Harry 'Pombo' Villegas Tamayo - Hero Of The Cuban Republic
Harry ‘Pombo’ Villegas Tamayo, revolutionary veteran of the 26th of July Movement, passed away at dawn on Sunday last, December 29th in Havana. He was 81 years old.
At the age of 19 he joined Ernesto Che Guevara in the Sierra Maestra mountains fighting against the dictatorship of General Batista. After the victory of the revolution he was part of Che’s 1965 Cuban contingent that travelled under the radar to fight in the Congo in aid of the left-wing guerrillas led by Christophe Gbenye.
By 1966 the Congo campaign was in disarray and the Cuban fighters had withdrawn. Che’s focus switched to Bolivia and Pombo accompanied Che and participated in combat until the capture of Che Guevara in the Yuro ravine. Pombo managed to slip away with four other rebels and all five eventually made their way back to Cuba by 1968.
Nelson Mandela praised the Cuban revolution for playing the critical role it played in helping to defeat the apartheid regime. For Mandela the Cuban revolution was “a source of inspiration all freedom-loving people.”
Pombo volunteered for two further internationalist missions in Angola in the 1970’s as part of the large Cuban military campaign against the South African backed forces. There he reached the rank of Brigadier General. Pombo was the receiver of many distinctions throughout his life as a revolutionary fighter including the honorary title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba.
Pombo was in recent years, Vice President of the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution and was active in disseminating the political and military thinking of Che Guevara.
In accordance with his will, his body was cremated and on Monday, 30th following a funeral with full military honors.