“For a few years after leaving Cuba, Marita was looked after and protected by a mobster named Ed Levi. It was his… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“On October 26, 1963, Nikita Khrushchev contacted President Kennedy and offered to remove the missiles from Cuba in exchange for a promise that the United States would not invade the Island Nation. A day later on October 27th, Khrushchev sent a letter proposing that the Soviet Union would dismantle their missiles in Cuba, if the Americans reciprocated by removing their… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“On November 27, 1493, when Columbus returned to Navidad, he found that the 39 crew members that he had left behind had… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“The name Camp Columbia came from a historic and rather poetic name for the United States. It was founded in 1898, for… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“While under the Spanish flag, the Crown rigorously controlled the number of slaves allowed into Cuba and charged the settlers a 20% royalty for each slave they imported. In 1537, Havana was invaded and briefly occupied by the French. On April 6, 1538, Hernando de Soto with about 950 men and horses on ten ships sailed from Sanlúcar de Barrameda,… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“In the Cuban House of Representatives in 1955, Díaz-Balart spoke out against the amnesty granted to Castro by Batista. He went on to become the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and Minister of the Interior during the Batista administration. Although he was elected to the Cuban Senate in 1958, he was unable to take the seat due to… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“During the “Bay of Pigs Invasion” One Douglas “B-26” airplane with counterfeit Cuban markings was fired on and crashed into the sea… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“On Thursday, February 19, 2015, two months after the United States and Cuba announced a willingness to re-establish normal diplomacy, after over… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“The United States became engaged in hostilities with North Vietnam on November 1, 1955, when President Eisenhower deployed the Military Assistance Advisory Group as advisors to train the army of South Vietnam, better known as the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Things escalated in 1960, which was about the same time that Cuba established diplomatic relations with Vietnam, the… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“One of Castro’s first acts as Cuba’s Prime Minister was to go on a diplomatic tour that started on April 15, 1959.… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“General Gerardo Machado always had an eye for the ladies and enjoyed partying at the swankiest nightclubs in Havana. For a time… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“Butch Cassidy and Harry A. Longabaugh, “the Sundance kid,” were holed up and then gunned down Sixty years prior to the death… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“A total of 779 prisoners have been held at Guantánamo since the facility was opened on January 11, 2002. Of those, 8… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“For some politics has become a battle ground that allows them to vent their frustrations, while at the same time hide behind the anonymity of the social media. For others it has become a weapon to overwhelm their opponents by the weight of the number of comments sent to the originator of the blog or article. Fair or not, this… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“The infamous Fray Nicolás de Ovando y Cáceres, who had sniveled around the Royal Court wanting to become a favorite of the pious Queen Isabella, was appointed Governor of the Indies, replacing Francisco de Bobadilla, the man who had been responsible for sending Columbus from Hispaniola, back to Spain in irons. Prior to his appointment Fray Nicolás de Ovando had… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“On November 2, 1899, eight members of the United States Navy were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism and service beyond the call of duty. On the night of June 2, 1898, they had volunteered to scuttle the collier USS Merrimac, with the intention of blocking the entry channel to Santiago de Cuba. On orders of Rear… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“For some politics has become a battle ground that allows them to vent their frustrations, while at the same time hide behind the anonymity of the social media. For others it has become a weapon to overwhelm their opponents by the weight of the number of comments sent to the originator of the blog or article. Fair or not, this… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“Eight Bells: Robert J. Kane ‘55D died June 3, 2017, in Palm Harbor, Florida. He came to MMA by way of Boston College. Bob or “Killer,” as he was affectionately known, was an independent and eccentric soul, enjoying the freedom of life. After a career at sea as an Officer in the U.S. Navy and in the Merchant Marine he… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“While under the Spanish flag, the Crown rigorously controlled the number of slaves allowed into Cuba and charged the settlers a 20% royalty for each slave they imported. In 1537, Havana was invaded and briefly occupied by the French. On April 6, 1538, Hernando de Soto with about 950 men and horses on ten ships sailed from Sanlúcar de Barrameda,… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“Pope Alexander VI issued a Papal bull authorizing the Treaty of Tordesillas on June 7, 1494. The treaty gave everything located beyond 370 leagues… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“During Castro’s tour to the United States, Canada and Latin America, everyone in Cuba listened intently to what he was saying. Fidel’s speeches, that were shown on Cuban television, were troubling to Raúl and he feared that his brother was deviating from Cuba’s path towards communism. Becoming concerned by Fidel’s candid remarks, Raúl conferred with his close friend “Che” Guevara,… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“In 1933, Batista closely allied himself with the newly created, five-man Presidency of Cuba named “The Pentarchy.” Sergio Carbó y Morera, an influential member of the new Executive Commission of the Pentarchy, became Batista’s inside man. On the morning of September 8th, with the country in a precarious state of instability, and as the self-appointed head of the Provisional Government… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“In 1948 upon his return to Havana from Bogotá, Columbia, Castro, as well as others, spoke out against President Grau’s attempt to raise bus fares, even though they were less than ten cents at the time. Privately operated buses were the primary way students and workers got around. They also spoke out against the violent gangs that roamed the streets.… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“My comments are historical in nature and are not overtly political, although politics are directly responsible for the outcome of History.” — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“Among other jobs that we did, my brother Bill and I were shoe shine boys in Jersey City and Hoboken during the World War II years. We went from tavern to tavern shining shoes for ten cents and hopefully a generous tip. The Hoboken waterfront bristled with starkly looming, grey hulled Liberty ships. Secured to the piers facing River Street,… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“On October 26, 1963, Nikita Khrushchev contacted President Kennedy and offered to remove the missiles from Cuba in exchange for a promise that the United States would not invade the Island Nation. A day later on October 27th, Khrushchev sent a letter proposing that the Soviet Union would dismantle their missiles in Cuba, if the Americans reciprocated by removing their… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“The Exciting Story of Cuba has been in demand more than I ever expected. I believe that this is partly because of the renewed interest in Cuba and, although travel books are available, this book gives the reader an easy-to-read and understand in-depth history of the island nation. It is used as a reference book at all of the United… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
