Ernesto Che Guevara (1928 1967) was born in Rosario, Argentina, and became attracted to Marxist theory after witnessing the conditions in South America as a young medical student. He went on to serve as a military advisor to Fidel Castro and as guerrilla commander against Batista forces during the Cuban Revolution. After Castro s insurgent victory, he served in various posts but left the Cuban government to take the ideas of the Cuban revolution around the world. He later took part in guerrilla action in Bolivia, where he was executed by government forces. Nearly a half century after his death, Che remains a potent revolutionary and cultural figure.