Gendarme Who Survived Bombing Returned to Save Colleagues, Sister Recounts

Fifty-one years after a devastating bombing, the story of Raúl Cuello, a 19-year-old gendarme, is being recounted as one of extraordinary heroism. On August 28, 1975, the Cuello family in San José de Jáchal, San Juan, was preparing for a celebration: the upcoming birthday of the youngest son and the return of Raúl, the eldest, from a deployment in Tucumán. His mother had baked cakes, and the house was filled with anticipation. However, the joyous atmosphere was shattered by news from Tucumán. A bomb exploded on the tarmac of the Tucumán airport during a takeoff, an act attributed to Montoneros. While initial reports were confused, Raúl's mother immediately sensed her son was on the affected plane, a premonition that tragically proved correct. Raúl had joined Gendarmería less than a year prior, driven by a desire to help his family financially. His sister, Mónica, remembers him as an "excellent person, out of the ordinary," known for his kindness, helpfulness, and popularity among friends and teachers. He also had a passion for music, playing guitar in a folk music group with friends. The events of that day transformed the young gendarme into a symbol of courage, as he reportedly returned to the plane after the initial explosion to help his colleagues, ultimately sacrificing his life.

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Take care, I will return.