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.