Juan Abrantes Fernández

Juan Abrantes Fernández was born in a humble home in Havana. His childhood unfolded in the midst of a working-class home that contributed to the forging of his character.

In the 1956-57 school year he began studies in Electrical Engineering at the Universidad de La Habana, where in addition to participating in various activities with the Directorio Revolucionario, he successfully practiced several sports such as gymnastics, athletics, and rugby, in the stadium that today bears his name at the institution of higher learning.

In 1956 he was a frequent visitor to the home of the Díaz-Argüelles family, where some young people gathered who openly conspired against the Batista regime. In testimony given years later, Marina García, mother of revolutionary combatant José Agustín Díaz-Argüelles (Titín), recounted that era:

"Although they were not yet very mature, they had an idea that did not abandon them: to overthrow tyranny. At every moment police persecution intensified and increasingly, the possibilities for movement in the country diminished, especially in the capital, which is why El Mexicano, as we affectionately called Juan, left in 1957 into exile in the United States, from where he returned clandestinely in January of the following year.

"He returned to clandestine struggle and, without ceasing to be that cheerful young man we knew, his manner had changed. He became more serious, withdrawn, although he remained affable, optimistic, and expressive.

"As was his custom, one day he arrived very early at our house and sat on my son's bed, his inseparable friend, who was getting up. I was preparing to leave soon and he asked why. Then I explained to him that I would travel with Tintín so that he could join the struggle in the Escambray. He got up quickly and said to me: 'Not under any circumstances. You are not leaving without me'.

"The only solution was to take him along too, and now, instead of one son I had two. We left Havana, we stopped in Placetas and from there, with some contacts, we reached the Escambray. Because of his reliability, shortly after they appointed him head of a group and later he formed his own command, which he named Mario Reguera".

He was a leader of the Directorio Revolucionario, alongside José Antonio Echeverría. Persecuted, he left for exile in 1957, and in January 1958 he returned clandestinely to Cuba. In March of that year he joined the armed struggle in the mountains of the Escambray, and participated in the battle of Santa Clara where, at only 23 years old, he earned the rank of comandante.

Abrantes' boldness was demonstrated in the combats of Charco Azul, Río Negro, Fomento, and Condado. In the campaign of Las Villas he served under the orders of Comandante Ernesto Guevara as second chief of operations, and because of his courageous attitude and command ability he was promoted to Comandante.

In 1959, days after the triumph of the Revolution, Che appointed Juan Abrantes second chief of the fortress of La Cabaña, in Havana, and later he was put in charge of the leadership of the Tactical Forces of the Escambray, in the center of the country, a responsibility he held when he died in a tragic aviation accident that occurred on September 23, 1959, in what was then the province of Las Villas.

His life was brief, but the example he left us is of invaluable worth.