Revolution Commander Juan Almeida Bosque Passes Away on Friday

The announcement was made via an official communiqué issued by the
Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Party’s Central Committee.
Almeida was a construction worker from a humble Havana neighbourhood
when he decided to join the fight against Dictator Fulgencio Batista,
who took power after the 1952 coup d’état.

A year later, he actively participated in the assault on the Moncada
military barracks in Santiago de Cuba, and was among those sent to jail.
Ever since, he has always been on the front line along with the leader
of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.

Almeida quickly rose to become an important military figure among the
revolutionary fighters. He was named chief of one of the three squadrons
that were part of the Granma Yacht expedition from Mexico to Cuba, and
was later appointed Commander of the Third Guerrilla Front.

After the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution on January 1, 1959, he
continued to be a revolutionary leader, undertaking important government
and political posts.

In addition to his political ideologies, Almeida was also known and
beloved for his human and artistic sensitivity. He wrote more than 300
songs and a dozen of books on Cuban history.

More recently, Almeida was named president of the Association of
Combatants of the Revolution. He concentrated his last energies on
making this organization a solid and effective bastion of the country.

Because of his many and important merits, he received several
decorations, and both national and international awards, including the
title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba and the Order of Maximo Gomez.

In accordance with his will, the mortal remains of Juan Almeida Bosque
will not be exposed. He will be buried with military honors at the
Mausoleum of the Mario Muñoz Monroy Third Eastern Front of which he was
a founder and sole leader. The Mausoleum, where the remains of the rest
of the combatants of the Front are kept, is located in Santiago de Cuba.