Luis R. Esteves

Luis R. Esteves Völckers
Major General Luis R. Esteves (1915) 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 Incident"

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.

Early years

Esteves (birth name: Luis Raul 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 and Dutch descent, was a housewife. Esteves received his primary education in Aguadilla and went to high school in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

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's 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. The family's financial situation did not permit her to realize her dream.

Esteves saw a news advertisement announcing examinations for the entry into the West Point Academy and applied without his parents' knowledge. He passed the exam, was accepted to and eventually graduated from West Point, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican to do so.

West Point

Major General Luis R. Esteves

Whilst at West Point he tutored Dwight D. Eisenhower in Spanish, as a second language was required in order to graduate. In 1915, Esteves graduated with Eisenhower and Omar Bradley among his classmates, and was the first Puerto Rican graduate of the academy. He was later the first graduate of 1915, "the class the stars fell on", to reach the rank of general. One of the problems that Esteves faced upon his graduation was that in order to become an officer in the U.S. Army he had to be a citizen of the United States and Puerto Ricans at the time were not. The War Department was able find a precedence when they remembered that during the American Revolutionary War, foreign officers like Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette and Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben were given commissions in the Continental Army.

Pancho Villa incident

Esteves served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 8th Infantry Brigade of the U.S. Army under the command of General Pershing, when he was sent to El Paso, Texas during the "Pancho Villa Incident". From El Paso, he was sent to the town of Polvo, Mexico where he was appointed mayor and judge by its citizens.

Puerto Rico National Guard

Esteves helped organize the 23rd Battalion which was composed of Puerto Ricans and was stationed in Panama during World War I. He was sent to Camp Las Casas in Puerto Rico and served as an instructor in the preparation of Puerto Rican Officers for the Porto Rico Regiment of Infantry (which in 1919 was renamed the 65th Infantry). He saw a need for a Puerto Rican National Guard. His request was met with approval from the government and the Puerto Rican Legislature. In 1918, he was promoted to Major and by 1919, the first regiment of the Puerto Rico National Guard was formed. After the war, Esteves was sent to Washington, D.C., however his assignment there was cut short and he resigned his commission in the Regular Army because of a medical admonition that residence in a cold climate could have been fatal to his wife. Esteves returned to the island and was named the first official Commandant of the Guard.

In October 1940, he was ordered to active duty and given the command of the 92nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He 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, that in a short time consisted of nine well trained and equipped regiments. In 1946, he reorganized the Puerto Rican National Guard and held the position of Adjutant General until his retirement in June 1957.

Later years

"Los Soldados Son Asi"

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 ancient regiment from Puerto Rico was organized (which today is the 65 Infantry) up to the Second World War.

Esteves also helped establish the first two theaters in Aguadilla, his hometown, with the help of fellow community leader Juan Garcia. 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.

Military Awards and decorations

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

See also

• 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
• German immigration to Puerto Rico

External links

• "Luis Raul Esteves (biography)". http://bellsouthpwp.net/r/u/ruiz_b/LuisRaulEsteves/Luis_Raul_Esteves.htm.