Florida and the Mariel Boatlift of 1980: The First Twenty Days

Image Plates

Above: Relatives awaiting arrival of families under parachute. Courtesy of Kate Dupes Hawk. Below: Zeke Mendianta, UPHS pharmacist, with MP in Truman Annex pharmacy (in front of formulary). Courtesy of Kate Dupes Hawk. Above: Dr. Armando Cruz in USO building. Courtesy of Kate Dupes Hawk. Below: Guardsman assisting elderly refugee in boarding bus for Miami. Courtesy of the Florida National Guard. Above: Leah Rodríguez and Dr. Cedre in infirmary. Courtesy of Kate Dupes Hawk. Below: Guardsmen Crenshaw and Wells accompanying injured refugee to hangar. Courtesy of the Florida National Guard. Above: Strategy Session in EOC. Left to right: Ron Villella, Bill Traugh, unknown individual, Col. Ensslin, and Gen. K. C. Bullard. Courtesy of the Florida National Guard. Below: Dock at Truman Annex receiving boats. Courtesy of Kate Dupes Hawk. Above: Refugees sitting on floor of hangar, after rioting. FHP officer with bullhorn attempting to redirect energies. Courtesy of the Florida National Guard. Below: Guardsmen chow line. Courtesy of the Florida National Guard. Above: Governor Graham welcoming refugees with press very interested. Courtesy of Arturo Cobo. Below: Refugees waiting for medical processing at the pier. Courtesy of the Florida National Guard. Above: Refugees awaiting transportation in the hangar. Courtesy of the Florida National Guard. Below: Col. Armando Montes and Arturo Cobo strategizing. Courtesy of Arturo Cobo. Above: Casey touring with Cobo, Bullard, and Villella. Note personal pass on Casey. Courtesy of Kate Dupes Hawk. Below: Then-­ Col. Robert F. Ensslin and Senators Chiles and Stone, with Capt. Ivan Lewis and Bill Traugh in background. Courtesy of the Florida National Guard. Above: Refugees boarding first plane to leave Key West. Courtesy of Kate Dupes Hawk. Below: Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman meeting the press. Courtesy of Arturo Cobo. Above: Boat from Philadelphia arriving at dock with refugees. Courtesy of Arturo Cobo. Below: Volunteers performing CPR on officer who had collapsed from heat. Courtesy of the Florida National Guard. Above: A dejected Arturo Cobo. Sign over door reads “Will the last person to leave Cuba take the flag!” Courtesy of Arturo Cobo. Below: Arturo Cobo and Col. Armando Montes with sign that says (translated) “Tyranny trembles when a people migrate.” Courtesy of Arturo Cobo. Above: Left to right: Col. Montes, Sen. Bill Young, Herb Romerstein, and an unidentified VIP. Courtesy of the Florida National Guard. Below: INS and Customs being challenged by refugees with no identification or relatives here. Courtesy of Arturo Cobo. Above: Left to right: John Burke, Ron Villella, Debbie DeLee, an unknown gentleman, and Maj. Gen. K. C. Bullard. Courtesy of Ron Villella. Below: Among the refugees were many single males. Courtesy of the Florida National Guard. Capt. Jack Carmody meeting Bob Graham. Courtesy of Kate Dupes Hawk. ...