Cuban revolutionary heroine Melba Hernandez Rodriguez del Rey, widely known as “the heroine of Moncada”, who actively joined movements against the American war in Vietnam, passed away at the age of 92 on March 9.

Melba Hernandez, a member of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Central Committee and a National Assembly deputy, was one of the two women taking part in the 1953 attacks on Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespesdes barracks, which were launched by great leader Fidel Castro.

Born on July 28, 1921 in Las Villas, central Cuba, Melba Hernandez held many important positions since the victory of Cuban revolution in 1959.

In 1963, she became the first President of the Cuban Committee of Solidarity with Southern Vietnam, which is now the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association. She also held the post as Secretary-General of the Organisation of Solidarity with the People of Asia, Africa and Latin America, and a presidium member of the World Peace Council.

Melba Hernandez once served as Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam. With admiration towards Vietnam’s revolutionary history against invaders, she once confirmed that Vietnam is always an example to peace-loving nations in the world.

With her great contributions to the Cuban revolution and the solidarity between Cuba and other nations in the world, she was awarded many noble medals and orders from the Cuban Party, State and Government as well as from other friend countries around the globe.-VNA