Luis R. Esteves: Difference between revisions

Luis R. Esteves Völckers
Major General Luis R. Esteves The first Hispanic to graduate from West Point
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Puerto Rico National Guard
Years of service	1915-1957
Rank	Major General
Unit	U.S. Army 23rd Infantry Battalion
Commands held	Puerto Rico National Guard
Battles/wars	"Pancho Villa Expedition"
Awards	Legion of Merit

Major General Luis R. Esteves (1893 – March 12, 1958) was the first Hispanic to graduate from the United States Military Academy (West Point), on June 19, 1915, and the founder of the Puerto Rico National Guard.

Luis R. Esteves (birth name: Luis Raúl Esteves Völckers) was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. His father and mother were also natives of Aguadilla. His father, Francisco Esteves Soriano had served in the Spanish Army and his mother, Enedina Völckers Van der Dijs, of German^[1] and Dutch descent, was a housewife. Esteves received his primary education in Aguadilla and went to secondary school in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.^[2]

At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, the Esteves Völckers family welcomed the Americans as an alternative to Spanish rule of the island. Esteves' father wanted his son to continue the family military tradition and encouraged him to consider a military career. However, his mother had other plans. She wanted her son to become an engineer and to study in the United States. Their financial situation did not permit him to realize her dream.^[2]

Esteves saw a news advertisement announcing examinations for the entry into the United States Military Academy (West Point) and he applied without his parents' knowledge. He passed the exam, was accepted to and eventually graduated from West Point, thus becoming the first Hispanic and Puerto Rican to do so.^[3]

His first few months at the Academy were rather difficult due to his limited knowledge of the English language. He was quick, however, to overcome this difficulty and four years later he graduated with the class which many years later would be known as the "Class of the Generals". Luis R. Esteves was the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the United States Military Academy. While at West Point, he tutored his fellow classmate Dwight D. Eisenhower in Spanish, as a second language was required to graduate. Eisenhower would later become President from (1952 - 1960) and remained very good friends with General Esteves. Following in his tradition of doing things first, he would be the first of the 1915 West Point Class to become a General officer. This was quite a feat in itself considering that such outstanding officers as Generals Eisenhower, Bradley, McNarney, Van Fleet, Aurand, and Harmon were his classmates. ^{[4] [5]}

Another incident that characterized General Esteves' destiny as a pioneer occurred after his graduation from West Point. To the dismay of US Military Academy authorities it was discovered that although Puerto Rico belonged to the United States, its inhabitants were not American citizens, which precluded commissioning Esteves in the Regular Army. However, when the matter was brought up to the attention of the War Department, someone there dug out an old precedent that saved the young and eager cadet. Lafayette, Von Steuben and other Europeans had been commissioned in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Esteves received his commission after this precedent was presented to USMA authorities by the War Department. (The Jones Act of Puerto Rico in 1917 would later change the status for Puerto Rican citizens, conferring US citizenship on all citizens of Puerto Rico). ^[6]

Esteves' first assignment was as a 2nd Lieutenant under the command of General Pershing with the 23rd Infantry of the U.S. Army in Texas City, Texas. This was during the time of the Mexican Revolution and the US was having border skirmishes with Pancho Villa, along the Texas and New Mexico - Mexican border. He was then sent to El Paso, Texas during the "Pancho Villa Expedition" by the US Army, where they felt he would be a big help, due to his knowledge of the language. From El Paso, he was then assigned to the town of Polvo, Mexico, where he was appointed Mayor and judge by the local citizens of the town. While he was in El Paso he met the girl who was later to become Mrs. Esteves, Senorita Guadalupe Navarro, an American citizen of Mexican extraction. ^{[2] [7]}

At the beginning of World War I, Esteves and the 23rd Infantry were transferred to Syracuse, New York. By this time the old 23rd Infantry was not the same disciplined, trained and efficient organization it had been when Esteves joined it. The Regiment had been split into two groups to provide a cadre for the newly organized 34th Infantry. Esteves, now a Captain, was the Second in Command; Adjutant, commander of a battalion, tire Band, the Mounted Orderlies, and a Machine Gun company.

In 1917 the US Congress passed the Jones-Shafroth Act, also called the Jones Act of Puerto Rico, giving US citizenship to Puerto Ricans. Non U.S. citizens were not subject to being drafted. With the war in Europe growing, there was a likely possibility that the United States would be drawn into the conflict. Within a month after the passage of the Jones-Shafroth Act, the United States entered the war to help its allies, Great Britain and France. Thousands of new US citizens were quickly inducted into the US Army. Although few Puerto Ricans were actually sent to Europe, and most remained in America, with important support tasks, such as the guarding of the Panama Canal Zone.

Esteves was given the responsibility of preparing the new US citizens, the Puerto Rican inductees, to take part in World War I. It is important to remember, that Puerto Rico, was an impoverished island back then, and very few of the populace had any previous military experience. Up to then, while under Spanish rule, Spain garrisoned a small standing army on the island, which was comprised primarily of Spaniards. The entry of the United States into World War I, the application of the draft laws to Puerto Rico, and Esteves' knowledge of the Spanish language brought him back to Puerto Rico to serve as instructor at the Officers' Training Camps that were established soon afterwards. He was instructor or commander of three of these camps, which produced all the officers who would lead the more than 20,000 men trained in Puerto Rico during World War I.

In 1918, after being promoted to Major, he was preparing to open a fourth camp when the armistice was signed. Following the war, Major Esteves was transferred to the State of Washington but due to the sickness of his wife and a medical admonition that residence in a cold climate might be fatal to her, he decided to resign his commission in the Regular Army, something he regretted to the last day of his life. ^[8]

At the end of the First World War, Esteves strongly insisted in the organization of the Puerto Rico National Guard, because he was "convinced that Puerto Ricans make good soldiers, as good as the best of any country in the world". He brought the matter up to the then governor of Puerto Rico, Arthur Yager, immediately after the conclusion of World War I. His efforts with the Governor of Puerto Rico and the Legislature of Puerto Rico, were met with approval and the National Guard was officially organized in 1919. Ultimately, Esteves would be promoted to Major General and appointed Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard.

Esteves organized the first units of the Puerto Rico National Guard in 1919, commanded its first battalion and its first regiment, which would later be designated as the 65th Infantry Regiment after the Reorganization Act of June 4, 1920. The 65th Infantry Regiment would later be nicknamed "The Borinqueneers". When a second regiment was added he commanded both units. In 1937, he was appointed Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard.

In October 1940, Esteves was ordered to active duty and commanded the 92nd Infantry Brigade. During World War II, the 92nd was initially stationed in the Caribbean Basin, but eventually served in North Africa and Europe. From 1940 to 1946, more than 65,000 Puerto Ricans served in the American military, most of them going overseas.

Esteves commanded the 92nd until he was summoned by José Miguel Gallardo, the Interim Governor of Puerto Rico appointed by the United States, to organize a State Guard with the Army's approval. In a short time the State Guard consisted of nine well trained and equipped regiments.

He reverted to National Guard status for the reorganization of the Puerto Rico National Guard in November 1946, at which time he resumed his position as Adjutant General, a position he held until his retirement in June 1957. ^[9]

General Esteves' main hobby was studying military history. He also published two books Los Barrabases and ¡Los Soldados Son Así! (Soldiers are like that). In ¡Los Soldados Son Así! , he tells about many anecdotes, jokes, and stories of the Boricua (Puerto Rican) soldiers, covering the period from when the old regiment from Puerto Rico was organized (the 65th Infantry Regiment) up to World War II.^[10]

Esteves also helped establish the first two theaters in his hometown of Aguadilla, with the help of fellow community leader Juan Garcia.^[11] Major General Luis R. Esteves died on March 12, 1958 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Army named its military installation in San Juan "Gen. Luis R. Esteves" and the street in front of the Puerto Rico National Guard's headquarters was renamed "La Calle Gen. Esteves" in his honor.^[12]

Among Major General Luis R. Esteves' military decoration and awards are the following:

•   Legion of Merit
•   Army Mexican Service Medal
•   World War I Victory Medal
•   American Campaign Medal,
•   World War II Victory Medal,
•   National Defense Service Medal

• List of famous Puerto Ricans
• List of Puerto Rican military personnel
• Puerto Ricans in World War I
• Puerto Ricans in World War II
• 65th Infantry Regiment
• German immigration to Puerto Rico

• "Luis Raul Esteves (biography)".

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