A Cuban Mother's Visit to Her Son in Military Service Ends in Tragedy

Adrián Rodríguez García, a 19-year-old from Santa Clara, tragically lost his life while serving in Cuba's Mandatory Military Service. Initially set to complete his service by early December 2023, delays from officials at the Manuelita unit kept him on duty, even on December 31st. That day, his mother visited him, bringing food to celebrate New Year's Eve. He told her that he had only four or five days left of service. She returned home, and four hours later, she received a call informing her of her son's death.

Adrián was struck by a vehicle outside the military unit. The officers had allowed him to leave, and a drunk driver without a license hit him. Instead of helping, the driver fled the scene. "They ran away," mentioned a close acquaintance of the young man.

The driver was apprehended six days later while attempting to leave the country, thanks to an anonymous tip. The young man's family holds the military responsible for letting him out on the night of December 31st, aware of the dangers on the streets, especially on such a night. However, the unit has washed its hands of the incident. None of the officials in charge of the young soldiers have been investigated.

"I blame the military for letting him leave, and they just say he wanted to go out," is the only response the family gets when they complain that Adrián would still be alive if he had not been allowed out or had been discharged when he was supposed to be. Eight months later, there has been no trial for the fatal accident, nor any investigation into the military's responsibility in allowing him to leave the unit. "They cleared themselves," adds the young man's grieving family, feeling "dead inside while the military enjoys the beach."

"We thought he was safely in Las Minas, serving his duty, but they let him out, and now he's dead," laments the family, bewildered by why no military personnel stayed in charge of the soldiers that night.

Adrián did not have a girlfriend at the time of his death. "He was a beautiful boy full of dreams," and his life changed dramatically when he joined the military service. According to his family, he had to undergo emergency surgery for appendicitis and "four months after the surgery, the officers made him do push-ups." He was often disliked because of his active nature, and the unit commander frequently punished him. "He always carried his Bible everywhere because he was very religious."

A close relative wonders why his mother didn't take him home when she visited, as he had already completed his service but was kept there as punishment. "We thought it was just four or five days left to end this nightmare. Now we are good for nothing."

Many young Cubans have lost their lives in the past year while serving in the military. The most recent case involved Flavio Alonso Piedra, a 20-year-old who would have turned 21 on August 24. He was found on his knees, with his neck bent backward and his eyes wide open, holding an AKM. The unit claims he hanged himself with his belt, but his family doubts the official version. The police are investigating the incident.

In Villa Clara, there has been significant outrage among families of young soldiers forced to donate blood and threatened with more night shifts if they refuse. In June, a young man serving in Santa Clara committed suicide during a forced transfer to Matanzas. Despite having documents advising against his enlistment due to psychological issues, he was drafted and sent to Matanzas for six months of construction work. He warned his girlfriend during the transfer.