This section compiles documents and records originating from the Department of Defense (DOD) during the Jonestown mission. These records largely consist of cables sent between the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the U.S. Southern Command (USCINCSO)—among other agencies and branches of the DOD—and discuss the logistics and minutiae of the mission.
Many of the documents in this section were released under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests made by Fielding M. McGehee, Rebecca Moore, and other researchers. While the texts of some cables were not fully legible, the transcribers of these cables have made their best efforts to transcribe them as accurately as possible. When in doubt, please refer back to the original PDFs of the records.
An index of military and diplomatic abbreviations referenced in these documents can be accessed here.
The managers of this site thank Dr. Nick Miller for his invaluable assistance in transcribing these documents.
Editor’s Note: For usage and/or citation of these documents, please credit: [Original author]/Military Response to Jonestown. Thank you.
| Cable ID | Date | Sender | Recipient | Summary | Text | |
| 190526Z | 05:26 UTC 11/19/1978 (12:26 AM EST) | JCS | USCINCSO | Medical evacuation of CODEL; C-141 aircraft to Georgetown. | Text | |
| 200903Z | 09:03 UTC 11/20/1978 (4:03 AM EST) | JCS | Scott AFB | USSOUTHCOM to prepare a Joint Task Force to recover dead and injured U.S. citizens following the deaths associated with Congressman Ryan; USCINCRED placed on advanced deployability status; CINCMAC to provide lift support. | Text | |
| 201027Z | 10:27 UTC 11/20/1978 (5:27 AM EST) | JCS | McGuire AFB | USSOUTHCOM to prepare a Joint Task Force to recover dead and injured U.S. citizens following the deaths associated with Congressman Ryan; USCINCRED placed on advanced deployability status; CINCMAC to provide lift support. | Text | |
| 201204Z | 12:04 UTC 11/20/1978 (7:04 AM EST) | JCS | USCINCSO | USSOUTHCOM to provide equipment, aircraft, and personnel to assist the GOG; helicopters restricted to non-combat use; no public comments are to be made until guidance from the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. | Text | |
| 202147Z | 21:47 UTC 11/20/1978 (4:47 PM EST) | JCS | USCINCSO | USSOUTHCOM to coordinate military airlift for the transfer of deceased CODEL members; MAC to manage standby and follow-on transport. | Text | |
| 210221Z | 02:21 UTC 11/21/1978 (9:21 PM EST 11/20/1978) | JCS | USCINCSO | USSOUTHCOM to activate a joint task force and deploy limited personnel and aircraft to Guyana to assume custody of deceased Americans and return remains to Dover AFB; weapons are restricted to individual protection; coordination is to be made through the State Department and Air Force. | Text | |
| 210523Z | 05:23 UTC 11/21/1978 (12:23 AM EST) | JCS | USCINCSO | Participating units may respond to media queries and emphasize the humanitarian role of the mission. | Text | |
| 210914Z | 09:14 UTC 11/21/1978 (4:14 AM EST) | JCS | USCINCSO | Chronology and summary of events; updated casualty figures from Jonestown. | Text | |
| 211056Z | 10:56 UTC 11/21/1978 (5:56 AM EST) | JCS | Scott AFB | MAC to provide airlift support for State Department personnel. | Text | |
| 211841Z | 18:41 UTC 11/22/1978 (1:41 PM EST) | JCS | USCINCSO | JCS approves deployment of two helicopters; MAC to provide required airlift. | Text | |
| 220142Z | 01:42 UTC 11/22/1978 (8:42 PM EST 11/21/1978) | JCS | USCINCSO | Assessment of Guyanese security forces in Jonestown; search and recovery operations continue; Guyanese Government lifts aircraft restrictions; Port Kaituma and Matthew Ridge airstrips are incapable of handling large aircraft; continued deployment of military personnel. | Text | |
| 221047Z | 10:47 UTC 11/22/1978 (5:47 AM EST) | JCS | Scott AFB | Nighttime landing restrictions at Georgetown have been lifted; continued coordination with AMEMB regarding flight arrivals. | Text | |
| 221117Z | 11:17 UTC 11/22/1978 (6:17 AM EST) | JCS | USCINCSO | Transfer cases to be expedited to Guyana on C-141 aircraft; MAC to coordinate with Dover AFB. | Text | |
| 230141Z | 01:41 UTC 11/23/1978 (8:41 PM EST 11/22/1978) | USCINCSO | JCS | SITREP 3; Update on Guyanese security efforts, survivors, and search operations at Jonestown; airlift of remains to Dover AFB continues. | Text | |
| 230217Z | 02:17 UTC 11/23/1978 (9:17 PM EST 11/22/1978) | USCINCSO | JCS | USSOUTHCOM requests a cost estimate for operations. | Text | |
| 231405Z | 14:05 UTC 11/23/1978 (9:05 AM EST) | USCINCSO | JCS | U.S. military aircraft authorized to transport Jonestown survivors to United States; FBI and HEW will process survivors. | Text | |
| 231827Z (likely time) | 18:27 UTC 11/23/1978 (1:27 PM EST) | JCS | USCINCSO | No media comments until cleared by State Department. | Text | |
| 240430Z | 04:30 UTC 11/24/1978 (11:30 PM EST 11/23/1978) | USCINCSO | JCS | SITREP 4; 78 Jonestown survivors in Guyanese custody; body evacuation efforts nearing completion. | Text | |
| 242041Z | 20:41 UTC 11/24/1978 (3:41 PM EST) | JCS | USCINCEUR | JCS requests mortuary transfer cases from Germany to Dover AFB; MAC later canceled the shipment request. | Text | |
| 242224Z | 22:24 UTC 11/24/1978 (5:24 PM EST) | JCS | USCINCEUR | JCS cancels requested shipment of mortuary transfer cases. | Text | |
| 250215Z | 02:15 UTC 11/25/1978 (9:15 PM EST 11/24/1978) | SecDef | JCS | Guidance on public comments and media affairs. | Text | |
| 251654Z | 16:54 UTC 11/25/1978 (11:54 AM EST) | USCINCSO | JCS | USSOUTHCOM requests 144 more mortuary transfer cases; 910 bodies found in Jonestown. | Text | |
| 252235Z (likely time; numbers slightly illegible.) | 22:35 UTC 11/25/1978 (5:35 PM EST) | USCINCSO | JCS | Total of 285 U.S. personnel in Guyana; no new survivors located; most airlift missions to Georgetown complete. | Text | |
| 262000Z | 20:00 UTC 11/26/1978 (3:00 PM EST) | JTF | JCS | Removal of bodies from Jonsetown completed; redeployment underway. | Text | |
| 270043Z | 00:43 UTC 11/27/1978 (7:43 PM EST 11/26/1978) | JCS | USCINCSO | SITREP 7; 912 bodies airlifted to Dover AFB; redeployment of personnel to CONUS. | Text | |
| 271744Z | 17:44 UTC 11/27/1978 (12:44 PM EST) | JCS | USCINCSO | SITREP 8; Completion of body recovery; status of survivors under Guyanese custody. | Text | |
| N/A | 11/29/1978 | SecDef | CINCMAC | Letter of appreciation for personnel who participated in Guyana operation. | Text | |
| N/A | 1/5/1979 | CJCS | JCS | Forward of letter of appreciation from President Carter. | Text | |
| Date Unknown | N/A | JCS | USCINCSO | U.S. Marshals to accompany the transportation of survivors; summary of search and rescue efforts. | Text |