The Puerto Rican Experience in the U.S. Military:
A Century of Unheralded Service

Puerto Ricans started fighting as auxiliary forces to the U.S. military in 1898. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans have served in every small and major conflict in which the United States has participated. This publication intends to show the scope of the Puerto Rican experience in the U.S. military without lionizing nor demeaning it. This project hopes to inspire the public and scholars to look into this under-studied phenomenon.


PR Military

Porto Rico United States Volunteers General Order No. 34 of February 12, 1900, allowed...
Officers of the Porto Rico Regiment, 1917
Chronology July 28, 1914 World War I begins March 2, 1917 The U.S. Congress enacts the...
Porto Rican Regiment, 1917
The War Department authorized the creation of the 94 th Infantry Division to be composed...
369th Infantry band en route to France
During World War I, many Puerto Ricans were drafted, recruited or volunteered while...
Puerto Rican National Guard Crest
Creation of the Puerto Rico National Guard The three regiments from Las Casas were...

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Resources by the Author


Book


Soldiers of the Nation: Military Service and Modern Puerto Rico, 1868-1952.

Franqui-Rivera, H. Soldiers of the Nation: Military Service and Modern Puerto Rico, 1868-1952. University of Nebraska Press.


 


Franqui-Rivera, H. Fighting on Two Fronts: The Experience of the Puerto Rican Soldiers in the Korean War. Centro Press..


Book Excerpts


Puerto Rican Soldiers in the Korean War: The Battle of Chosin Reservoir” in Centro Voices, Spring 2019.


“‘A New Day Has Dawned for Porto Rico’s Jíbaro’: Manhood, Race, Military Service and Self-Government during WWI” in Latino Studies, Palgrave, Vol. 13.2 (2015).


"National Mythologies: U.S. Citizenship for the People of Puerto Rico and Military Service” in Memorias: Revista Digital de Historia y Arqueología desde el Caribe, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla Colombia, No.21 (2013).



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