Alan Robert Nye

Anthony Borgo March 2020

Alan Robert Nye’s mother and stepfather, Helen and Daniel Lynch, expected to spend the holidays with their son. In early December, 1958 they received a letter from Alan postmarked from Miami, Florida. The letter, according to a February, 1959 Gary Post newspaper article, claimed that Nye was feeling well and that he would be coming home in time for Christmas. The last line of the letter read, “I’ll be seeing you soon.” However, instead of spending the yule tide season in the warm confines of his parent’s home at 1819 La Porte Avenue, Alan Nye was found in the Cuban province of Oriente, at the eastern tip of the island nation.

On December 26, 1958, Alan Robert Nye was arrested by Castro’s soldiers his crime: the attempted assassination of Fidel Castro. Prior to Nye’s arrest, Castro along with his rebel army overthrew Dictator Fulgenico Batista. Cuban officials claimed that Nye was promised $100,000 by the chief of the Batista Air Force, Brig. Gen. Carlos Tabernilla, Batista’s right hand military man. Tabernilla and Orlando Piedra, head of Batistas FBI, contacted Nye through Daniel Vasquez, a Cuban refugee in Miami, who was on the revolutionary government’s list of traitors.

The rebel officers stated that Nye was seized by Castro’s men on December 26, 1958, five days before the Batista government fell. Nye reportedly landed in Havana on November 12th, and spent several weeks at the Comodoro Hotel running up a bill of $694 which was paid by Tabernilla. At the hotel Nye used the name George R. Collins, but was also known as “El Misterioso” - the mysterious one. Rebel officers say that soldier’s noticed the muzzle of a gun protruding from a window of a house along Castro’s scheduled route. When the soldiers went to investigate they found Nye in the room armed with several weapons.

Nye’s parents were shocked to learn of their son’s imprisonment. They claimed that until they heard of his arrest in early February, they assumed that Alan was still in Florida, where he worked as a crop duster and airplane salesman. Nye, who held interest in half-dozen planes, also did crop dusting work between Florida and San Salvador in Central America.

Alan Robert Nye vigorously disputed the Cuban rebels claims. Cuban officials reported that they had a tape recording of a confession by Nye, but no such evidence was ever brought forward. Nye stated that he was marching in the rebel ranks on December 26th near Santa Rita in the Bayano Sector, when two rebels seized him. Nye claims he was attempting to aid the rebels not to assassinate their leader. He cited a letter proving his innocence. The letter, which was signed by J. Maginnis of the United States Naval personnel department, stated that if Nye came to Cuba to aid the rebels it would be in direct violation of the United States’ neutrality. Nye went on to say that he was unarmed at the time of capture and that he even drew a sketch for the rebels where he hid his rifle and pistol.

Nye graduated from Whiting High School in 1945, where he had been a straight ‘A’ student and a member of the school’s championship swimming team. He then attended Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana for 2 years. After two years in the Whiting Post Office, he joined the U.S. Navy under a program that gave him engineering study at Villanova (Pa.) College. It was during this time that Nye was trained as a pilot. He spent about six years as a Navy pilot, serving aboard an aircraft carrier, where he saw action during the Korean conflict. He left the service in 1954, where he then became a reservist serving as a lieutenant. Nye later settled in Coral Gables, Florida, where he worked as a crop duster, airplane salesman and mechanic.

When the news of Nye’s capture reached his hometown of Whiting, his friends and family members were shocked. Edward Grabovac, a friend, classmate and coworker of Nye, did not believe what was being reported. He said, “There’s no malice in him. I can’t imagine it.” Nye was able to send word home to his mother, he told her not to worry that he was fine. But, she enlisted the help of one of Alan’s longtime friend’s, former City Judge and attorney, Joseph Sullivan. Together, the two of them worked hard at getting Nye home.

Alan Nye repeatedly snubbed the newsmen who arrived in droves after his arrest. He stated that he blames the American press for all of his troubles. However he did ask the reporters to relay a message to his mother. Nye stated, “I’m feeling fine, am being treated all right, and my health is OK.”

In the beginning of Nye’s ordeal he refused all assistance offered to him by the United State Embassy. He claimed that he was expecting outside help. However, Nye never revealed who would be the source of his aid. According to Fabian Escalante Font’s book title CIA Targets Fidel, Alan Nye had made some pretty important contacts. “Nye had made deals with some big names in organized crime - members of the gambling syndicate, which, as you’ll remember owned a lot of property in Cuba such as big gambling casinos, big hotels, etc.” These contact of Nye would definitely be interested in getting rid of the unpredictable Castro.

However, when Nye’s newfound friends never showed up to his defense, he decided to hold a meeting with United States Vice Consul Hugh Kessler and Ambassador Phillip W. Bonsal. Likewise, Helen Lynch was informed that a resolution was adopted by the Indiana Legislature asking that the State Department take immediate steps to obtain Nye’s freedom. The action was presented under the sponsorship of State Sen. Eugene Bainbridge of Munster, Indiana. In addition, at the federal level, Senators Homer E. Capehart and R. Vance Hartke of Indiana, along with Rep. Ray J. Madden, Lake County, had been contacted and were at work to arrange Nye’s release.

Nye’s Mother, Mrs. Helen Lynch, wrote a personal letter to Fidel Castro begging him for mercy in regards to her son. In her letter she said, “I beseech you, as a devoted father, to intercede for my son.” Mrs Lynch went on to say, “I will see everyone necessary including Fidel Castro, in an effort to obtain freedom for my son who is completely innocent of any wrong doings.” She was assisted by Constantine N. Kangles, who was a U.S. attorney for the Cuban revolutionary 26th of July movement. Kangles served as an intermediary in arranging the delivery of Lynch’s letter to Castro. Although the letter was said to have touched Castro, Nye still was forced to face trial.

After being informed that her son was in poor mental and physical health, Mrs Lynch flew down to Cuba with Joseph Sullivan and John Chrustowski to see Nye. Once there Mrs. Lynch found her son in a 20 x 20 foot cell with half a dozen other prisoners. Nye told his mother that he was being fed a “bean concoction” - beans mixed with bugs and hair. He said, “The food is so bad you have to eat it with your eyes closed.” Mrs. Lynch also learned that her son was forced to sleep on boxes until Nye was able to pay for his own mattress.

Nye’s trial was set for April 11, 1959. Court proceedings were held on the second floor of the officers club at La Cabana Fortress, where Nye was being held prisoner. On the day of his trial a slight disturbance was caused between photographers and Cuban officials. Newsmen immediately began snapping pictures as guards brought Nye into the courtroom handcuffed. Officials quickly confiscated all film showing the prisoner in handcuffs. After the restraints were removed, reporters were permitted to snap photographs of Nye.

Alan Robert Nye pleaded innocent before a Cuban revolutionary tribunal made up of Capt. Oscar Alvarado, Capt. Eledio Machin and Lt. Jose Andres Estevez. The prosecutor, Lt. Jose Suarez, demanded death in front of a firing squad for 31 year old Nye if he was found guilty. Suarez officially accused Nye of “incendiarism, collaboration and imperfect assassination.” The prosecutor also charged that Nye was a traitor to the Cuban revolution. Suarez claimed that Nye had burned up three airplanes intended for delivery to Castro’s forces. The F51 fighter planes, Suarez said, had been purchased by formed Cuban President Carlos Prio Socarras and where at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when they were destroyed.

The newly formed Cuban government summoned 13 witnesses to support its case against Nye and five former high officials from the deposed Batista regime. Nye was the first American to be brought before a revolutionary tribunal since Cstro overthrew the government. Nye was represented by Arturo Quintana, a young Cuban who took over the case after Eloy Marino Brito withdrew as Nye’s attorney. Quintana unlike Brito spoke fluent English. After deliberation the tribunal found Alan Robert Nye guilty on all charges and sentenced him to death.

However, in a surprise twist the sentence was suspended on the provision that Nye leave Cuba within 48 hours and never return. Fidel Castro exercised what he called his “personal privilege.” Castro stated that because the assassination plot was made against him, he had every right to make this decision. He went on to say that if Nye attempted to assassinate someone else he would not have been able to rule in Nye’s favor.

A day later, Nye returned home where he was greeted with hugs from friends and family members. Mrs. Lynch prepared Nye a home cooked meal, which must have tasted like ambrosia after suffering through “bean concoction.” Nye said that he was glad to be home and looks forward to getting the most restful night’s sleep in months, which wouldn’t have been too hard after spending 106 days in his Cuban cell. When asked about his ordeal Nye stated that he couldn’t nor did he want to discuss Cuban politics. However, he did say that he had about as much a chance of getting a fair trial in Havana, “as a snowball in that place made famous by Dante.”