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The Final Days of Major Ernesto Che Guevara
7-9 October 1967:
 The
combined units of Company A and the supporting units from Company
B [a combined force of 1,300 Bolivian men, trained by U.S. Special
Forces and directed by the CIA for the specific task of capturing
Che Guevara. Che's guerilla squad had 17 men.] moved into the
area of the Churro Ravine using two squads of Company A as a
blocking force a few kms north of the small Geino Ravine. Cpt.
Prado set up his mortar section east of the Churro Ravine, with
3rd Platoon of Company B to his rear in support, under the command
of Sgt. Huauca. 1st Platoon of Company A, under the command
of Lt. Perez, entered the Churro Ravine to the north at the
confluence of two small streams. Lt. Perez initiated the pursuit
and began driving the guerrilla force south while Cpt. Prado's
mortars shelled the ravine. At this point a machine gun was
brought up to also cover the ravine and hold the left flank
of Prado's mortar section and supporting troops. As the 1st
Platoon of Company A pushed south they came under fire and lost
3 soldiers immediately. Cpt. Prado then ordered Sgt. Huauca
to move down the small Tuscal Ravine and wait at the entrance
of the Churro Ravine. The 3rd Platoon of Company B carried out
this order and after finding nothing, was ordered to enter the
Churro Ravine and gain pursuit in the direction of Lt. Perez's
platoon. Sgt. Huauca immediately encountered a group of 6 to
8 guerillas and opened fire. At this point they killed "Anotondo"
and "Orturo", two Cubans. Sgt. Huauca lost one soldier
here and another was wounded. "Ramon" (Guevara) and
"Willy" tried to break out in the direction of the
mortar section. They were sighted by the machine gun crew which
took them under fire. "Ramon" (Guevara) was hit in
the lower calf and was helped by "Willy" [Sarabia]
toward the Tuscal Ravine where apparently they rested for a
few minutes. They then moved north, directly in front of Cpt.
Prado who ordered several soldiers to chase them. Soldiers Encinos,
Cheques, and Balboa were the first Bolivians to lay hands on
Guevara. "Willy" and "Ramon" (Guevara) were
later transported back to La Higueras with Cpt. Prado and the
elements of Companies A and B. The Bolivians did not remain
in position after nightfall. From 1900 hrs until 0400 hrs on
the 9th, there were no significant Bolivian troops in the area
of the fire fight. This gave the guerilla force ample time to
escape the area, but either due to confusion after the battle
or poor evaluation of the situation by their leaders, the guerilla
force remained in the Churro Ravine.
 On
30 October '67, at a small pavilion in La Esperanza, Bolivia,
Lt. Ral. Espinoza Lord, Company B, 2nd Ranger Bn, stated the
following in regards to the handling of Ernest "Che"
guevara. Guevara and 'Willy' were transported back to La Hiqueras
on the afternoon of the 8th, after the battle at the Churro
Ravine. Guevara had a slight wound in the lower calf, which
was treated upon returning to La Hiqueras. Lt. Espinoza talked
at length with Guevara, though Guevara did not reveal any pertinent
information. Espinoza felt a high regard for Guevara as a soldier
and a man, and was anxious to know more of this "legendary
figure". Guevara answered all of his question[s] with remarks
such as "perhaps" or "possibly". Early in
the morning of the 9th of October, the unit received the order
to execute Guevara and the other captives. Previously, Col.
Santana, Commander of the 8th Division, had given express orders
to keep the prisoners alive. The Officers involved did not know
where the order originated, but felt that it came from the highest
echelons. Cpt. Frado gave the order to execute Guevara to Lt.
Perez, but he was unable to carry out the order and in turn
gave it to Sgt. Terran, Company A. At this time Perez asked
Guevara if there was anything he wished before his execution.
Guevara replied that he only wished to "die with a full
stomach". Perez asked him if he was a "materialist",
by having requested only food. Guevara returned to his previous
tranquil manner and answered only "perhaps". Perez
then called him a "poor shit" and left the room. By
this time, Sgt. Terran had fortified his courage with several
beers and returned to the room where Guevara stood up, hands
tied in front, and stated, "I know what you have come for,
I am ready." Terran looked at him for a few minutes and
then said, "No you are mistaken, be seated." Sgt.
Terran then left the room for a few moments.
 "Willy",
the prisoner taken with Guevara, was being held in a small house
a few metres away. While Terran was waiting outside to get his
nerves back, Sgt. Huauca entered and shot "Willy."
"Willy" was a Cuban and according to the sources had
been an instigator of the riots among the miners in Bolivia.
Guevara heard the burst of fire in his room and for the first
time appeared to be frightened. Sgt. Terran returned to the
room where Guevara was being held. When he entered, Guevara
stood and faced him. Sgt. Terran told Guevara to be seated but
he refused to sit down and stated, "I will remain standing
for this." The Sgt. began to get angry and told him to
be seated again, but Guevara would say nothing. Finally Guevara
told him, "Know this now, you are [only] killing a man."
Terran then fired a burst from his M2 carbine, knocking Guevara
back into the wall of the small house.
*As Recorded by the CIA in Southern Command, Activities
of the 2nd Ranger Battalion
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