Biography of Tony Cuesta: By, Maria Aurelia

For more than two decades, Tony Cuesta Valle, more popularly known as Tony Cuesta, was one of the most determined and uncompromising figures in the Cuban exile resistance against Fidel Castro's regime.

Tony was born in Santiago de Cuba on June 13, 1926. His mother, whom he affectionately called "Estilita," was an elementary school teacher. Estilita was a woman marked by an independent spirit. After a difficult marriage, she divorced Tony's father when the child was three years old;an unusual move for a woman of her time. As a single mother, she cultivated in her son the characteristics of determination and persistence. These qualities served him well in life and undoubtedly helped him through difficult times during his struggle for a free Cuba.

Tony grew into a man on his beloved island. His life was idyllic. An animal lover, he studied veterinary medicine at the University of Havana. A natural athlete, he excelled as an Olympic-level swimmer and dabbled in wrestling.

His insight, charisma and natural intelligence caught the attention of a corporate head hunter and he was offered an executive position in the Havana branch of prestigious IT&T company {International Telephone & Telegraph}.

His was the life of a prosperous young man whose future was aimed skyward.

However, the coup d'état carried out by Fulgencio Batista in March 1952 to regain political power greatly concerned Tony.  Where was the island headed? Would the act of a megalomaniac spell the end of democracy in the young republic of Cuba?

Like so many others who shared his concerns, he thought he could find a way to bring about change within the July 26th Movement. He joined this ragged assembly of men, from prosperous professionals who had abandoned their careers to tenant farmers who had only known the grueling labor of the earth. These have and have nots of the island broke bread together and slept under the stars in their primitive camps in the mountains of the Sierra Maestra.

The men of the 26 of July Movement demonstrated a homogeny of body and mind that overshadowed social castes. Tony liked this. To him it was a sign of things to come. Leaving behind a wife, and child, and a promising career, he took his first steps toward a passion that would define his life: a free Cuba.

His skill in carrying out dangerous tasks among the  26 of July Movement, quickly caught the attention of Fidel Castro Ruz, the group's leader. After the triumph of what would become the nefarious revolution, Tony was given the position of Fidel Castro's Chief of Logistics.

In less than three months, Tony discovered subtle Russian infiltration in many key areas of the Revolutionary Government. Taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by his position, he quickly began to wage counterrevolution.

Those last few months radically transformed Tony’s life.

The regime knew of his "betrayal" and was on the hunt, their goal; execution by a firing squad, a method of capital punishment becoming a trend among the government. Requesting political asylum at the Peruvian Embassy, ​​Tony managed to escape from Cuba and settle in Miami, Florida.

From the early 1960s onward, he dedicated his life to the fight for a free Cuba, using his experience, courage, and leadership to organize daring missions against the communist government. During the 1960s, Tony Cuesta became widely known as the leader of the Commands L, a Miami-based militant exile group that carried out maritime raids, sabotage missions, and supply efforts to Cuban resistance cells. Commandos L specialized in risky sea-based operations, often targeting symbols of Castro's growing alliance with the Soviet Union.

One of the most notable missions was the attack on the Soviet ship Baku in the port of Havana. The Baku  was a visible representation of the Soviet presence on the island, and Cuesta's assault on the ship was intended both as a blow against Castro and as a signal to the world that Cubans in exile had not given up the fight. Accounts differ as to whether the ship was severely damaged or sunken, but the objective cemented Cuesta's reputation as a daring fighter willing to directly attack powerful enemies. The mission attracted the attention of the magazine Life which gave coverage to the war event. Tony appeared on the cover of that magazine. The disclosure by Life to the mission Baku, brought international attention to the Commandos L and its leader.

Unfortunately, not all actions of the Commandos L were as successful. In 1966, Cuesta led another armed incursion into Cuba with a small group of fighters. The mission, known as Mount Barreto, ended in disaster when Cuban forces overwhelmed them after a military exchange.

Rather than allow himself to be captured alive, Tony detonated a grenade in an attempt to take his own life. The explosion didn't kill him, but left him blind and without the use of his left arm, catastrophic injuries which he would suffer from for the rest of his life.

Captured in this condition, the totalitarian Cuban regime sentenced him to a lengthy prison term. He endured years of physical and mental torture. Despite his blindness and the mutilation of one of his limbs, Tony continued to resist within the prison walls as a "plantado,", “planted” prisoner. He inspired others with his determination and refusal to surrender. It was under such Dantesque circumstances that his book, Plomo Y Fantasia,Lead and Fantasy was born.

The book was "written" with great effort. During stolen moments, when not under the severe scrutiny of the guards, Tony, completely blind, dictated the more than 100 pages to his faithful fellow prisoners.  They stretched and smoothed cigarette paper and these became the pages that would become the manuscript. After its completion, Plomo was smuggled out of prison and brought to the United States. Curiously, his work reached the United States before Tony.

Finally, in 1978, as a result of negotiations between the President Carter administration and Cuba, Tony was released. He returned to Miami, Florida. Far from retiring, he remained active in the cause, writing, speaking, and supporting efforts to keep the dream of a free Cuba alive. He also published the first edition of his powerful narrative, Plomo. The book was a success. Every copy was sold.

Time passed. Unbeknownst to him, an unexpected influx of new life awaited him; Tony’s return to freedom also held a return to love. Ten years after arriving in the United States, Tony Cuesta met Maria Aurelia (photograph of M. A. below the text). Maria Aurelia, who was to be his third wife. Maria Aurelia was 30 years younger when she met the warrior. She met Tony while interviewing him for The Miami Herald.

They were married shortly after. Sadly, the idyllic marriage lasted only five years. Tony succumbed to the ravages of hepatitis C, a liver infection acquired through contaminated blood transfusions during surgeries performed in Cuba during his imprisonment.

Although their union was short-lived, according to Maria Aurelia, those five years were “intense and symbolized 20 years of adventure and gained wisdom.”

Several times during their marriage, Tony told Maria Aurelia of his desire to republish a second edition of his book, Plomo Y Fantasia, Lead and Fantasy. He believed the book was a vehicle to expose the island’s plight. During his lifetime he was unable to realize this wish.

Now, two decades after his death, the realization of his dream was achieved thanks to the support of another great Cuban freedom fighter and friend of Tony, Santiago Alvarez. Maria Aurelia, assisted by Alexandria Library, edited the second edition of Plomo Y Fantasia, Lead and Fantasy making it possible for a new audience to learn about Tony Cuesta.

To the Cuban exiles, Tony Cuesta stands out as a heroic figure and a martyr; becoming a living symbol of sacrifice and suffering. His life embodied the fierce commitment, devastating cost, and unbreakable spirit of those who opposed the Castro regime. Although he paid with his sight, mutilations to his body, and his freedom, Cuesta never abandoned the fight. His name endures as a symbol of courage and loyalty. His book, Plomo Y Fantasia, Lead and Fantasy, details his activities as a warrior committed to the freedom of his country.

This fascinating read is available in Spanish on Amazon. Likewise, this second edition includes original photos of Tony and the Commands L, an editorial by the internationally known journalist, Ninoska Pérez Castellón written in 1983 upon the publishing of the book’s first edition and a prologue written by his widow Maria Aurelia. To purchase it, simply click the link at the bottom of the page and you will be directed to the book. Likewise, an English version of Plomo Y Fantasia, Lead And Fantasy will soon be available on Amazon and on other platforms.