The Stories
Read the story of Pedro Pan in the words of those who lived it.
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My name is Gustavo de Armas and I was born in Havana. I was 12 years old when I arrived in the US from Cuba on a scheduled KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) flight. My flight landed in Miami on December 1st, 1961, Friday afternoon. I had with me my Cuban passport, a visa Waiver from the State Department and one suitcase. I do not remember if I had any money with me. I had come to live with my uncle and aunt in Miami. My parents had remained behind in Cuba.
I came to the US during what ... (read the rest of this story)
I never thought that the journey I was about to undertake will take me away from my home for a lifetime. My older brother was 16, a younger brother was 11 and I was 14 years old, a month shy of my 15th birthday. My father, to ease my mother's, and our concerns, was always telling us that we should see the trip as a three-month vacation, that the political situation in Cuba will be solved soon and we were to get back. Therefore, I was not worried, on the contrary, I was eager to take the ... (read the rest of this story)
Arrived in the US 9/19/61 & stayed with an Aunt for a few months. Moved to either Kendall or Matecumbe ( I remember a swimming pool, barrack-like dorm and a chappel). There I was the youngest person and was nicknamed "pulguita." Subsequently was moved to Florida City with a very nice couple as house parents. Eventually moved to Texas when my sister came to US. Reunited with parents in Late 63 or 64. Graduated from University of Texas at Arlington. Upon graduation joined US Navy and retired with rank of Commander. Currently a ... (read the rest of this story)
I arrived in Miami on February 22,1962. Friends of my parents (Graciela Ponce and her family) picked me up from the airport and took me to their home for the night. The next day they put me on a flight to Norfolk Va to be reunited with my aunt and uncle who had left Cuba in 1961. I lived with them in Virginia and then Maryland until March 1966 when my parents arrived.
And today 50 years later February 22,2012 the rest of the story.
My parents woke me up at 4am on February 22,1962 and told me that today I was ... (read the rest of this story)
Arrived in Matecumbe April 29. 1962 at the age of 13 and two months later was relocated to Mariana Home for Boys in Wichita, Ks. Moved to a foster home in Conway Springs, Ks (June 1962) for 2 yrs and another foster home in Wichita, Ks. (May 1964) for another two years in which I was reunited with my younger brother and little sister. We were reunited with our parents when they came to America on the Freedom flights in late 1966. I learned to be an American from the great foster families that I lived with and the values ... (read the rest of this story)
Iwould like to hear from some of you. I was there during 1964, until my parents arrived
in November of that year. The only thing that I remember is that the couple that was in charge where I was living was Sixto, but I can't quite remember his wife's name.
I left Havana with many of my friends to go to Jamaica. After spending 5 days in Jamaica it was time to go to Miami. In Miami, I was dispatched to Baltimore where my father was living after 1 month in the USA. I joined my father & then we waited until my mother & sister arrived in June 1962.
I went to high school in Baltimore & later graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park with a degree in Acoounting & Finance.
arrived on a rainy afternoon august the 8th 1962; remember trip to florida city like it was yesterday,the driver wanted to drop me off in camp matacumbe but when we got there, he was told to take me to forida city,Amen to that. finally got to florida city, was taken to see some nuns , was given a sandwich and chocolate milk, while eating, some kid screamed through the window "aprovecha que eso no se da todo los dias".They were right, to this day i cannt eat mashed potatoes.After that they took me to aria's house,they were great house-parents.Remember having ... (read the rest of this story)
Nací en La Habana. Vivía cerca del malecón.Para que todos se den cuenta de lo que pasé diré, que era hija única, única nieta por parte de madre, tenía cinco tías sin hijos y mi padrino y tío político tampoco tenían hijos.
El día que Fidel llegó a La Habana era mi cumpleaños, así que toda mi vida he cumplido años acompañada de ese recuerdo...Empecé a crecer cuando por desgracia oía los disparos de los fusilamientos en La Cabaña y los camiones que pasaban cargados de presos. Esto me sirvió para que a mis ocho años, recién cumplidos, aprendiera el significado ... (read the rest of this story)
Arrived on June 12, 1962. 3-4 days in Florida City then went to Wichita Kansas. Richard and Ruth Sutter home till 1966 when my parents and brother arrived.