On the occasion of the 90th birthday of Army General Raul Castro Ruz, Second Chief of the Cuban Revolution and the upcoming 86th birthday of Pura Aviles Cruz, Holguin native and physician by profession, it is stimulating to fix and make known the friendship between them, full of purity, loyalty, respect and decency, manifested in their different stages of life and in different degrees of importance and transcendence of their various encounters.
The nine decades of life of a man whose strength is humility, finds a space of correspondence with Pura, and many more people to achieve common concerns of life. There are friendships that are born within minutes of relating to each other and others that take years to do so. But true friendship lasts a lifetime, like the pure and friendly one that the Cuban politician had the good fortune to meet.
Writing a bit of history to be able to qualify them in the search for convergences, vibes, virtues, and what the sovereign earned from his intense revolutionary actions in favor of the beloved homeland and internationalism, "painting" the friendship between them is a major challenge for those who try to do it.
It is not a question of narrating the intense life work of the two. Only to try to fix the singular history forged within an ascending growth of friendly and revolutionary environment between a medical professional, heroine of work, sower of health, trainer of a generation of young professionals heirs of the best scientific and ethical tradition, and the second Chief of the Cuban Revolution, depositary of a prominent history -too much known- discovering the indissoluble solid trace of reigning friendship.
They are two Cubans born in the territory of Holguín, with a connotedly outstanding service record, who, making history, met in several situations of high responsibility, sometimes, in the midst of danger to the lives of patients that she assisted as part of an emergency, and with the privilege in those tense circumstances to show pride before an "ordinary Cuban, with the privilege of having Fidel as his brother, best friend, teacher, Chief and always accompany him, regardless of risks, sacrifices, without hesitation for a second, with the utmost loyalty''. 1
The fostered families of both of them are bearers of a historical and eternal friendship, united to the same umbilical cord of the Revolution of Martí and Fidel, being watchmen, executors and guides of the Cuban nation, each one, in their own context.
Several of their meetings were in scenarios, among these the serious care of the combatant Rolando Perez Quintosa, a quadruple assassination of the counterrevolution, of General Ramon Espinosa Martin, in Angola, the result of an enemy ambush, and in the last moments of life of Lina Ruz, the beloved mother of Fidel, Raul, Ramon and other descendants of the Castro Ruz family.
Anecdotes, encounters and experiences with Raul
Moving, curious, instructive and interesting stories were told by Dr. Pura Aviles, on her ties with the current Army General.
In a meeting with Lina Ruz, the mother told her: "doctor, when you meet him, tell him or call him by 'Musito'", and upon inquiring, the noble mother replied "that name is because my son is like a cat, who usually throws himself over the pots before serving the food".
On another occasion, while he was attending Lina at the Havana Naval Hospital, at about three in the morning, Raul arrived, who looked tired, without having been able to go to the shower that day, nor eat -as he admitted-. About the moment he expressed that he felt great pride to see the General of the Army multiplied in his various tasks and giving everything for the Revolution, and to whom he said that "it is very immense the responsibility and commitment with the many men and women who died to conquer the freedom that we have today in Cuba and that we are very committed to the people, but our mother is the greatest thing in life''.
Another of Pura's experiences, a passionate, talkative and responsible woman, was when she was on an internationalist mission in the People's Republic of Angola in 1975. There Raul and Vilma made a visit in Rosa Linda, to the hospital "Joao Tercero" when she was watching over the health of General Ramon Espinosa Martin, who was ambushed and wounded by an explosion of a mine placed by enemy forces of the Liberation Front of Cabinda, where three of the fighters who accompanied him lost their lives.
The first to greet her was Vilma Espín, who asked her about Espinosa's state of health, "it is very serious" she answered. The president of the Cuban Women asked her not to expose him to Raúl in that way, since Espinosa meant a lot to him as a high officer of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and as a person.
Raul together with Vilma and Pura went to the patient's room and when he came out of the room, he tapped on the floor with one of his feet, and looking at Dr. Pura he said, "that man cannot die. Everything unspeakable must be done to save him."
I had two moments," Pura said, "deeply unforgettable because of the emotional charge it produced in me. When Fidel awarded me the distinction of Heroine of Labor, and Raul did it with the "Ana Betancourt" order in the presence of the mother of the Lage brothers. Raul made me red with so many compliments. He was sympathetic, courteous, deeply kind, especially chivalrous''.
What to say about Pura?
Doctor in Medical Sciences, Heroine of the Work of the Republic of Cuba, Internationalist Combatant, Member of the Cuban Academy of Sciences, Merit researcher and illustrious daughter and personality of Holguin, she counts among the fruits of her outstanding scientific contribution the "Technique of Open Abdomen", considered within the works of greater application in Cuba and for which she was granted the prize of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba.
The greatness of this heroine of the Republic of Cuba cannot be summarized in a few lines. It is enough to mention her internationalist mission in Angola as a member of the 20 Women Battalion, where she stayed from December 1975 to February 1977. There she contributed to the training of anesthesiologists and supported the Cuban combatants and the people of the brother country.
Her history includes an internationalist mission in Angola, twenty years as a Deputy to the National Assembly of the People's Power, extensive scientific work and countless trade union awards. Her simplicity and modesty are only enough for her to express her immense pride in being Cuban and her admiration for Fidel and Raul.
She has carried out with seriousness and quality other positions: Member of the Provincial Committee of the Association of Cuban Combatants since its foundation; of the Science Union and of its National Committee; she was elected Deputy to the National Assembly and coordinator in the Province of Holguin of the Health, Sports and Environment Commission of the National Assembly. Member of the legislative group of this commission during four periods (1992-1997), (1998-2002), (2002-2007) and (2007-2012.). Member of the Academy of Sciences. (1997-2002). As a parliamentarian she has attended events in Canada, Bolivia, Colombia, U.S.A. She has also worked in intensive course for the preparation of intensive care physicians, for the opening of the C.D.I. in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for 7 months in the Focsa building, Havana; also in the Office of Health Care of the Council of State of Cuba.
And Raul?
Loyal to his friends, on the basis of ethics and principles, reason for the solid friendship with Pura. "Lover of his family, in love for life with Vilma, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, a nucleus that makes him proud for the integral formation, from the passion of love and respect". 2
Always attentive to have his ear to the ground, to better listen to his people, at times when you have to do everything to survive at any cost, changing the style of work, because suddenly all the circumstances were different.
With a promising trajectory that dates back to his youth. He was president of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba and first Secretary of the Central Committee of the Comminist Party of Cuba (PCC in Spanish), a position he held until April 19, 2021. Revolutionary fighter, political leader, statesman and military chief. For his services rendered to the defense of the country, on November 15, 1976, he was promoted to the rank of Army General. On February 27, 1998, by agreement of the Council of State, on the 40th anniversary of his promotion to Commander of the Rebel Army, he was awarded, together with Commander of the Revolution Juan Almeida Bosque, the honorary title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba and the "Máximo Gómez" Order in First Degree, in consideration of his long career, his great revolutionary merits and his dedication to duty.
Army General Raúl Castro Ruz has made notable contributions to the Revolution as military chief; standing out his decisive participation at the head of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces for almost 49 years, in the results achieved in the preparation of the country for defense and in the practical application of the concept of the All People's War.
It is a joy for these two souls their friendship. That of the dignified Army General and the prominent health professional, mixed with the purity of Pura and the gentlemanliness of Raul.
Friendship that has lasts because it is based on the maxim that when it is true, it is not enough to like each other. It is necessary to take the definitive step and help without expecting anything in return. A friend is loved for what he is, because friendship is not a trade of benefits. True friendship is, to a great extent, affectionate and disinterested service. And that is what the friendship between these two great Holguineros is all about.
Source
Pérez Martínez. Rodobaldo. ''El mejor regalo más Revolución/Pag 8 Semanario ''ahora'' dated May 26, 2029.
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