Tony Cuesta
Tony Cuesta (13 June 1926 — 2 December 1992) was an anti-Castro Cuban activist.
Life
[edit]Cuesta was educated at the University of Havana. Initially a member of the 26th of July Movement and a close supporter of Fidel Castro, Cuesta in 1960 defected to the United States, and in 1961 was one of the founders of the anti-Communist paramilitary organization Alpha 66. He later set up the guerilla group "Comandos L" (the L standing for Libertad) which operated out of Anguilla and, under his command, in 1963 sank the Soviet freighter Baku in Caibarién Harbour.
In 1966 Cuesta was captured in Cuba. He had been attempting to smuggle men into Cuba in order to assassinate Castro when he was fired upon by a Soviet ship. Rather than surrender he attempted to blow his ship up with a hand grenade, as a result of which he lost an eye and an arm.[1] He remained in prison there until 1978. After his release he returned to Miami, and refounded Comandos L.
He died in Miami on 2 December 1992 from a heart attack.[2] He was married four times.
References
[edit]- ^ Getlin, Josh (22 March 1922). "The Return of an Old Cold..." Los Angelos Times.
- ^ "Tony Cuesta, leader of Cuban exile group". Tampa Bay Times. 3 December 1992.
Sources
[edit]- "Tony Cuesta, Leader Of Anti-Castro Unit, Dies at 66 in Miami", New York Times, Dec. 4, 1992.
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