Bay of Pigs

 At midnight on April 17, 1961 (65 years ago), the two LCIs (Landing Craft Infantry) each with a CIA operations officer and an Underwater Demolition Team of five frogmen entered the Bay of Pigs, Cuba. They headed an invasion force of four transport ships carrying about 1,400 Cuban exile ground troops plus M41 tanks and other vehicles in the landing craft.

I once heard a history professor say that a revolution always leads to a counter-revolution.  Bay of Pigs was the counter-revolution to the one led by Fidel Castro.    

The unloading of troops at night was delayed because of engine failures and boats damaged by unseen coral reefs.  As the frogmen came in, they were shocked to discover that Red Beach was lit with floodlights, which led to the location of the landing being hastily changed.  

As the frogmen landed, a firefight broke out when a Jeep carrying Cuban Militia happened by.  The few militias in the area succeeded in warning Cuban Armed Forces via radio soon after the first landing, before the invaders overcame their token resistance.  

Fidel Castro was awakened at about 03:15 to be informed of the landings, which led him to put all militia units in the area on the highest state of alert and to order airstrikes.  Castro departed personally to lead his forces into battle against the invaders.

The invasion failed.

Sixty-seven Cuban exiles were killed in action. Additionally, 10 more were executed by firing squad; 10 lost their lives on the boat Celia trying to escape; nine died in a sealed truck container on the way to Havana; four died by accident; two in prison; and four American aviators also died, for a total of 106 deaths.

The final toll for Cuban armed forces during the conflict was 176 killed in action.  This figure includes only the Cuban Army and it is estimated that about 2,000 militiamen were killed or wounded during the fighting.  Other Cuban forces casualties were between 500 and 4,000.  The airfield attacks on April 15 left 7 Cubans dead and 53 wounded.

On December 21, 1962, Castro and James B. Donovan, a U.S. lawyer aided by Milan C. Miskovsky, a CIA legal officer, signed an agreement to exchange 1,113 prisoners for US$53 million in food and medicine, sourced from private donations and from companies expecting tax concessions. 

On December 24, 1962, some prisoners were flown to Miami, others following on by ship, plus about 1,000 family members also allowed to leave Cuba. 

On December 29, 1962, President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline (speaking Spanish) attended a "welcome back" ceremony at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida for the Cuban veterans of the Bay of Pigs invasion returning from Cuba.