Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso

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He was born at number 795 Calzada del Cerro, adjacent to where El Salvador school was located (number 797). His home is today the José de la Luz y Caballero school. There and throughout the Cerro neighborhood (a municipality that has declared him its distinguished patriot) and Puentes Grandes his childhood and youth would unfold. Those who knew him say he was a romantic, serious in character, very loving and concerned about family, a dancer, good horseman, smoker, simple and of great human sensitivity. He was a Cuban physician and military man who obtained the rank of Brigadier General in the war and it is said he was the youngest military officer to achieve such a high rank.

His father was a lawyer and was a professor, subdirector and even director of the prestigious El Salvador school after the death of José de la Luz y Caballero, a position he held until its closure in 1869. His father's influence played a decisive role in shaping his character and in his decision to serve the cause of independence of his native land.

His Bachelor's degree was granted to him in 1886 and he managed to enroll in the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Havana in the 1885-86 academic year. But during his Medical studies his father died and he was very emotionally affected and one of his uncles, Francisco Javier, who was a physician and university professor, was practically his tutor until the completion of his Medical degree. Graduated in his profession, he decided to practice Medicine in the rural areas of the Island. In this way he decided to leave for the fields of Las Villas where, due to his dedication and commitment to the population and especially to the humblest sectors, he became a much beloved and admired professional. This experience as a rural physician would be decisive for his training and knowledge of the terrain in his future life as a combatant.

A frequent visitor to the Acera del Louvre, he shared time with many young revolutionaries who frequented there and shared with Antonio Maceo in the 1890s and would later accompany him in the ranks of the Cuban Liberation Army.

When the Cuban War of Independence began on February 24, 1895, he was one of those who supported it as a young physician and at only 27 years of age joined the Liberation Army. He took up arms on April 25, 1895 at the head of a group in Vega Alta, Las Villas, for which he was granted the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

He was placed in charge of the Narciso Infantry Regiment when it was organized and on June 24, 1895 he took command of the Villa Clara Cavalry Regiment, which he organized.

On July 18 of that same year he placed himself under the orders of Major General Manuel Suárez, after having attacked the provincial fort four days before.

He was promoted to Colonel on August 15 and that same day he joined Major General Serafín Sánchez, Chief of the First Division of the Fourth Corps and thus participated in numerous battles until he joined the forces of Generalissimo Máximo Gómez at Mal Tiempo.

On January 22, 1896 he entered Mantua at the head of the vanguard of the invasion column. He was one of the signatories of the Act drawn up there the following day, marking the end of the historic and legendary invasion from East to West.

He also fought in numerous battles where he was seriously wounded and fought in Matanzas, Havana, and elsewhere.

By June 1896 he was once again operating in Havana, his native province.

As for his promotion to Brigadier General, it is said that Major General Antonio Maceo conferred that rank on him when the invasion reached Guane on January 20, 1896. But the truth is that the Bronze Titan delivered the proposal to the Commander in Chief in a document dated Nueva Paz on February 21 of that same year, who in turn sent it to the Council of Government on April 8, being approved the following day, becoming at that moment the youngest General of the Liberation Army.

Caught in an enemy ambush due to an informant about the location of his camp, he fell at his combat post on July 30, 1896. Unfortunately, caught in an enemy ambush due to an informant about the location of his camp and amid the glory that already accompanied him, revolver in hand he advanced toward the enemy and fell mortally wounded at the La Jaima estate, in Güiro de Boñigal, near Quivicán, defending the honor and dignity of all Cubans, on July 30, 1896, currently the day of all the martyrs of the Cuban Revolution, during the third and final War of Independence against Spain, organized and led by our National Hero José Martí.

He was then 29 years old and held the rank of general and the record of more than 40 battles.

Source: Sabía Ud. Infomed.