Luke LaManna

The Bolivians decided to stay, but they were discouraged, and Guevara knew it. He couldn't let Monge's defeatist talk derail their plan. So Guevara did what he did best. He rallied the troops. He told them that even without the support of the local Communist Party, they would still unite with all Bolivians who wanted to make the revolution happen and end American imperialism.

The Bolivians decided to stay, but they were discouraged, and Guevara knew it. He couldn't let Monge's defeatist talk derail their plan. So Guevara did what he did best. He rallied the troops. He told them that even without the support of the local Communist Party, they would still unite with all Bolivians who wanted to make the revolution happen and end American imperialism.

Guevara was not going to let this setback stop him or his vision. Four months later, in March 1967, Guevara's armed rebellion had begun. It hadn't started off exactly as he had planned it, though. In early February, Guevara had taken most of his men on a training march, but they'd gotten lost and didn't return to camp for 48 days, a month longer than planned.

Guevara was not going to let this setback stop him or his vision. Four months later, in March 1967, Guevara's armed rebellion had begun. It hadn't started off exactly as he had planned it, though. In early February, Guevara had taken most of his men on a training march, but they'd gotten lost and didn't return to camp for 48 days, a month longer than planned.

By the time he returned, the camp was in an uproar, and Guevara learned that two new recruits had deserted. They were recaptured, but Bolivian army planes were also circling overhead, and some of Guevara's scouts had spotted government soldiers nearby, which made all the revolutionaries nervous.

By the time he returned, the camp was in an uproar, and Guevara learned that two new recruits had deserted. They were recaptured, but Bolivian army planes were also circling overhead, and some of Guevara's scouts had spotted government soldiers nearby, which made all the revolutionaries nervous.

Then, the day after Guevar's return, one of his sentries killed a Bolivian soldier who had gotten too close to the rebel camp. The revolution was on. Guevara quickly abandoned the camp and led his men along a river until they came to a group of unsuspecting Bolivian soldiers. Guevara decided to ambush them and sent five of his men ahead to create a diversion.

Then, the day after Guevar's return, one of his sentries killed a Bolivian soldier who had gotten too close to the rebel camp. The revolution was on. Guevara quickly abandoned the camp and led his men along a river until they came to a group of unsuspecting Bolivian soldiers. Guevara decided to ambush them and sent five of his men ahead to create a diversion.

At 8 am the next morning, one of the rebels from the ambush team sprinted into Guevara's new camp with news that the plan had worked. The soldiers had walked right into their trap. The guerrillas killed seven of them while capturing 21 more. They also seized weapons, including mortars and machine guns.

At 8 am the next morning, one of the rebels from the ambush team sprinted into Guevara's new camp with news that the plan had worked. The soldiers had walked right into their trap. The guerrillas killed seven of them while capturing 21 more. They also seized weapons, including mortars and machine guns.

Even better, they had found strategy notes that showed another unit of Bolivian soldiers was headed toward them. Now Guevara's men could ambush them too. Guevara still had major concerns about the future of the rebellion. He needed more men and food and more time for training. And he was concerned about the distrust between the Cuban and Bolivian factions of his rebel army.

Even better, they had found strategy notes that showed another unit of Bolivian soldiers was headed toward them. Now Guevara's men could ambush them too. Guevara still had major concerns about the future of the rebellion. He needed more men and food and more time for training. And he was concerned about the distrust between the Cuban and Bolivian factions of his rebel army.

But in their first real skirmish, the revolutionaries had come out the victor. Guevara was starting to think that it was possible they could pull off this rebellion after all. In the summer of 1967, CIA operative Felix Rodriguez walked into the CIA field station in Miami, Florida.

But in their first real skirmish, the revolutionaries had come out the victor. Guevara was starting to think that it was possible they could pull off this rebellion after all. In the summer of 1967, CIA operative Felix Rodriguez walked into the CIA field station in Miami, Florida.

He'd received a call from his supervisor asking him to come in for a meeting, and he didn't know what it was about, but he hoped it had something to do with Bolivia. Guerrilla fighters had been ambushing the Bolivian army, seemingly at will, for the past few months.

He'd received a call from his supervisor asking him to come in for a meeting, and he didn't know what it was about, but he hoped it had something to do with Bolivia. Guerrilla fighters had been ambushing the Bolivian army, seemingly at will, for the past few months.

The United States had been helping the Bolivians defeat the guerrilla uprising by sending Green Berets to help with training, but Rodriguez hoped the CIA was preparing to take an even more active role. Rodriguez was born in Cuba. His uncle had been a minister in the government, but when Castro had taken control, Rodriguez and his entire family had fled the country.

The United States had been helping the Bolivians defeat the guerrilla uprising by sending Green Berets to help with training, but Rodriguez hoped the CIA was preparing to take an even more active role. Rodriguez was born in Cuba. His uncle had been a minister in the government, but when Castro had taken control, Rodriguez and his entire family had fled the country.

Rodriguez was 18 years old at the time and already involved in military training. He'd vowed to spend the rest of his life stopping the Cuban Revolution from spreading any further. In the field station, Rodriguez was led to a back office where he was introduced to a CIA division chief. The chief told Rodriguez what he was about to say wasn't to leave the room.

Rodriguez was 18 years old at the time and already involved in military training. He'd vowed to spend the rest of his life stopping the Cuban Revolution from spreading any further. In the field station, Rodriguez was led to a back office where he was introduced to a CIA division chief. The chief told Rodriguez what he was about to say wasn't to leave the room.