Eighteen-year-old José was forcibly separated from his family and drafted into the army. Later that year, rebels attacked his garrison. Although they were easily suppressed, José knew that it was the beginning of something much bigger. Five years later, José, now the commander of Battalion 18, was ordered to attack the rebel base in the Sierra Maestra. The attack was a disaster, and his battalion was encircled. The rebel leader Castro, a former classmate of José, called on him to surrender. José, who was loyal to his country but despised the dictator Batista, would internally conflict between his two options before ultimately defecting to the rebels. José would develop from a patriotic nationalist into a hardened revolutionary. The journal closes out with José leading the Cuban army to victory against counterrevolutionaries.
After rebel victory in 1959, José would constantly reflect on the question: after all the blood spilled, all the lives lost, and all the time wasted, did it really bring any change to the society? Though nothing is ever quite so simple, he believed the answer to be yes. Although Cuba ended up with another dictator, at least the lives of the people were significantly improved. Instead of living in hardship under ruthless landlords, they could now interact in harmony, own the land they rightfully deserve, and enjoy quality education and healthcare. José would end his life as a pacifist and published many books on his experiences during the revolution.
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