40 Years Later, HUD Secretary Returns ‘Home’

On Feb. 6, 1962, a 15-year-old Cuban refugee named Melquiades Martinez arrived in the United States, scared and alone.

He was taken to Camp Matecumbe, a makeshift home for more than 400 Cuban youths, given two cookies and a carton of milk. He spent that first frightening night sleeping on an Army-style bunk bed.

On Saturday, nearly 40 years later, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez returned to that temporary home, holding the hands of his wife, Kitty, and 7-year-old son, Andrew.

“Everywhere I go people talk about my story. I’m only now the focal point because I get to hang out in the Oval Office,” Martinez said before a packed audience of Cuban Americans who also came to the United States through Operation Pedro Pan.

“It is your story,” said Martinez, whose eyes were brimming with tears. “It is the story of all of us, and I hope I will always be able to carry our story with dignity and pride.”

Martinez appeared at the camp reunion during a short break from his official duties during a three-day trip to Miami. He met Friday with the Latin Builders Assn. to assess how HUD can better serve Miami-Dade County.

Before his remarks Saturday, Martinez signed his name in a guest book, just as he had on an index card the first night. He then looked at a group of pictures, including one showing his name and birth date printed along with scores of other names.

More than 14,000 unaccompanied children were sent out of Cuba between December 1960 and October 1962 as part of Pedro Pan. Martinez stayed at the camp 46 days.

Like others at Pedro Pan, Martinez had to leave his family in Cuba. He said his only happy memories of the camp were playing basketball and the day he was told he could leave.

Martinez said he jumped into the camp pool with his clothes on when he learned he would go to live with a foster family. He was reunited with his parents in 1966.

“There was no learning curve. We reunited very quickly,” Martinez said. “They didn’t know the ways here. I had to be the parent.”

After a short ceremony Saturday, Martinez shook the hands of other Cuban Americans who spent time at the camp.