José Alberto Medrano

José Alberto Medrano
Born	2 November 1917 El Salvador
Died	23 March 1985(1985-03-23) (aged 67) El Salvador
Allegiance	El Salvador
Service / branch	Salvadoran Army
Rank	General
Commands	National Guard ANSESAL ORDEN
Battles / wars	Salvadoran Civil War Football War

José Alberto Medrano (2 November 1917[1] – 23 March 1985[2]) was a Salvadoran general who, starting in the 1960s, headed the National Security Agency of El Salvador (ANSESAL) and the Nationalist Democratic Organization (ORDEN), a paramilitary group supported by the Green Berets. ORDEN was later accused by Amnesty International of using "clandestine terror against government opponents."

Early life

Medrano was born on November 2, 1917 in San Salvador, El Salvador. On April 10, 1946, he married a woman named Marta Ruth Nuila.

Career

Medrano became Chief of the National Guard of El Salvador sometime prior to 1962, when he created the ORDEN death squad, in addition to the Salvadoran National Security Agency.[3] In El Salvador, he is sometimes considered the father of the country’s death squads.[4] In 1969, he participated in the Football War with Honduras, crossing the border on a donkey disguised as a monk. He retired sometime prior to 1985.[2]

Death

Medrano was killed in San Salvador on March 23, 1985. He was shot as he arrived at a theater by suspected leftist guerillas.[2]

References

1. Ancestry.com birth certificate
2. "Rightist Is Slain in El Salvador". The New York Times. 24 March 1985.
3. "RAICES - Periodismo alternativo en el Salvador". 2007-06-28. Archived from the original on 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
4. Service, Cox News (1985-03-25). "GUNMEN KILL SALVADORAN 'FATHER OF DEATH SQUADS'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

External links

• History Commons "Profile: Jose Alberto “Chele” Medrano." Accessed 25 November 2008.