Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Wilbur Crane "Bill" Eveland (1918 - January 2, 1990) was a World War II veteran, a CIA station chief, and critic of US foreign policy in the Middle East. His autobiographical book, Ropes of Sand (1980), details the many failures of the CIA vis-a-vis the Middle East during the Cold War.Wilbur Crane Eveland, or Bill, the name he was most commonly known by, was born in Spokane, Washington, in 1918. He lied about his age in order to join the Marine Corps Reserve at 17, and spent his first reserve duty summer at Puget Sound Navy Yard. After failing the West Point examinations, Bill took a job in San Francisco and studied at the University of California, Berkely. His studies were interrupted when the Marines moved him to San Diego.