Ralph A. Garcia - Harbor Knight: From harbor knight to honored CIA agent

HARBOR KNIGHT

FROM HARBOR HOODLUM TO HONORED CIA AGENT

RALPH A. GARCIA

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

Harbor Knight

From Harbor Hoodlum to Honored CIA Agent

Copyright 2013 by Ralph A. Garcia

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

iUniverse books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

iUniverse

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.iuniverse.com

1-800-Authors (1-800-288-4677)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4759-7436-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-7437-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-7438-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013902146

iUniverse rev. date: 02/12/2013

Table of Contents

All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the CIA or any other U.S. Government agency. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying U.S. Government authentication of information or Agency endorsement of the authors views. This material has been reviewed by the CIA to prevent the disclosure of classified information, and also reviewed by:

The U.S. Department of State

The U.S. Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration

The U.S. Department of Defense

The U.S. National Security Agency

DISCLAIMER: The Central Intelligence Agency has not approved, endorsed, or authorized this production or the use of the CIA seal, name, and initials.

To my family

I apologize, and I am very sorry for all of the holidays that I missed, for all the birthdays, for all those special timeslike going to a Little League game, and watching your first whatever. Im sorry. If theres a regret in my life, thats one that I have. In spite of missing all of those, I do love you very much.

-Dad

Many persons have the wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.

- Helen Keller

Michael Hayden, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency, has said that Americas intelligence officers are not the derring-do heroes of film and fiction but just like the guy and girl next door, average Americans like you and me. Ralph Garcias autobiography proves the point. But next door in Garcias case was not the tranquil lane of white picket fences in Pleasantville USA but a poor, hardscrabble neighborhood in a Midwestern steel town where a youngster could take the wrong fork in the road and embark on a life of crime. Fortunately, Ralph Garcia, by sheer willpower and a passion for public service, took the right turn at that fork. His path led him to service in the US Marine Corps, CIA and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), all institutions dedicated to protecting Americans from foreign and domestic threats to their welfare.

Ive known Ralph and his wife Sandy for most of my own career in the CIAs clandestine service. However, I never knew the breadth of Ralphs experience and achievements in government service which he recounts in this book. Yet this is not another memoir by a CIA officer eager to reveal his role in covert operations or to gripe about politicians and their foreign policy. The book is more an account of the life of that guy next door, the average American, doing his best overseas and at home to defend US national security, whether gathering intelligence for the CIA or combating drug dealers for DEA, enduring the hardships inherent in those jobs and, at the same time, coping with family crises and tragedies that he vividly relates throughout the narrative.

But Ralph Garcias autobiography is even more than that. It is the inspirational story of a lifetime of commitment to public service. Even in his well-deserved retirement, after careers in three government agencies, Garcia continued that service, taking a leadership role in Vietnam Veterans of America, forming clubs for children so they would avoid the pitfalls he faced as a youth, and advocating causes to help his fellow Hispanic Americans.

At the end of this fine autobiography, Ralph Garcia expresses the hope that he has left something behind. He most certainly has, both in the example of his own life and in this book.

-Michael J. Sulick, Ph.D.

(author of Spying in America: Espionage from the Revolutionary War to the Dawn of the Cold War )

Michael J. Sulick is the former Director of CIA National Clandestine Service. He also served as a Marine in the Vietnam War.

This work is my nave way of recording my personal memoirs. It is written with the help of a fading memory and lack of literary skill. Many names have been changed to hide the true identities of some, but other higher-profile individuals are openly acknowledged.

Although this memoirs primary purpose is to inform my family about my life, it is also written for those who may be interested in reading about an unusual life. Therefore, for those who wish to nitpick, you may discover certain errors remaining for your reading pleasure. But, rest assured, the foregoing was to the best of my recollection and not intended to offend anyone.

~Ralph A. Garcia

Sharyl Calhoun, without your help this project would never have been completed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To Mike, Adrian, John and John, thank you gentlemen for your patriotism, friendship, inspiration and guidance.

To all of the fine men and women who have served our nation in the military and at all levels of government. Your patriotism is appreciated. Semper Fi!

My DEA partner Bill. You had my back on many occasions; but not for you, I would not still be around.

To my sister, Shelly and cousin, Rachel, thanks for keeping track of our family tree. Your research is treasured.

Mr. James Porter, Washington High School biology, who collared me, told me he was tired of my B.S., and set me on a different social and professional path.

To Annie & Augustine whose altruism saved our lives. Thank you for your friendship and generosity to Mom and our family.

To every volunteer, like Mr. Spencer, who ever helped a kid at a Boys & Girls Club, at a school or on the street. The most important job in America is properly raising a child.

All of my family, you have always been there for me, sometimes waiting without knowing where I was or what I was doing. Thank you for your love and support.

To every spouse who has ever waited behind the scenes while loved ones went off to war or some other dangerous task or duty. Your sacrifice is appreciated.

To my sons and daughter, stay focused and always know you are loved.

Sandy, you complete me.

PART ONE:
GROWING UP IN DA HARBOR

The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the da y.

-John Milton

I n 1942, Da Harbor gave birth to a squalling baby boy. The smokestacks along the shore belched out their enthusiasm for another infant destined for the steel millsif he survived that long.

There was only one problem; I had no intention of taking the first step inside the steel mill.