Cuba Archive - Case 659

Case ID: 659

Title: Lieutenant / Teniente

First name: Antonio Bienvenido

Last name: Hernández Mesa

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: Antonio Hernández, Antonio Mesa Hernández, Antonio Hernández Mira, Antonio Jacinto Hernández Mesa

Age: 50

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: N/A

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:14 / Month:1 / Year:1959

Citizenship: N/A

Last known address: N/A

Last known city: Camagüey

Last known province-TOD: Camagüey

Last known province current: Camagüey

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: Guanabaquilla Shooting Range

Location of death - city: Camagüey

Location of death province - at TOD: Camagüey

Location of death province - current: Camagüey

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: No

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: N/A

Arrest or detention at time of death: N/A

Date of arrest: Day:1 / Month:1 / Year:1959

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: N/A

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: Huber Matos

Associated Event: 1959 Guanabaquilla massacre

Case description:

Lieutenant in the pre-Castro Constitutional Army of Cuba, second in command in military intelligence and of the BRAC (Bureau for the Repression of Communist Activities). Executed by firing squad for alleged war crimes together with 15 other men including his younger son and son-in-law. Revolutionary commander and former Oriente teacher Huber Matos reportedly issued the orders for their prompt execution without trial. (Some of the men were subjected together to a summary "trial" lasting less than an hour.)  Without warning to their families, the men were hastily taken to a shooting range 14 kms. outside of the city of Camaguey, placed in front of a recently dug trench, and shot. For weeks, the families were not allowed to take the remains of their loved ones for proper burial. For weeks, the families were not allowed the remains for their burial. (Find other victims in Associated event: 1959 Guanaquabilla massacre.)

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Teniente del Ejército Constitucional de Cuba ejecutado por un pelotón de fusilamiento junto con otros 18 hombres, entre ellos su hijo y yerno, por presuntos crímenes de guerra. Las órdenes de ejecución se dictaron sin presentarse pruebas y sin haberse celebrado un juicio. Sin previo aviso a sus familias, los condenados fueron llevados a un campo de tiro a 14 kms. de la ciudad de Camagüey y fusilados frente a una trinchera recién excavada. Se prohibió durante semanas que las familias pudieran llevarse los restos para su sepultura. (Busque otras víctimas en Associated event: 1959 Guanaquabilla massacre.)

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Confirmed with primary source(s)

Cause of Death: - Execution: by firing squad

Occupations: - Military Specific Occupations

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: - Child in Case 658: Jacinto Hernández Mas - In-law in Case 660: Justo López Álvarez

Victim Type: - Armed Forces: served Batista government

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: - Case 658: Jacinto Hernández Mas - Case 660: Justo López Álvarez

Case Record - Antonio Bienvenido Hernández Mesa