Date: June 1962
Photographer: Venezuelan Hector Rondon Laverde – “La República” newspaper
Details: The background of the photograph known as “The Father’s Help” dates back to June 2 and 3, 1962, during a military uprising against Venezuelan President Romulo Betancourt, known as “El Porteñazo.” Rebel forces seized the naval base at Puerto Cabello, located 122 kilometers from the capital. The rebels released political prisoners from the Liberation Fortress nearby, who then joined the battle. Upon learning of the uprising, the Venezuelan government worked to thwart it by shelling the base’s facilities with several destroyers stationed outside the bay, while government troops were sent to confront the rebels. Intense and bloody battles ensued, ultimately leading to the government’s victory and the suppression of the rebellion, which resulted in approximately 400 deaths and 700 injuries.
During these fierce battles, photographer Hector Rondon Laverde was sent by “La República” newspaper to cover the events. He recounts being with a fellow photographer near a group of government-supporting soldiers when ten tanks passed by. Rebel forces opened fire from all directions, causing soldiers to fall. Unable to see the shooters due to their concealment in nearby buildings, Rondon Laverde witnessed a priest, Luis María Padillo, descending from the sidewalk to assist a wounded soldier. The scene was both terrifying and humane. Rondon Laverde captured this moment in the photograph known as “The Father’s Help.” He and his friend shouted to the priest, urging him to leave to avoid danger.
Priest Luis Padillo recounts the moment, explaining that he was at the site during the attack and called for ambulances to rescue the soldiers. While they were engaged in evacuating the wounded, he noticed a larger number of soldiers falling in another location. He moved there and found two soldiers with severe injuries while the rest had been killed. He tried to lift one soldier who asked him, “Help me, Father.” As he attempted to carry him, he was hit by more gunfire. He prayed over the wounded soldier and then hurried to the other, who asked him to “Tell my mother how I died,” and prayed over him as well. Noticing the lack of ambulances due to ongoing gunfire, Padillo’s efforts were focused on assisting those in need and aiding the dying.
The photograph “The Father’s Help” was published in “La República” and subsequently distributed by the Associated Press, appearing in various newspapers and magazines worldwide. It was featured on the cover of the prestigious Spanish-language magazine “Life.” For his work, Rondon Laverde received the Pulitzer Prize in 1963 and the International Press Award in 1962.
It is noteworthy that the identity of the soldier in the photograph remains unknown; some claim he was Luis Antonio Rivera Sanouja, while others suggest he was Andrés de Jesús García.
