The people knew well the Commander of the Revolution Camilo Cienfuegos, as well as their Commander in Chief, and he has always been identified as one of its best and essential children, despite his early death, with only 27 years.

That's why every year, the people celebrate his birthday, occurred in a humble neighborhood of Havana on February 6, 1932, such as the anniversary of his physical disappearance in an air disaster occurred on October 28, 1959.

And it is that this Cuban so pure, next to the extroverted, dynamic and straightforward character for most of the children of this land, also embodies the ideal of the best of youth: patriotic fervor, bravery, courage, rebellion facing what is wrong, honesty, solidarity, honesty, joy of life, patriotism, humanism and fidelity; and many other virtues which had flaws, like any human being, no one remembers them.

So it was real, but it is also the lord of the vanguard and the Hero of Yaguajay that his compatriots love and remember with a radiant and youthful picture at the time of his disappearance, in compliance of an important mission that had conjured a fact of high treason.

A few days after the historic Battle of Yaguajay, commanded by him at the end of December 1958 in the center of the island, where he showed off as a strategist in front of his invasive guerrilla column and he earned the title of Hero, all of Cuba met him alive, after his arrival in Havana, to prepare next to the entry of the Caravan of the Freedom.

It is fair to point out that in the forging of the moral virtues, in his childhood and youth, the education given by their parents, two Spanish emigrants, resulted decisive.

Restless teen and sensitive to the social injustices, he participated in popular protests against the rising cost of living and in 1954; he joined the struggle against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Signed by the repressive organs,he is forced to leave the country.

For the rest, the economic constraints of his home, forcing him to interrupt studies and to travel to the United States at the age of 21, where he is deported. Upon his return to Cuba is linked already decisively and directly to the student revolutionary movement. He falls prisoner and is tortured, that´s why he is forced to go into exile again.

During a brief stay in New York, he is aware of the plans of Fidel Castro in Mexico, engaged in the organization of a libertarian expedition to Cuba.

In Aztec land occurs the concretion of their desires. In the capital of that country in September 1956, he contacts the Movement July 26, led by Fidel and he joins the crew of the Granma yacht, which ultimately would leave the port of Tuxpan with 82 future combatants willing to win or to die for the independence of the motherland.

The landing random by Las Coloradas On December 2, the baptism of fire in Alegría de Pio, confirmed his decision to be faithful to the cause until the end.

Already reorganized the meager troop, Camilo highlighted in the implementation of multiple armed missions under the command of Fidel, Almeida and Che.

His boldness and courage made him hold from April 16, 1958, the military grades of Commander of the Rebel Army that operated as an irreversible reality in the mountains of the Sierra Maestra. His capacity for the organization, the offensive and the strategy begin to become evident and announced the brilliant guerrilla leader he was.

Promoted to Chief of the Column Two Antonio Maceo, performed successful missions in the plains of Cauto, outside the territory of the mountain chain.

By the impact and effectiveness of his missions, the tyranny was hurt on its flanks and launched an offensive against the fighting forces. This radicalization of the national patriotic conscience and grew up popular support, on all of valuable young people from the countryside and the city, the revolutionary movement.

Therefore, the rebel leader returns to the vicinity of the command, which had already sketched out the best response to the forces of the dictator Fulgencio Batista.

It is thus that the revolutionary armies pass on the offensive end and on August 18, the Commander-in-Chief ordered the execution of the invasion from East to West, as did the mambi fighters in the last war of independence.

Camilo would go to the front of his column two Antonio Maceo and Che Guevara, leading the column eight Ciro Redondo.

The hero of the frank smile and the big hat fought between October and December 1958 in so remote and unknown areas until then as Seibabo, Venegas, Zulueta - on two occasions -, General Carrillo, Jarahueca,Iguará, Meneses, Mayajigua, and Yaguajay, in which headquarters and other units had made strong enemy troops.

After nine days of battle, the site of Yaguajay culminated with the rebel triumph. This victory coincided with the taking of the city of Santa Clara by the troops of Che and the escape of the tyrant, on December 31 of that year.

In that campaign, Camilo confirmed his qualities of Señor de la Vanguardia (Lord of the Vanguard) and the Battle of Yaguajay, in the former province of Las Villas, center of the country, catapulted him as a hero and brilliant strategist in combat, next to his embattled troops. The latter, as well as the Battle of Guisa, directed in the Sierra by Fidel, and the one of Santa Clara, by the Heroic Guerrilla, were decisive in the victory of the Rebel Army.

Batista flees in a coward stampede, but it is known cohort attempts to install a pro-US government again. Camilo received the order to march quickly toward Havana. There he took the Greater State of tyranny, the Barracks of Columbia.

The arrival of the Caravan of the Freedom, January 8, to the capital, headed by Fidel, Camilo was one of the commanders who were waiting for him, as well as Che, and Almeida. During his speech in the early hours of the night, the leader of the revolution demonstrated the confidence placed in Camilo with beautiful and simple words, etched forever in the minds of Cubans.

It was a year of intense work and record of the young leaders of the nascent revolution that from very early began to fulfill its vocation of equality, social justice and national sovereignty.

The consternation caused in the village by his physical departure has only been surpassed by the conviction that his example survives among Cubans. And that, in the words of the Master, death is not true when it has fulfilled the work of life.

Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez