Samuel Carlos Rodriguez Planas

Major General of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba. He joined the Rebel Army where he was Second in Command of Column No. 6. After the triumph of 1959, he held, among other positions, Second in Command of the National Revolutionary Police, Chief of Staff and Second in Command of the Western Army, and Chief of the FAR Inspection Agency. He was designated as Chief of Cuba's Military Mission in Angola.

After Girón in 1961, he took the First Course for Unit Commanders, later in 1964, the First Advanced Basic Course and in 1969 completed the Advanced Academic Course. Along with all this, there was constant cultural advancement. In 1978, for example, he completed a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences. General Rodiles has also held numerous military responsibilities: Chief of Infantry Division, UM 1270, Chief of Staff of the Armored Corps, Chief of the Western Army, Chief of the Secretary of the Minister of the FAR, and Chief of the Inspection Agency of the Armed Forces.

Rodiles is the current President of the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution. Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Deputy to the National Assembly. In April 2012 he was appointed president of the Physical Planning Institute.

He was born in Caimanera, Guantánamo. His parents and siblings collaborated with the July 26 Movement, so the entire family had to rise up, with him being the first to go to the mountains.

He studied at Sarah Ashhurst School, known as the American School of Guantánamo, today Rafael Orejón Forment School, on Máximo Gómez No. 857. He also participated in the First National Student Games, representing the Guantánamo Institute in Santiago de Cuba, obtaining 4 first places in field and track, later representing the province of Oriente in the competition in the capital, obtaining a Silver medal in Javelin Throw, this result was published by the newspaper El Mundo[2].

He began working in the offices of the Cuban Electricity Company, following in his father's footsteps who was an electrical engineer. While in his fourth year of high school, he was elected vice president of the Student Association and later president, when the classmate who had been chosen for that position abandoned the struggle. After participating in a strike with several students, he was expelled for life from the Institute in late 1952[2]. Although he was expelled from the institute, his sanction only had validity within Guantánamo, so he was able to continue his studies in the city of Santiago de Cuba with the help of an uncle.

After Girón in 1961, he took the First Course for Unit Commanders, later in 1964, the First Advanced Basic Course and in 1969 completed the Advanced Academic Course. Along with all this, there was constant cultural advancement. In 1978 he completed a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences.

Revolutionary trajectory

He joined the July 26 Movement in 1955 through Enrique Soto Gómez, First Coordinator of the movement in Guantánamo, cooperating with money, an automatic shotgun, the sale of bonds, distribution of bombs, grenades, propaganda, etc. He became part of the leadership of the Movement in Action and Sabotage, as head of a cell made up of 10 comrades.

In January 1958, comrade René Ramos Latour proposed that he become Chief of Action and Sabotage of the province of Matanzas, but he rose up in the Sierra Cristal, the area of Mayarí Abajo toward which they were transported in small groups received by Fredy Ramos Latour. He was responsible for the Supply of Column 6 and participated in the courts to judge bandits, informants, and delinquents.

He was also in charge of collecting taxes from landowners and major merchants of the area. After participating (as Chief of the reinforcement group of the Shock Troop of Column 6) in the Battle of Loma de la Victoria (La Mariposa), Commander Raúl Castro promoted him to Captain on July 31, appointing him Second in Command of Column 6 Juan Manuel Ameijeiras Delgado.

He participated in numerous battles: La Lima, Moa (first attack), La Mariposa, the two attacks on Nicaro, the ambush and capture of two military trains at the Tiguabos curve, at the barracks of Soledad, Ermita, Imías, San Vicente, ambush of CMQ Station and the Microwave, Puerto de Boniato, La Maya and others. In December 1958, the Commander in Chief promoted him to Commander of the Rebel Army.

The revolutionary triumph caught him circling Guantánamo. The order Raúl gave was to take that city. He participated in taking the airport, the barracks, and the institute.

Around January 6, 1959, he entered Havana with the specific order to guarantee Fidel Castro's entry. Che and Camilo Cienfuegos had already arrived. After the revolutionary triumph, he was designated Chief of the Motorized Radio. Later Inspector General and Second in Command of the PNR. He was also Supervisor of the Bureau of Investigations. Later Chief of the DTI. In November 1959, he was appointed Chief of the Inspection Department of the MINFAR (Army, Police, and Navy).

On April 15, facing the events of the mercenary attack on Playa Girón, Fidel gave instructions to guarantee order and neutralize counter-revolutionary elements along with Security if an invasion occurred. On the 18th, Fidel explained that the Police Battalion had to go to Girón. In the late afternoon of April 19, he was one of the first combatants to enter Girón to prevent the mercenaries at Girón from reinforcing Playa Larga and those at Playa Larga from being able to withdraw to Girón.

Positions held

Chief of Infantry Division, UM 1270
Chief of Staff of the Armored Corps
Chief of the Western Army
Chief of the Secretary of the Minister of the FAR
Chief of the Inspection Agency of the Armed Forces
President of the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC)
President of the Physical Planning Institute
Internationalist Missions

General Rodiles Plana waves the National Flag triumphantly, being the last Cuban internationalist combatant to board the airplane to return to the Homeland, concluding the mission in Angola.

General Rodiles Plana waves the National Flag triumphantly, being the last Cuban internationalist combatant to board the airplane to return to the Homeland, concluding the mission in Angola.
He completed an internationalist mission in Angola as Second in Command of Cuba's Military Mission in that country from 1978 to 1980. Later he was appointed Chief of Staff.

In 1987. I participated in the various activities of our troops in the South. At that time I was serving as Chief of Staff of the Mission. I traveled to all the places where our combatants were located.
There were many acts of heroism. I cannot forget the pilots, tank operators, engineers, artillerymen, infantry who, together with the Angolans, fought the battles that led us to victory.

Constantly. We spoke twice a day. Once in the afternoon and once at night. In one of our conversations he asked me more than twenty questions, including asking if it had rained in Cuito Cuanavale. He had exact knowledge of everything that was happening in Angola, just as Raúl did, with whom I spoke on several occasions. In 1989, now General of the Army Leopoldo Cintra (Polo) returned to Cuba to take charge of the Western Army. Before traveling to Havana, we went to see President José Eduardo Dos Santos. We delivered him a letter from the Commander in Chief informing him of the change in the leadership of the Mission.

Decorations
Honorary Title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba

Interview conducted by Luis Báez
—Where are you from?

—I was born in Caimanera and a year later we moved to Guantánamo. We are seven siblings: four boys and three girls (2 deceased). I remember that Toñito (the eldest of the boys) was the first to encourage me toward revolutionary student activities. He originated in the family the current of struggle against injustices.

Fidel presents Rodiles with the insignia of Major General at the solemn promotion ceremony before other comrades in arms.

My father was born in Guantánamo. He always cooperated with the Movement. Because he was the father of the Rodiles, they persecuted him. He was imprisoned twice. He worked at the Naval Base and one day when he was returning on his motorcycle on the road from Boquerón to Guantánamo, a car with several Batistianos recognized him and hit him, leaving him for dead in the ditch. Shortly after, some civilians seeing him unconscious but still alive picked him up and took him to the Paseo y Oriente Clinic in Guantánamo. When my sister Elia found out, she immediately went to see him. He always said that if we were imprisoned and released, we should take a rifle and rise up.

My mother was born in Manzanillo. She greatly helped the Movement, collecting medicines, selling bonds, helping comrades move from one place to another, etc. She was imprisoned on two occasions (on one occasion she was carrying medicines, bonds, propaganda, etc., throughout her body); when she arrived at the Naval barracks, Sergeant Major Federico Colarte (Fico) was there, who was the Second in Command. He had 2 sons in the Movement and sympathized with them. He approached her and told her: "old woman, they sent to look for a woman to search, give me everything so they don't take anything from you" and he saved her on that occasion.

During the underground period, we all carried out the missions that the Movement assigned us. My house ended up "burned," was searched on several occasions and reached the point where anyone who arrived was arrested; only Elvira Guerra visited us (she was my sister Ñiquita's classmate at the Home School). To make matters worse, we lived across the street from Captain Basto, Chief of Police.

My 3 sisters, Elia, Antonia, and Noemí had a permanent, important, and active role in the underground, supplying everything to the Second Eastern Front Frank País, going to the Naval Base to take out medicines, weapons, ammunition, explosives, in short, whatever could help July 26. This efficient work was recognized in the Credential issued on September 21, 1958, by Commander Raúl Castro Ruz, Chief of the Front.

—How many brothers rose up?

—The entire family had to rise up, including my parents. I was the first to go to the mountains.

—Do they remain in the FAR?

—The only one left is me and my daughter who is a Lieutenant Colonel, professor at the Academy of the Revolutionary Armed Forces General Máximo Gómez. All the rest are in civilian life.

—Where did you study?

—At Sarah Ashhurst School, known as the American School of Guantánamo, today Rafael Orejón Forment School, on Máximo Gómez No. 857. I was somewhat restless. After some arguments with other students, they took me to the Principal's office and expelled me from school. My father had to go talk to the principal (Miss Eleanor L. Clancy) and when I promised to behave well, she accepted it as a last chance.

I prepared for the entrance exam to the Secondary School Institute at the Isaac Puentes Zúñiga Academy, which I passed.

Until the fourth year, we had the first honors: among the girls, Ana Gloria Preval, black, a very good student, and among the boys, me.

I participated in the First National Student Games, representing the Guantánamo Institute in Santiago de Cuba, obtaining 4 first places in field and track, later representing the province of Oriente, we competed in Havana (University Stadium), I obtained a Silver medal in Javelin Throw, this result was published by the newspaper El Mundo.

I worked in the offices of the Cuban Electricity Company. My desire was to be an electrical engineer like my father.

While in my fourth year of high school, I was elected vice president of the Student Association and later president, when the comrade who had been chosen for that position abandoned the struggle.

I went on strike with several students and we were expelled for life from the Institute. It was late January 1952. Carlos Prío Socarrás was governing the country.

—Where were you when the March 10 Coup happened?

—In Havana, waiting for the FEU and the response from the Minister of Education to annul our expulsion. I was staying at the boarding house where Aldo Rodríguez Camps lived.

—What did you do?

—Several times, together with other students, I presented myself at the University. When I saw that nothing was being done against Fulgencio Batista, I decided to return to Oriente.

—What did you do?

—An uncle of mine who was a professor at the Santiago de Cuba Institute told me that the expulsion was only valid for Guantánamo. I enrolled in Santiago de Cuba and completed the fourth and fifth years, except for one subject that I passed later in 1960 at the Havana Institute.

—When did you begin your revolutionary activities?

—Right after the Coup d'État and living in Santiago de Cuba with my brother Toñito, I carried out my first revolutionary activities, transporting a hand machine gun and a pistol to deliver to a comrade.

Already in Guantánamo, before joining the July 26 Movement, I distributed clandestine propaganda and participated in rallies with revolutionary purposes held in Martí Park. In 1955, through Enrique Soto Gómez, First Coordinator of July 26 in Guantánamo, I joined the Movement.

I cooperated with money, bought an automatic shotgun and donated it, sold bonds, distributed bombs, grenades, propaganda, etc.

In my sister Ñiquita's house and my brother-in-law Guillermo García Bendicho's house, we manufactured hundreds of hand grenade casings, "pineapple" type, designed by Leonides Velásquez, better known as the Indian Geronimo.

All of that along with other weapons, explosives, and ammunition we kept in my aforementioned sister's home and in my brother-in-law's father's bakery. By then I was part of the leadership of the Movement.

—Who made up that leadership?

—Enrique Soto (Coordinator), Julio Camacho (Chief of Action and Sabotage) with Demetrio Montseny (Villa) as Second, Octavio Louit (responsible for the Workers Front), followed by Ñico Torres. Soto was also heading Propaganda and I was Second.

—Did you stay in that responsibility for a long time?

—No. Later I moved to Action and Sabotage, they named me chief of a cell made up of 10 comrades. My war name was Príquiti.

We began to give theoretical and practical classes on pistols, revolvers, Springfield and Winchester rifles, and other weapons.

We practiced in a mountain near Imías and on the Bertrán farm in Guantánamo. I also participated in the transport of weapons, ammunition, firecrackers, homemade bombs, uniforms, etc.

According to a method devised by my father, we built caltrop traps, which we delivered to the Movement, and we also scattered them on streets and roads, because however they fell, they would puncture the tires. On several occasions, he participated with us.

On November 30, 1956, I was quartered in a house south of Guantánamo where we would be brought some shotguns with ammunition to assault the police station in support of the Granma landing. We could not carry out the action because the ammunition, where it was stored, was swollen from humidity and did not fit in the shotgun chamber. Later I moved to Santiago de Cuba.

—With what objective?

—To try to see Frank País.

—Did you succeed?

—Yes. First I went to talk to his mother Doña Rosario. She sent me to a house and told me to say I came on behalf of Duque. From there they sent me to another. I think it was Vilma Espín's. There I met with Frank.

—What did you talk about?

—He told me how the action in Santiago had occurred and I told him my desire to go to the Sierra.

He explained that the best help to Fidel at that moment was to fight in the cities to prevent the Army from concentrating all its forces against the Sierra Maestra and to send them supplies, so I continued in Guantánamo.

—What actions did you participate in?

—At that time Villa was the Chief of Action and Sabotage. I was Second. Camacho and Soto had gone underground.

On one occasion when Rolando Masferrer visited the city to give a rally at CMKS radio station, I was given the mission to throw two grenades at him. I did, but although they did not explode, the objective was partially achieved, because as they fell and people saw them on the ground, there was panic and the rally ended. This was witnessed by announcer Panchín Lescaille and operator Julio Cardet. That night, my brother Toñito, sitting on the porch of a house a block from the radio station, saw several cars leave at high speed. The possible reason why they did not explode, according to what Amancio Floreán and Gustavo Fraga told me later, is that they had been stored in a refrigerator or freezer.

We also caused some blackouts by using a thick chain, tied to a rope, which we threw against the high-voltage power lines at the exit toward Tiguabos.

Together with several comrades, I placed firecrackers and bombs, the most important one was at the Cuban Electricity Company, which I directed as Second Chief of Action and Sabotage in Guantánamo. I also threw Molotov cocktails, painted walls with the initials of M-26-7, participated in burning sugarcane, and others.

In August 1957, when Villa was imprisoned, they appointed me Chief of Action and Sabotage. I planned attacks against several traitors and informants.

Some were carried out successfully, such as the one executed by Mario Revelo and José Salgado (Tato) in October against "Gallego Morán", a despicable and vile traitor who abandoned the Sierra Maestra and joined the enemy serving him as an informant.

In addition to continuing all kinds of actions in the city, we coordinated (at Cachita Pérez's house, Martí and 7 Sur-Guantánamo) with Wicho Herrera (Chief of the Group that had its camp in Sierra Canasta) and José Durán (Zapata), the sabotage of electric and telephone lines, burning of sugarcane, executions of informants who caused the death of revolutionaries, as well as other actions.

At the end of November, I was detained due to informing by José El Mochito, who was part of the Movement but had degenerated into a thief and together with another committed robbery of the Electric Company's payroll. They were captured and during interrogation they were asked if he knew me (because I worked at the Company), responding yes and that I was Chief of July 26. The guards go to work and detain me. As I was being placed in the back seat of the jeep (without a roof), there was a pistol, which I was unaware of, because I realized it was a trap and that's when one of them loudly and in disarray says: "damn, they left a pistol in the seat," and immediately grabbed it.

At the barracks, they locked me in a cell with the robbers. When we were alone, El Mochito justified himself by saying he thought I was risen up and that's why he mentioned me, to which the other robber (young man) immediately responded: "Hey José, if you betray this revolutionary, I'll kill you, we may be thieves, but we're not informants."

—Were you imprisoned for a long time?

—More than a month. After various interrogations, they transferred me (walking) with handcuffs and escorted by a pair of guards from the Barracks to the Bus Stop (Prado and Pedro A. Pérez), from there to the Bivouac in Santiago de Cuba. I was accused of being the intellectual author of all the assaults and robberies in Guantánamo for the benefit of the July 26 Movement. Under bail, I was released on probation.

—Did you return to Guantánamo?

—No. In January 1958, comrade René Ramos Latour (Daniel) proposed that I become Chief of Action and Sabotage of the province of Matanzas, due to the situation that existed after Goicuría, but when I told Villa, he informed me of his decision to rise up in Sierra Cristal and I went with him after agreeing with Daniel.

—To which area?

—To Mayarí Abajo. We moved in small groups received by Fredy Ramos Latour (Daniel's brother).

—Did you carry out any actions?

—Before the assault on Nicaro, Villa appointed me Second in Command of the Group. We attacked on the night of February 23, 1958. I was in command of the first vehicle. We took the post, tied up the two security guards, took the Garand rifle and their short weapons. Later Villa entered with the rest of the group. After that, we moved into the mountains. A few days later, Villa decided to march toward Bayate where he had some contacts.

—How long did you stay?

—Until Raúl Castro arrived, who sent for us at old Regueiro's house.

—What happened at that meeting?

—Raúl reaffirmed my rank as an officer and I continued as Second in Command of a Platoon with Villa, but now incorporated into Company B Juan Manuel Ameijeiras belonging to Column 6 Frank País; Efigenio Ameijeiras was in command of the Company.

Alongside the Minister of the FAR at the diploma presentation for the 25th anniversary of the Secretariat's creation.

Under Raúl's command, I participated in the first attack on Soledad barracks. Reynerio Jiménez's men attacked from the front, Raúl from the right flank, Villa from the left, and I from the head.

During the attack, I observed that Raúl at various moments left his combat position and got even closer to the Barracks opening fire. With full responsibility I say that he took excessive risks.

The "soldiers" put up a stubborn resistance. Finally, we could not take the barracks. The battle lasted until dawn.

Days later, a group of officers drafted a document in which we proposed to Raúl that he should not continue risking his life in this type of action.

I was also responsible for the Supply of Column 6 and participated in the courts to judge bandits, informants, and other delinquents.

Likewise, I was put in charge of collecting taxes from landowners and major merchants of the area.

After participating (as Chief of the reinforcement group of the Shock Troop of Column 6) in the Battle of Loma de la Victoria (La Mariposa), Commander Raúl Castro promoted me to Captain on July 31, appointing me Second in Command of Column 6 Juan Manuel Ameijeiras.

I participated in numerous battles: La Lima, Moa (first attack), La Mariposa, the two attacks on Nicaro, the ambush and capture of two military trains at the Tiguabos curve, at the barracks of Soledad, Ermita, Imías, San Vicente, ambush of CMQ Station and the Microwave, Puerto de Boniato, La Maya, and others.

In the second attack on Soledad, before the battle began, I entered the barracks twice to ask the soldiers to avoid bloodshed and surrender, which they refused to do. We fought all night and in the early morning hours they surrendered.

To guarantee the taking of Caimanera, I directed the ambush at Mata Abajo (Canabacoa).

In December 1958, the Commander in Chief promoted me to Commander of the Rebel Army. At the same time, Efigenio informed me that in a conversation with Fidel and Raúl, they would assign us about two hundred men to organize two Columns, to march together to the West and support Camilo and Che. This was not necessary due to the collapse of the dictatorship.

—Where were you when the revolutionary triumph caught you?

—Circling Guantánamo. The order Raúl gave us was to take that city. I participated in taking the airport, the barracks, and the institute.

The dictator's troops were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Arcadio Casillas. We managed to capture him. He was tried and sentenced to death along with other oppressors. I was in charge of the closing arguments of the trial.

The guilt of the accused was proven abundantly, with the people present. I even remember a policeman who was very decent, educated, and we discovered that he had seven deaths. Really, those who deserved execution were the ones executed.

—How did you find out you were coming to Havana?

—Commander Raúl Castro told Efigenio that by Fidel's instructions, he had been appointed Chief of the National Revolutionary Police.

Since we had a tank and other weapons, we decided to transport the column by land, but before reaching Camagüey, the tank's motor broke down and it was decided that we would come by planes.

In the first flight, Efigenio traveled and in the last one, I traveled, as Second in Command of Column 6.

—What day did you enter the capital?

—Around January 6.

—Did you have a specific order?

—To guarantee Fidel's entry. Che and Camilo Cienfuegos had already arrived.

—What did you find?

—Much confusion, anarchy among the revolutionary groups themselves. Everyone was armed.

We set about disarming them, making them understand the need to organize and discipline themselves.

In front of the Hotel Deauville, there was a group of comrades who even had grenades. We explained to them the need to go to headquarters to see Efigenio, but they did not understand.

When the situation became tense, we had a prearranged signal and immediately they were surrounded by our troops. We had to move quickly because there was one who possessed a machine gun that refused to hand it over and we had to take it from him. For seconds, a massacre did not occur.

—What position were you given?

—Chief of the Motorized Radio. Later they made me Inspector General and Second in Command of the PNR. I was also Supervisor of the Bureau of Investigations. There were very serious problems and we had to act firmly. Later Chief of the DTI. In November 1959, I was appointed Chief of the Inspection Department of the MINFAR (Army, Police, and Navy).

—How did the Police's participation in Girón come about?

—On the fifteenth of April, the Commander in Chief sent for Efigenio and me at Point 1, which was in Nuevo Vedado. He gave us instructions to guarantee order and neutralize counter-revolutionary elements along with Security if an invasion occurred.

On the eighteenth, very early, Fidel sent for us again. He explained to Efigenio that the Police Battalion had to go to Girón.

—What was the mission?

—To prevent the mercenaries at Girón from reinforcing Playa Larga and those at Playa Larga from being able to withdraw to Girón.

He told us that in this way, the enemy would feel divided and insecure because having the revolutionary force in its rear, it would disconcert them and prevent cooperation between them.

By Fidel's instructions, we were subordinated the Bazooka Company of the garrison of the National Agrarian Reform Institute (INRA) and the Light Combat Company of Battalion 116 of the Militias.

The order Efigenio gave us was to leave the heavy weapons at "El Esperón" (west of the capital, the Battalion's camp upon returning from fighting the rebels in the Villas and Matanzas) and carry submachine guns, rifles. Quickly, the Battalion was organized and the Light Combat Company was sent ahead, divided in two under the command of Captains Luis Artemio Carbó and José Sandino, respectively. The Bazookas joined us at Jovellanos.

—What situation did you find upon arriving at the Australia sugar mill?

—Upon arriving at the Australia sugar mill, Efigenio received us and reported that Playa Larga was already in our hands, that the mission had changed, and that I should make contact with Captain José Ramón Fernández who would give me instructions.

—Fernández, what instructions did he give you?

—Upon arriving at Playa Larga, I sent Captain Marcelino Sánchez to locate Fernández, he made contact with him at the cabin where he was resting. Fernández instructed us to advance toward Girón. First would go the tanks, behind them a unit of the Rebel Army, and then us. We would find an officer (I don't remember his name) who would indicate the location.

We spent the night at Punta Perdices. Before dawn, Efigenio named me Chief of the Battalion and gave me instructions to advance, with Marcelino Sánchez as Second in Command.

We began to move. Dawn caught us. We did not find the officer. We were moving forward until we came across the mercenaries.

The first dead and wounded were comrades from the Militia Company that was subordinated to us. Because they did not know the terrain, they fell into an ambush in the third curve of the road, before reaching Girón. There, three generations fought for our Socialist Revolution; as examples of this (although there are many), I wish to mention: Benjamín Moreno García, 15 years old, José Manuel Lazo de la Vega Quintana, 41, and Juan Ruiz Serna, 60, who fell on April 19.

—Our combatants fought with great courage.

—Tremendous courage. I will not forget Fernando Aceña, who was an INDER official, whom I met after an intense battle and who told me that he had to protect himself behind a rock because he was caught in crossfire. He was alive by a miracle.

The courage, dynamism, and vigor of Captain Carbó were exemplary. He is truly a hero. He advanced and urged the others to walk alongside him until he fell mortally wounded.

I always remember a nineteen-year-old boy, Wilfredo Gonce, Police Sergeant, who was struck by a projectile. He died before being treated.

Just like Rafael Ángel Carini, who did not even belong to the Battalion. He was from the Department of Technical Investigations and asked to go fight. With much insistence, we let him join. He fought valiantly. He was among the first to fall.

The Police and Battalion 116 Militia combatants had thirty-eight casualties and about one hundred were wounded. As a result of several artillery shots against our first position, I was wounded in the neck by fragments.

—At what moment did you enter Girón?

—In the late afternoon of the nineteenth. We were the first combatants to enter Girón. At that moment the mercenaries were in disarray.

Later that night, I was informed that from north to south, a tank was coming at full speed, turning its lights on and off. That got my attention. I ordered them to try to communicate with its driver. We managed to. I was greatly surprised to learn it was Captain Joel Pardo Guerra.

When he arrived, I said to him: "You're crazy, how did you do that, not knowing if the mercenaries had even abandoned Girón." Then he answered me: "Fidel gave me the order not to stop until I reached the beach and from there to shoot upward with projectiles and tracer bullets as a signal that I had reached the objective." I told him: "Well, let's complete the mission."

He also told us: "Fidel is at San Blas." Then comrades Fernández, Flavio Bravo, and René Rodríguez suggested I go inform the Commander that we were already in Girón. I answered them that I had responsibility for the PNR Battalion and that Efigenio had already left for the Australia sugar mill to call Fidel. Barely minutes after the comrades left, we heard a sound like a vehicle flipping. I sent someone to see what happened. It was them. The car had fallen into a crater made by an aerial bomb and they were injured. René's leg was broken and immediately I ordered him to be transferred to the medical post. The accident took place near the airstrip at Playa Girón.

Shortly after, the Commander in Chief arrived. He was riding on a tank. Our artillery continued bombing Girón.

—What did Fidel do?

—He gave some orders. He drafted the report announcing to the world the victory over the mercenary invasion. He traveled to several places and ordered Pedrito Miret to stop shooting.

Then he went to the dock, from where two American warships could be seen that had been in front of Playa Girón all day.

Fidel began turning the light of a flashlight on and off. I stood there pondering and thought to myself: "You see..."

I asked him why he was doing that and he answered me: "To see if they make a mistake, think it's the mercenaries, come to rescue them and we hit them with artillery." I was surprised and thought: "With everything that has happened and this man still wants to keep looking for trouble."

Major General Samuel Rodiles Plana waves the National Flag triumphantly, being the last Cuban internationalist combatant to board the airplane to return to the Homeland, concluding the mission in Angola.

At Girón, Fidel's vision was demonstrated once again. He fell on the enemy from all directions, with all his firepower, never giving them peace for a moment to prevent them from establishing a beachhead.

I have been fortunate enough to live transcendental moments of our Revolution: Underground period, War of Liberation, Struggle Against Bandits, Girón, October Crisis, and Angola.

—Angola, what did it mean to you?

—An unforgettable experience. I was there three times. The first time in 1977 in the South. I was tremendously impressed when I encountered a nomadic tribe. They were cooking herbs and roots.

I saw women who were no more than thirty years old and looked like women of sixty. They were naked. Barely with minimal clothing. They were mothers with several children. The hunger struck me hard. Incredible misery.

Through an Angolan who served as our interpreter, I spoke with them. This was not only in the South but in many parts of Angola.

We began to work with our troops. The combatants created the material basis for instruction to provide