Juan “Johnny” Clark leaves us
Juan Clark, 1940-2013
The heartbreaking news just reaches us from friend Fernando Marquet that yet another member of his freedom-fighting Band of Brothers known as Bay of Pigs veterans passed away this morning in his Miami home.
Juan "Johnny" Clark, a professor at Miami-Dade college, authored an indispensable book on the Cuban catastrophe, titled Cuba; Mito Y Realidad.
"Johnny" was also tremendously helpful--at all hours--to your humble servant during his own book writings.
"NO RETREAT, CARAJO!-- WE STAND AND FIGHT!!!"
Famous command from current Bay of Pigs Vets Assoc. President Maximo Cruz. He and his men had just gotten the word that they were outnumbered ten to one by Castro's Soviet-led and supplied forces--- and were utterly abandoned by their U.S. patrons with one day's supply of ammo.
(And so they did--and wrote as glorious a chapter in modern military history and the annals of freedom as any you'd care to read.)
Cuban "Dissidence" sure was different back then......
We've lost another good man. I spoke with Dr. Clark several times while a student at Miami-Dade South. His love and knowledge of Cuba was amazing and inspiring. Years later I learned from another Bay of Pigs Veteran that he observed his birthday (I think twenty-first) while imprisoned after the invasion. Many of his fellow Brigadistas gave him their pieces of bread from their ration as a birthday gift.
May he rest in peace.
I was lucky enough to have Mr. Clark as my teacher at MDCC Kendall campus over 20 years ago. Great teacher and an even better man. May he RIP.
The Miami Herald obituary omitted many facts, including that Johnny had initially studied for the priesthood in Cuba. I'm glad the Herald turned off the comments section on his article to avoid the usual anti-Cuban exile offenses from Commie trolls.