</s>RE: VINCENT PAUL DE PALMA CONFIDENTIAL From there they hiked in roughly five hundred feet from the road along the rail fence and fifty feet on the right side of the fence they set up camp. The stated this place is the ride they were set up and the camp is located going during the time they were there and cut a timer right around the camp site. The PALMA retreated at this point for a hide-out after bank robberies had been perpetuated for an out-of-the-door-after bank robbery. and secondary-out as a storage place for Minuteman guns and annumition. left, stating they were pick up the PALMA and "MIKE" after the camp was set up the PEYSONS and "PIKE" about five days. He stated that they were at an elevation of approximately twelve thousand feet and during the night of approximately two thousand feet were at the elevation there was three feet of snow on the ground. He started that because of the harsh weather they were able to do practically there were three feet off of snow that because of the frozen earth they were further found that digging. after the third day, PEYSTON and "MKE" came to the camp site. After the PALMA third day. PEYSSON and he had been alone with BRANSON, he felt that BRANSTON was "chickicking out." He related this to PEYSOY that PEYSIAN was indicated that BRANSON related this is to PEYSON and PIYSON was "MIK" at the camp. He afternoon, PEYSOM returned and let "MIKER" at that camp site, DE PALMA stated he and "MKIKE" at break ground bunker but found the condition of the earth too hard rocky. The next morning BRANSSON took off of foot alone for Paris, DE PALM states he later learned that BRASON had hitchhiked, a ride to town and sent the person who had given "MIKEN" to the camp pick up himself his horn but DE PALMO stated he was against going back mixed his person because they had too many guns and equipment, this person because he had too much guns to go up the truck ammunition that they had to close to one thousand rounds of then left. - 40 - CONFIDENTIAL 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

Summary  
The documents detail various aspects of the investigation into Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, including connections between radical groups, individuals suspected of involvement, and FBI activities. Vincent Paul De Palma, a Minutemen member, described planning for revolutionary actions in 1968, including assessments of targets such as MLK, Stokley Carmichael, Rap Brown, and Louis Lefkowitz. The Minutemen operated across Idaho, Arkansas, Missouri, and Colorado, with hideouts, weapon caches, and discussions about explosives and firearms training. Robert De Pugh, linked to the group, reportedly received orders to evaluate individuals for potential targeting during anticipated unrest. FBI records also reference James Earl Ray, who was later identified as MLK’s assassin, including financial transactions tied to him and his brother Jerry Ray. Investigations into Ray included tracking credit card activity, travel records, and airport surveillance. Kelly Williams, an elderly Black man alleged to have been MLK’s chauffeur, was discredited due to mental health concerns. The FBI monitored Minutemen activities, arrests of members for illegal firearm possession, and connections between paramilitary groups like the Minutemen, W.E.B. Dubois Clubs of America (affiliated with CPUSA), and white supremacist organizations such as the American Nazi Party and National States Rights Party.  

Key People  
- Vincent Paul De Palma (Minutemen member involved in planning revolutionary actions)  
- Robert De Pugh (Minutemen associate allegedly tasked with assessing MLK and others for targeting)  
- James Earl Ray (suspected assassin of MLK; linked to financial transactions and travel tracking)  
- Jerry Ray (brother of James Earl Ray, mentioned in FBI records)  
- Kelly Williams (alleged former chauffeur for MLK, later discredited due to mental health issues)  
- Ralph Kunstadter (medical professional who assessed Williams’ mental health)  
- Walter Terry Rife and Lonnie Rife (individuals potentially connected to Ray)  
- Jarvis Tyner (chairman of W.E.B. Dubois Clubs of America in 1967)  
- George Lincoln Rockwell (former leader of American Nazi Party, assassinated in 1967)  
- Matthias Koshel (successor to Rockwell as leader of American Nazi Party)  
- Edward R. Fields (leader of National States Rights Party)  

Key Locations  
- Idaho (Minutemen hideouts and operations)  
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Minutemen activity)  
- Fayetteville and Payetteville, Arkansas (Minutemen locations)  
- Thomas Range (mining area associated with Minutemen)  
- Independence, Missouri (Minutemen operations)  
- Denver, Colorado (Minutemen activity)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (FBI field office)  
- Chicago, Illinois (FBI headquarters and industrialist meetings)  
- St. Louis, Missouri (medical records and travel inquiries)  
- New Orleans, Louisiana (airport surveillance)  
- Newport, Rhode Island (residence of Vincent Paul De Palma)  
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama (headquarters of United Klans of America, Inc.)  

Key Events  
- Planning by Minutemen for revolutionary actions in 1968, including potential assassinations or targeted strikes.  
- Robert De Pugh’s alleged orders to assess MLK, Stokley Carmichael, Rap Brown, and Louis Lefkowitz for targeting.  
- FBI monitoring of financial transactions involving James Earl Ray, including money orders sent to him at Missouri State Penitentiary between 1963–1967.  
- Investigation into James Earl Ray’s movements, interactions with Jerry Ray, and credit card activity linked to him.  
- Discrediting of Kelly Williams as MLK’s chauffeur due to mental health concerns assessed by Ralph Kunstadter.  
- Arrests of Minutemen members for illegal firearm possession.  
- Formation of W.E.B. Dubois Clubs of America (DCA) in 1964 and its alignment with CPUSA.  
- Assassination of George Lincoln Rockwell by Matthias Koshel in 1967.  
- FBI tracking of Ray through travel records, airport surveillance, and inquiries into "hippies" and criminal records.  

Key Organizations  
- Minutemen (paramilitary group engaged in weapons training, explosives distribution, and radical planning)  
- W.E.B. Dubois Clubs of America (DCA) – Marxist youth group linked to CPUSA  
- American Nazi Party (National Socialist White People’s Party; led by Rockwell until 1967)  
- National States Rights Party (NSRP) – White supremacist organization led by Edward R. Fields  
- United Klans of America, Inc. (Knights of the Ku Klux Klan) – Segregationist paramilitary group  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Conducted investigations into Minutemen, James Earl Ray, and related groups  
- Missouri State Penitentiary – Site of financial transactions tied to James Earl Ray  
- Chicago Police Department – Inquiries into "hippies" and criminal records  
- Cook County Hospital – Medical records for James Earl Ray  
- Bridewell Hospital and House of Correction – Institutional records referenced in investigations

MLK Declassified Files

44-cg-1114_738662_02-02-part_6_of_7.pdf

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