Cuban Army Corps General Julio Casas Regueiro, member of the Politburo of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), Vice-president of the Council of State, and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), died in Havana on Saturday.
According to an official note by the PCC’s Politburo, Casas died at 1:20 p.m., as a consequence of a cardio-respiratory arrest.
Born in Bombi, Mayari Arriba, on February 16, 1936, he studied at Santiago de Cuba’s Professional School of Commerce, and began his revolutionary activities after the coup d’ etat of March 10, 1952, being arrested twice.
In June, 1957, he contacted members of the 26 of July Movement, and in March, 1958, he joined the “Frank Pais” Second Eastern Front, under the captaincy of Commander Raul Castro.
Later, he joined Column 6, and participated in many combats and in the occupation of the city of Guantanamo on January 1st, 1959.
After the triumph of the Revolution, he held responsible positions at the Headquarters of the Revolutionary National Police, with the troops of which he fought at Bay of Pigs.
He occupied different posts at the Armed Forces’ Logistics since 1961, being promoted to Deputy Minister in 1969. At the FAR, he was Chief of the Eastern Army, Chief of the Antiaircraft Defense Troops and of the Revolutionary Air Force, Appointee (by the Minister) for economic activities, First Deputy Minister, and since February, 2008, Minister of the Armed Forces.
He studied at different military schools, including the “Voroshilov” General Staff Academy of the former USSR.
Casas was a founder of the Cuban Communist Party and a delegate to all of its congresses, being part of its Central Committee since the First Congress. During the fourth PCC Congress, we was elected member of the organization’s Politburo, which was ratified during the fifth and sixth congresses.
He was a member of the National Assembly of the People’s Power (Parliament) since 1981, a member of the Council of State since 1986, and Vice-president of the Council of State since 2008.
For his outstanding merits, he received many national and international medals and orders.
In accordance to his last wish, his mortal remains were cremated. They’re now placed at the Granma Hall of the Ministry of Armed Forces until their transfer to the Mausoleum of the Frank Pais Second Eastern Front, where they will receive the corresponding ilitary honors.
On Monday, September 5, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., which will be decreed a day of official mourning, the Cuban people will be able to pay tribute to his memory at the first floor of the Ministry of Armed Forces. (ACN)