“It is the 90th birthday of Camilo Cienfuegos, revolutionary commander who fought for the freedom of the Cuban people, together with Fidel (Castro) and Che (Ernesto Guevara). We honor the loyalty and love for just causes of the Man of a Thousand Battles,” the Venezuelan president wrote on his Twitter account.

In turn, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia described Cienfuegos as “a man of words and irreverent spirit, a living expression of the humble people, full of courage, bravery and faithful defender of just causes”.

Cienfuegos was an expeditionary soldier on the Granma Yacht in 1956, which was the core of the Ejército Rebelde (Rebel Army). For his audacious fighting characteritics and leading role he won the rank of Commander. He was entrusted by Fidel Castro to lead one of the two guerrilla columns that took the liberation war from east to west.

He was very beloved by the Cuban people due to his cheerfulness, wit and bravery shown in decisive situations of the revolutionary struggle.

He died on Oct. 28, 1959, when the light aircraft on which he was traveling to Havana got lost amidst a severe storm at sea south of Cuba. Neither the plane nor his body was never found.

Every year on that date, thousands of people, mainly children, throw flowers into rivers and the sea to honor him.

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