Manuel Gómez Reyes was born on September 11, 1911, in San José de las Lajas. Of humble origin, he knew the rigor of hard work and little remuneration. He worked in the field, first as a cane cutter and later in various agricultural tasks.  

He lived misery and exploitation so he immediately and actively joined the fight against Machado. At the end of 1930 his brother Virgilio began to work in the school of Belén and Manuel was employed there as a cook.

He met the young student Fidel Castro and thus a great friendship emerged between the Gómez brothers and the future leader of the Revolution. They shared their struggles within the Orthodox Party.

A few months after the coup d'etat of March 10, 1952, Manuel joined the cell of La Ceiba, led by Fernando Chenard, within the revolutionary movement organized by Fidel.

He participated in demonstrations and military training sessions and in farms in the interior of the province. He traveled to Santiago de Cuba with three of his companions.

Preparations for combat began, Manuel, although in poor health, remained in his post without being defeated by the disease. Assigned to the detachment whose mission was to penetrate the Moncada by post three, once the action failed, he could not escape. He was imprisoned, tortured and murdered that very day.

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