Creation of the Puerto Rico National Guard
The three regiments from Las Casas were reorganized in 1922 as part of the Army Reserve Corps. In 1919, Secretary of War Baker authorized Yager to organize an infantry regiment and a cavalry battalion, officially creating the Porto Rico National Guard. In 1923, the Corps was reorganized into the 295thInfantry Regiment, P.R.N.G. Responding both to the prestige that came from wearing a military uniform and to economic hardships, neither the National Guard nor the regular army outfits in Puerto Rico lacked volunteers to fill their ranks, and, in fact, there were waiting lists to join these units.[1]
Puerto Rico Regiment becomes the 65th Infantry
Upon their return to Puerto Rico in 1920, the Porto Rico Regiment’s name was changed to “65th Infantry, U.S. Army,” courtesy of the National Defense Act of 1920.
Sacrifice, Manhood, Freedom and Service
In an interview published on the weekly “Los Quijotes” on June 11th, 1927, Albizu Campos defended volunteering for military service during WWI and stated:
I have always believed, that our participation in the European War, could have been a great benefit for the people of Puerto Rico. The military organization of a people is necessary for its defense, and that is only attainable through the painful sacrifices imposed by a war. If 30 or 40 thousand Puerto Ricans had returned from France lamed, one-eyed, or mutilated in any other way, today there would be an organized resistance that would make the American Empire respect us. The European war offered us that splendid opportunity to organize our collective value. For Puerto Rico the armistice was premature, hence recruitment contributed to the demoralization of the people.[2]
PR National Guard Museum
The idea that service made “patria” and better men was widespread during the WWI era and would continue to capture the imagination of Puerto Ricans until the Korean War.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC
Franqui-Rivera, H. (2015). “So a new day has dawned for Porto Rico’s Jíbaro”: Military Service, Manhood and Self-government During World War I.
Continue to World War II
Source:
[1]José R. Nadal, Guardia Nacional, sucesora de las milicias puertorriqueñas (1962). 15ta. Asamblea 6ta. Sesión Legislativa Ordinaria Cámara de Representantes, R. de la C. 7097, 20 de Agosto de 2007, Presentada por las representantes Ruiz Calás y González Colón, Referida a la Comisión de Asuntos Internos, Resolución. (Knowlton Mixer, Porto Rico: History and Conditions, 1926).
[2]Marín Román, El caldero quemao, 519-520.
Photo caption: Puerto Rican National Guard Crest
