Memoirs of a Counterspy

Rad turned on the small projector and moved his chair around to sit beside Ivan. Following Rad’s lead, I moved to Ivan’s other side, and in the semi-darkness, we quietly watched the film. Rad’s face was without expression, but Ivan watched intently as the images of himself and his life with the KGB opened and passed before his eyes.

It began with a few short clips of his father’s activities, of their family picnics and outings; and continued with the senior Romanyev’s 4th of July weekend trip to meet with Ivan in Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur California. Ivan’s turquoise and beige, 1959 Ford Convertible was shown, as Ivan drove to Monterey and gassed up before meeting up with his father. Also depicted were films of the placement of technical equipment designed to track and record his travels and conversations, but there was of course no mention that most of the recordings resulting from that venture were inaudible. Shown also were the security measures his father had taken, to include the rental of an additional car, and their ritualistic switching of the parking spaces outside their hotel window to prevent anyone else from parking in those slots.

Intermittent were shots of Ivan’s frequent travels between San Francisco and Monterey, including films of his classmates, identification of the motels where he resided during his travels, and specific coverage of the hotel room in the Pacific Park Hotel in Monterey. It was obvious they had been closely followed. Ivan appeared to be frozen in shock, watching the film.

The film went on to depict a copy of Ivan’s application to suspend his course of studies at San Francisco State, and notes from his ‘advisor’ describing their follow-on discussion and Ivan’s final decision to travel the world.

Quick excerpts of Ivan’s years as an Able-Bodied Seaman/Radio Operator with Hi Seas Shipping and Transportation Company; and narrated surveillance filming of some of his port visits were also shown. It must have occurred to Ivan that one of his shipmates was involved in keeping track of his activities. It occurred to me.

The continuing sequences included filming of Ivan walking in and out of the classrooms at SF State, photos of Ivan aboard the USS Maritime and various other ships on which he had served while working for the Hi Seas Shipping and Transportation Company. They depicted the ports of San Francisco, Manila, Singapore, Saigon, Kao Hsiung, Naha, Osaka and Pusan; along with Ivan’s respective road trips to Olongapo, George Town (Pinang, in the strait of Malaca), Vung Tao, Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul. On rare occasions, Ivan was seen traveling with his seamen friends, but most of his road trips were solo. The majority of his extended visits were to countries where American soldiers were stationed or visiting for their R&R - Rest and Recuperation.

Ivan appeared completely mystified at how closely he had been followed on those shore-leave trips, and even more impressed by the quality of the photography. A few of the photos of Ivan were intentionally enlarged, but still retained unmistakable identification.

The last segments included filmed bursts of Ivan servicing dead drops, and conducting one-way and two-way passes and out-of-door training sessions with his sources. The filming was accomplished in such a way as to obscure the actual identity of the sources, but as he watched the films, Ivan nodded slightly in recognition, and his facial expressions told me that he was able to clearly recall each and every location, source and activity. This 90 minute portion of the film further depicted even more contacts, meeting sites, signals, and flashed through many of Ivan’s attempts at conversation with Americans at Embassy events, local establishments, bars, coffee shops, restaurants, American clubs, hotels and other hangouts known to be used by Americans, both overseas and in the Washington D.C. area. A ten-second clip revealed Ivan sitting at a table in the Kings Palace in Bangkok. Frank and I were not in the film, and DG was not shown. Of course, I was personally acquainted with the photographers.

Finally, the film scanned a set of blurred, barely recognizable American CIC credentials, and then showed Ivan seated in the Chao Phraya Hotel Dining Room in Bangkok. As an unidentified American Army officer entered, Ivan stood and displayed what appeared to be a set of credentials, and they sat at the table engaging in conversation over their meal.

‘Richard’ reached over and stopped the projector as Gaylord turned the lights back on. I estimated another 30 minutes of the film had not yet been shown.

So much had been said without my having uttered a sound.

I looked at Ivan. He was looking down at the blank yellow pad on the table. When he looked up, both Rad and Gaylord had left the room. I stood.

“Before we continue, Ivan, let’s take a few minutes break.”

Ivan nodded in agreement, and asked where the bathroom was located. ‘Incredible’ stood as Ivan walked through the living room. As Ivan entered the restroom, the Hulk positioned himself outside the door. I descended to the basement and called DG. He was anxious.

“What’s happening over there?” he asked. “It’s really quiet. All I can hear are a few words of narration and a few comments now and then.”

“We’re just showing home movies and looking over family albums. Thing