Luke LaManna

The CIA had reason to believe that Che Guevara was in Bolivia. Rodriguez was shocked. For years, many suspected Guevara had died in the failed Congo uprising. But now it appeared that wasn't the case. The division chief said that if the communists took over Bolivia, they might be able to spread their ideology throughout the region, including Argentina and Brazil.

The CIA had reason to believe that Che Guevara was in Bolivia. Rodriguez was shocked. For years, many suspected Guevara had died in the failed Congo uprising. But now it appeared that wasn't the case. The division chief said that if the communists took over Bolivia, they might be able to spread their ideology throughout the region, including Argentina and Brazil.

The CIA had also heard that Cuba wanted to start several guerrilla wars in Latin America, similar to the one currently raging in Vietnam. By forcing the United States to engage in multiple conflicts, they'd strain its military and intelligence resources. The revolution in Bolivia needed to be stopped before it got any bigger and even more dangerous.

The CIA had also heard that Cuba wanted to start several guerrilla wars in Latin America, similar to the one currently raging in Vietnam. By forcing the United States to engage in multiple conflicts, they'd strain its military and intelligence resources. The revolution in Bolivia needed to be stopped before it got any bigger and even more dangerous.

The division chief asked Rodriguez if he would be willing to go to Bolivia to find Guevara. He would pose as Felix Ramos, a member of the Bolivian army. Rodriguez didn't need to think about it. He immediately said yes. This was the mission he'd been waiting for since he was 18. In late August 1967, Rodriguez paced in a makeshift interrogation room in Valle Grande, Bolivia.

The division chief asked Rodriguez if he would be willing to go to Bolivia to find Guevara. He would pose as Felix Ramos, a member of the Bolivian army. Rodriguez didn't need to think about it. He immediately said yes. This was the mission he'd been waiting for since he was 18. In late August 1967, Rodriguez paced in a makeshift interrogation room in Valle Grande, Bolivia.

In front of him, a gorilla who went by the name Paco slumped in a chair, his hands tied behind his back. The young rebel was filthy. His long beard was matted with knots. Rodriguez growled at Paco. He demanded information about the rebel forces. Paco hissed back that he'd never talk. Rodriguez smiled. He'd see about that.

In front of him, a gorilla who went by the name Paco slumped in a chair, his hands tied behind his back. The young rebel was filthy. His long beard was matted with knots. Rodriguez growled at Paco. He demanded information about the rebel forces. Paco hissed back that he'd never talk. Rodriguez smiled. He'd see about that.

Since he had arrived in the country a month ago, Rodriguez had been posing as a Bolivian army captain. He'd been embedded with an elite unit of Bolivian soldiers who were trained by the United States Army. Their mission was to stop the guerrillas, who had killed 30 Bolivian soldiers so far. And earlier that day, Rodriguez's unit finally had a big break.

Since he had arrived in the country a month ago, Rodriguez had been posing as a Bolivian army captain. He'd been embedded with an elite unit of Bolivian soldiers who were trained by the United States Army. Their mission was to stop the guerrillas, who had killed 30 Bolivian soldiers so far. And earlier that day, Rodriguez's unit finally had a big break.

Tipped off by a local farmer, they'd ambushed a group of 10 guerrillas. Rodriguez's unit had cornered the unsuspecting group at a river crossing and opened fire at close range. Paco was one of the only survivors of the attack. One of the officers in Rodriguez's unit wanted to execute Paco, but Rodriguez had stopped him.

Tipped off by a local farmer, they'd ambushed a group of 10 guerrillas. Rodriguez's unit had cornered the unsuspecting group at a river crossing and opened fire at close range. Paco was one of the only survivors of the attack. One of the officers in Rodriguez's unit wanted to execute Paco, but Rodriguez had stopped him.

He believed that Paco could provide intel that would help them find Guevara, and now he was determined to extract that information. Rodriguez dragged a chair in front of Paco and took a seat. It was time to try a different approach. He kept his voice calm and reasonable. He told Paco that he just wanted to know about his life as a gorilla.

He believed that Paco could provide intel that would help them find Guevara, and now he was determined to extract that information. Rodriguez dragged a chair in front of Paco and took a seat. It was time to try a different approach. He kept his voice calm and reasonable. He told Paco that he just wanted to know about his life as a gorilla.

He asked him to tell him about the men who had been in his group. Where were they from? What were they like? Paco looked up. This seemed to soften him. After a moment, he began to talk about one of the men. He was a medical student who had trained in Cuba. It wasn't especially helpful information, but at least Paco was talking. Rodriguez was determined to keep wearing him down.

He asked him to tell him about the men who had been in his group. Where were they from? What were they like? Paco looked up. This seemed to soften him. After a moment, he began to talk about one of the men. He was a medical student who had trained in Cuba. It wasn't especially helpful information, but at least Paco was talking. Rodriguez was determined to keep wearing him down.

The more he knew about life in Guevara's rebellion, the better he'd be able to hone in on the man himself and make good on his vow to bring him down.

The more he knew about life in Guevara's rebellion, the better he'd be able to hone in on the man himself and make good on his vow to bring him down.

On a late summer night in 1967, Guevara huddled against a rock on a hillside trying to sleep. A sharp wind blew against him. He fought to take a breath, but his chest wheezed and it felt like no air was making it in. He forced himself not to panic. He'd been dealing with asthma attacks since he was a boy. He could deal with this one. But he was worried.

On a late summer night in 1967, Guevara huddled against a rock on a hillside trying to sleep. A sharp wind blew against him. He fought to take a breath, but his chest wheezed and it felt like no air was making it in. He forced himself not to panic. He'd been dealing with asthma attacks since he was a boy. He could deal with this one. But he was worried.