[1]“\104-10121-10140 | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
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[7]1. Mr. David S. Morales is héreby recommended for the Intelligence
[8]Medal of Merit for his twenty-five years of dedicated service with the
[9]Central Intelligenoe Agency. ;
[11]2. Prior to his entrance on duty with the Central Intelligence
[12]Agency in March 1951, Mr. Morales served from April 1946 to March 1951
[13]in the United States Army.
[15]3. Mr. Morales spent more than twenty years in the field in several
[16]different installations in the areas of Europe, Latin America and East
[17]Asia. He held senior level positions engaged in FI, CI, CA and PM opera-
[18]tions. His record includes such items as participation in key roles in
[19]both of Latin gtica Division's two major PM/political action operations
[20]plus tours as bate Chtee in Pakse} Laos (supervised 45 employees); and,
[21]Regional Officér in Charge, (Nha rang, Vietnam (supervised 60 employees).
[22]These assignments were carried out if war zones requiring considerable
[23]personal courage.
[25]4. Mr. Morales was commended twice by Chiefs of Station while
[26]assigned to the Cuban operation; by the Director of Central Intelligence
[27]for service in the (Dominican Republic/ during the crisis; by the King of
[28]Laos during his assignment in Laos and by the Government of Vietnam for
[30]his service in that country.
[32]5. Upon his return from Vietnam in 1971-Mr. Morales was assigned to
[33]FR Division, (Washington Base}, where he was targeted on Latin American 2
[34](military officers assigned to the Inter-American Defense Board and attending
[35]the Inter-American Defense College] This assignment was initiated by Latin
[36]America Division in an effort to get,at the rich operational potential
[37]afforded by the presence Jin the Wactongton areatof numerous Latin American.
[38]officials. Mr. Morales, with his long years of experience in Latin America,
[39]and his native fluency in Spanish, proved ideal for this assignment. He
[40]developed numerous assets who were later pursued successfully and recruited
[41]in the field and he made several significant recruitments of his own.
[43]6. Following the FR assignment Mr. Morales returned to the Latin
[44]America Division where he comp ng his final year with CIA. He served TDY
[45]as Acting Chief of Station, [Parag ay| for some months. During this, period
[46]“there was more activity and accomplishment flowing out of the Asuncion }
[47]Station than had been seen in years". This is typical of Mr. Morales'
[48]resourcefulness, imagination and push to get the job done., The remainder
[49]of his Agency time was spent on a TDY to[Pankma]and in the Cuban Operations
[50]Group, where his contribution was also very large.
[54]RETURN TO CIA
[56]Background Use Oni
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[70]7. ‘During his Agency career Mr. Morales was constantly engaged in
[71]an exceptionally wide variety of activity in hazardous areas (Guatamala,
[72]Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Laos and Vietnam). He recruited countless
[73]assets and sources’.directed against a wide range of targets. In addition,
[74]he managed large installations and sizeable groups. He always shouldered
[75]heavy responsibilities and consistently demonstrated that he had the
[76]capacity, determination and necessary judgment to take on such jobs.
[78]8. After nearly thirty years of dedicated and productive service
[80]‘with the US Government, Mr. Morales retired on 31 July 1975. Throughout
[82]his long career he was a dedicated, skillful and professional clandestine
[83]operator and unfailing in the pursuit of Agency objectives. His performance
[84]was of the highest caliber and unquestionably contributed significantly
[86]to the Agency's mission.
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[91]CITATION
[92]Mr. David S. Morales
[94]‘» is hereby awarded the
[96]‘Intelligence Medal of Merit
[97]for his accomplishments during his career with the Central Intelligence
[98]Agency. Mr. Morales, during his entire Agency career, displayed
[99]exceptional talent, considerable imagination and initiative, and intense
[100]devotion to duty. With determination, resourcefulness and adaptability
[101]he performed all assignments in an extremely competent manner. His many
[103]achievements, often under hazardous conditions, reflect great credit on™
[105]him and the Central Intelligence Agency.