Paul J. Guzzo / Raul Andres Villamia / Rhonda J. Villamia
Raul Villamia’s childhood in Cuba revolved around baseball and bloodshed. The violence that he witnessed led him to support Castro’s revolution, and his brother Mario introduced him to Castro’s 26th of July Movement (M267). Minor league baseball brought him to the United States, where he hoped to pursue a career in the majors, and left Villamia uniquely placed to aid Castro’s revolution from abroad. From Tampa, New York City, Bridgeport, Union City, Miami, and Key West, the Villamias, Angel Perez-Vidal, Howard K. Davis and others supported Castro through fundraising, collecting supplies for the revolutionaries, propaganda campaigns, and arms smuggling. Raul rubbed elbows with Castro and his top men and with American gangsters who did business in Cuba. He was hounded by the FBI, and his brother Mario is mentioned in the Warren Commission Report. This memoir recalls Villamia’s experience as an advocate for Castro in the United States and tells the story of those in America whose efforts helped to oust Batista.
