Luis T. Puig (Cuban Refugee) interviewed by WPKN's Lou Pomales (host of La Esquina Latina)

Luis Puig Bio: Born in 1965, and raised in La Habana, Cuba under communism, Mr. Luis Puig spent his first 15 years of life living in Castro’s Cuba. Mr. Puig had to live under the rules of that system, even having to be a communist Pionero (communist youth organization) like all the kids are forced to be there. His father served 12 years imprisonment as a political prisoner, and enemy of the state. Naturally this reflected on the family, and his son Luis.

Upon released from prison in 1978 under a deal brokered by the then Carter Administration and the Castro regime, the family began the necessary paperwork to leave Cuba, and come to the United States. But just as they were almost ready to get on a plane and leave, the Peru embassy incident occurred in La Habana, and all exits were canceled. Faced with the uncertainty of (if) when they could leave, they took the only way out available at the time…. the infamous Mariel Boat-Lift. Crammed into a small fishing trawler, over loaded with over 150 souls onboard, the Puig family made the 14 hour trip from Cuba to Key West, battling on the way the waves and vomit.

After arrival in the US with no money, no language skills, no property of any kind, the family began to rebuild their lives all over again. Mr. Puig completed High School, and after a trial at college decided to join the US Navy, where he served for over 20 years in the elite US Navy Submarine Force, stationed in various naval vessels including nuclear submarines.

Today, Mr. Puig is married, and lived in Maryland with his family.