On the afternoon of March 11, 1876, the La Reforma farm in Jatibonico saw the birth of Panchito, the fourth son of Máximo Gómez Báez and Bernarda Toro [es] or Manana.

[1] His father couldn't be close with his son in the first months of his life due to his participation in the Ten Years War, which Cuba had already become his homeland.

Still an infant, Panchito, by assuming simple household chores, showed his sense of responsibility, which was distributed daily in the midst of the family's economic hardship.

In 1878 a difficult period began for the Gómez family, as with the end of the Ten Years War, they fled to Jamaica, Honduras and finally, to the United States.

[1] Several members of their family was riddled with disease as some of the boys died, the crops were ruined, they suffered financial hardships, but they never gave up.

[1][3] Marti described Panchito as: He stands out for his discretion and tenderness, I don't think I've ever had him by my side, a creature with fewer imperfections, his heart so attached to mine that I feel he was born of me.

In September 1896, he embarked on the steamer Tres Amigos with an expedition headed by General Juan Ruis Rivera, destined to land in the West.

General Antonio Maceo welcomed Panchito like a son and always kept him close to him as he knew that by incorporating him into his troops, he would make a great commitment to Gómez.

The petulance of Rafael M. Portuondo Tamayo, interim Secretary of War, brought the conflict to a point of no return and Gómez summoned Maceo to meet in Las Villas.

With impassive indifference the government observed the sacrifice in the Battle of Las Taironas, without help or any other help than its own efforts; but Maceo gave General Valeriano Weyler no respite or room for the United States which was waiting for the revolutionary thrust to weaken.

[2] A stream of blood gushed from his wound and stained his jacket; He remained upright for two or three seconds, released the bridles, the machete fell off and he collapsed.

[4] Alberto Nodarse, an engineer and architect, who had already received seven gunshot wounds, together with Juan Manuel Sánchez led the resistance that the escort from the General Headquarters planted in the open field to try to remove Maceo's corpse that weighed 209 pounds.

[1][2] After the battle, Juan Delgado González as well as eighteen other men managed to retrieve both Panchito's and Maceo's corpses after rigorous fighting against the Spanish and gave both proper burials.

[1][4] His father Máximo was devastated as added to the outrageous effect of the Government Council's attitude was the death of his own son and his old companion with his skin weathered by so much fighting.

Days later the news of his death would reach his father, plunging him into a deep depression that lead him to express: My beloved Panchito died far away from me; my arms remained open, waiting for him, because that is how destiny arranged it (...) Rest in peace, happy hero, flower of a day that spread its perfumes among his own (... ) we will always be crying to you (...) in the home that your eternal absence has left desolate and sad, your mourning will be eternal.