The Escape!

The time for Mr. and Mrs. Valdes to leave the country had come. First they traveled to Havana in hopes that by some Grace of God they would be able to find a way out of the country and into the United States. Diego took a job as a butcher at a local grocery store, and Amarilis tended to her daughter, who was now 2 years old. One day Amarilis decided to visit her husband at the butcher shop. Amarilis was a beautiful woman that always drew eyes. As she stands by the butcher’s counter, my father asks a customer, “What meat would you like?” the customer replies, “I’d like meat from those legs,” and he pointed to my mother’s thighs. Diego flipped the knife in the air, slamming it down, and looked at the customer square in the eye and said, “That meat’s not for sale.”  So it seems that regardless of life’s strife, love prevails.

During her stay in Havana, Amarilis finds out she is pregnant again. She is overwhelmed by fear not wanting to tell her husband, but the news was more than welcomed by Diego, who's character gave other's the impression he could handle just about anything thrown his way. For the couple, the plans to move to America still stood.

The wait paid off when one of Amarilis’ uncle, a kind man who had been afflicted by polio, was able to secure identifications and passages for both of them to travel to the U.S. as Protestant missionaries. The two prepared for what would be a departure to a new land and a new way of life.  The couple had to pass through government inspections, where many Cuban citizens were stripped of valuables they had hoped to take with them on their trip, After that, it was boarding the plane.  It was the first time either had been on one. When they land on free soil, Diego throws their daughter up in the air, and both finally feel safe and ready for their new life in this new world.

The Revolution: Interview of a Cuban soldier

Interview of a Cuban soldier, Diego Valdes. I would like to print an interview I gave to my father for a school grade. I wrote it when I was 17 years old. Having him tell me his story was heartfelt, because he never talked about the war in Cuba. I have taken that 33 year old interview and transcribed it here:

A civil war is one of the hardest kinds of war a country can suffer. During the Cuban Revolution that began in 1956, those who kept loyal to the nationalist suffered a great defeat by 1959; a defeat that cost men their lives and many families their freedom.  Among the men at war against Castro, the revolutionary leader, was a man named Diego Valdes, just one, you might say, of the many that suffered, but survived to tell how it was really like.  Mr. Valdes is now forty five years old and is married to Amarilis Valdes.  He has three children and has two privately owned businesses.

I began Mr. Valdes’ interview by asking him about his childhood. "Well my parents owned about 300 acres of land in Camaguey, Cuba, and we were eleven brothers and sisters in all.  I finished high school and immediately afterwards joined the army. I originally joined to gain an education or earn a scholarship, but unexpectedly the war started, and I was obligated to serve combat duty.”
I asked him how long he served, and what was his rank, “I served from November 27, 1956 to January 4, 1959, and served as a sergeant,” he answered. “I married during the war but didn't have any children until right after.” Since he had served for a fairly long time, I asked him if he was adequately equipped, as far as food, ammunition, etc. “At the beginning we had everything, but towards the end all countries, including the United States denied Cubans ammunition  food, and mostly moral support, which weakened us greatly.” When asked what he felt brought about the war in the first place, he said, “I believe that scarce public awareness of political matters, along with the great push of Communism made the situation of war inevitable.”
I asked Mr. Valdes if he was ever in hand to hand combat with an enemy.  He said, “Yes, twice as a matter of fact; the first time the enemy and I started far away until we ran to each other and attacked.  We struggled until I heard a shot. During combat you don’t know who’s shot who, until I saw him fall. One of my men must have shot him.  The other time I wasn't that close to him. I only know he approached me and when he attacked I had to shoot. It hurts to accept the fact I really killed a man; you see in war nobody blames anyone because everyone is shooting, but when you know it’s you, it’s hard to accept.” He paused for a moment and told me that on that day he had experienced something that reflects on his mind the most. He continued, “After we finished taking their position at battle and took over the territory, we discovered a young boy which our enemies had taken as an example to terrorize the town.  His tongue was cut off and he was tied to tree and bleeding to death.  Our men rushed him to the nearest hospital, but his state was critical and he bled to death.”
I next asked Mr. Valdes to reflect back on any personal experience that was painful to him, such as that of a friend dying. “Well my best friend Ramon Isquierdo was killed in combat. They sent me to take him from the mountains where he was injured. I didn't now exactly how injured he was until I got there. As it turned out, he was pretty bad. I carried him on my back for two miles under fire.  He was shot by a shotgun in his stomach. His intestines were spilled out. I had to carry him face up so they wouldn't fall out. I remember how the blood gushed out and filled my uniform, which was already drenched in muddy dirt, but throughout the whole journey, all I could remember was that it was my friend’s life I held in my hands.  I led him to the hospital where he died within seven hours.  Right before his death, he gave me all his belongings. It was too hard to bring myself to face his mother. I heard she was hysterical. I never met her even though I heard that for months she looked for me. The only thing I could send to her was the message of where her son was buried, and send her his belongings along with the request he gave me at his death bed: to tell her ‘he died like a man’ which was a great truth.”
I wondered if he had ever been captured during the war, he answered, "During the war never, but after the war I couldn't find a job anywhere. Castro had taken power and some people knew I had fought against him. I heard about the attack on the Bay of Pigs and some men who were to going against Castro’s troops. I ran to the mountains, but on my way I was captured. I was taken in a jeep to a concentration camp. I was talked down to and put to solitary confinement. Then I was put with other men in a room. We waited our execution. One by one they were pulling us out. We didn't speak to each other because we were scared if the other was a spy, trying to find out of any conspiracy.  There were five men left.” Meanwhile my wife, who I was unaware of, was outside crying for my life. The man at the front desk asked who and where she was from, she said “Orient, Cuba”. He asked her the name of her father. She answered. The man was a friend of her father. He said no daughter of such a friend of mine could be crying like this. Unexpectedly I was called out. They questioned me and asked me what I was doing in the mountains. I said I was taking my wife to a safer place and denied all the charges of conspiracy. I was released. I never heard about what happened to the other four men, but I’m almost sure their destination ended in execution.” 

I continued the interview by asking Mr. Valdes if he had any regret,s or if he could have changed something, an action he did or an event that happened in the war, what would it be, and how are his feelings now about war now. "I don’t regret anything.  I only wished that I had been more aggressive against the enemy. I was too young and inexperienced at combat duty, and as far as war is concerned, I think it should always be avoided, but if and only if it doesn't threaten the rightful freedoms of men.” I asked him what he felt about the Iran situation, he said. “I think we missed our perfect moment to take action, but at this point we should take advantage of all diplomatic opportunities, if there exist any in that kind of backward country.  I feel that at this point American diplomats should be informed and experienced enough to know if there is any chance of compromise or not.”
I ended the interview by thanking Mr. Valdes for his cooperation and his amenable attitude in expressing his feelings. What he went through and his attitude towards war in general, I am sure is common among veterans all over the world.

THE LOVE STORY

"Turquoise taxi driving the streets of Old Havana, Cuba"
VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm Geddy Images

Carnival time! The cities in Cuba before the revolution were always filled with happy people and festivities. Some cities' view on taxing was “just raise money." Some would throw street parades and carnivals and proceeds would go to town hall. All the local citizens enjoyed taking part, helping, building floats and competing. The equivalent to an old time country carnival or fair. The food, the music, and language albeit different wore the same look as America.

The float was to be a ship. The three sisters were to be sailors. Their father was a master woodworker who enjoyed his art, and poured his heart into his work. The day of the carnival arrived and it was a beautiful parade float, shaped like a boat, with steering wheels and nautical decorations. The floats that went down the town streets were guarded by the national guard, and one guard in particular wore a gleaming white smile, looking distinctly over to one of the sisters.

It was the end of the parade, and many of the local girls were instructed to drink (or dump) as many drinks as they could get the visiting gentlemen to buy, all in the name of their city of course. The young national guard that took a liking to one sister, was named Diego, and her's was Amarilis. They sat together, drank and chatted, you could tell a romance was blooming, but he had to go back into his military duty and time would have to tell. They meet again only once, when he is on leave, and he proposes to her. 

On a beautiful clear morning Amarilis receives a letter from her fiance and it reads, “You must be ready, I am coming to visit you, and we are to get married." The date he was arriving was that same day. With anticipation and panic she prepared for what would be her wedding day. She headed out to the local baker and ordered a wedding cake. She fitted her sister’s wedding dress and prepared by telling family and friends. Not long before receiving the letter she sees Diego walking down the street and towards her house. The cake barely made it, and fell a bit to the side being mushed, but the smiles in the room were from ear to ear. They were truly a beautiful couple. The day and year was June 4, 1958. 

“Made in Cuba”, and “Born in the U.S.A.”

The wind blew in from the veranda windows that were open. You could smell the ocean air from the bay. It was a clear summer day in Miami, and she waited to see her newborn. This is my mother’s early experience here in the United States, having migrated from Cuba only four months prior. She left her country, her family and friends to seek freedom in a nation full of strangers, speaking a foreign language. How frightened this young woman must have been. If not for the kind faces of the nuns that took care of her, she feared not only the future, but her life. With only one other pregnancy to remember, it was a difficult one, that almost cost her life. She hemorrhaged due to a torn placenta, and her life had been in danger and in need of blood transfusion. This time she was in an American hospital, and at least that was comforting. She knew little of this nation, but if the rumors were right, she was in the best hands to receive medical attention. She waited to see her new baby girl. She was healthy, fair skinned and beautiful. Although the joy of a new life is overwhelming, a parent wondering how to provide for this new life, can be even more overwhelming.

The Catholic hospital opened its doors and kindness to the immigrating Cubans. The Catholic Church also offered support and assistance. This help was not in vain, for the Cuban community ended up being one of the most prosperous immigrant groups in the country, and giving back to the Catholic Church was definitely their priority. So many immigrants who were willing to work hard to be able to achieve the American Dream, and although many in this country's history have ventured through this path to freedom, the Cubans were different. Many came to stay “for a while.” They were to take advantage of the opportunity, to learn the American way, the language, and continue to try to achieve their goals for prosperity; but eventually return to their homeland.

As life would have it, that wait turned into months, the months turned into years, and before long many Cubans decided it was time to become Cuban-Americans. Through time more and more of them applied for American citizenship. Their children were born American and spoke better English than Spanish. In time, the idea of going back to Cuba was just that, an idea. They realized the world they knew was now gone. Cuban literally froze in the year 1959. It progressed no more. The lively streets, nightclubs and casinos were gone. Cuba’s charm turned into broken down unpainted buildings, and streets with bicycles and antique cars. Food is scarce, and so are most domestic products. The country is poor.

Those that came are now Americans. The Cuban community has flourished; exceeding  national averages in college graduating rates and surpassing other immigrant groups in financial prosperity. Many still live in their hometown of Miami.  From this Cuban exodus, there have many individual stories of hardship, hope and struggle. The Cuban people are a proud people, and I am happy to write further about us, and introduce you to a flavor (sabor) you may never have tasted before.