The U.S. mercenary invasion of Playa Girón

Dear friends,

Next April 19, we will be commemorating the 51st anniversary of the Girón Beach victory when we defeated the mercenary invasion of our country.

Today we, the people and our Revolution, are stronger in our revolutionary ideas and we are convinced that socialism is the only way out.

The strategy of the United States in its desire to destroy the Cuban Revolution embraces all the possible fronts: political, economic, ideological and military.

In the first months of 1961, the wave of counter-revolutionary terror increased. They tried to destroy industrial and agricultural facilities, harvests, communication facilities, schools, hospitals, etc. They multiplied the attacks against leaders and revolutionary militants, mainly against Fidel Castro, and landings of counter-revolutionary groups took place.

On the morning of April 15, 1961, the airports of Ciudad Libertad, San Antonio de los Baños and Santiago de Cuba were bombarded. Taking advantage, as is their habit of artful procedures, they disguised their airplanes with the badges of the Revolutionary Air Force of Cuba, to give the impression that an internal rebellion was taking place in the Island.

The main objective was to destroy the modest Cuban air force, to impede what would be used against the imminent invasion.

The following day, April 16, when saying goodbye at the bereavement of the victims of the bombing, and before an immense concentration of armed militia, Fidel declared the state of alert. Understanding that the action of April 15 was the prelude to the invasion, he then proclaimed the socialist character of the Revolution. This way, the men that would face the enemy hours later would already be fighting consciously for socialism.

On the dawn of April 17, the mercenary invasion took place, named by its organizers, “Operation Pluto.” The invader contingent was coordinated by Brigade 2506, with more than 1,500 men and five ships of war of the United States and escorted by other naval units, also North American. They disembarked at two points on the Bay of Pigs (Girón Beach and Long Beach), with the purpose of establishing a beachhead and constituting a provisional counter-revolutionary government.

They chose the place well, but they didn’t keep in mind two factors: the indissoluble unity between the people and their Revolution, and the strategic capacity and tactics of Fidel Castro and of the leaders of the Revolution.

During the invasion, the mercenaries exhorted the Cubans to surrender, but these men responded vigorously: “We don’t surrender! We are for Homeland or Death!”

The revolutionary forces faced with heroism the mercenary brigade, their naval units, tanks and airplanes. And seizing their weapons, in less than 72 hours the enemy was defeated, exactly on April 19, 1961. Five days later, the U.S. president, John F. Kennedy, openly admitted the full responsibility of the government of the United States for the invasion of Cuba.

The victory of Girón Beach consolidated the trust of the Cuban people in their own forces; it corroborated the value of the internationalist solidarity; it increased the prestige of the Cuban Revolution on the whole planet; and it reaffirmed the directing role of Fidel Castro. And as he himself said: “After Girón, all the towns of America were a little freer.”

I wish all the very best in your struggle.

In solidarity y abrazos,
Ildefonso Gustavo Díaz Sandoval

April 13, 2012

The writer has been a teacher of English for more than 20 years in Cuba. He teaches English to medical students there. He told WW that from a political point of view, he is a member of the Cuban Communist Party and a political-ideological teacher within the CCP. He defends the Cuban Revolution at any cost and promotes love, peace and friendship. He admires the U.S. workers for their determination and struggle.