Clodomira Acosta Ferrals

She was born in Cayal, Manzanillo. She was a brave and daring fighter for the cause of Cuban freedom during the war against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. A member of the Movement of July 26. As a messenger, she joined the guerrilla, carrying out dangerous missions in the plains and serving as a liaison with the Sierra Maestra. Like Lidia Doce, her great friend and fellow combatant, she enjoyed the complete confidence of Fidel and Che.

An unconditional messenger, a fierce protagonist of countless exploits, she was a valuable liaison between Column One José Martí, led by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, and the other reinforcements of the Rebel Army operating in the Sierra Maestra and the plains during the insurrectional struggle. Like Lidia Doce, her great friend and fellow combatant, she enjoyed the complete confidence of Fidel Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara.

Thin and pale, the writings describe Clodomira as being, and she did not lack the fortitude to assert herself. On two occasions she was taken prisoner by soldiers of the regime, however, this did not prevent her from venturing into Batista's facilities if it meant gaining some advantage for the rebels.

In February 1958 she was assigned to make contact with the leadership of the guerrillas risen up in the Escambray. In April she would be responsible for transporting to Havana the written order from Fidel to launch the Strike of April 9.

On September 12, 1958, she was arrested by the Batista dictatorship, along with Lidia Doce. Other revolutionary combatants confronted the henchmen and were killed. For days they endured the torture and abuse of the notorious criminal in service of the Batista tyranny, Julio Laurenti, who, failing in his attempt to make them talk, murdered them on September 17 and then threw their bodies into the sea.

Although the last moments of her life unfolded abruptly, Clodomira was incapable of betraying the cause in which she believed. In remembrance of her revolutionary actions, many of the delegations and blocs of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) bear the name of this indomitable woman.