Page 6-Sunday, September 10, 1978- The Michigan Daily Vietnam veteran killed in crash trained Nicaraguan connandos MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - A U.S. Vietnam veteran killed Friday in a plane crash here had said in an inter- view just last week that his mission to Nicaragua was to train a special com- mando unit. In that same interview, Michael Echanis said that he knew of a plot to kill him and Nicaraguan Gen. Jose Ivan Alegrett Perez. Both Echanis and Alegrett and two others were killed in that plane crash Friday. ECHANIS, INTERVIEWED in the coffee shop of the Inter-Continental Hotel and several times before in a two- week period, agreed to talk about his role in Nicaragua on condition the in- formation be disclosed only in the event of his death. He said he was 27 years old and a native of Oregon, but declined to say exactly where. He described himself as an unconventional warfare expert and martial arts master. ECHANIS SAID he came to Nicaragua last September along with Charles Sanders, who also was killed in the crash, along with Nguyen Van Nguyen, a Vietnames. Echanis said he and Sanders had come to train a com- mando unit and run intelligence and counter insurgency operations for Gen. Alegrett. Alegrett was a top field commander in the 8,100-man national guard of President Anastasio Somoza, who is under pressure from various quarters to resign. The government said the crash into Lake Nicaragua near the Costa Rican border was an accident due to bad weather. Alegrett piloted the piston-engine Aero Commander 114A, the government said. During the interview, Echanis said he had planned to leave Nicaragua in six months to a year, and that he had job offers in Brazil and Rhodesia. BUT HE SAID he wanted to talk about his experiences in Nicaragua because he had been told of a plot to kill both him and Alegrett. Echanis would not say who he thought was planning the attempt, but he said it was intended to sabotage the national guard in- telligence program and pave the way for some guard officers to oust Somoza. "These people were plenty unhappy with the old man (Somoza) for his han- dling of the legislative palace takeover." Guerrillas of the Sandanista Liberation Front seized the capitol building on Aug. 22 and took 1,500 per- sons hostage. They released the hostages after Somoza freed 59 political prisoners, paid $500,000 ransom and gave the guerrillas safe passage out of the country. "My commandos are the only thing standing in the way of a takeover," Echanis said. "I RUN ALL unconventional warfare training for the guard. I am in charge of intelligence for Alegrett. I run all operations and intelligence on counter operations against the Sandinistas. "I have a $5 million budget and I just got another $1 million and six colonels to set up a special anti-terrorist in- telligence division. "A lot of people on both sides are unhappy about this and we understand one of the reasons they're going to hit me and Alegrett is to stop this program." ECHANIS, WHO said he has written six books on hand-to-hand combat, ad- ded that he came to Nicaragua at the invitation of Maj. Anastasio Somoza, son of the president, who had been his student at the U.S. Army Special For- ces (Green Beret) school at Fort Bragg, N.C. He has appeared on the cover of Soldier of Fortune magazine, and several publications devoted to martial arts. The current issue of Soldier of Fortune carries a full-page ad for two of his books on knife fighting. Echanis said he took several truck loads of his 78 black-bereted comman- dos to the capitol when it was seized Aug. 22. 1 1 1 i 1 DIRECTIONS IN FIBER "THEY SHOT UP the lead truck and killed one of my captains. I dragged his body around the side of the building. "We wanted to hit them right then, before they got organized, but they told us by radio to hold off." Echanis said he drew up plans to at- tack the capitol, the National Palace, for the chiefs of staff. "WE WOULD HAVE taken the building in 18 minutes. I figured maybe 200 to 300 wouild be killed. The plan was to shock the building with tank fire and blow the doors with recoilless rifles. "I was going to helicopter in with my commandos and drop down through the roof hatches. The old man (President Somoza) wouldn't buy it and the only reason was they (the guerrillas) held Papa Chepe son." Papa Chepe is Jose Somoza, the president's brother and second in command of the national guard. ECHANIS SAID he was in Nicaragua for the money, and because he hated communism. "Otherwise, I don't take sides," he said. "I hate communists for what they did to my people in Vietnam. I've got six AK47 holes in my body." An AK47 is a Soviet-made automatic rifle used by the Viet Cong. Echanis said he did not consider him- self a mercenary. U.S. government officials have acknowledged they are aware of the presence of several American advisers to the national guard but could do little about it. Echanis declined to say exactly lhow Echanis declined to say exactly how many Americans are involved, or how much he or the others were paid. Otters occasionally drape seaweed over themselves while they, nap so that they won't drift away from the group. t, Sept.6-I Reception: Sept.8, 7-9 Oct.1 Tuea - Fri. 10 - 6 Sat. Sun. 12- 5 764-3234 FIRST FLOOR MICHIGAN UNION Doily Photo by ANDY FREEBER MAC WATTERWORTH offered an unusual piece of merchandise at the Kiwanis sale yesterday. Unfortunately, this one-of-a-kind purchase is final and cannol be returned. This tyke, however, looks dubious about his new owners. Kiwanis sale lures I I I -COUPON- 2 for 1 Speciai -COUPON- Buy 1 Super Salad-GET 1 FREE Coupon Good: Sunday, Sept. 10thru Thursday, Sept. 14 NOT AVAILABLE FOR CARRY OUT GOOD AFTER 4 pm ONLY Longevity Cookery 314 E. Liberty GOURMET NATURAL FOOD RESTAURANT (313) 662-2019 A 2 bargain-hunters Dr. Paul C. Uslan Optometrist.- FULL CONTACT LENS SERVICE EYE EXAMINATIONS OPTICAL LAB 545 CHURCH 769-1222 9:30-5:00 Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri. 10:00-12:00 Sot. (Continued from Page 1) fall. Yesterday's sale is considered "small," compared to the three-day sale in February. The February event, which has been held annually since 1925, offers clothing and dishes, as well as the cookware, furniture and yard supplies sold at the September sale. All merchandise is donated by community members, according to Olsen. "Have you got your barbecue grill for your apartment?" thundered out a club member whose nametag bore a simple "Chet" "Or how about half a lawnmower for half a lawn?" he called, L t. :... ..- WL TI- -Best Price in Town CONTACT: ANN ARBOR MUSIC MART 336 S. STATE STREET ANN ARBOR, MICH. 769-4980 tI I i 1 r New in town? For the latest in news, enter- tainment, sports . . . you should subscribe to Jble fihclian ai 1 Call 764-0558 to order your subscription today 'HE UI~EI OF M1ICHIGANJ OFFICE OF MA~JOR EVEMTS PRESQf1TS I brandishing the item with one hand. "CAN I TALK you down?" one woman inquired of a salesman holding a large wicker basket. When the man shook his head, the student turned away with a reluctant shrug. "This kind of sale is a lot of fun, but it's so hectic," exclaimed one junior who preferred to remain anonymous. "I'm looking for a mirror, carpets and bookshelves. We live in an eight-person house, so actually it's anything." University senior Frandie Oseherwitz was explaining her dilemma to one of the Kiwanis members: the building was to close at 1:00 p.m., but Oscherwitz would not have a car with which to pick up her purchase' until later in the afternoon. "I kind of expected it to be this way," ,sighed the senior. "This is my second or third sale, and it's always crazy." Kim favors one Korea TOKYO (AP) - North Korean President Kim Il-sung yesterday called for the peaceful reunification of the "two Koreas" but said this will be possible only if Washington "assumes the right attitude" and withdraws all U.S. troops from South Korea. Kim, quoted by the official North Korean Central News Agency, said he is ready to open talks with the United States to settle all differences between the two governments. He said U.S. forces in Solth Korea should leave "as soon as possible." New York State delivers 100 bush- els of salt to the Onondaga Indians every year under the terms of an old land treaty, says National Geograph- ic. DETROIT PISTONS CLEVELAND CAVALIERS CRISLERfi ARENA SEPT. 24 MINRTlNI MULL WONEME~~, SEPTCM DCR 27 ~J.. HILL AUDITORIUM 8pm 7.50 6.50 5.50 0 * $35.00for the school year - * No Deposit Required * Free Delivery and Pick-Up -DORMS ONLY-PER SCHEDULE- * Guaranteed to work Tickefs go on sale Tues. Sept. 12, 10am at the Michigan Union Box Office (763-2071). Tic r Huckleb personal checks. ickets also at the perry Party Store in Ypsilanti. To order by mail send money order only and a self addressed envelope TO: MARTIN MULL j 1 :A c