March, 2025.- On March 11, 1876, in the insurgent jungle, Francisco (Panchito) Gómez Toro was born, the tenth son of Generalissimo Máximo Gómez, who grew up in the patriotic hotbed of emigration, where he received the educational influence of his parents, and of the patriots Antonio Maceo and José Martí.
Panchito was recognized as a good student, he learned business techniques, English, French; he had notions of Law, and it is known that he liked to write and read, especially philosophical subjects; for José Martí he was secretary, assistant, counselor and trusted man; together with the apostle of independence he traveled for four months through the eastern United States and Central America.
During the War of 95 he arrived in Cuba on September 8, 1896 in the expedition brought by General Juan Rius Rivera; In exile he had told his father that “merit cannot be inherited, it must be earned,” and once back on home soil, he entered fully into the hazards of the conflict and history.
Panchito fought for 91 days under the orders of Antonio Maceo, for whom he felt true admiration, participated in 14 battles and three months later received as a reward for his courage and was promoted to the rank of captain of the Liberation Army.
On December 7, when the Bronze Titan fell mortally wounded in San Pedro and learned that the body had not been recovered, he said resolutely “I am going to die next to the General!” and together with Maceo he sacrificed himself, “for the honor of Cuba,” as he managed to write in a letter to his parents and other relatives.
