BRIGADE 2506

The nucleus of a Cuban exile force of 1,400 men, they Bay of Pigs invasion force, trained by the United States Central Intelligence Agency in Guatemala, which sailed from Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, on April 14, 1961, to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro, begun three days later. The brigade was originally composed of six battalions of two hundred men each. The designation “2506” was adopted from the serial number of one of its members killed during training. The political views of the brigade ranged from center to far right. There was virtually no one from the left, but socially, all classes were represented. Training had been brief – from two weeks to two months. The brigade landed at beaches along the Bay of Pigs. The heavy fighting was especially in the Palpite Rotonda, San Blas, Girón and Playa Larga. The brigade had tanks, but no heavy artillery, and inadequate air cover. Some 1,189 survivors were captured by the Cuban military and held for public trial. After eighteen months’ imprisonment, the brigade leaders were ransomed for several million dollars and their men exchanged for medical supplies and agricultural equipment.