Jorge Carlos Molina

Jorge Carlos Molina (14 January 1943 - 8 October 1975) was an Argentine guerrilla combatant who served as Captain in the “Ramón Rosa Giménez” Company of the ERP during Operation Independence.

Jorge Carlos Molina
Born	(1943-01-14)January 14, 1943 Santa Fe, Argentina
Died	8 October 1975(1975-10-08) (aged 32) Acheral, Argentina
Cause of death	Gunshot
Other names	Capitán Pablo
Education	National University of Rosario
Occupation	Guerrilla Combatant
Known for	Leader of the “Ramón Rosa Giménez” Mountain Company
Spouse	Nilda Miguez

Molina was killed in a shootout with the Argentine Armed Forces on October 8, 1975.

Background

Jorge Carlos Molina Taleb grew up in Santa Fe, Argentina alongside his mother, a widowed schoolteacher, and 4 siblings. During his childhood he was known to be passionate about literature and the arts, and would often read alongside his brothers. In 1961 he graduated from the General Belgrano Military School as a 2nd Lieutenant of the Reserves, as did his brother, José Maria. Afterwards he studied architecture at the Catholic Academy of Santa Fe, though he later attended the National University of Rosario.

People's Revolutionary Army

During his time in Rosario, Molina interacted with many left-wing revolutionaries, and around the time of his graduation joined the Workers’ Revolutionary Party (PRT). His combat knowledge and ability to deliver clear instructions made him popular in the organization, which he left in 1970 to help create the People's Revolutionary Army (ERP). Together with Mario Santucho, Benito Urteaga, and Domingo Menna, Molina played active roles in the kidnapping of Stanley Sylvester, the execution of Col. Jorge Ibarzábal, and the storming of the Azul Police Barracks.

Operation Independence and Death

After the return of President Juan Perón from exile, Molina was chosen commander of the “Ramón Rosa Giménez” Mountain Company. This group was sent to the Western part of Tucumán Province to create a base of operations from which the ERP could fight the Argentine Military. A third of the province had already been captured when Operation Independence began. During this conflict the Military killed a number of guerrillas, including Molina's brother José Maria. In October 1975, the company, down to just 13 soldiers, was located in the rural town of Acheral. On the 8th of that month, Molina was confronted by Argentine troops along Route 307 and killed in a brief shootout. His body was retrieved by his family and buried outside of San Miguel de Tucumán.