Fidel

Che

Raoul

Camilo

…wait, Who?

Camilo Cienfuegos.

Oh, the image etched in steel alongside a massive building at the Plaza de la Revolution. We thought it looked like Juan Valdez, the coffee guy.

Camilo. Son of a tailor, born in Habana.

Too poor to continue college so he goes to America to find work. His visa expires and he’s sent back to Cuba.

His life changes when Batista’s troops shoot him and others who were honoring the memory of a socialist hero.

He was with Fidel when the Granma landed in Cuba, 2 decembro, 1956 to start the revolution.

A commandant like Che.

The “Hero of Yaquajay.”

He and Che lead the rebels in the final battle against Batista’s reign. Not a shot was fired as the two Comandante’s forces united and surrounded the troops of the President that the not even the US wanted when he fled Cuba the next day.

Commandante Camilo served as head of Armed Forces the first year of Castro’s Government.

Then, one night, his plane mysteriously disappeared, never to be found. He was 27 years old.

Camilo was once asked by Fidel during a speech, “How I’m doing?”

Camilo answered, “Vas bien, Fidel.”

The crowd took up the chant, “Vas bien, Fidel” and the quote is inscribed on the steel outline of his image in the Plaza. “Vas bien, Fidel” An image that was only placed there fifty years after his death. Che’s image had been immortalized there almost immediately after his death.

Even Cubans believe there was mystery behind Camilo’s death. The commandante did not support violence and death against enemies of the state. He was a socialist, perhaps a communist, but was quoted saying he would not treat prisoners the way Batista treated his enemies.

More egregious, however, was he was divorcing his wife to marry a wealthy woman and had always had a “joie de vive” that did not match the seriousness of a revolucion.

Some believe Fidel consolidated his power by sending Che to other countries to promote revolucion and eliminating Camilo undercover of the night.Who really knows? Raoul?

Che died a martyr, every revolution needs one.

Camilo has slowly been recognized on currency, schools, cities, museums…

What will they do when Fidel’s time has come?