José Ramón Fernández facts for kids
José Ramón Fernández Álvarez (born November 4, 1923 – died January 6, 2019) was an important leader in Cuba. He was a member of the Communist Party and served as a vice-president of the Council of Ministers, which is like the government's cabinet.
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Early Life and Fight for Change
José Ramón Fernández Álvarez was born in Santiago de Cuba. He went to school there for his early education. In 1947, he finished his studies at the Cadet School of Cuba. He also trained at the Artillery School and took other courses in Cuba and the USA.
From 1952, he secretly worked against the government of Fulgencio Batista. Batista was a dictator, meaning he ruled the country unfairly. Fernández joined different groups trying to bring change. In 1956, he was caught and sent to prison. He stayed in prison on the Isle of Pines until January 1, 1959. This was when Fidel Castro and his allies won the Cuban Revolution and took control.
Role in the Cuban Revolution
After the Revolution in 1959, Fernández became a key member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. He helped with many tasks, both for building up the country and for its defense.
Bay of Pigs Invasion
On April 17, 1961, Cuba faced a big challenge: the Bay of Pigs Invasion. This was when a group of Cuban exiles, supported by the USA, tried to invade Cuba. At that time, Fernández was in charge of training the militia, which were citizen soldiers. Fidel Castro ordered him to lead the Cuban forces fighting the invaders. By April 19, 1961, Fernández and his troops reached Playa Giron. They forced the invading soldiers to give up.
Military Ranks and Government Roles
Fernández rose through the military ranks quickly. He became a Captain in 1959 and a Commandant in 1961. In 1966, he became a Brigade General. He also continued his education, graduating from the Higher War School in 1964.
He held many important jobs in the government:
- Director of the Cadet School of the Rebel Army.
- Chief of Combat Preparation for the Revolutionary Armed Forces until 1968.
- Deputy Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces until 1970.
- First Deputy Minister of Education until 1972.
- Minister of Education from 1972 to 1990.
- Vice-president of the Council of Ministers from 1978 to 2012.
Political and Sports Leadership
Fernández often represented the Cuban government in other countries. He attended events like the swearing-in ceremonies for new presidents in Latin American nations. He was also involved in international sports. He was a member of the executive committee for the Pan American Sports Organization.
He was a dedicated member of the Communist Party of Cuba. He took part in all seven of their main meetings, called Congresses. From 1975, he was a member of the Party's Central Committee. He also served as a deputy in the National Assembly of People's Power, which is Cuba's parliament, from 1976 until he passed away.
Organizing Major Sports Events
Fernández played a big role in organizing major sports competitions in Havana, Cuba:
- He chaired the committee for the XIV Central American and Caribbean Games in 1982.
- He led the committee for the XI Pan American Games in 1991.
- He was also chairman for the VI Athletics World Cup in 1992.
From 1997 to 2018, he was the President of the Cuban Olympic Committee. This group helps organize Cuba's participation in the Olympic Games.
Other Important Contributions
Fernández also chaired academic conferences. In 2001, he led the "Giron, 40 years later" conference, looking back at the Bay of Pigs invasion. In 2002, he chaired the "The Missile Crisis, a political vision 40 years later" conference, discussing the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was also an Emeritus Professor at a teaching institute.
Awards and Recognition
For all his hard work and dedication, José Ramón Fernández Álvarez received many awards. One of the highest honors he earned was the title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba.
See also
In Spanish: José Ramón Fernández Álvarez (militar) para niños
