Puerto Ricans and people of Puerto Rican descent have participated as members of theUnited States Armed Forces in theAmerican Civil War and in every conflict which the United States has been involved sinceWorld War I. In World War II, more than 65,000 Puerto Rican service members served in the war effort, including the guarding of U.S. military installations in theCaribbean and combat operations in theEuropean andPacific theatres.[a]
Puerto Rico was annexed by the United States in accordance to the terms of theTreaty of Paris of 1898, ratified on December 10, 1898, as consequence of theSpanish–American War. U.S. Citizenship was imposed upon Puerto Ricans as a result of the 1917Jones-Shafroth Act (the Puerto Rican House of Delegates rejected US citizenship) and were expected to serve in the military.[2] When anImperial Japanese Navy carrier fleet launched an unexpectedattack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Puerto Ricans were required to bear arms in defense of the United States.
DuringWorld War II, it is estimated by the Department of Defense that 65,034 Puerto Ricans served in the U.S. military.[3][4] Most of the soldiers from the island served in either the65th Infantry Regiment or thePuerto Rico National Guard. As the induction of Puerto Ricans into the armed forces increased many were assigned to units in thePanama Canal Zone and theBritish West Indies to replace the continental troops serving in regular Army units.[5] Those who resided in the mainland of the United States were assigned to regular units of the military. They were often subject to the racial discrimination that was widespread in the United States at the time.[4]
Puerto Rican women who served had their options restricted to nursing or administrative positions. In World War II some of the island's men played active roles as commanders in the military. The military did not keep statistics with regard to the total number of Hispanics who served in the regular units of the Armed Forces, only of those who served in Puerto Rican units; therefore, it is impossible to determine the exact number of Puerto Ricans who served in World War II.[6]
Before the United States entered World War II Puerto Ricans were already fighting on European soil in theSpanish Civil War. The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict inSpain that started following an attemptedcoup d'état committed by parts of thearmy, led by theNationalistGeneral Francisco Franco, against the government of theSecond Spanish Republic. Puerto Ricans fought on behalf of both of the factions involved, the "Nationalists" as members of the Spanish Army and the "Loyalists" (Republicans) as members of theAbraham Lincoln International Brigade.[7]
Among the Puerto Ricans who fought alongside General Franco on behalf of the Nationalists was GeneralManuel Goded Llopis (1882–1936), a high-ranking officer in the Spanish Army. Llopis, who was born inSan Juan, was named Chief of Staff of theSpanish Army of Africa, after his victories in theRif War, took theBalearic Islands and by order of Franco, suppressed the rebellion ofAsturias. Llopis was sent to lead the fight against the Anarchists inCatalonia, but his troops were outnumbered. He was captured and was sentenced to die by firing squad.[8][9]
Among the many Puerto Ricans who fought on behalf of the Second Spanish Republic as members of theAbraham Lincoln Brigade, wasLieutenantCarmelo Delgado Delgado (1913–1937), a leader of thePuerto Rican Nationalist Party fromGuayama who upon the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War was in Spain in pursuit of his law degree. Delgado was ananti-fascist who believed that the Spanish Nationalists were traitors. He fought in theBattle of Madrid, but was captured and was sentenced to die by firing squad on April 29, 1937; he was amongst the first US citizens to die in that conflict.[10]
In 1937,Japan invaded China and in September 1939,GermanyinvadedPoland. In October 1940, the 295th and 296th Infantry Regiments of the Puerto Rican National Guard, founded by Major GeneralLuis R. Esteves, were called into Federal Active Service and assigned to the Puerto Rican Department in accordance with the existingWar Plan Orange.[11] During that period of time, Puerto Rico's economy was suffering from the consequences of theGreat Depression, and unemployment was widespread. Unemployment was one of the reasons that some Puerto Ricans chose to join the Armed Forces.[12]
Most of these men were trained inCamp Las Casas inSanturce, Puerto Rico, and were assigned to the65th Infantry Regiment, asegregated unit made up mostly of White Puerto Ricans. The rumors of war spread, and the involvement of the United States was believed to be a question of time. The 65th Infantry was ordered to intensify itsmaneuvers, many of which were carried out at Punta Salinas near the town ofSalinas in Puerto Rico.[13] Those who were assigned to the 295th and 296th regiments of the Puerto Rican National Guard received their training at Camp Tortuguero near the town ofVega Baja.
There weren't any Puerto Rican military related fatalities when theImperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacked Pearl Harbor. However, there was one civilian Puerto Rican fatality. Daniel LaVerne was a Puerto Rican amateur boxer who was working at Pearl Harbor's Red Hill underground fuel tank construction project when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He died as a result of the injuries which he received during the attack. His name is listed among the 2,338 Americans killed or mortally wounded on December 7, 1941, in the Remembrance Exhibit in the back lawn of the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center at Pearl Harbor.[14]
After theJapanese attack onPearl Harbor and the entry of the U.S. into the war, the Puerto Ricans living on the island and on the U.S. mainland began to fill the ranks of the four major branches of the Armed Forces. Some volunteered for patriotic reasons, some joined in need of employment, and others weredrafted.[5] Some families had multiple members join the Armed Forces. Seven brothers of the Medina family known as "The fighting Medinas", fought in the war. They came fromRio Grande, Puerto Rico and Brooklyn, New York.[15] In some cases Puerto Ricans were subject to the racial discrimination which at that time was widespread in the United States.[4] In 1943, there were approximately 17,000 Puerto Ricans under arms, including the 65th Infantry Regiment and the Puerto Rico National Guard. The Puerto Rican units were stationed either in Puerto Rico or in theVirgin Islands.[5]
On December 8, 1941, whenJapanese planes attacked the U.S. military installations in thePhilippines, Col.Virgilio N. Cordero was the Battalion Commander of the31st Infantry Regiment.[16] The 31st Infantry covered the withdrawal of American and Philippine forces to theBataan Peninsula and fought for four months, despite the fact that no help could come in from the outside after much of theUnited States Pacific Fleet was destroyed atPearl Harbor and mid-ocean bases atGuam andWake Island were lost.
Cordero was named Regimental Commander of the 52nd Infantry Regiment of the new Filipino Army, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican to command a Filipino Army regiment. The Bataan Defense Force surrendered on April 9, 1942, and Cordero and his men underwent torture and humiliation during theBataan Death March and nearly four years of captivity. Cordero was one of nearly 1,600 members of the 31st Infantry who were taken as prisoners. Half of these men perished while prisoners of the Japanese forces. Cordero gained his freedom when theAllied troops defeated the Japanese in 1945.[17][18]
France's possessions in theCaribbean began to protest against theVichy government in France, a government backed by the Germans who invaded France. The island ofMartinique was on the verge ofcivil war. The United States organized a jointArmy–Marine Corps task force, which included the 295th Infantry (minus one battalion) and the 78th Engineer Battalion, both from Puerto Rico for the occupation of Martinique. The use of these infantry units was put on hold because Martinique's local government decided to turn over control of the colonies to theFrench Committee of National Liberation.[5]
A small detachment of insular troops from Puerto Rico was sent to Cuba in late March as a guard for Batista Field. In 1943, the 65th Infantry was sent toPanama to protect thePacific and theAtlantic sides of theisthmus. An increase in the Puerto Rican induction program was immediately authorized and continental troops such as the 762nd, 766th, and the 891st Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalions, were replaced by Puerto Ricans in Panama.[19][20] They also replaced troops in bases on British West Indies as well, to the extent permitted by the availability of trained Puerto Rican units. The 295th Infantry Regiment followed the 65th Infantry in 1944, departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to thePanama Canal Zone.[5] Among those who served with the 295th Regiment in thePanama Canal Zone was a youngSecond Lieutenant by the name ofCarlos Betances Ramírez, who would later become the only Puerto Rican to command a Battalion in theKorean War.[21] On November 25, 1943, ColonelAntulio Segarra, proceeded Col. John R. Menclenhall as Commander of the 65th Infantry, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican Regular Army officer to command a Regular Army regiment.[22]
In January 1944, the 65th Infantry embarked forJackson Barracks inNew Orleans and later toFort Eustis inNewport News, Virginia, in preparation for overseas deployment toNorth Africa. For some Puerto Ricans, this would be the first time that they were away from their homeland. Being away from their homeland for the first time would serve as an inspiration for the compositions of two Puerto RicansBoleros; "En mi viejo San Juan" (In myOld San Juan) byNoel Estrada[23] and "Despedida" (My Good-bye), a farewell song written byPedro Flores and interpreted byDaniel Santos.[24]
Once in North Africa, the Regiment underwent further training atCasablanca. By April 29, 1944, the Regiment hadlanded in Italy and moved on toCorsica.[25] On September 22, 1944, the 65th Infantrylanded in France and was committed to action on the Maritime Alps at Peira Cava. On December 13, 1944, the 65th Infantry, under the command of Lieutenant ColonelJuan César Cordero Dávila, relieved the 2nd Battalion of the442nd Infantry Regiment, a Regiment which was made up ofJapanese Americans under the command of Col.Virgil R. Miller, a native of Puerto Rico. The 3rd Battalion fought against and defeated Germany's 34th Infantry Division's 107th Infantry Regiment.[26] There were 47 battle casualties, including Private Sergio Sanchez-Sanchez and Sergeant Angel Martinez from the town ofSabana Grande, who became the first two Puerto Ricans to be killed in combat action from the 65th Infantry as a result of a German assault on Company "L". On March 18, 1945, the regiment was sent to theDistrict of Mannheim and assigned tomilitary occupation duties. Twenty-three (23) soldiers of the regiment were killed in action.[27][28]
On January 12, 1944, the 296th Infantry Regiment departed from Puerto Rico to the Panama Canal Zone. In April 1945, the unit returned to Puerto Rico and soon after was sent toHonolulu,Hawaii. The 296th arrived on June 25, 1945 and was attached to the Central Pacific Base Command at Kahuku Air Base.[29] Lieutenant ColonelGilberto Jose Marxuach, "The Father of the San Juan Civil Defense", was the commander of the 1114th Artillery and the 1558th Engineers Company's.[30]
| External audio | |
|---|---|
 Noel Estrada's "En mi viejo San Juan" onYouTube | |
| Pedro Flores' "Despedida" onYouTube interpreted byDaniel Santos |
Puerto Ricans who were fluent inEnglish or who resided on the mainland were assigned to regular Army units. Such was the case of Sgt. First Class Louis Ramirez, who was assigned to the102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized, which landed atNormandy onD-Day (Battle of Normandy), June 6, and advanced into France during the Battle ofSaint-Malo, where they were met by enemy tanks, bombs, and soldiers. PFC Fernando Pagan was also a Puerto Rican who resided on the mainland; he was assigned to unit Company A, 293 Combat Engineering Battalion, which arrived in Normandy on June 10. Others, likeFrank Bonilla, were assigned to the 290th Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division, which later fought in the front lines at theBattle of the Bulge. Bonilla was the recipient of theSilver Star andPurple Heart medals for his actions in combat.[31] One Puerto Rican who earned aBronze Star in the Battle of the Bulge was PFCJoseph A. Unanue, whose father was the founder ofGoya Foods. Unanue had trained for armored infantry, and went to the European Theater as a gunner in A company, 63rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division. His company landed in France in December 1944, just before the Battle of the Bulge.[32][33][34] PFC Santos Deliz was assigned to Battery D, 216 AAA, a gun battalion, and sent to Africa in 1943 to join the Third Army. According to Deliz,General Patton demanded the best from all under him, including cooks and kitchen hands. Deliz, who earned a Bronze Star Medal, once recounted an experience which he had with General Patton:
Patton went in to inspect and he scolded me because I had rations over the amount I should've had. The rations were food the GIs didn't want, so instead of dumping it, I sometimes gave it to the people who were around there.[35]
It was during this conflict that CWO2Joseph B. Aviles Sr., a member of theUnited States Coast Guard and the firstHispanic-American to be promoted toChief Petty Officer, received a war-time promotion toChief Warrant Officer (November 27, 1944), thus becoming the first Hispanic American to reach that level as well.[36] Aviles, who served in the United States Navy asChief Gunner's Mate inWorld War I, spent most of the war atSt. Augustine, Florida training recruits.
In 1939, a survey was conducted of possible air base sites. It was determined that Punta Borinquen was the best site for a major air base. Later that year, Major Karl S. Axtater assumed command of what was to become "Borinquen Army Air Field". The first squadron based at Borinquen Field was the 27th Bombardment Squadron, consisting of nine B-18A Bolo medium bombers. In 1940, the air echelon of the 25th Bombardment Group (14 B-18A aircraft and two A-17 aircraft) arrived at the base from Langley Field.[37]
During World War II, the following squadrons were assigned to the airfield:
In 1940, PresidentFranklin Delano Roosevelt ordered the construction of a naval base in the Atlantic similar toPearl Harbor in Hawaii. The site was meant to provide anchorage, docking, repair facilities, fuel, and supplies for 60% of the Atlantic Fleet. The naval base, which was named U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads’ became the largest naval installation in the world in land mass and was meant to be the Pearl Harbor of the Atlantic, however with the defeat of Germany, the United States concentrated all of their efforts to the war in the Pacific. In May 2003, after six decades of existence, the base was officially shut down by the U.S. Navy.[38][39]
Three Puerto Ricans were awardedDistinguished Service Cross. The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. The first Puerto Rican recipient of said award was PFC Joseph R. Martínez. He was followed by PFC. Luis F. Castro and Private Anibal Irrizarry.[40][41][42]
PFCJoseph (José) R. Martínez born inSan Germán, Puerto Rico destroyed a German Infantry unit and tank inTunis by providing heavy artillery fire, saving his platoon from being attacked in the process. He received the Distinguished Service Cross from General George S. Patton, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican recipient of said military decoration.[43] His citation reads as follow:
"The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Joseph R. Martinez, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in action against enemy forces in March 1943. Private First Class Martinez's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."[43]
Private First Class Luis F. Castro, born inOrocovis, Puerto Rico, was assigned to 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. PFC. Castro's platoon was about to be overrun by enemy German forces, when he decided to stay in the rear flank and cover his men's retreat by providing firepower killing 15 of the enemy in the process.[44]
Private Anibal Irizarry born in Puerto Rico, was assigned to Co. L, 18th Infantry Regiment,1st Infantry Regiment. Private Irizarry single-handedly destroyed two enemy machine gun nests and captured eight enemy soldiers.[45]
Agustín Ramos Calero was one of many Puerto Ricans who distinguished themselves in combat. Calero's company was in the vicinity ofColmar, France, and engaged in combat against a squad of German soldiers in what is known as theBattle of Colmar Pocket. Calero attacked the squad, killing ten of them and capturing 21 shortly before being wounded himself. Following these events, he was nicknamed "One-Man Army" by his comrades. ASilver Star was among the 22 decorations and medals which he was awarded from the US Army for his actions during World War II, thus becoming the most decorated Hispanic soldier in all of the United States during that war.[46]
Puerto Ricans also served in theUnited States Army Air Forces. In 1944, Puerto Rican aviators were sent to the Tuskegee Army Air Field inTuskegee, Alabama to train the famed 99th Fighter Squadron of theTuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the United States armed forces. Puerto Ricans were also involved in clerical positions with the Tuskegee unit. Among the Puerto Ricans who helped make the Tuskegee experiment a successful one were T/Sgt. Pablo Diaz Albortt, an NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) in charge of the Special Service Office, and Eugene Calderon, who was assigned to the "Red Tail" unit, as the Company Clerk.[47] By the end of the war, the Tuskegee Airmen were credited with 112 Luftwaffe aircraft shot down, a patrol boat run aground by machine-gun fire, and destruction of numerous fuel dumps, trucks and trains.[48]
Puerto Ricans distinguished themselves in aerial combat as well. This was the case of then-Captains Mihiel "Mike" Gilormini and Alberto A. Nido, Lieutenants José Antonio Muñiz and César Luis González and airman T/Sgt. Clement Resto.
CaptainMihiel "Mike" Gilormini served in theRoyal Air Force and in the Army Air Force during World War II. He was a flight commander whose last combat mission was attacking the airfield atMilano,Italy. His last flight in Italy gave air cover for GeneralGeorge Marshall's visit toPisa. He was the recipient of the Silver Star Medal, theAir Medal with four clusters, and theDistinguished Flying Cross 5 times. Gilormini later became the Founder of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard and retired as Brigadier General.
CaptainAlberto A. Nido served in theRoyal Canadian Air Force, theRoyal Air Force and in theUnited States Army Air Forces during the war. He flew missions as a bomber pilot for the RCAF and as aSupermarine Spitfire fighter pilot for the RAF. As member of the RAF, he belonged to 67th Reconnaissance Squadron who participated in 275 combat missions. Nido later transferred to the USAAF's 67th Fighter Group as aP-51 Mustang fighter pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with fouroak leaf clusters and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. Nido co-founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard and, as Gilormini, retired a Brigadier General.[49]
LieutenantJosé Antonio Muñiz served with distinction in theChina-Burma-India Theater. During his tour of duty he flew 20 combat missions against theImperial Japanese Army Air Force and shot down aMitsubishi A6M Zero.[50] In 1960, Muñiz was flying a formation ofF-86s celebrating the 4th of July festivities in Puerto Rico and upon take off his airplane flamed out and crashed. In 1963, the Air National Guard Base, at the San Juan International airport in Puerto Rico, was renamed "Muñiz Air National Guard Base" in his honor.[51]
2nd LieutenantCésar Luis González, a co-pilot of aC-47, was the first Puerto Rican pilot in the United States Army Air Forces. He was one of the initial participants of the invasion ofSicily on July 10, 1943 also known asOperation Husky. During the invasion of Sicily, he flew on two night missions, the first on July 9, where his mission was to release paratroops of82nd Airborne Division on the area ofGela and the second on July 11, when he dropped reinforcements in the area. His unit was awarded a "DUC" for carrying out this second mission in spite of bad weather and heavy attack by enemy ground and naval forces. González died on November 22, 1943, when his plane crashed during training off the end of the runway atCastelvetrano. He was posthumously promoted to First Lieutenant.[52]
T/Sgt. Clement Resto served with the 303rd Bomb Group and participated in numerous bombing raids over Germany. During a bombing mission overDüren, Germany, Resto's plane, aB-17 Flying Fortress, was shot down. He was captured by theGestapo and sent toStalag XVII-B where he spent the rest of the war as aprisoner of war. Resto, who lost an eye during his last mission, was awarded aPurple Heart, aPOW Medal, and anAir Medal with one battle star after he was liberated from captivity.[53][54]
In 1945, when Kwajalein of theMarshall Islands was secured by the U.S. forces, Sergeant Fernando Bernacett was among the Marines who were sent to guard various essential military installations. Bernacett, a combat veteran of theBattle of Midway, guarded the airport and prisoners of war as well as theatomic bomb as it made its way for Japan.[55]
When the United States entered World War II, Puerto Rican nurses volunteered for service but were not accepted into the Army or Navy Nurse Corps.
In 1944, the Army sent recruiters to the island to recruit no more than 200 women for theWomen's Army Corps (WAC). Over 1,000 applications were received for the unit which was to be composed of only 200 women. The Puerto Rican WAC unit, Company 6, 2nd Battalion, 21st Regiment of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, a segregated Hispanic unit, was assigned to theNew York Port of Embarkation, after their basic training atFort Oglethorpe, Georgia. They were assigned to work in military offices which planned the shipment of troops around the world.[56] Among them was PFCCarmen García Rosado, who in 2006, authored and published a book titled "LAS WACS-Participacion de la Mujer Boricua en la Segunda Guerra Mundial" (The WACs-The participation of the Puerto Rican women in the Second World War), the first book to document the experiences of the first 200 Puerto Rican women who participated in said conflict.[57]
That same year the Army Nurse Corps (ANC) decided to accept Puerto Rican nurses so that Army hospitals would not have to deal with the language barriers.[58] Thirteen women submitted applications, were interviewed, underwent physical examinations, and were accepted into the ANC. Eight of these nurses were assigned to the Army Post at San Juan, where they were valued for their bilingual abilities. Five nurses were assigned to work at the hospital at Camp Tortuguero, Puerto Rico. Among them was Second LieutenantCarmen Lozano Dumler, who became one of the first Puerto Rican female military officers.[56]
Not all the women served as nurses: some women served in administrative duties in the mainland or near combat zones. Such was the case of Technician Fourth GradeCarmen Contreras-Bozak who belonged to the 149th Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. The 149thWomen's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) Post Headquarters Company was the first WAAC Company to go overseas, setting sail from New York Harbor for Europe in January 1943. The unit arrived in Northern Africa on January 27, 1943 and rendered overseas duties inAlgiers within GeneralDwight D. Eisenhower's theater headquarters, T/4.Carmen Contreras-Bozak, a member of this unit, was the first Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Women's Army Corps as an interpreter and in numerous administrative positions.[58][59]
Another was Lieutenant Junior Grade Maria Rodriguez Denton, the first woman from Puerto Rico who became an officer in the United States Navy as member of theWAVES. The Navy assigned LTJG Denton as a library assistant at the Cable and Censorship Office in New York City. It was LTJG Denton who forwarded the news (through channels) to PresidentHarry S. Truman that the war had ended.[58]
Some Puerto Rican women became notable in other fields outside of the military. Among them Sylvia Rexach – a composer ofboleros, Marie Teresa Rios – an author, and Julita Ross – singer.
Sylvia Rexach, dropped-out of theUniversity of Puerto Rico in 1942 and joined theUnited States Army as a member of the WACS where she served as an office clerk. She served until 1945, when she was honorably discharged.[60]Marie Teresa Rios was a Puerto Rican writer who also served in World War II. Rios, mother ofMedal of Honor recipient, Capt.Humbert Roque Versace and author ofThe Fifteenth Pelican which was the basis for the popular 1960s television sitcom "The Flying Nun", drove Army trucks and buses. She also served as a pilot for theCivil Air Patrol. Rios Versace wrote and edited for various newspapers around the world, including places such asGuam, Germany,Wisconsin, andSouth Dakota, and publications such the Armed ForcesStar & Stripes andGannett.[61] During World War II,Julita Ross entertained the troops with her voice in "USO shows" (United Service Organizations).[62]
Another notable example wasCarmen Vazquez Rivera. Originally a Second Lieutenant during World War II, Vazquez was another early Puerto Rican female officer of the United States Army and served in both World War II and theKorean War, where she was promoted to First Lieutenant while serving with the U.S. Air Force. She was also known for being the wife of Puerto Rican politician, lawyer, medical doctor, and scholarLeopoldo Figueroa. Later in life, she received renewed recognition as acentenarian and was awarded theLeague of United Latin American Citizens Presidential Medal of Freedom and honored by theUnited States Congress.[63][64]
In addition to Lieutenant Colonel Juan Cesar Cordero Davila, nine Puerto Ricans who graduated from theUnited States Naval Academy and theUnited States Military Academy served in command positions in the Army, Navy, and the Marine Corps.[65] They were: Lieutenant GeneralPedro Augusto del Valle, USMC, the first Hispanic to reach the rank of General in the Marine Corps; Rear AdmiralFrederick Lois Riefkohl, USN, the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the Naval Academy and recipient of theNavy Cross; Rear AdmiralJose M. Cabanillas, USN, who was the Executive Officer ofUSS Texas which participated in the invasions of North Africa and Normandy (D-Day) and subsequently commandedUSSGrundy; Rear AdmiralEdmund Ernest Garcia, USN, commander of the destroyerUSS Sloat who saw action in the invasions of Africa, Sicily, and France; AdmiralHoracio Rivero Jr., USN, who was the first Hispanic to become a four-starAdmiral; CaptainMarion Frederic Ramirez de Arellano, USN, the first Hispanic submarine commander, who commandedUSS Balao and is credited with sinking two Japanese ships; Rear AdmiralRafael Celestino Benítez, USN, a highly decorated submarine commander who was the recipient of two Silver Star Medals; ColonelVirgilio N. Cordero Jr., USA, recipient of three Silver Star Medals and a Bronze Star Medal, Battalion Commander of the31st Infantry Regiment on December 8, 1941, whenJapanese planes attacked the U.S. military installations in thePhilippines. ColonelVirgil R. Miller, USA, Regimental Commander of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team; and ColonelJaime Sabater Sr., USMC, Class of 1927.
During World War II, the United States Army was segregated. Puerto Ricans who resided on the mainland and who were fluent in English served alongside their "White" counterparts and "Black" Puerto Ricans were assigned to units made up mostly ofAfrican Americans. Puerto Ricans from the island served in Puerto Rico's segregated units, like the 65th Infantry and the Puerto Rico National Guard's 295th and 296th regiments.Racial discrimination practiced againstHispanic Americans, including Puerto Ricans on the United States' east coast andMexican Americans in California and the Southwest, was widespread. Some Puerto Ricans who served in regular Army units were witnesses to the racial discrimination of the day.[79]
In an interview, PFC Raul Rios Rodriguez said that during his basic training atFort Bragg,North Carolina, he had encountered a strictdrill instructor who was particularly harsh on the Hispanic and black soldiers in his unit. He stated that he remains resentful of the discriminatory treatment thatLatino and black soldiers received during basic training: "We were all soldiers; we were all risking our lives for the United States. That should have never been done, never."[80] Rios Rodriguez was shipped toLe Havre,France, assigned to guard bridges and supply depots in France and Germany with the 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.[80]
Another soldier, PFC Felix López-Santos was drafted into the Army and sent toFort Dix inNew Jersey for training. López -Santos went to Milne Bay and then to the small island of Woodlark, both inNew Guinea, where he was in the communications department using telephone wires to communicate to the troops during the war. In an interview, López-Santos stated that in North Carolina he witnessed some forms of racial discrimination, but never experienced it for himself. He stated: "I remember seeing some colored people refused service at a restaurant, I believe that I was not discriminated against because of my blue eyes and fair complexion."[81]
According to Carmen García Rosado, one of the hardships which Puerto Rican women in the military were subject to was the social and racial discrimination which at the time was rampant in the United States against the Latino community.[82]
Puerto Rican soldiers were also subject to human experimentation by the United States Armed Forces. On Panama's San Jose Island, Puerto Rican soldiers were exposed tomustard gas to see if they reacted differently than their "white" counterparts.[83] According to Susan L. Smith of the University of Alberta, the researchers were searching for evidence of race-based differences in the responses of the human body to mustard gas exposure.[84]
The American participation in the Second World War came to an end in Europe on May 8, 1945, when the western Allies celebrated "V-E Day" (Victory in Europe Day) upon Germany's surrender, and in the Asian theater on August 14, 1945 "V-J Day" (Victory over Japan Day) when theJapanese surrendered by signing theJapanese Instrument of Surrender.
On October 27, 1945, the 65th Infantry, which had participated in the battles ofNaples–Fogis,Rome–Arno,central Europe, and of theRhineland, sailed home from France. Arriving at Puerto Rico on November 9, 1945, they were received by the local population as national heroes and given a victorious reception at the Military Terminal of Camp Buchanan.
According to the book "Historia Militar De Puerto Rico" (Military history of Puerto Rico), by historian Col.Hector Andres Negroni, the men of the 65th Infantry were awarded the following military decorations:[85]
| Award | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
O8 | Silver Star | 2 |
O8 | Bronze Star | 22 |
O8 | Purple Heart | 90 |
The 295th Regiment returned on February 20, 1946 from the Panama Canal Zone, and the 296th Regiment on March 6. Both regiments were awarded the American Theatre streamer and the Pacific Theatre streamer. They were inactivated that same year.[86]
Many of the men and women who were discharged after the war returned to their civilian jobs or made use of the educational benefits of theG.I. Bill. Others, such as Major General Juan César Cordero Dávila, Colonel Carlos Betances Ramírez, Sergeant First Class Agustín Ramos Calero, andMaster Sergeant Pedro Rodriguez, continued in the military as career soldiers and went on to serve in theKorean War.[87]
Some of the Puerto Ricans from the mainland who had not completed their full active duty in the military service were reassigned to the 65th Infantry in Puerto Rico. According to remarks made by Frank Bonilla in an interview, he discovered that there was a divide among the soldiers. The Puerto Ricans who had emigrated to the mainland were seen as "American Joes" while Puerto Ricans from the island considered themselves "pure" Puerto Ricans. Bonilla at first thought the soldiers were being disrespectful to the United States, especially since they stood at attention whenever "La Borinqueña", the Puerto Rican anthem, was played and not when the United States anthem. Bonilla is quoted as saying:
The Puerto Rican soldiers paid little, if any, attention to the playing of the 'Star Spangled Banner" "The soldiers in the regiment, although proud to be U.S. citizens, felt that they were a Puerto Rican army, not a US army," Mr. Bonilla said. "These men had a select unit pride because they had had more time overseas and in combat areas than the American units.[88]
Bonilla eventually earned a Ph.D. fromHarvard and held faculty appointments at theMassachusetts Institute of Technology,Stanford University, and theCity University of New York. He became a major leader in Puerto Rican studies.[88]
According to the 4th Report of the Director of Selective Service of 1948, a total of 51,438 Puerto Ricans served in the Armed Forces during World War II, however the Department of Defense in its report titled "Number of Puerto Ricans serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during National Emergencies" stated that the total of Puerto Ricans who served was 65,034 and from that total 2,560 were listed as wounded.[89] These numbers only reflect those who served in Puerto Rican units. However, the total number of Puerto Ricans who served in World War II in other units cannot be determined because the military categorized Hispanics along with whites. The only racial groups for which separate statistics were kept were Blacks andAsians.[6][90]
The names of the 37 men who are known to have perished in the conflict are engraved in "El Monumento de la Recordación" (Memorial Monument) monument which honors the memory of those who have fallen in the defense of the United States. The monument is located inSan Juan, Puerto Rico.[91]
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