The ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion, carried out by the United States, resulted in the deaths of dozens of Cuban defectors and the capture of hundreds of others. This was thanks to the response from Fidel Castro and those willing to fight for him.
Three Lions’ photo depicts a few Cubans that fought against Cuban defectors during the short-lived Bay of Pigs invasion. One can clearly tell they are not dressed like a typical American soldier, with bulletproof vests and sturdy helmets, but casual, everyday wear. However, they look quite prepared to fight. As the intention of American media was often to depict pro-communist Cubans as cruel and brainwashed, this photo here was likely not meant for American newspapers back home. It feels more like a photo one would take on a vacation with friends, minus the guns. It also shows that the Cubans were all too happy to fight against American interests, regardless of what the United States government offered them.
T. (n.d.). Castro Militia [Photograph found in Escambry Mountain]. Retrieved from https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/members-of-castros-militia-in-the-escambry-mountain-area-of-news-photo/3379132?adppopup=true (Originally photographed 1961).