Few know the story of Amado García Guerrero, the military man who ended the life of Rafael Trujillo, the worst dictator that Dominican Republic ever knew. Much has been said and little of the young military man who betrayed his leader.
Today, many consider Guerrero a national hero, and have sculpted statues of him all over the country, but you want to know, really, who was this man?
Amado García Guerrero: The Heroic Vengeance Story
Amado García Guerrero was born on June 2, 1931, in Santo Domingo. Much of the information that has been cited as official, is from the book by Mario Varas Llosa, “La Fiesta del Chivo”, or from the movie by Luis Eduardo Lora, “El teniente Amado”.
It is not known exactly when Guerrero enlisted, but it is confirmed that, initially, he promoted the convictions of Rafael Trujillo. It was for his good performance that he was able to rise to the rank of first lieutenant and obtain the Duarte, Sánchez and Mella Merit Medal.
Ironically, it was by testing Guerrero’s loyalty that President Trujillo earned his disloyalty. According to what is said, Guerrero was forced to witness the execution of a tortured victim of the SIM prisons, which ended up generating in him a desire for revenge against the president.
Some versions even say that that victim was Guerrero’s own brother-in-law, whom he had to assassinate with his own hands without knowing his identity.
The Sacrifice that Saved the Dominican Republic
Rafael García Guerrero eventually joined with 11 other people in a plot against the president, being the youngest member of the group. Amado García was in charge of distributing the information that would help them in their plot, earning the trust of the high-ranking officials.
On May 30, 1961, García discovered that Rafael Trujillo was traveling alone, without his bodyguards, to the house of one of his mistresses. Along with 4 other men, they were in charge of firing at the limousine, ending the life of the president.
Just a few days later, the SIM agents were able to track down Rafael García’s property and executed him in front of his house, ending the life of the young man who had just turned 30 the day before.
The story of this young man would have remained anonymous, had it not been for the fact that it was the president’s own mother who was in charge of spreading his life. It was even she who published the only photograph of the lieutenant.
