Tracy Barnes
Encyclopedia
Charles Tracy Barnes was a senior staff member at the United States' Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA), serving as principal manager of CIA operations in the 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état and the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion
.
, Long Island
, New York
to parents Courtland Dixon Barnes (June 13, 1881 in Stonington, Connecticut
- ?) and Katherine Lansing Barney (February 6, 1885 in New York City
- ?), siblings were
Courtland Dixon Barnes, Jr. (December 26, 1907 - ?) and Katharine Lansing Barnes (February 27, 1909 - ?). He was educated at Groton School
and Yale University
, where he became a member of the Scroll and Key
secret society
. He graduated from Harvard Law School
in 1937. He was married to Janet who was born June 10, 1913 in Providence, Rhode Island
. During World War II
he served first with US Air Force intelligence, then with the Office of Strategic Services
. He was awarded France's Croix de guerre
and the US Silver Star
. After the war, he returned to legal practice.
In 1950 he went to Washington to serve as special assistant to Under Secretary of the Army, Archibald S. Alexander
. He also served as deputy director of the Psychological Strategy Board
during the Korean War
. He joined the CIA in 1951.
In 1953, he was appointed Special Assistant for Paramilitary Psychological Operations, under Frank Wisner
, and was the principal case officer in the CIA operation leading up to the 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état.
In 1960, he was appointed Assistant Deputy Director for Plans, under Richard M. Bissell, Jr.
, with direct responsibility for the CIA operation leading to the Bay of Pigs Invasion
in April 1961.
In 1962, he was made head of the CIA's Domestic Operations Division.
In July 1966 new CIA Director Richard Helms
had Desmond FitzGerald fire Barnes from the CIA.
In June 1970, Tracy Barnes suffered a serious stroke. His recovery was slow and on 18 February 1972, he had a heart attack and died at his home at Saunderstown, Rhode Island
.
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
(CIA), serving as principal manager of CIA operations in the 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état and the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
.
History
Tracy was born in ManhassetManhasset, New York
Manhasset is a hamlet and neighborhood in Nassau County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 8,080....
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to parents Courtland Dixon Barnes (June 13, 1881 in Stonington, Connecticut
Stonington, Connecticut
The Town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic...
- ?) and Katherine Lansing Barney (February 6, 1885 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
- ?), siblings were
Courtland Dixon Barnes, Jr. (December 26, 1907 - ?) and Katharine Lansing Barnes (February 27, 1909 - ?). He was educated at Groton School
Groton School
Groton School is a private, Episcopal, college preparatory boarding school located in Groton, Massachusetts, U.S. It enrolls approximately 375 boys and girls, from the eighth through twelfth grades...
and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he became a member of the Scroll and Key
Scroll and Key
The Scroll and Key Society is a secret society, founded in 1842 at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut. It is the wealthiest and second oldest Yale secret society...
secret society
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
. He graduated from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1937. He was married to Janet who was born June 10, 1913 in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served first with US Air Force intelligence, then with the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
. He was awarded France's Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
and the US Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
. After the war, he returned to legal practice.
In 1950 he went to Washington to serve as special assistant to Under Secretary of the Army, Archibald S. Alexander
Archibald S. Alexander
Archibald Stevens Alexander was an American lawyer, civil servant, and Democratic politician. He served as Under Secretary of the United States Army in the Truman Administration and as New Jersey State Treasurer....
. He also served as deputy director of the Psychological Strategy Board
Psychological Strategy Board
The Psychological Strategy Board was a committee of the United States executive formed to coordinate and plan for psychological operations. It was formed on April 4, 1951, during the Truman administration. The board was composed of the Under Secretary of State, the Deputy Secretary of Defense,...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He joined the CIA in 1951.
In 1953, he was appointed Special Assistant for Paramilitary Psychological Operations, under Frank Wisner
Frank Wisner
Frank Gardiner Wisner was head of Office of Strategic Services operations in southeastern Europe at the end of World War II, and the head of the Directorate of Plans of the Central Intelligence Agency during the 1950s....
, and was the principal case officer in the CIA operation leading up to the 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état.
In 1960, he was appointed Assistant Deputy Director for Plans, under Richard M. Bissell, Jr.
Richard M. Bissell, Jr.
Richard Mervin Bissell, Jr. was an American Central Intelligence Agency officer responsible for major projects such as the U-2 spy plane and the Bay of Pigs Invasion.-Early years:...
, with direct responsibility for the CIA operation leading to the Bay of Pigs Invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
in April 1961.
In 1962, he was made head of the CIA's Domestic Operations Division.
In July 1966 new CIA Director Richard Helms
Richard Helms
Richard McGarrah Helms was the Director of Central Intelligence from 1966 to 1973. He was the only director to have been convicted of lying to the United States Congress over Central Intelligence Agency undercover activities. In 1977, he was sentenced to the maximum fine and received a suspended...
had Desmond FitzGerald fire Barnes from the CIA.
In June 1970, Tracy Barnes suffered a serious stroke. His recovery was slow and on 18 February 1972, he had a heart attack and died at his home at Saunderstown, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
External links
- Tracy Barnes at spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk