Secret
rs
(C)
DATE; MAY 2uu't
CENTER FOR THE STUDY, OF INTELLIGENCE REFERENCE COf X
central intelligence agency
VOL
3
. US,
SI
Richard SkeffmgUm Welch, CIA Chief of Station in Alhem, was amustnalcd in Athent at aboutnt he and ha wife Kika were returninghrlttrruu party gtorn by the VS. Andnuedor Three mailed gunmen ambushed hu car at the gate to the Chief ofand Welch was fatally wounded hy one Inillel His wife was unharmed, as nas hi* chauffeur All who leaiu- the Agency leave behind reflection! In tworeXoUectiern of friends end colleagues, and the Immutable pages of the Official Personnel Folder Tuo ucan after the death of Dtckifelongndertakes to blend the two reflectioni.
dickhristopher May
Dick Welch at lit* death became the highest-ranking CIA officer billed In the line nf duty, and ihe liixl Chief of Station deliberately muidered In ii political assassina-lion Hu had been COS in Allien* only sincead been promotedn November, and had celebratedh birthday only nine day* More be died Me would have completedears uf *crvicr with the Central liitrnigcnce Agency in
President Ford wrote lo Dick's widow:
HU dedicated servicehi* country tad faultless contribution lo United
Slates foreign policy objective* throughout Im career will never be forgotten
In your time ol grief, you have the deep sympathyrateful American
people and then President.
At Iho President's direction. Dick's body was flown lo Washington by All Force plane and he was buried in Arlington National Omelet y. The President and Secretary of State Kissinger attended tbe funeral service In the Fort Myer Chapel on Januarylong with Dick's widow, hb father, his three children, hb first wife. DCI William E. Colby, FBI Director Clarence KeUoy, Senators Pell of Rhode bin ml and Matblas of Maryland, other government officials, colleagues ofens, and friends olnn
Dick's coffin was earned from ihe Chapel to the grateiite on the same horte-drawn caisson that bore President John Kennedy's body in& He was buried next to (he grave reserved lor his father, retired Army Oil. George Patrick Welch, who died four months latrr Dick's tombstone carrlM the legend, "Central Intelligencehe first limeIA officer has been so identified
As the second anniversary of his death approached. Dick's assassins hail not been apprehended. The Government of Greece immediatelyense of deep shock at hb death, andassive invcstlKation which continues Some have expressed skepticism lhal the Llllm will ever be brought to (uillce. suggesting lhat their identities and motives could be an eatbarrassnsenl to tbe Greeks, but inform.(ton available to the Agency indicates that the Greeknderdetermined effort to solve the murder.
Within the Agency, UCl Colby and DDO William Nelson jwid tilbute to Dick Welchemorial service held in the Headquarters auditorium on5 Dick's sons, Lt Timothy Welch. VSMG, and Nicholas Welch, represented the family, and Director Designate George Bush and DDCI Lr Genallers were among those- who attended.
!
I
Nelson .poke lira, nl
an and cilraordinary officer Wc mo-ain his death wild |uitiiular poignartf) al tills tunc, because Im- id representative of the lai*the t'larsdestine Serv.ir. lieilly amiylillul friend, and aboveedicated and .uiumphihcd prnfevI Dkk Welch's scnselvH and trugii ilealh serves any purrjcw. II Li lon his lite and work the loyalty, dedication, and decency ol Ihe men and women ol tbe Claiidi'itinec small way. loo. his death may help to brine an cod. atmerica, to public toleration nl iiulMfcHK and distorted attacks on the Agency and the service, and the aleritilM-atiori and eanmure of our personnel abroad
Rill Colby ipoke ofssum retlciiid in Ihek's dt-alh. anil in his life:
hink we learn the importaun1 ol scholarship. This magna rum vi'.'. Irom Harvard, Ihls caii'ful student ol languages this man villi groattl.iudiug cJ foreigngreat alnlily In idale t" the high andort of Ihe inteHigeiHc profession
We learn the value of commit meni tn action, living abroad, working among difficulte learnan who is cutuniltted to seivii" to his country and service to the intelligencee learn
e learn leadership, became he uMmpltfied this career and in his activities. He showed leadership tu his Stationso thai his stationsalways models ol production along the really difficult line of the clandestine workloi ourHithowed that be could not only lead people In CIA, he oaild abo haw an enormous impact on the people outside it. articulating -hat Intelligence is all about, what it can do. its Importance to our country, and how pood It
i think wc must also learn Irom his death, nil down by these terrorists. We learn thai our profession has risks We learn tlie need for profesNorsabsni in our operations, lot the imporUssee of real cover, of real secrecy in our
Hut we also need to learn from hi* death hows thai all Americans bo responsible about intelligence, as we must lie responsible about
ourI think, we can say then at this sad occasion tliat as we
look over Dick Welch's Irfe and his death, we must take fromesolution and renewed strength to learn the learns of hb life and his death and apply these lessons in the future of this Agency that he served so well and so effectively.
We wish that this had not happened, but we are convinced that in the future his name will trulyurn in the intelligence system ofhich we responsible professionals and we responsible Americansthe kind of Intelligence service that he looked forward
The death of Richard Skcffington Welchonnection with the (lentral Intelligence Agency which had begun Just weeks short ofears earlier "Dear Mre wroteIA recruiter on FebruaryIenior at Harvard and Isave majored in Near Eastern History and Creek. Because of my interest io suchelieve myself qualified, as muchan determine, to apply to the CIAosition...
Dick Welch wast Ihe time. He was born in Hartford. Connecticut,be youngest of three childrenetiring mother and an energetic lathw who gave up Wall Street after the crash9 to write inflammatory Irish novels, Dkk grew up In Providence. Rhode bland, where be graduated from Classical High School after studying Creek for throe year* and Latin for lour. At Harvard, lie ran on the cross-country and track teams,ormidable prowess al the pool la He. booed bis chess tame, andifelong live affair with classical musicunior, he almost died of peritonitis following appendicitis. His field of concentration was Creek History and Literature.
His interest in foreign affairs came early, inspired by hb father to whom he was devoted but of whom he saw relatively little because of his parents" divorce In tho. The attract Iveiiess of government serviceareer presented Itself to him with poculiar forceollege senior. In the Utter first winter ol the
Korean War. Hi* father, who hadareer Army officer at World War II, led an Army battalion to the hard lighting at the Chosln Reservoir and back safely.wn opportunity for military service had been precluded by the loss in childhood of llie sight ol onelost which went undetected by many who fell victim to his tenacious but canny tennisaterriend passedecruiting teller Irom the Central Intelligence Agency, an organization little talked of and less understood in Cambridge at that time
Following bis aprjuntton letter of FebruaryWelch talked in March and April with CIA recruiters who reported-
laims he would work out wellobolid, well-diesscd, stable-appearing young man of abovetalents.martood seriouspotential because of fine college record, natural enthusiasm,of. Pleasing personality.'*
A background mveatigatiofi ensued; its report stated
Is describedrilliant scholar in tbe field of Creek History andcod character ami good mural habits, well mannered, gondlooking, and loyal. Is recommended without reservation by all Informants.
Welch was invited to accept employment, and entered on duty onix weeks after graduating Irom Harvard. He was delighted, and however critical be was of tbe Agency's performance or decisions In later yean. Dkk Welch never .wavered in bis coo net ion that he had made the right career decision, and that success for the Agency was essential to thr well-being of the United States.
The earlyashington were sociallynd piiifiv-niiill. Inauspicious. Dick was quickly selected for assignment to Athens, and he was eager to leave, but first there was training to be undergone In the creaky old tempos along the 1'otumac. He was not enthusiastic about the unreality, and his training evaluations were not distinguished. In une Basic Operations Course in December, for example, bp tamed grades of "Excellent" in Intelligence Requirements and Reportingnforma-llori. Superior" in Communism and the USSR, and Satisfactory" in Mapping but for Security and Interviewing, he was rated "Pour"nother basic coarse in January were even worse
ere extenuating circumstances Dick had inairled hb first wife. Patty, in mid-December, money was scarce, and he know the real job was to be done In the field, not in Tempos 'MOe left for Athens with alacritv In2
Dick loved Greece. It was eve/thing he had hoped and read that it would be He worked hard to convert his knowledge of classical Creek intooarfid modern Creek, and in timeacility wbkh matched that of the Station's CreekAtivericam and afliiobhed tbe nativee sailed into tbe Station's activityerve which his older, more experienced colleagues considered brash, and with attitudes toward them which they considered impudent.
But the opportunities lor useful professional work were manifold as Greece struggled2urb the threat of the Communist Party. The political and strategic stakes were high: Ihe USSRe*Miee just beyond tbe edge of the Mediterranean Dkk learned rapiary, guided by wise counsel Inis
'Wan tat* at) jean km.obertsfi-aa Ararat ha ike St* Tart Tim* aa Dac 2S. hTTJsrent party, atold Welch rtol be waspease. <rf Creek tn the American Erobaay Eieaari n- mnalm the bm' "
fitness report reflected ratings of "Outstanding'" infategories (tbe forms were more cumn thosebove Average" innd none below "Reasonableu cutstandiog strengths
alert. Ini^ligent mind bolsteredtde range of knowledge. Incisive, analytical thinker with excellent ability to eipress hb ideas orally and in writing Natural bent and interest in political and press matters. Excellent knowledge of Ihe Creek language andine performance. Dick stayed In Athens for three rich tours In all. The high point probably cameith Ihe elevation ol Coostanlin Karainanll* to the prime ministry. "The Governnient of Ine fivend the small touches, that assbted the process: for
celebration of the seventh
anniversary of the victory over tbe Communists in the Civil War. with the Cathedral as thefirst sii anniversaries had passed with no noticeable interest shown
pick's Itlnras repcontinued laudatory
Unusually' strong person in terms of the requirement* of the or gam ain Ouldanding Weakness slightlyecern
Has the potential to reach tbe etecuthe level, outstanding knowledge of tbe area, language,hough slightly escitahle. has shown during the past two yean marked improvement In this respect1
Inspired In his approach to hb tasks He made tremendous progress during (he past three years and showsf high calibre for thea hfj (he Intelligence, drive, and devotion to his wnrk which seem lo assure hb rbe to ihe executive level.Wn Welch's only ratings of "Average" came on "can get along with people" andhoughtful of others "I
He has acquired valuable and vast eaperlence In the
and ha* shown Initiative,nd dehlw-ralion in lacing ptobirrns as they arise llu reporting and analysis are of eicelrntutstanl-ing young maneat deal of potential EiceOenlaken In conjunction with the brilliant quihties inherent in Subject, and hbt motivation lo continue hb work token togetlier with bis ambition to advance to higher levels of responsibility, speak in the best terms about Subject's potential.)
When Dick left Athens inho Chief of Slallon wrote:
Hu work has constantly been characterized by great vigor andknowledgr of the local Creek politicallls mental processesand very well organized.ighly pcrwauve and writeswell. He is likely toparkplug in any group of whicharticular (lair forI recommend that he be
ejurmed for Uscreasingly senior responsibilstie* in this field Sbouldheerr.it is likely to be on tbe side of aggressive, positive action or counsel rather than to the contrary.n assiduous and selectlsc readerontinually teeklng new professional knowledge.
Hb apprenticeship was over, and if had been an unusual success. He had advanced fromon seven yean. The btashness was tempered, the strengths were Identified, ihe foundations were laidrilliant future. Headquar ters wase enduied only long enough to arrange to got buck lo the field
In Washington he Joined ihe Turkish Branch, then, as wasart of ihe old Southeast Europe Division. He was tl* deputy, bul the chief soon left on oilier
Wekh
business and Welch ran ihe branch for about IS months Taking on the Turks as clients gave balance to his Greek view of the Eastern Mediterranean. His stewardship was sure-handed,ash of security violations nl one point threatened suspension. His overall ratings wereith lus writing and his judgment drawing particular compliments,ote of caution on "glib answer;."
His greatest weakness, and one which could hurt him in the pursuit of what couldagnificent career in the Agency,ropensity lor talking down toprobably morewho arcat least his intellectual il not his vocal equals
Theone who hadtalked downtfte "OuIslanding" ratings but noted the "serious potential weaknesses which are pointed
out"
Dick fcliirnciiew situation al Headquarters Ills old St; Division was no more, having bom dhaolvcd several years before and meigrd half Into Eastern Europe, half inlo Near Fast. He declined an invitation to join Ihe effoit In Teutonic Europe, feeling that its Wagnerianationality and blooding weather was no placehild of Aristotelian logic and Mediterranean nuohliw Invtoad he asked to be transferred tn the Western Heinispheie Division and0 year commitmentim America He made no secret of hit desire to return some day to Athens, bul he wanted to immerse himselfifferent area of the world Nor did he lookuiet spot, but sought again for areas of some conflict and uncertain ipmrnmeiits, and stakes important enough tn try to Influence and hold in America'* interest He never regretted hb oW-inoo, and he stayed in Latin American alfairi. indeed for the promisedears
Atick stepped In as deputy chiefusy Itranch. worked hard and perceptively, studied Spanish. He and Fatty formally scpjialcd and divorced, and sadly he seut the children with her to England, where she was pleased to live and hb limited funds would suffice. Thereafter, he saw tin? children only when he could manage slops in fdiglunil or could bring them lo Ihe New World on vacations until, in
h
SrX^ET^
ihce could twelve them Inp (for long visits. His peers and superiors tn WH Division were skeptical of him at Ilia, but quickly rated htm highly, noting his "esxetient supervisoryis "ability to cope in the strongest and rati professional fashion with thend the factor of beirg "wwualh quick to grasp the realities and compleiitini ol the political situation In fiveithinonths, his immediate chic! gave him
the (list overall "Outstandiiig" rating that this rater has ever given anndeed one of the (meat officers of anyaw ever had the pleasure of workingnthusiastic enjoyment of the Intelligence business which Isn citellcnl uqVivisor. unusually pcrccn-live in dealing wiih peoplehows impalirnVe with subordinates when they do not measure up to bis surkdardi or appear to be wasting his time and theirsnique ability to qukkl> put hb thought on paper in an organized fashion which, although at times overly stylistic, Is always to tin- point, fresh, and espiessive.
On onef Station thought to dispose of an animated eirhange with the branch byableatin quotation.
forgetting tlial Dkk had forgotteniln than he had ever known, so back flew our final word, and Dkklay on Henrys Lalln quote, twisting the Latin so that It |iaced Henry right back on hise was so tickled and amused by tbe cable from Headquarters twining hb (all in Latin, that the little tiff was promptly forgotten.
The Divbton Chief was more restrained
o doubt that Mr.eat promising offscerm reluctant to concur in neb very high ratings on the basb of hb first year
in the Division and before he ha*ield experience.m not recommending any additional special recognition at this lime
I am confident that Mr Welchright
In the summer of lOoo, Dickuatemala UtyJ
ihe grace and beauty of Cuatemala. |
fctnd in turn found lurnsoil Impreesed by tlie pcrmr-aTretaryot thaC^eniaianFoteign Minjvter |
ird ihr K vr. uatemala City
M.CiII UruversHy. the Sorbocme. and Bonn Tbey almeat tsed happily ever after.
Tho assignmentcame, as tlie Division Chief quoted
earlier wrote, toan who hadsuperb job."
Neededax. of considerable iiitehWtitaJ accomphihineotigh order of politicul acumen, perception, and judgment who could soke problems, manipulate people, and act Independently oteam player as ihe situation might require. He had toiplomat, negotiator, hone
trader, and agent handler parMr Wekh was known
to pcaaets Ihe qualities mentioned above, and because he also bas the physical imd mental stamina to operateengthy and indefinite period of timeuge stalf to help him. he was
As Dick Mini, from (he mountain* and chumiing climate and Spanish ol Guatemala, lie wentorgotten place iix fee* below sea level wilh oppressive Iveat and bad English
His success, however, was spcctaculai within and discreet
jllf allowed "patience lor Ihn bard jobs the mole editing one."
ick madend lonnecl an abiding hlenashlp withambassador He left inMayDCI Richard
Helms markedby awarding him Ihe Intelligence Medal of Merit,
itation which noted
Placed In chargeomplex operational activity. Mr. Welch,are demonstration of wisdom, fine judgment, and Initiative, broughl (he activityuccessful conclusion, thereby securing results highly favorable to llie policies of our government
At home. Dick was scheduled to takeanch, but he became the Divisions PI chief instead He introduced the United Stales to Klka.ouse on Capttol Hill on good willhoestring and plunged Into Ihe management of WH with charuclerblic zeal and prescience. His fitness report In0 reflected hb
tact in dealing with itroiig-tnlmled branch chiefs with firmnou, good humor, and the force to get bis pointsarkedly devoted to doing the fob well. Impatient with shoddy or mediocre performance, creative, very good judgment and common seine lib overenlhusiasmarticular idea or prefect or operation lewis himo suspend hb critical faculty [hul| he doesn't let In. feelings"gel In thereat* his suboidiriates. Mayit impatient wilh those who don't think or
move us las! as hea markedor those who need lielp
and understanding .. Unlimited potential In the Agency.
He late, won ratings of "Outstanding" in the FI post:
Hb horizons are unlimitedinbitsoua, but his ambitions ate buttressed by uncommon dedication, ability, and integrity. Further,xtremely perceptive and able in the human relations field,leasure, even in rare disagreement, to do business with him. even though lie dues-keep you on your mental toes He has enduranceood antennae for the potentialndositive sense, the need for change ami innovationmaginative and not easily dissuaded by inertia or obstacles once committedoncept or course of action
Dick served briefly as Acting Deputy Division Chief, WH. and then pieparedover as
Ironically, in the light of bb nilaequcnt death, one of Dick's maior efforts In tbe WH 1 . as noted1 fitness report, was
a comprehensive study on the terrorist problem In thesomethingecoming endemicne of the most difficult problems wilh which we now are faced and will have to cope wilh for the Indeterminate future. The study covered teirorbl modus operandi,measures (physical, cover,nd many other ramification* Ultl-ttiately it was distributed byo other division, led to special training
courses. on certain defense measures, has been used by security official dom In ihe Department of Stateasis for much of It. approach to the same problems, put Technical Services Division into such fields as car armoring and oilier rountermcauue.i, and has been used lo respond to liaison requests for assistance in countries where lenotismarticularly vexing
rescienceeasonable and oofy nose seems eerie. Dick predicted that someenior CIA officer mighterrorist's target
The5 were Dick's vintage years, although happily
no one could know thai al the time Klka was deligliWilIks buck in Utiu Amciica. Dick's father, whom ho revered and cherished, lecoveicderious operallnn and came to live with them. The hnune was majestic,onstant delight. Dick's
children came for long visits |_
was good, the city and the people were charming. The operating climate was cool and simulating, and Itsall the principal target countrieswere limited only by tunc, prudence, and manpower. |
[lXck's |ssatuilng was thoroughcareful He aVtnaadrd roachat he held the adrairation olea By now be was rated the latin American Division's top Chief of Station, and although he had hb critics, few were envious. One lough-minded superior wrote 'admiringly of his
boundloss energy, enthusiasm, andarticularly adroit and perceptive In spotting the weaknesses and tbe danger spots in planned or oogotng operations, and in reeianmending eflectbc remedial actionimelyerception to identify the problem, and the wisdom ton considering the personal characteristics and qualifications required of supergraje officers, there are no points in which ho shows up deficient and in fact, judging by hfe current performance in the field, lie appears lo satisfy those requirements to an exceptional degree.
And hb Dlviuon Chief at thbpecial Iriend. wrote:
n exceptionalanager, operator, and persons ambitious as anynow, and II doesn'tit; hbood humor and relaxedoothing rattier lhan taxing He is erudite withoutalm he Is energetic without bring Irenctic; he operates smoothly without creating suspicions of hb motives; he is. in shorl, the Complete Station Chief.
Hb Ambassadir commented warmly in the spring
He has consistently turned in esxeuent performance, ofave found him invariably to be well-informed on iheofand related security Issues thoroughly loyal
and cooperative In all matters whore we have had Joint areas of.. Ho has kepi me well-liifonned on ilay-to-day. excellent quality of contact work and ii-poriing of events on thoroughly objective ikewise have been pleased
to have his well considered and stoutly-defensed recommendations onor not we have agreed on those recommendations
ID
i to losewit. sharpol humor, and lough-minded analytical ability even under condition* of Miea. suprise,Ofas develop an excellent loan, of intelligence analysts who have covered theirtargets without incident in this difficult political
-
Whileick was fortunate to have with one of his agents one ol those friendships ot admiration, complete trust, sympathy, and compatibility that men sometimes loim.which provided himustood tennis partner and guide lo| {hutilliUnvaluable insights and inti eductions to professionally impcrtanl matters as well This friend reaiinfaced on tape diotlly alterilled
flkhard wasolished, such an all-around man, and he spokeuaint brand of Spanish, that he fitted In cstrcmely well with all my friendsnolingle instance where anybody ever so much as hinted lhat there could bo anything UinUncous sympathy betweenas able to introduce himumber of what you might describe as broad spectrum figure* in thb country, and Invariably he gotersonal magnetism basts. Wherever he went, he had this great facility (or engaging lu very cordial treatment of pronto.
Richard was endowed by natureery, very bargain*. Somehow ur other. Richard's work wasassociated wilh hanging around [tennis cfcibj lockers with al bod. ol young and iri.ddle-.ged people and talking amiable nonsense and drinkingithout actually leaking anything, he would show great flesthttity. implying or supporting knowl-odgeably people's opinions. This, as always happens with Latins, would lead them on lu many casw to eitreme* of frankness, and this in luni would give us lite basis ot the groundwork forub(ec1ater dalr.
1 have neveran with the incredible insight, with tbe ability lo get Ii. Ihe bottom of Ihe subject matter He would automatically tabulate ihe
qualifications and the veracity, let's say the quality of lite sourer. He had an indexe used lo rale our friends and my Miiirva* by their degree of
I have alwaysink? upset by ihe incredible candor of Anglo Saaora, particularly US cltuens. Their Hollywood scale of values, probably derlv.nl from Western.-guys are good or bad. there arc no greys, no In-betwoAinichardaster at greys and inbrtweens. In fact. In Richard's books them were no Macks and noichard didn't believe there was anybody all bad, or anybody alluess
Hut lie didantastic facility for pushing hit finger draight through some of mythat was part wishful thinking, and part freshman enthusiasm He could somehow always tellas talking nlf the cuff andad something substantial .
Richard seould tel me that he welcomed my fantasy, because heot in Intuitive coloring of snformatloa And some of my fantasy was actually subliminal or intuitive thinking thatn orientedumber of other Utileay have picked up unconsciously that gave myertain heating, and thai ti Ibe bearing llul he would qualify, too, in my own way. although he knew thai it was part1 is one of tbe finer points in tbe exchanging ol information and ll- evaluation .J
Dkk Wekh
inlormationHichard told] torave anallt> whkhvaluable, and which cannot be learned, and that he [eit thatfactor made me very valuable to him, became it cut through .leg woik lhat ho would normally have had to carry out
He never made me fed in any wa*ar. out of lineome of the assismrnents he came up with were really hairy Frequently thereno time, or weremendous deadline to meet. And then, of coiirte, as these things happen, after you bust your bullertain line of action |lt] isn't necessary He was always very thoughtful in this legard. he would alwaysine or an rtem'sliort as soon as homagine he was as keen as anyone lo save wailed effort.
Hichard was the first case where someone from the States was perceptive lo my theoiy of the reading between tho
When talking about where they would like to go if tbey were ever transferred. Hichard rnentxned that hit lust love waa Greece; that to him. Greece wa* everything that was not ma-ettal. everything that wasble-and spiritual andtrangely enough, he said no, he wouldn't care to retire there, but he would try to go there everyreece was lerribly important to him. And In the two or threeeceived from him before we lost him, la- kept telling us how important and bow much heart of the Greek scene and the
i remember asking him if there was any danger, any possibility that violence should reach the Embassy level,t least ihe US representation lliere He was very levehhcaded about ll, very malter-olHe said these was violence all over theIf it's Greece, why not in Greece? He did say bmnetlung about brlievtiag that if therelace to go. Greece is as good a
place asdidn't give tlita loo much importance, but there was
definitely some talk; there could havea premonition, who knows?
in matters of life and death. Ulehaid was extremely impersonal, particulatly where line nl duty was craaorrnedhen things got very sticky here, be called me one <iay andVuld get out or get disengaged becauseas in any way iricrmimated or involved in his particular activity, my welfare and that ol my family would be ssopardi/nl. or positively harmed. We laid lowhile and then things straightened them wives out.o recall that be showed great concern overeemed to be less worried at the time than he
My son's description of Hichard ta very graphic Fuero dV seny In
Spanish It is an expression for line equipment It is ahead of the term
ittle closero old termhai's
how my won describes Hichard Welch, and we all agree with him.
There was an extra spring to fats step ami
Dick bad always counted on being able lo return lo Athens some dayief of Station. His own plan was lo arrive at about age SO, then perhaps to finish his Agency career lhe.ro. Although ho was not falsely modestriend suggested he should asplie lo lite DDO's chair- and he surely did sowould haveleasurable and satisfactory cap to his career. Tlie call came lather sooner than he had expected, at agelthough lefuctant lo leave! fce was delighted to accept
in has eye as he went
debout his preparations at Hcadqinuieis in5 On thr day before ho left for Athens, he had the specks! py of attending son Tim's graduation cerernxiia
from Mahne Officer Candidate School at Quantico. and thereappy evening al the Kennedy Center and afterward in Georgetown, the playiesenl laughter "
Colng back to Athens waa like going home, Dick told friends Greece had clianged, but so had he He plunged into Ihe )ob and the lifeharacter bile tnUture of enthusiasm and care. He was very busy He aod Kika and his father settled Into the grand house of Ihe Chief of Station. Dick's younger children Nicholas and Molly came and stayed fee months He and they tinly became acquainted for the flirt lime in years, and all were delighted There were legions of friends old and new. and thereoal There was too Utile time lor someika, lor example, nevernitcd the Acropolis. And altitocsgh he talked about II, Dick temporizediangr of residence which might permit more discreet bviiig than the Chief 'i well-blown house afforded.
But there was the one exception to llie miittirc of enthusiasm ard caution Dick had been very careful about personal security while in Lalln America, bul lie refused to take precautions in Athens. Where in| |he would tour Ihe block and callmbussy or the police for help if the ever-biirlng house bghts were out for some unknown reason. In Athens be felt supremely conlident and-safe. Kika was worried, but could persuade Dick of nothing Even alter hu name was prominently played in the local Allien Knglbh-language daily as one of the CIA's local officers, he brushed aside her urglrtgt of caution After lie died, she could remember lhat she had seen people silting in cars near the house at odd times of the day and warned Diclt abouth two Communist embassies In the nelghborboid. Dick found nothing to disturb him In this
After Dick's death, lib special | "Jfrlcnd said:
There it no question llul he svas one of the great men of the silent war, and he would have performed admirably In any other field of private or public life The Greeks fusereat filend. and the (ruled States and all his friends havereat nun.
Crieving Klka said what so many fell. PhillipaJcd Dickivilizedo accolade -oiled Dick better, or would have pleased him more.
i wrote
No one of us who know Dick al all could be untouched by him He setood example rn his honesty, has partbanship for send causes, hb generous care for all ol us--looking to Ihe least, often, for examples uf good work wilh which to remind us of our own obligations What was especially painful about Dick's death, aside fnxn personal and rsen selfish men*luit lie is not there lo inspire the people coming up. He personified qualities of courage, honesty, love of his fellows, quickeel far languageot pedantryare for truth Hb funart of hb warmth. He was nol leas serious for being able to yoke He was quick lo spot the fallacy and never abandoned what he thought tntrue
George Coiislaritlnldcs remembers lhat. in moinenb of national doubt. Dick used to ssy: ear for tbe greatut he aho remembers that Dick drew on
Pericles' charge in his funeral oralion-ribute to an esteemed Chief ol Station leaving Alliensears ago:
eflect that this city ha* been acquired by men who knew their duty and had the courage to do"
Dick added: "This iselieve in."
It is never easy toriendolleague al live lielght ol his powers and in trie prime of his life. In Dick Welch's death, we of the CIA learned again what we always knew: It Is hardest of all to lose Ihe finest.
Original document.
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