Missing U.S. Security Men May Be In Cuba

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29273, 3 August 1960, Page 13

Missing U.S. Security Men May Be In Cuba

WASHINGTON, August 2.

A mystery that may parallel Britain’s Burgess and Maclean drama is engaging America’s security forces. Two mathematicians employed by the supersecret National Security Agency are missing.

According to one report, they may be in Cuba. They have been traced to Mexico City, where they registered at a hotel before leaving the country.” A source quoted by the American Associated Press said they had gone to a “place they should not have visited. He was believed to be referring to Cuba. The missing men are Bernon Mitchell, aged 31, and William Martin, aged 29, who left Washington on holiday on June 24. They had announced they were driving together to the west coast to visit relatives in California and Washington State respectively but neither reached his destination. An airline official said they had booked seats on a June 25 flight to Mexico City. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said that at the request of the National Security Agency the men’s names had been added to the list of missing persons sent to police throughout the country but, as no violation of Federal law was involved, no further action was being taken. All the Defence Department would say was that there were indications the two had reached Mexico City. Both men were in the United States Navy from 1953 to 1956 and went to the Security Agency on the same day, July 8, 1957. Neither is married. They were earning about 8000 dolars a year.