[1] Born in Cruces, Las Villas, Hernández was the only child of mulatto conservative parents who resided in a modern third-floor apartment on Jovellar Street in Vedado district of Havana.

Although she had been practicing law for a decade, during the Moncada trial she chose not to defend herself, as Fidel Castro did, and was instead represented by Jorge Paglieri Cardero.

She had been a Deputy in the National Assembly of People’s Power since 1993 (she previously served from 1976 to 1986) representing the municipality of 10 de Octubre.

She had also served as the Secretary General of OSPAAAL (Organization of Solidarity of the People of Asia, Africa & Latin America).

She was one of the best-known women that fought alongside Fidel Castro in the Cuban Revolutionary war against Fulgencio Batista.

[6] Melba was involved with an underground organization led by Fidel Castro before the July 26th attack[7] and joined the revolution because she was attracted to the insurrection against President Fulgencio Batista.

Melba and Haydée, being released months before the men who were involved with the assault, held support rallies for their comrades still in jail.

In Mexico, Melba made contact with assailants who were in exile there following the Moncada Barrack assault, and she helped with the preparations for the voyage of the ship Granma.

[2] She then returned to Cuba where she joined a rebel army in the ranks of “Mario Muñoz Monroy” Third Front, ran by Juan Almeida Bosque.