Luis C. Morse

Luis C. Morse de la Barrera died on May 28, 2023. He was born in Havana, Cuba on May 20, 1940, to Captain Luis E. Morse Delgado and Alma de la Barrera Morse, who preceded him in death.

After graduating from Christopher Columbus High School, he studied electrical engineering at the University of Havana. There, he engaged in anti-communist activities. He was informed that the Cuban government was about to issue an order for his arrest. This precipitated his escape to the United States. In 1959, he joined a group recruiting Cuban expatriates to join Brigade 2506. They planned to liberate Cuba from the tyranny of the Castro regime, with training and participation by the United States government. He served in the 2506 Brigade, 2nd Infantry Battalion during the Bay of Pigs Invasion; he was wounded in combat, losing the use of his left arm.

After the Invasion failed, Luis C. Morse and others were convicted as war criminals and sentenced to 30 years in prison by Cuba's communist government. There were several failed attempts to achieve their release. Eventually, Castro agreed to $53 million dollars in food and medicines to be raised through private donations and corporate sponsorships in exchange for the prisoners. Castro sent sixty of the sick and wounded prisoners, including Luis C. Morse, to the United States to build support for his demand. Luis C. Morse was featured on the To Tell the Truth Game Show and on the Ed Sullivan Show with some of the other wounded prisoners advocating for the release of their fellow soldiers remaining in Cuba.

Following his liberation, he attended the University of Florida, earning a degree in Industrial Engineering. After 16 years in the private sector, he ran for public office and in 1984, voters elected him to the Florida House of Representatives, District 113 (Little Havana) in which he served until 1998. In 1996, the House elected him as Speaker Pro Tempore - the first Hispanic elected to that powerful position. He championed many causes to help his community and the State. Among them was the founding of the Peñalver Clinic, a non-profit medical center providing healthcare to the Little Havana community. In 1999, he was appointed Deputy Secretary and later, Secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs. He then retired from public life to Miami. Luis C. Morse was a great Cuban patriot who will be sorely missed by his family, his friends, and his Brigade 2506 brothers in arms.

Luis C. Morse is survived by daughters Carolina Jones and Susana Morse (Partner Carmen Sanchez); granddaughters Sofia and Luca; sister Alma R. Morse and her children Donald Luis Morse Haase and Alma Morse Slater (James Slater).

Burial Service will be held at 11:30 AM on June 29th at the Caballero Rivero Dade South, in the Brigade 2506 Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers feel free to donate to https://www.bayofpigsbrigade2506.com/donation