17 Facts About Jorge Masetti

Jorge Masetti was the founder and the first director of the Cuban news agency Prensa Latina, and became the leader of one of Argentina's first guerrilla organizations, the Guevarist People's Guerrilla Army.

Jorge Jose Ricardo Masetti Blanco was born in Avellaneda, a city located in the industrial belt formed around the city of Buenos Aires.

Jorge Masetti was born into a family descended from immigrants who came from the city of Bologna in Italy.

When he returned to Buenos Aires Jorge Masetti was discouraged to find out that his news reports had not been published in his country and because of that he accepted a task given to him by Che Guevara following the victory of the Cuban Revolution to found a news agency in Cuba.

From 4 to 5 March 1960, Jorge Masetti personally reported on the explosion of La Coubre, a ship docked in Havana Harbor which had exploded at the cost of 100 lives.

In 1961, Jorge Masetti left Prensa Latina disappointed by growing sectional rivalries within the organization, and excited about playing a more aggressive role as a revolutionary.

Jorge Masetti took the rank of deputy commander, saving the leadership for Che when he was ready to join the group after it had established itself.

Jorge Masetti started the planning of the purchase of weapons and the logistic to prepare the arrival of Che Guevara in the zone.

On 21 September 1963 Jorge Masetti's guerrillas crossed into Argentina and after several days on foot settled down near the Pescado River.

Jorge Masetti covered his head with his hands and curled up his body.

Jorge Masetti wore thick glasses and was flatfooted, which complicated his ability to walk.

The guerrillas who escaped regrouped, but Jorge Masetti did not accept the opinion of other members who thought they should abort the operation given their current situation.

Jorge Masetti ordered one group to look for food while he stayed behind, but two of this group, Marcos and Cesar, died of hunger in the jungle and another two, Jouvet and Antonio, fell into a gorge.

Jorge Masetti, who was not with them, was never seen again, so his date of disappearance was listed as 21 April 1964.

Jorge Masetti has dissolved into the jungle, into the rain, into time.

Jorge Masetti's men started to call him "Commander Segundo" for ease of use in conversation.

In several letters to his wife, with whom he had a son who he had barely met in Cuba after returning from Algeria, Jorge Masetti spoke about the unfolding of his campaign like this.