He was born on March 28, 1932 in Palma Soriano, San Luis municipality, Santiago de Cuba province. He joined the revolutionary struggle in February 1957. After the triumph of the Revolution he played an active role in the Revolutionary Armed Forces. He fulfilled an internationalist mission in the republics of Angola and Ethiopia, participating directly in different combative actions. He was also National Coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution.

PALMA SORIANO

With a rich history, Palma Soriano is the head town of the municipality of the same name in the province of Santiago de Cuba. This municipality is an agrarian region where coffee, fruit and sugar cane plantations stand out.  It is located in the Cauto Plain called "Tayaba Valley". Palma Soriano is related to a significant moment in the struggle against the Batista dictatorship in the 1950s. At the end of December 1958 this site was occupied by the members of the Rebel Army as part of the great offensive that was being carried out in the eastern region of the country. After several days of intense clashes, on December 27 of that year, the soldiers of the dictatorship surrendered and the city was occupied by the members of the rebel forces. From there, on January 1, 1959, through Radio Rebelde and in coordination with other radio stations, Fidel ordered the rebel fighters to maintain the offensive throughout the country and at the same time called on the Cuban people to carry out a general revolutionary strike. This made it possible to consolidate the revolutionary victory in a short time.

COMMITTEES FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE REVOLUTION

Commonly identified as CDR, it constitutes the largest mass organization existing in Cuba. It arose in response to the call made by Fidel Castro on September 28, 1960 when, speaking at a large event held in front of the northern terrace of the then Presidential Palace in Havana, he called on the people to organize themselves to confront the counterrevolutionary elements and thus guarantee the defense of the Revolution. In the following days, Committees were created throughout the country which, in addition to working in defense of the Revolution, have undertaken other important tasks. The CDRs are organized by blocks, zones, municipalities and provinces. All Cuban citizens over 14 years of age can belong to this organization.