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November 22, 2023 74 mins

Standing five feet six inches tall and weighing just 145 pounds, the hazel eyed Catholic man of Eastern European descent fit the profile the FBI and Army Intelligence department were looking for in 1966 for a “special assignment.” The brown haired, spectacled man spoke Czech and German, had an understanding of Russian and several other Slavic languages. More than that, their man had proven himself to be of quick wit, assertive, and confidant in his capabilities. His memory was sharp and his recall abilities the sort you may expect from any fictional sleuth like James Bond or Sherlock Holmes, though the FBI was not looking for their Soviet Era James Bond.

The special mission involved the right man with the right nerve and background to walk into the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City and be used as bait. 

With a reputation as a hard man, married to a European woman, and having a mother still living behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia, Rudolph Ciglar had the personality and the background that made him the ideal candidate for the job as double agent. Unfortunately, the assignment also resulted in his untimely and still questionable death.


You can find the Hardtack socials, website, and Patreon via ⁠⁠⁠linktree⁠⁠⁠. If you have any feedback on Hardtack episodes or suggestions for future episodes, please send an email to hardtackpod@gmail.com Don't forget to rate and subscribe! Sources: Widows - William R. Corson, Susan B. Trento, Joseph J. Trento Ralph J. Sigler : Federal Bureau of Investigation : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

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