Francisco Elías García is 80 years old. Time has been implacable with this man. He already feels the weight of age. But his memory neither forgets the days of the clandestine struggle in his hometown Caimito, nor when he met Fidel.

It was the year 1955 in Caimito. On June 16, the July 26 Movement emerged in the Bello photo studio, with four groups (*).

"In the photographic studio belonging to Bello brothers, I started in the fight for the freedom of Cuba. I was about 17 years old when I joined the cell led by Evelio Bello. Those were days of great turmoil, of constant insecurity. I was young and I was not afraid, I never thought about risk.

"I participated in different actions: one day we burned cane fields, the next day we cut off the electricity supply , we spread propaganda, we put bombs or firecrackers in economic or public places".

Some may wonder why a young man, in the prime of life, would risk everything for the other wellbeing.

"My family lived badly. My father was a worker with a low salary. And my mom worked in a plantation , only when there was something t do. Nobody worried about what he did in dead time. We were five brothers; therefore, she washed, ironed to do some money or cleaned houses, all to earn a little extra money. In addition, the abuse of the police was constant.

"Then, when they told me about Fidel's ideas, I did not hesitate for a moment and joined the fight. I was imprisoned in 1958 during a mass detention; before they never suspected me, due to the fact that I was too young ".

This was the beginning of García's personal calvary. During his stay in prison there was no shortage of torture, beatings, humiliation. His only crime was to be a revolutionary.

"I was imprisoned right here in Caimito: Lieutenant Jacinto García Menocal and Sergeant Bacallao, along with his henchmen, took it out on us. They beat us with their feet, with their hands. They took me to the beach of Banes and submerged me in the water, until I took my breath away. "

The revolutionary triumph of January 1, 1959 surprised him in El Príncipe prison , and was immediately part of the furor of those days.

"We got out of prison and went where we were most needed; as part of a group, I occupied the Research Bureau. Then I went back to Caimito, where I got married and had three children. "

Not even the responsibilities at home prevented him from continuing to give everything for Cuba. "I participated in the fight against bandits; there I met Fidel as part of the Revolutionary National Militias. He put his hand on me and said 'a lot of courage, partner'. I almost get the tears, the impression. I was also in Girón. "

The first years of Revolution are part of his memories: companies nationalization ; when he could go to the beach without paying for it, since it was no longer a luxury; when a doctor attended him for free. He will be eternally grateful to Fidel and his Revolution, because his three children studied and did not have the need to leave school.

Francisco not only fought with weapons; when it was necessary to cut cane or work in agriculture, he joined. Finally, he joined the working life until his retirement. And he sums up his life in one sentence: "I was where I was needed.

TRANSLATION BY LMMS