[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 25 (Friday, February 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF JUAN DESOSA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 8, 2007

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
extraordinary life and accomplishments of Mr. Juan Desosa.
  Juan was born in Havana, Cuba, on February 10, 1927. His family was 
involved in the sugar and newspaper business, and he and his five 
siblings lived a happy life until 1959, when communist revolutionaries 
led by Fidel Castro took everything away from them. At that time, Juan 
made a life altering decision to leave his homeland and family and 
escape Cuba for freedom.
  In 1960, Juan left Cuba and successfully made it to Miami, Florida. 
Not forgetting his homeland and the suffering of those he left behind, 
he worked to do everything in his power to help those that were not as 
lucky as he was. It was in Miami that Juan heard talk of a plan to 
liberate Cuba, and he soon found himself in the mountains of Guatemala 
with other Cuban refugees secretly training for an invasion. It was 
these refugees who later became the would-be liberators of the Bay of 
Pigs invasion. Juan fought fiercely for as long as he could, but was 
ultimately captured by Castro's soldiers. He suffered unimaginable 
conditions in a Cuban concentration camp for 3 years. Only after an 
exchange of prisoners for dollars between the Kennedy and Castro 
governments, was Juan released.
  True to his character, upon returning to the U.S., Juan did not 
settle into a life of comfort and ease, but wanted to serve the country 
that liberated him twice, providing him with the economic, political, 
and religious freedom that was stripped away from him from his home 
country. He joined the U.S. Army, and during his military service, he 
proudly became a U.S. citizen. After serving 10 years in the Army, 
during which he engaged in combat missions during the Vietnam war, Juan 
retired as a major.
  He settled down with his wife in New Port Richey, Florida, where he 
raised six children. Along the way, Juan has been recognized as an 
extraordinary businessman in his community who has owned and operated 
many popular restaurants in Florida's Ninth Congressional District. 
Currently, he owns and manages Juan Black Bean Deli in New Port Richey, 
an establishment that serves one of the best Cuban sandwiches on 
Florida's west coast.
  Madam Speaker, as my good friend, Juan Desosa celebrates his 80th 
birthday, he has much for which to be proud. The life he has lived, and 
continues to live, serves as an example to us. He has displayed an 
uncommon courage, valor, and patriotism combined with his love of God, 
family and community that has benefited not only his fellow countrymen 
whom he endeavored to liberate, but his fellow citizens in the United 
States of America for whose freedom and liberty he fought for as a 
member of the U.S. Army.

                          ____________________