A Simple Job

           José Emmanuel Ortega, a man who had been in exile in the US from Cuba since 1958 was in deep thought. During his stay in Cuba he was a close supporter of the Batista regime and therefore had fled to the US when Castro had seized power. Yesterday he had been given a chance to play a part in an insurrection to overthrow the Castro regime. A CIA operative named John had contacted him and gave him a proposition. He had said, "We the Americans share the same feelings about the Castro government as people like you. In fact we want him to be overthrown so that power goes back to the people of Cuba. Therefore we give you a proposition. We have created a special brigade known as brigade 2506 for people like you who are to undertake an amphibious landing in Cuba and then seize power. We will provide you the training as well as air and naval support." 

           José was thinking that this was a good proposition and with the support of the Kennedy government, it would be a simple job. Now he would no longer have to live in the US as an exile and he could return to his home country to live happily and perhaps occupy a position of power. In fact José chuckled at that prospect as power always attracts men. Therefore the next day he met John and volunteered for the operation.

         What followed were 3 months of gruelling military and tactical training by specialized CIA instructors at a secret location near Miami. Then finally on 17th april 1961. José and other members of his brigade boarded US supply ships for their landing in the bay of pigs in Cuba. 8 US bombers had attacked Cuban airfields on the previous day. Therefore the brigade assumed that the Cuban air force would be incapable of providing support to the ground forces. The CIA had also assured continuos air and naval support as well as implicitly suggested active involvement of the US army. Therefore everyone in the brigade thought that they had volunteered for a simple job.

          As the brigade landed in the bay of pigs. They immediately took the local militia by surprise. The Cubans suffered heavy losses as Brigade 2506 marched on towards the local town. José was elated he was finally back to retrieve his homeland from the tyranny of Castro. Then finally the brigade reached the town and they saw a full army standing in front of them with no sign of US air or naval support. They were betrayed by the CIA and left to die in front of Castro's army! Everyone including José was frightened but they still charged for their cause. The enemy opened fire and many including José were shot. As José fell down with blood coming out of his chest he realised that the job he had volunteered for was not a simple job after all.