Celia Sánchez Manduley (May 9, 1920 January 11, 1980) was a Cuban revolutionary, politician, researcher and archivist. She was key member of the Cuban Revolution and a close colleague of Fidel Castro. Biography Early life Sánchez was born in Media Luna, Oriente, Cuba, but eventually moved to Pilón, Cuba. Her father , Dr. Manuel Sánchez, was a doctor, and she grew up in relative affluence. Her mother, Acacia, died early in her childhood. At age six she started suffering with neurosis. She was one of eight children. She was well-educated but never attended university. After high school, Sanchez continuously helped with her father's practice until she began to focus on the Cuban Revolution alongside Fidel Castro. Her father's occupation as a doctor and working with him, provided her with a cover and connections to become a discreet member of the 26th of July Movement. Cuban Revolution The Cuban Revolution was a movement organized to overthrow Fulgencio Batista. Castro received help from Argentinian Che Guevara as well as Celia Sanchez, Frank Pais, and the Cuban people. Sánchez was a founder of the Cuban revolution and considered to be a heroine who would, later on, continue to serve in office as secretary to the presidency of the Council of Ministers and in the Department of Services of the Council of State. Sánchez joined the struggle against the Batista government following the coup of March 10, 1952. She was the founder of the 26th of July Movement in Manzanillo. She started as an arms runner, later began working as a combatant in the Cuban Revolution. She was considered to be the first female guerilla of the Sierra Maestra. With her hard work within the movement, she became the first woman to join the guerilla and eventually become a part of the rebel army's general staff. Sánchez organized and planned the landing of the Granma as well as supplying the army with reinforcements. She worked alongside Frank Pais and Haydee Santamaria. Together with Frank País, she was one of the first women to assemble a combat squad. She made arrangements throughout the southwest coast region of Cuba for the Granma landing, and was responsible for organizing reinforcements once the revolutionaries landed. In 1957, she became the first woman to join the guerrilla army and served as a messenger. She would place telegrams inside a butterfly flower, so the messages remained secret. As a member