HAVANA: Juan Almeida Bosque, a comrade-in-arms of Fidel Castro since the start of his guerrilla struggle more than a half-century ago, has died of a heart attack.

The 82-year-old was one of several Cuban vice presidents and had been among only three surviving rebel leaders who still bore the honorary title “Commander of the Revolution.” A statement in government media today said Almeida will “live on forever in the hearts and minds of his compatriots.” It said Almeida died around 11:30 pm on Friday here.

Cuba declared a national day of mourning for Sunday and ordered all flags flown at half-staff. A bricklayer who began working at age 11, Almeida was the only black commander among the rebel leaders. He was one of the most important and decisive voices in the battle to overthrow Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, as well as in the early years following the January 1, 1959, triumph of the Cuban revolution.

Almeida was often seen at public events in his uniform alongside the Cuban leader until Castro fell gravely ill in the summer of 2006 and finally resigned the presidency in February 2008. Almeida then became a mainstay beside Castro’s younger brother and successor, President Raul Castro. With his full head of white hair and mustache, Almeida was a highly visible member of Cuba’s ruling elite, sitting on the Communist Party’s politburo and serving as a vice president on the Council of State, the country’s supreme governing body.

Along with Ramiro Valdes and Guillermo Garcia, he had been among only three men still alive distinguished as a “Comandante de la Revolution” - a title reserved for top leaders of troops under Castro’s command in 1950s.

“No one here gives up!” Almeida shouted to Guevara at the time, giving the Cuban revolution one of its most lasting slogans and ensuring his place in Cuban communist history.