, Combat Arms Officer Adv. Course; 1988, Infantry Officer Basic Course .            Info: In 1983, Colonel Diaz (then a 2nd Lieutenant) commanded a unit that forcibly removed 16 residents from the Los Hojas cooperative, bound and beat them, shot all 16 at point-blank range and threw their bodies in the Cuyuapa River. This very well known, very high profile and notorious massacre was cited in the annual State Department Human Rights Country Reports throughout the 1980s, and investigated by, and included in the final report of, the El Salvador Truth Commission. The OAS Inter-American Commission on Human Rights stated that there was substantial evidence that Col. del Cid Diaz gave orders to execute, and recommended that the Salvadoran government bring them to justice. Instead of facing justice, Col. del Cid Diaz was at the SOA/ WHINSEC in 2003. Name: Captain Roberto D'Aubuisson Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 1972, Communications Officer Course (Chief Off Communication 0 – 20) Info: Romero assassination, 1980: Planned and ordered the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero, beloved champion of the poor in El Salvador. Death Squad Organizer, 1978-1992: Organized El Salvador's death squad network. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Name: General Jose Guillermo Garcia Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 1962 - CIO, Counterinsurgency Course Info: El Mozote massacre, 1981: Then-defense minister Garcia, and the Armed Forces High Command, refused to investigate reports that hundreds of unarmed civilians were brutally murdered by the U.S.-trained Atlacatl battalion** in the Morazon province in December of 1981. The reports turned out to be true. Murder of U.S. Churchwomen, 1980: Garcia also failed to launch a serious investigation of the murder of 4 U.S. church women by members of the Salvadoran National Guard in December 1980. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Later granted residency in the U.S. **These events occurred in the course of an anti-guerrilla action known as "Operación Rescate" in which, in addition to the Atlacatl Battalion, units from the Third Infantry Brigade and the San Francisco Gotera Commando Training Centre took part. In the course of "Operación Rescate", massacres of civilians also occurred in the following places: 11 December, more than 20 people in La Joya canton; 12 December, some 30 people in the village of La Ranchería; the same day, by units of the Atlacatl Battalion, the inhabitants of the village of Los Toriles; and 13 December, the inhabitants of the village of Jocote Amarillo and Cerro Pando canton. More than 500 identified victims perished at El Mozote and in the other villages. Many other victims have not been identified. (“From Madness to Hope: the 12-year war in El Salvador” Truth Commission Report for El Salvador, 1993) Name: Lieutenant Colonel Domingo Monterrosa Barrios (deceased) Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 1966, Parachute Rigger Course Info: El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commander of the brutal Atlacatl battalion, which massacred hundreds of unarmed men, women and children in and around El Mozote in December 1991. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Other officers in command of the Atlacatl Battalionl include SOA graduates: Commanding Officer: Major (now Colonel) Natividad de Jesús Cáceres Cabrera (1970, General Supply Officer Course); Chief of Operations: (deceased) Major José Armando Azmitia Melara (1967, Cadet Orientation Course); Company Commanders: (now Colonel) Juan Ernesto Méndez Rodríguez (1970, Cadet Course); (deceased) Roberto Alfonso Mendoza Portillo (1980, Supply/Human Rights Course); (now Lieutenant Colonel) José Antonio Rodríguez Molina (1972, Combat Arms/Support Services), (now Lieutenant Colonel) Captain Walter Oswaldo Salazar (1974 Basis in Engineering for Officers) and (currently a fugitive from justice) José Alfredo Jiménez (1971, Cadet Course). (“From Madness to Hope: the 12-year war in El Salvador” Truth Commission Report for El Salvador, 1993) Name: General Rafael Humberto Larios Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: Command and General Staff course at the SOA in 1977. Info: Jesuits massacre (1989): Held the rank of General and was Minister of Defense at the time. Was present at meetings where the orders were given and discussed. Name: General Juan Rafael Bustillo Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: CIO Orientation course at the SOA in August of 1965 Info: Jesuits massacre (1989): Held the rank of general and was commander of the Salvadoran Air Force at the time of the massacre. Participated in the meetings where orders were given for the massacre. Name: General Juan Orlando Zeped Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 1975, Urban Counterinsurgency Ops.; 1969, Unnamed Course Info: Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned the assassination of 6 Jesuit priests and covered-up the massacre, which also took the lives of the priests' housekeeper and her teen-age daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Other war crimes, 1980's: The Non-Governmental Human Rights Commission in El Salvador also cites Zepeda for involvement in 210 summary executions, 64 tortures, and 110 illegal detentions. (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) Member of the “La Tandona” and held the rank of colonel and served as the Vice Minister of Defense at the time of the massacre. Prior to the massacre he publicly accused the UCA of being the center of operations for the FMLN and was present for the meetings where orders were given for the massacre. He was later promoted to the rank of general. Name: Colonel Inocente Orlando Montano Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 1970, Engineer Officer Course Info: Jesuit massacre, 1989: Was in on the planning of the massacre, and cooperated in the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Held the rank of colonel and was a Vice Minister in the Salvadoran government at the time of the massacre. Prior to the massacre he publicly accused the Jesuits of being aligned with subversive movements and was present for the meetings where orders were given for the massacre. Other SOA graduates who were compicit to the 1989 Jesuit massacre are: •  Colonel Francisco Elena Fuentes – held the rank of colonel and was the commander of the First Infantry Brigade in San Salvador at the time of the massacre. He was present for the meetings where orders were given for the massacre, and one day after the killings, troops from his First Infantry Brigade attempted to intimidate members of San Salvador’s Archdiocese by transmitting messages over loudspeakers saying, “We are still killing communists, Ellacuría and Martín-Baró have fallen, surrender, this is the First Brigade.” Fuentes took the Irregular warfare course at the SOA in 1969, a second course in 1973, and was invited to the SOA to be an instructor in 1985. •  Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Camilo Hernández Barahona – held the rank of major and was the interim Assistant Dean at the Military College in El Salvador at the time of the massacre and later promoted to lieutenant colonel. On the night of November 15, 1989, he was present when Benavides informed the officers at the Military College of the order he had been given to murder Ellacuría and remained silent when asked by Benavides if anyone objected to the order. Later, Benavides ordered Hernández Barahona to organize and plan the operation. Hernández Barahona organized and attended the meeting where the orders were given for the massacre. He also handed over an AK-47 rifle that had been captured from the FMLN and told them to use it in the massacre. The use of the FMLN AK-47 would serve to point blame away from the Armed Forces and toward the FMLN. Additionally, Hernández Barahona ordered them to leave behind at the murder site propaganda mentioning the FMLN. Hernández Barahona was also involved in the cover up, by taking part in the burning of a small suitcase containing photographs, documents and money which the soldiers had stolen from the Jesuits. In conjunction with Benavides he ordered that all Military College arrival and departure logs for that year and the previous year be burned. This was done to prevent investigators from learning who had attended the meetings held at the Military College at the time the murders of the Jesuits were being planned and ordered. He attended the SOA twice in both 1972 and 1975. •  Second Lieutenant Gonzalo Guevara Cerritos – held the rank of Second Lieutenant and was assigned to the Atlacatl Battalion at the time of the massacre. He was not the commander of the unit, but was an officer with command authority over the troops that carried out the massacre. He was sentenced to three years for instigation and conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism for his role in the Jesuits massacre and was later released and continued active service in the armed forces. Cerritos came to the U.S. in 2005 and was employed in Los Angeles. He was deported back to El Salvador in April 2007. He attended the SOA in 1988. •  Sergeant Antonio Ramiro Avalos Vargas – was a sergeant in the Salvadoran Army and was assigned to the Atlacatl Battalion at the time of the massacre. In the 1991-1992 trial he admitted to killing Fathers López and Moreno. He was not convicted. He attended the SOA in 1988. Biographies courtesy of the Center for Justice and Accountability's website. You can access the full biographies here. COL Napolean Alvarado, 1974, Military Police Officer Course Las Hojas massacre, 1983: Covered-up the Army massacre at Las Hojas, in which 16 civilians were murdered and their corpses burnt. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Mario Arevalo Melendez, 1989, Commando Operations Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Had prior knowledge of the massacre of 6 Jesuit priests and covered-up the massacre, which also included the priests' housekeeper and her teen-age daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) CPT Eduardo Ernesto Alfonso Avila, 1967, Cadet Orientation Course Sheraton Hotel murders, 1981: Planned and ordered the assassination of Mike Hammer and Mark Pearlman (representatives of the AFL-CIO?s notorious American Institute for Free Labor Development) and Rodolfo Viera, an agent of the Salvadoran Land Reform Institute. Romero assassination, 1980: Planned and ordered the assassination of beloved Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero on March 24, 1980. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) SGT Antonio Ramiro Avalos Vargas, 1988, Small Unit Training and Management Jesuit massacre, 1989: Non-commissioned officer in charge of the small unit that massacred 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter, (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Eduardo Avila, 1967, Cadet Orienation Murder of US Advisors, 1981: Ordered the murders of Mike Hammer and Mark Pearlman (representatives of the AFL-CIO?s notorious American Institute for Free Labor Development) and Rodolfo Viera, an agent of the Salvadoran Land Reform Institute. (Americas Watch Report: Settling into Routine: Human Rights Abuses in Durate’s Second Year, 1986) COL Carlos Armando Aviles Buitrago, 1968, Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Aided in the planning and the cover-up of the massacre of 6 priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) MAJ Armando Azmitia Melara, 1967, Cadet Orientation Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Was operations chief of the battalion (Atlacatl) which massacred hundreds of unarmed men, women and children at El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Lake Suchitlan massacre, 1983: Commanded the Atlacatl battalion in the massacre of 117 people. (U.S. Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus (House of Representatives) memo, April 25, 1990) Los Llanitos massacre, 1984: Commanded the Atlacatl battalion in the massacre of 68 people, most of whom were under age 14. (U.S. Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus (House of Representatives) memo, April 25, 1990) MAJ Mauricio de Jes?s Beltran Granados, 1987, Small Unit Administration Instruction San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Ordered the needless murder of 10 prisoners and participated in the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) GEN Adolfo O. Blandon, 1964, Infantry Officer Course; 1960, Officer Cadet Course San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Initially claimed that the 10 civilians the Army killed were actually victims of "their own guerilla companions." He called U.S. congressional staff members who made inquiries about the case "political mercenaries," and suggested they leave El Salvador alone and investigate crimes in the U.S. (Americas Watch Report, The Army Massacre at San Francisco, 1989) GEN Juan Rafael Bustillo,1965, Counterinsurgency Orientation Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre of 6 priests, their housekeeper and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Torture, rape, murder of French nurse, 1989: Bustillo (with 3 other SOA graduates) is wanted in France in connection with the torture, rape, and murder of 27-year-old Madeleine Lagadec in El Salvador in 1989. Her raped, bullet-riddled body was found with its left hand severed. (Associated Press, 4/29/95) Labor union murders: Members of a school teachers' union claim that the Air Force, under Bustillo's control, targeted union members for torture and murder, including Maria Cristina Gomez and Miguel Angel Lazo Quintanilla (Amnesty International Report, Latin America: Human Rights Violations Against Trade Unionists, March 1991) MAJ Natividad de Jes?s Caceres Cabrera, 1970, General Supply Officer Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: 2nd in command of the Atlacatl battalion, which carried out most of the killing at El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) SOT Mario Canizales Espinoza, 1982, Patrol Course Dutch journalist murders, 1982: Led the squad that carried out the ambush against 3 unarmed Dutch journalists. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Juan Carlos Carrillo Schlenker, 1968, Cadet Course Tortured, denied medical aid to prisoner under his command: His US-trained Atlacatl soldiers tortured a wounded prisoner for three days with, among other things, electric shocks. (U.S. Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus (House of Representatives) memo, 4/25/90) CPT Victor Efrain Cartagena, 1982 Adm/Instru de Uni Pequen 0-2A; 1973, Combat Arms/Support Basic Crs Torture: Personally tortured political prisoners and unionist, including slapping and electric shock. (El Salvador Update: Counterterrorism in Action, El Rescate Human Rights Department) GEN Oscar Edgardo Casanova Vejar, 1963, Engineer Officer Course Murder of U.S. churchwomen, 1980: Was in charge of the National Guard at the airport at the time when the murders occurred. Knew that members of the National Guard had committed the murders and facilitated the cover-up of the facts which obstructed the corresponding judicial investigation. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Jos? Emilio Chavez Caceres, 1975, Military Intelligence Officer Course; 1974, Urban Counterinsurgency Course San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Officer in charge of the soldiers who carried out the needless murder of 10 civilian prisoners. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Alejandro Cisneros, 1974, Command and General Staff College El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commanded a company that participated in the massacre. El Junquillo massacre, 1981: Failed to investigate the massacre of women and children in El Junquillo. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Luis Antonio Colindres Aleman, 1980, Asp/Derechos Humanos/Def/Desar OE-9 Murder of U.S. churchwomen, 1980: Ordered four guardsmen to kill the churchwomen. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Currently serving a prison sentence related to this crime. Roberto D'Aubuisson, 1972, Communications Officer Course Romero assassination, 1980: Planned and ordered the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero, beloved champion of the poor in El Salvador. Death Squad Organizer, 1978-1992: Organized El Salvador's death squad network. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Francisco Del Cid D?az, 2003, Cadet Troop Leader Training; 1991, Combat Arms Officer Adv. Course; 1988, Infantry Officer Basic Course Las Hojas massacre, 1983: Transmitted the orders for the massacre of 16 civilians. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Instead of facing justice, we find that Col. del Cid Diaz was at the WHINSEC in 2003, and was also enrolled in SOA in 1988 and 1991. COL Francisco Elena Fuentes, 1985-1986, Guest Instructor; 1973, Officer Supply Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Supervised death squad training, 1990: U.S. Ambassador William Walker termed Elena Fuentes and the First Brigade "among the worst in terms of human rights." Besides commanding the brigade, Elena Fuentes supervised the training of a death squad called "The Patriotic Ones." (The New York Times, 12/13/93) 1LT Jos? R. Espinoza Guerra, 1982, Spanish Officer Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Part of the patrol that massacred 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Salvador Figueroa Morales, 1986, Curso para Oficiales de Combate Las Hojas Massacre, 1983: Linked to the massacre at Las Hojas in which 74 peasants were killed. (Americas Watch Report: Draining the Sea, 1985) CPT Jos? Fuentes Rodas, 1986, Combat Arms Officer Course; 1980, Cadet Orientation Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered up the massacre. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Francisco M. Gallardo Mata, 1992, Combat Operations Course; 1990, Combat Arms Officer Adv. Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Manuel de Jes?s Galvez Galvez, 1986, Psychological Operations Course San Sebastian massacre, 1998: Covered-up the murder of 10 civilian prisoners. United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) GEN Jos? Guillermo Garc?a, 1962, Counterinsurgency Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Then-defense minister Garc?a refused to investigate reports that hundreds of unarmed civilians were brutally murdered by the U.S.-trained Atlacatl battalion in the Morazon province in December of 1981. The reports turned out to be true. Murder of U.S. Churchwomen, 1980: Garc?a also failed to launch a serious investigation of the murder of 4 U.S. church women by members of the Salvadoran National Guard in December 1980. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Later granted residency in the U.S. COL Jos? Mario Godinez Castillo, 1968, Cadet Course 1,051 summary executions, 318 torture cases, and 610 illegal detentions are attributable to Godinez Castillo and soldiers under his command, according to the Non-Governmental Human Rights Commission in El Salvador. (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) LTC Julio Cesar Grijalva, 1973, Combat Arms Course; 1968, Cadet Course Massacred medical workers, patients at a field hospital, 1989: US-trained Atlacatl soldiers under his command raped and killed medical personnel and patients at a Chalatenango field hospital on Feb. 13, 1989. Also under his command, US trained Atlacatl soldiers repeatedly beat and sexually abused a 23-year-old factory worker, saying that no one could do anything to punish them because they were military personnel. (U.S. Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus (House of Representatives) memo 4/25/90) 1LT Gonzalo Guevara Cerritos, 1988, El Salvador Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Was a member of the patrol that killed the 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Jos? V. Hern?ndez Ayala, 1991, Combat Arms Officer Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Knew in advance of the massacre and aided in the cover-up of the murder of 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her teen-age daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Carlos Camillio Hern?ndez Barahona, 1975, Communications Officer Course; 1972, Combat Arms/Support Services Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre of 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her sixteen-year- old daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) CPT Jos? Alfredo Jim?nez, 1971, Cadet Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commanded a company of the Atlacatl battalion, which carried out the majority of the killings at El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) MAJ Baltazar Lopez Cortez, 1947, Motor Mech; 1959, Infantry Weapons; 1959, Infantry Tactics Death Squad Participation: Charged with death squad participation in 1987. (El Salvador Update: Counter-terrorism in Action, El Rescate Human Rights Department) 1LT Ram?n E. Lopez Larios, 1992, Combat Arms Officer Adv. Course; 1988, Infantry Officer Basic Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Rene Roberto Lopez Morales, 1990, Combined Officer Advanced Course; 1988, Commando Operations Course; 1987, Combat Arms Officer Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Reynaldo Lopez Nuila, 1963, CIO Head of National Police: Headed the National Police during a period when it was responsible for major abuses of human rights (Americas Watch Report: Draining the Sea, 1985) 1LT Rodolfo Isidro Lopez Sibrian, 1974, Combat Arms/Support Services Sheraton Hotel murders, 1983: Planned and covered- up the murder of Mike Hammer and Mark Pearlman (representatives of the AFL-CIO?s notorious American Institute for Free Labor Development) and Rodolfo Viera, an agent of the Salvadoran Land Reform Institute. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Kidnapping for profit, 1982-1986: Involved in a kidnapping ring that purported to be the FMLN and demanded ransoms from the wealthiest citizens of El Salvador. He made approximately $4 million prior to his arrest in 1986. (Department of State Report on the Situation in El Salvador, 4/1/88) COL Nelson Lopez y Lopez,1968, Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Assigned to investigate the massacre, he instead participated in the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Dionisio Ismael Machuca, 1984, Joint Operations Course 318 torture cases and 618 detentions, 1980-1993: The Non- Governmental Human Rights Commission in El Salvador has attributed hundreds of cases of human right: abuse to Machuca. (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) 1LT Edgar Santiago Mart?nez Marroquin, 1991, Combat Arms Officer Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Had prior knowledge of the massacre of Jesuit priests and aided in the cover-up of the crime, which also cost the lives of the priests' housekeeper and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) CPT Carlos Napolian Medina Garay, 1970, Cadet Course El Junquillo massacre, 1981: Commander of the unit which burned crops, raped women and children (many under the age of 12), and murdered them. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Jose Adolfo Medrano, 1974, Urban Counterinsurgency Ops. Death Squad Participation: Charged with death squad participation in 1987. (El Salvador Update: Counter-terrorism in Action, El Rescate Human Rights Department) CPT Juan Ernesto Mendez Rodr?guez, 1970, Cadet Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commander of an Atlacatl company that participated in the massacre of hundreds of unarmed men, women and children at El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) CPT Roberto Alfonso Mendoza Portillo, 1980, Supply/Human Rights Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commander of an Atlacatl company that participated in the massacre of hundreds of unarmed men, women and children at El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Yusshy Rene Mendoza Vallecillos, 1988, Commando Operation Course; 1982, Spanish Officer Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Convicted for heading the patrol that slaughtered 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her teen-age daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Inocente Orlando Montano,1970, Engineer Officer Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Was in on the planning of the massacre, and cooperated in the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Domingo Monterrosa, 1966, Parachute Rigger Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commander of the brutal Atlacatl battalion, which massacred hundreds of unarmed men, women and children in and around El Mozote in December 1991. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Mario Denis Moran Echeverria,1967, Tactical Officer, Cadet Course Sheraton Hotel murders, 1981: On January 3, 1981, members of the National Guard murdered Mike Hammer and Mark Pearlman (representatives of the AFL-CIO?s notorious American Institute for Free Labor Development) and Rodolfo Viera, an agent of the Salvadoran Land Reform Institute at the Sheraton Hotel in San Salvador. Moran Echeverria was part of the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Death Squads: Linked with death squads on a list given to Vice President Bush. (Americas Watch Report: Settling into Routine: Human Rights Abuses in Durate’s Second Year, 1986) CPT Oscar Armando Pe?a Duran, 1986, Combat Arms Officer Course Major Human Rights Violations, 1993-94: As Deputy Director of El Salvador's National Civilian Police, Pe?a Duran severed the close relationship that organization formerly held with the United Nations Observer Mission to El Salvador (ONUSAL). Under his leadership, cases of torture, arbitrary detentions and lack of due process abounded. Pe?a Duran gave privileged positions to former anti-narcotics officers who had not received specialized training; in early 1994, his thugs supervised "round-ups" of criminals which netted few arrests but violated the human rights of many innocent bystanders. Pe?a Duran resigned in May 1994 under intense pressure from many quarters, including that of the United States. (Human Rights Watch World Report 1986) San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Knew of the intent to murder 10 civilian prisoners, and cooperated with the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Gustavo Perdomo Hern?ndez, 1991, Command and General Staff College; 1974, Basic Combat Arms and Support Torture, rape, murder of French nurse, 1989: In April 1995, a French court issued international arrest warrants for Perdomo and three other SOA graduates for involvement in the torture, rape, and murder of 27-year-old Madeleine Lagadec in El Salvador in 1989. Her raped, bullet-riddled body was found with its left hand severed. (Associated Press, 4/29/95) CPL Angel Perez Vasquez, 1987, Small Unit Training and Management Jesuit massacre, 1989: Was a member of the small unit that slaughtered 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Roberto Pineda Guerra, 1967, Cadet Course Plotted violent coup, 1992: In 1992, U.S. intelligence reports implicated Pineda in a plot to violently overthrow El Salvador's then-President Alfredo Cristiani. (The New York Times, 11/9/93) COL Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena, 1960, Officer Cadet Course Dutch journalist murders, 1982: Planned and ordered the ambush and massacre of 3 Dutch journalists in the province of Chalatenango, whose murder served as a warning to other journalists who reported the cruelty of the US-trained Salvadoran military. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LT Jorge Alberto Rivas Aguirre, 1987, Combat Officer Course Santa Ana Murders, 1987: On August 9, 1987 (less than six months after he attended the SOA) Rivas and 2 enlisted men from the Second Brigade abducted 4 men leaving a fair in San Salvador. One escaped, the bodies of the others were discovered by the highway 3 days later. (Department of State Report on the Situation in El Salvador, 4/1/88) COL Manuel Antonio Rivas Mejia, 1975, Urban Counterinsurgency Ops.;1970, Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Assigned to investigate the massacre, Rivas Mejia instead participated in the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Rene Rodr?guez Hurtado, 1985, Combat Officer Review Torture, rape. murder of French nurse, 1989: In April 1995, a French court issued international arrest warrants for Rodr?guez and three other SOA graduates for involvement in the torture, rape, and murder of 27-year-old Madeleine Lagadec in El Salvador in 1989. Her raped, bullet-riddled body was found with its left hand severed. (Associated Press, 4/29/95) LTC Jos? Antonio Rodr?guez Molina, 1972, Combat Arms/Support Services San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Could have prevented the killing of 10 civilian prisoners, but did nothing. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) GEN Gilberto Rubio, 1976, Logistics Management Course,1971, Tactical Officer Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Participated in the cover-up of the massacre of 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter, who were all murdered at the priests' residence at the University of Central America in San Salvador. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) CPT Walter Oswaldo Salazar, 1974, Engineer Officer Basic Course;1971, Cadet Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commanded an Atlacatl company that participated in the massacre of hundreds of citizens in and around El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Carlos Sasso Landaverry, 1990, Combat Arms Officer Adv. Course Las Hojas massacre, 1983: Was one of two officers in charge of the unit that killed 16 civilians and burnt their corpses. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Roberto Staben, 1982, Joint Operations Course; 1971, "O-20" Kidnapping for profit, 1982-1985: Strongly implicated in the same kidnapping ring as Lopez Sibrian (above), but released on lack of evidence. (Department of State Report on the Situation in El Salvador, 4/1/88) COL Luis Mariano Turcios, 1966, Parachute Rigger Course San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Could have prevented the murder of 10 civilians, but did not. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Carlos Eugenio Vides Casanova,1985, Guest Speaker Murder of 4 U.S. churchwomen, 1980: Knew that members of the National Guard had committed the murders and, facilitated the cover-up of the facts which obstructed the corresponding judicial investigation. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Later granted residence in the U.S. GEN Rafael Villamariona,1983, Joint Operations Course Torture, rape, murder of French nurse, 1989: In April 1995, a French court issued international arrest warrants for Villamariona and three other SOA graduates for involvement in the torture, rape, and murder of 27-year-old Madeleine Lagadec in El Salvador in 1989. Her raped, bullet-riddled body was found with its left hand severed. (AP, 4/29/95) GEN Juan Orlando Zepeda, 1975, Urban Counterinsurgency Ops.; 1969, Unnamed Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned the assassination of 6 Jesuit priests and covered-up the massacre, which also took the lives of the priests' housekeeper and her teen-age daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Other war crimes, 1980's: The Non-Governmental Human Rights Commission in El Salvador also cites Zepeda for involvement in 210 summary executions, 64 tortures, and 110 illegal detentions. (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) MAJ Lizandro Zepeda Velasco, 1966, General Supply Officer Course Murder of U.S. churchwomen, 1980: Planned the murder of 3 U.S. nuns and a Catholic lay-worker. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993)

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