“Having reviewed President Trump’s new policy it is apparent that Carnival and Holland American Cruise Lines will continue to operate their cruises… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“General Gary Prado Salmón, retired, had been the commander of the unit that had captured Guevara. He confirmed General Vargas’ statement and… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“…the following day, after only six months in office, Manuel Urrutia Lleó resigned from the Presidency of Cuba, to which people in attendance started to applaud. He simply took off his suit coat and changed into a guayabera. Then leaving through a back door, he made his way to the Venezuelan Embassy where he sought asylum. Shortly thereafter, he emigrated… — 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 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
“Tamara Bunke was the only woman to fight alongside “Che” during his Bolivian campaign. She was an East German national, born in… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“Castro’s marriage to Mirta failed primarily because her entire family opposed his political views, however his promiscuous ways certainly did not help.… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“By October of 1958, most roads leading to the Oriente Province had become impassable. Bridges were cut and dropped by the rebels, making travel to the eastern part of Cuba extremely difficult. The elections in November were seen as an obvious sham and everyone knew that the only way to survive was to keep quiet and wait for changes to… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“On March 13, 1957, with guns blazing, they exited their vehicles and attacked the unwary guards at the Presidential Palace. Running, the… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“As Fidel Castro’s M–26–7 forces increased their attacks, the Cuban army was forced to withdraw into the larger towns for safety. This… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“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
“Gustavo Arcos, a loyal revolutionary who was with Castro in the second car when they attacked the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba, was shot in his back. The shot severely wounded him and disabled his right leg, thereby causing him a lifetime of pain. A few years later, Arcos went to Mexico with the intention of gathering support as… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share
“Frank Fiorini, better known as Frank Sturgis, had an interesting career that started when he quit high school during his senior year… — Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba Copy Share Image
“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
