17-09-2009, 03:24 AM
"Colonel Prouty has been quoted as saying that he believes that Lucien Conein was, like his erstwhile CIA cohort Ed Lansdale, in Dealey Plaza when President Kennedy was assassinated [37]. During World War II, Conein had served with the elite Jedburghs and had jumped behind enemy lines into France in 1944 where he worked with the Corsican Brotherhood, an underworld organization allied with the resistance [38]; later he parachuted behind Japanese lines in Indochina. In 1951 he established a CIA base in Nuremberg, southwest Germany, from which spies were helped across the border into Czechoslovakia; for a time, Ted Shackley worked alongside Conein in those spy-running operations [39]. Soon thereafter, Conein returned to Vietnam to work closely with Lansdale in various projects, including their successful efforts to establish Ngo Dinh Diem as president. In 1954-56, Conein was in charge of paramilitary groups whose objective was to destabilize North Vietnam and compromise the efforts of the International Commission that had been set up to aid the transition from French to Vietnamese rule [40]. In 1963, "Lou" was still in Vietnam, nominally with the US Army, but actually still operating as a CIA agent [41]. Ironically, he served as liaison between the US and the South Vietnamese generals who overthrew and murdered President Diem--just three weeks before the Kennedy assassination.
In the Altgens picture showing the limousine turning onto Houston Street, standing close to the man resembling Mr. Hemming, is someone who looked like Lucien Conein.
When we wrote to Col. Prouty about this, he responded [42]: "...I noted this same photo you have found and the likeness between that person and Lou...I'd say that the guy is Conein." Although later in his letter he stated, "I make no solid claim for Conein in the Dealey Plaza picture," he went on to say, "but I do know that many of the Vietnam-trained, Mongoose inner circle were there.
LUCIEN CONEIN LOOK-ALIKE NOT CONEIN?
On October 12, 2008, I received an email from Frank Caplett informing me that the man resembling Lucien Conein in the photograph taken by James Altgens (below, arrowed) is not Conein.
In 1999, Mr. Caplett was invited to accompany a colleague on a drive to Dallas to visit an aunt. In the aunt's home he saw on the wall a plaque from the Dallas Morning News showing the Altgens photograph, acknowledging the presence the aunt's late husband in the famous picture.
Mr. Caplett: "...this guy is in no way, form or fashion Conein."
I have written to the aunt seeking confirmation. If/when I receive a response, its import will be reported here. -- Allan Eaglesham (10/15/08)"
In the Altgens picture showing the limousine turning onto Houston Street, standing close to the man resembling Mr. Hemming, is someone who looked like Lucien Conein.
When we wrote to Col. Prouty about this, he responded [42]: "...I noted this same photo you have found and the likeness between that person and Lou...I'd say that the guy is Conein." Although later in his letter he stated, "I make no solid claim for Conein in the Dealey Plaza picture," he went on to say, "but I do know that many of the Vietnam-trained, Mongoose inner circle were there.
LUCIEN CONEIN LOOK-ALIKE NOT CONEIN?
On October 12, 2008, I received an email from Frank Caplett informing me that the man resembling Lucien Conein in the photograph taken by James Altgens (below, arrowed) is not Conein.
In 1999, Mr. Caplett was invited to accompany a colleague on a drive to Dallas to visit an aunt. In the aunt's home he saw on the wall a plaque from the Dallas Morning News showing the Altgens photograph, acknowledging the presence the aunt's late husband in the famous picture.
Mr. Caplett: "...this guy is in no way, form or fashion Conein."
I have written to the aunt seeking confirmation. If/when I receive a response, its import will be reported here. -- Allan Eaglesham (10/15/08)"