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Exclusive: Inside the Special Forces Team that Captured the World's Most Famous Revolutionary

Forrest Reed

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Hunting Che: How a U.S. Special Forces Team Helped Capture the World's Most Famous Revolution ary

by Mitch Weiss

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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In the annals of military history, few missions have been as daring or as consequential as the capture of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the world's most famous revolutionary. Guevara, a close confidant of Fidel Castro, was the mastermind behind the Cuban Revolution and a symbol of rebellion against oppression around the world.

In 1967, Guevara traveled to Bolivia to start a new revolution. He was determined to overthrow the Bolivian government and establish a Marxist state. However, the Bolivian government was tipped off to Guevara's presence in the country and launched a massive manhunt.

The Bolivian government enlisted the help of the United States, which provided intelligence and training to the Bolivian military. The US was determined to prevent Guevara from establishing a communist foothold in Bolivia and potentially spreading his revolution to other countries in Latin America.

In October 1967, a team of elite Special Forces operators from the US Army's 5th Special Forces Group was deployed to Bolivia to assist in the manhunt for Guevara. The team was led by Captain Gary Prado, a Bolivian-born US citizen who had served in the US Army for over 20 years.

Prado's team was tasked with tracking down Guevara and his guerrillas and capturing or killing them. The team spent months in the Bolivian jungle, conducting reconnaissance missions and gathering intelligence on Guevara's whereabouts.

On October 8, 1967, Prado's team received a tip that Guevara and his guerrillas were hiding in a ravine near the village of La Higuera. The team immediately launched an operation to capture Guevara.

The operation was a success. Guevara and his guerrillas were surrounded and captured without a fight. Guevara was taken to the village of La Higuera, where he was interrogated and executed by the Bolivian military.

The capture of Che Guevara was a major victory for the United States and its allies. It helped to prevent the spread of communism in Latin America and strengthened the US position in the Cold War.

However, Guevara's death also had a profound impact on the revolutionary movements around the world. Guevara became a martyr for the cause of revolution, and his image has been used to inspire countless people to fight for social justice.

The capture of Che Guevara was a complex and controversial event that had a lasting impact on the world. It is a story of courage, betrayal, and the power of ideology.

The Team

The team that captured Che Guevara was a small, elite unit of Special Forces operators. The team was led by Captain Gary Prado, a Bolivian-born US citizen who had served in the US Army for over 20 years.

The other members of the team were:

Sergeant First Class Mario Terán, a Bolivian-born US citizen who had served in the US Army for over 10 years.
Sergeant First Class Noel Kempff Mercado, a Bolivian citizen who had served in the Bolivian military for over 20 years.
Sergeant First Class Bernardino Huanca, a Bolivian citizen who had served in the Bolivian military for over 10 years.
Sergeant First Class Jaime Nino de Guzmán, a Bolivian citizen who had served in the Bolivian military for over 10 years.

The team was highly trained and experienced in jungle warfare. They were also fluent in Spanish, which was essential for communicating with the Bolivian military and local villagers.

The Mission

The team's mission was to track down Guevara and his guerrillas and capture or kill them. The team spent months in the Bolivian jungle, conducting reconnaissance missions and gathering intelligence on Guevara's whereabouts.

On October 8, 1967, the team received a tip that Guevara and his guerrillas were hiding in a ravine near the village of La Higuera. The team immediately launched an operation to capture Guevara.

The operation was successful. Guevara and his guerrillas were surrounded and captured without a fight. Guevara was taken to the village of La Higuera, where he was interrogated and executed by the Bolivian military.

The Aftermath

The capture of Che Guevara was a major victory for the United States and its allies. It helped to prevent the spread of communism in Latin America and strengthened the US position in the Cold War.

The capture of Che Guevara was a complex and controversial event that had a lasting impact on the world. It is a story of courage, betrayal, and the power of ideology.

Hunting Che: How a U.S. Special Forces Team Helped Capture the World's Most Famous Revolution ary

by Mitch Weiss

4.5 out of 5