Guantanamo



Front of Post Card mailed from Cuba

Today's photo of the day is an interesting one from 1961 when history unfolded around us. In April of '61 I lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico where my dad was stationed (Ft. Brooke, P.R.). That spring we boarded a troop ship to take an excursion to the Panama Canal via Cuba. On our stopover in Cuba we planned to enjoy the great military facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Little did we know trouble was brewing there.
On April 17, 1961, 1400 United States-backed Cuban exiles launched a botched attempt to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro. The invasion occurred on the south coast of Cuba and became known as the Bay of Pigs invasion. The invaders hoped to gain support as they moved across the island toward Havana but it was obvious from the start the invasion was doomed. President John F. Kennedy had the option of using U.S. Air support against the Cubans but decided against it. In the end, almost 100 of the invaders were killed and the rest captured. The Bay of Pigs fiasco was a huge embarrassment to the early Kennedy administration.

The interesting historical side note is that my family and I woke up on April 17, the day of the invasion, at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. We knew something was up that morning when we woke up that morning aboard the USNS Henry Gibbons to find the ship surrounded by US destroyers signaling something was up. Still the Navy allowed us to disembark and enjoy the facilities at Guantanamo Bay before sailing on to Panama.

Here is what the post card, dated Monday, April 17, 1961, and written by my mother to parents back in Mississippi says:

Dear Folks,
We're well on our way. We are in this place [Guantanamo Bay] but sail in a couple of hours for Panama. It's really jumping here today with the counter-revolution started. We are having fun. Eating, sleeping, and resting aboard ship. Will write letter tonight. Love, Barb and All.