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Marcello Hernandez

Marcello Hernandez: The Cuban Missile Crisis

Who was Marcello Hernandez?

Marcello Hernandez was a U.S. Army combat photographer who captured some of the most iconic images of the Cuban Missile Crisis. His work helped to document one of the most dangerous moments in American history.

Marcello Hernandez’s Early Life

Marcello Hernandez was born in 1932 in San Antonio, Texas. He was the son of Mexican immigrants, and he grew up in a poor neighborhood. Hernandez dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and joined the U.S. Army. He was assigned to the Signal Corps and became a combat photographer.

Marcello Hernandez’s Role in the Cuban Missile Crisis

In October 1962, Hernandez was sent to Cuba to document the U.S. military's response to the Cuban Missile Crisis. He captured some of the most iconic images of the crisis, including a photo of a U.S. Marine standing guard at the entrance to a Soviet missile base. Hernandez's photographs helped to convey to the American public the dangers of the crisis and the U.S. military's role in resolving it.

Marcello Hernandez’s Later Life

After the Cuban Missile Crisis, Hernandez continued to serve as a combat photographer in the Army. He covered the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement. Hernandez retired from the Army in 1974 and became a photojournalist for the San Antonio Express-News. He died in 2019 at the age of 86.

Legacy of Marcello Hernandez

Marcello Hernandez was one of the most important combat photographers of the 20th century. His work helped to document some of the most important events in American history, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. Hernandez's photographs are a valuable historical record and continue to be used to educate and inform the public.