Policarpo Fajardo Díaz

Lieutenant Colonel of the Liberating Army. Born in Guane, Pinar del Río, on January 26, 1867.

He rose up on January 13, 1896 in the hamlet El Cayuco, near Remates de Guane, under the orders of Manuel Lazo Valdés. On the 21st of the same month, with the arrival of the invading column to that region, he joined the Maceo Sharpshooters Squadron, the first to be organized in the Pinar province, under the command of Lazo, who was recognized with the rank of Commander.

On March 6, 1896 he participated in the combat of la Tenería. In October 1896 he joined the Varona Infantry Regiment, also under the orders of Lazo.

In 1897 he was appointed commander of the Pedro Díaz Molina Infantry Regiment (1 Brig 2 Div 6 Corps). From February to December of that year he directed attacks on the town of Cayuco, the Remates warehouse, and the Palmarito fortification, as well as the combats of El Retiro, Guayacamal, Paso de San Francisco, Ciego Corojo, Catalina, Jicotea, Punta de Mangle, and Ortega, all in the zones of Guane and Mantua.

December 3, 1897. Cuban forces of the sixth corps of the Liberating Army under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Policarpo Fajardo Díaz detonated dynamite charges at the entrance to the port of Cortés, at the moment the Spanish steamer Colón was passing, resulting in damage.

December 27, 1897. Lieutenant Colonel Policarpo Fajardo Díaz at La Furnia combats a Spanish gunboat that attempted to land on the place, causing it several casualties and preventing it from achieving its objective. From the sea the gunboat fired on Cuban positions.

December 28, 1897. Policarpo Fajardo Díaz attempted to cross the Jaimiquí trench protecting the commission from the corps general headquarters with the commander of the second division Francisco Peraza and the command of the first brigade, being repelled by the enemy at two points near the Farallones of the southern coast.

That same day camped at La Furnia, the forces of Lieutenant Colonel Policarpo Fajardo Díaz that protected the camp from the sea side prevented the landing of forty Spanish soldiers who were supported by a gunboat. They were fired upon at close range causing casualties and forcing them to retreat to the ship that supported them with cannon fire.

On July 25, 1898 he ambushed a column on the road between Guane and Mantua and subsequently attacked the El Callao fort.

Promotions
To ensign, January 21, 1896; Lieutenant, February 24, 1896; Captain, April 7, 1896; Commander, April 7, 1896; Lieutenant Colonel, June 1, 1898. He was wounded on two occasions. He was discharged on July 15, 1899.

In the Republic
During the Republic he did not engage in politics nor held public office. He died in Guane, on February 11, 1914.