Panchito Gómez Toro. Photo internet.
The Association of Combatants 03-03 of the East Popular People's Council of San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa bears the name of Captain Panchito, a brave Mambí who became an illustrious figure in Cuba's history.
Francisco Gómez Toro, was the name of Captain Panchito, who was born on March 11, 1876, in La Reforma, Sancti Spíritus, then province of Las Villas. His childhood was marked by the constant pilgrimage of the family after the end of the War of 1868. He toured several countries of America with his parents, Major General Máximo Gómez Báez and Bernarda Toro; trip that ended in 1888 in Montecristi. During the preparation of the Necessary War, Panchito was in New York under the tutelage of José Martí, whom he accompanied in his trip through North America, Central America and Jamaica, joining forces and resources for the new war.
The young man returned to Cuba on the expedition of Major General Juan Rius Rivera, aboard the steamer ''Three Friends'' which landed on the beach ''María La Gorda'' in Pinar del Río, where Francisco Gómez Toro joined the troops of Major General Antonio Maceo, as his assistant. Under the orders of the ''Titán de Bronce'' (Bronze Titan), the military man and friend was forged; his ally in the struggle against Spanish colonialism. Panchito showed loyalty and with his military experience manifested the courage of a veteran. A wound in the left shoulder did not prevent that Panchito accompanied to Maceo to cross the trail of Mariel to Majana. Subsequently, on December 7, 1896, Panchito was ordered to remain in the camp, as he had an arm bandaged because of the wound.
Hours later the combat took place in the farm "San Pedro", locality of Punta Brava, in the province of Havana, where the Bronze Titan fell. Panchito came to rescue the inert body of his boss, but was shot in the right side. Lacerated by the bullet, and before the impossibility of safeguarding the corpse of Maceo, Panchito preferred to die next to him and tried to commit suicide. Frustrated, the Spanish soldiers found him alive and cut the base of the skull with a machete. When he died he was 20 years old.
