MONTERREY, Mexico – Juan Carlos Caballero, who was a driver for Mexican revolutionary figure Francisco "Pancho" Villa, died of natural causes in a
nursing home in northern Mexico. He was 109.
The director of the nursing home where Caballero had lived for 18 years, Maria del Rosario Rivera, said that he will be buried Wednesday in a cemetery
in the Monterrey suburb of Guadalupe.
Rivera said that Caballero was used to taking walks of several kilometers each and every day.
On June 24, 2009, on his 109th birthday, Caballero told Efe that social inequality and the injustices Mexico had been experiencing in recent years
were creating the conditions for a new armed uprising against the government.
"If that occurs, I would once again take up arms for that cause," said Caballero, who received a pension of 1,600 pesos ($120) per month as a veteran
of the 1910-1917 revolution.
"When I joined the forces of Gen. Francisco Villa, we were not poor, my family had several properties," recalled Caballero.
Caballero said that he joined the ranks of the Division de Norte headed by Villa to help the peasants.
"Pancho Villa was always concerned with helping the poor, he always gave them money," said the general's former driver.
Caballero said that when he asked Villa (1878-1923) if he could remain in the northern border state of Chihuahua because he had dreamed of his dead
mother, the general gave him a handful of gold coins, which he in turn gave to his family.
Mexico is planning major events this year to mark the bicentennial of independence and the centenary of the start of the revolution.
[Edited on 4-9-2010 by CaboRon]lizard lips - 4-2-2010 at 10:36 AM
RIP oldtimer Mexitron - 4-2-2010 at 11:46 AM
Wow, what a lifetime to experience! RIP24baja - 4-2-2010 at 11:49 AM
I can't even imagine all the things he saw come to pass....RIPwessongroup - 4-2-2010 at 12:26 PM
Thanks Ron, makes one stop and think... once again.. someone that has seen it all... and is saying that it is all f--ked up.... and he was ready to go
again...
My kind of guy... did not know at all... but God bless and a life well lived...
I trying on the walking thing everyday... some days it's a no go... but keep trying.. think he had something about walking everyday..toneart - 4-2-2010 at 12:32 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by wessongroup
... makes one stop and think... once again.. someone that has seen it all... and is saying that it is all f--ked up.... and he was ready to go
again...
My kind of guy... did not know at all... but God bless and a life well lived...
..
Yup! RIP!
Revolution can be rewarding
Dave - 4-2-2010 at 12:37 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by CaboRon
"If that occurs, I would once again take up arms for that cause," said Caballero, who received a pension of 1,600 pesos ($120) per
month as a veteran of the 1910-1917 revolution.
I can understand why he'd go again.
Since it worked out so well. DENNIS - 4-2-2010 at 12:58 PM
I'm wondering how he avoided the barrage of bullets in Parral.
Oh man....this is the stuff of great conspiracy theories.BajaBlanca - 4-2-2010 at 02:59 PM
