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178-481: The PRNG traces its roots back to the first Puerto Rican militias founded by Juan Ponce de León during the 16th century and prides itself in the battles that its predecessor won against the Taíno , enemy navies, pirates, privateers and buccaneers, such as Francis Drake, Cumberland and Balduino Henrico, centuries before from strongholds such as Castillo San Felipe del Morro . These forces which preceded by operated similarly to

356-682: A Carta de Autonomía (Charter of Autonomy). This Charter of Autonomy was signed by Spanish Prime Minister Práxedes Mateo Sagasta and ratified by the Spanish Cortes . Despite this, just a few months later, the United States claimed ownership of the island as part of the Treaty of Paris which concluded the Spanish–American War . Opponents to the colonial government argued that the profits generated by this arrangement were one-sided, enormous for

534-528: A U.S. president -appointed governor, led to the assassination of two government officials, the attempted assassination of a federal judge in Puerto Rico, and the Rio Piedras and Ponce massacres . Under the leadership of Albizu Campos, the party abandoned the electoral process in favor of direct armed conflict as means to gain independence from the United States . By the late 1940s, a more US-friendly party,

712-710: A controlling interest over the entire Puerto Rican economy . In 1914, the Puerto Rican House of Delegates voted unanimously for independence from the United States. In 1917, the US Congress passed an act by which it granted citizenship to Puerto Rican residents. This was overwhelmingly opposed by the island's political leaders. Critics said the US was simply interested in increasing the size of its conscription pool to get soldiers for World War I. By 1930, over 40 percent of all

890-554: A quadrant or a mariner's astrolabe , and obtained a reading of 30 degrees, 8 minutes of latitude, the coordinate recorded in the ship's log when it was closest to the landing site, as reported by Herrera (who had the original logbook) in 1601. This latitude corresponds to a spot north of St. Augustine between what is now the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve and Ponte Vedra Beach . The expedition sailed north for

1068-694: A Cannon Company to the parting unit. The 266th Regiment was given the task of guarding the Panama Canal Zone , both in the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and participated in missions in Peru, Galapagos and Ecuador under Col. Francisco Parra Toro. It served in the Mobile Forces, in jungle training and performed before visiting Latin American officials. Three months later, the 295th Regiment began training at Camp O'Reilly and

1246-501: A Combat Engineering Regiment in charge of Lt. Col. Sylvester Nordner and continued working on the infrastructure of the local bases. On December 7, 1941, the PRNG was assigned to surveillance and monitoring operations throughout Puerto Rico. After more than a year performing this task, the 295th Infantry Regiment was separated in two battalions and reassigned to operate in Aruba and Curazao , while

1424-479: A Commonwealth, Albizu Campos ordered armed uprisings in several Puerto Rican towns to occur on October 30, 1950. In a related effort, two Nationalists also attempted to assassinate US President Harry S. Truman on November 1, 1950, in an effort to call international attention to issues related to Puerto Rico's political status , but the attempt failed. The last major armed event by the Nationalists occurred in 1954 at

1602-757: A National Guard of Puerto Rico. The public supported this effort and some companies were organized, in different towns around the island: Yauco under the command of Captain Santiago Vivaldi; Juana Díaz , commanded by Captain Diaz-Brik; Peñuelas by Captain Gabino Balasquide; and two in Ponce by Pedro Juan Armstrong, Mario Belaval, J. Oppenheimer, F. del Valle and Doctor Laguna. In San Juan three companies were organized under Federico Vall-Spinosa, Justo Barros, J. del Barril, R. Swigett, J. Doere, Lugo Vinas and F. Fano. As

1780-406: A Puerto Rico relationship with Spain as its Mother country and their nationalistic love for Puerto Rico as their Motherland. The other reason for the splinter group was due to the violence that took place in the 1950s. This splinter group would later become known in 1968 as El Movimiento Indio Taino de Boriken (The Taino Indian Movement of Puerto Rico) which was primarily made up of the children of

1958-600: A Spanish historian who apparently had access to the original ships' logs or related secondary sources from which he created a summary of the voyage published in 1601. The brevity of the account and occasional gaps in the record have led historians to speculate and dispute many details of the voyage. The three ships in this small fleet were the Santiago , the San Cristobal and the Santa Maria de la Consolacion . Anton de Alaminos

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2136-541: A band and a religious services branch that includes personal of different credos. Through these, the organization also related with other government agencies and entities, occasionally organizing parades or friendly competitions or entertainment through its artistic unit, Banda 248. Otherwise, the organization makes donations to other initiatives, mainly the Red Cross and similar entities. The Puerto Rico National Guard comprises both Army and Air National Guard components, namely

2314-643: A call by the president of the United States or Congress , usually at the request of the governor of Puerto Rico. When under state/territory control, the governor serves as commander-in-chief . When troops from the Puerto Rico National Guard are called to federal service, the president serves as commander-in-chief. The federal mission assigned to the different National Guards is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, national emergency or as otherwise needed." The governor of Puerto Rico may call individuals or units of

2492-516: A counteroffensive by killing Cristóbal de Sotomayor, the leader of a settlement built in southern Puerto Rico. Lacking a formal structure during the initial stages of the colonization, the Spanish settlers were forced to adopt a military initiative and organize these militias, while also continuing their main jobs, giving rise to the first civilian reserves. Additional native attacks took place in 1514 and 1520 (by which point they had been driven into exile in

2670-681: A fertile land with much gold to be found in the many rivers. Inspired by the possibility of riches, Ponce de León requested and received permission from Ovando to explore the island. The official settlement of San Juan by Spaniards is often dated to 1508, when Ponce landed in a caravel with about fifty men on the southern coast of the island, but there is documentation in the Archive of the Indies ( Archivo General de Indias ) that he had led an expedition there with several hundred men as early as 1506, under orders by Governor Ovando to explore, settle, and conquer

2848-438: A fountain. Upon his return to Puerto Rico, Ponce de León found the island in turmoil. A party of Caribs from a neighboring island had attacked the settlement of Caparra , killed several Spaniards and burned it to the ground. Ponce de León's own house was destroyed and his family narrowly escaped. Colón used the attack as a pretext for renewing hostilities against the local Taíno tribes. The explorer suspected that Colón

3026-431: A light artillery unit. On March 16, 1936, the PRNG underwent a reorganization. In February 1934, Gen. George Leach, who oversaw Company A of the 295th, visited Puerto Rico and was surprised to see that the bayonets had been repaired motu proprio with local resources and their discipline, promoting him to pronounce during a speech that he had "inspected the national guards of the 48 states" and not seen one better prepared than

3204-564: A loyal servant. However, Colón's position as Viceroy made him a powerful opponent and eventually it became clear that Ponce de León's position on San Juan was not tenable. Finally, on 28 November 1511, Ceron returned from Spain and was officially reinstated as governor. Rumors of undiscovered islands to the northwest of Hispaniola had reached Spain by 1511, and Ferdinand was interested in forestalling further exploration and discovery by Colón. In an effort to reward Ponce de León for his services, Ferdinand urged him to seek these new lands outside

3382-433: A more southerly landing at a small harbor now called Ponce de León Inlet . Some believe that Ponce came ashore even farther south near the present location of Melbourne Beach , a hypothesis first proposed by Douglas Peck, an amateur historian who attempted to reconstruct the track of the voyage sailing in his 33-foot Bermuda-rigged sailboat. Samuel Turner dismisses this theory, pointing out that Ponce's fleet encountered

3560-457: A new contract was drawn up for Ponce de León confirming his rights to settle and govern Beniny and Florida, which was then presumed to be an island. In addition to the usual directions for sharing gold and other valuables with the king, the contract was one of the first to stipulate that the Requerimiento was to be read to the inhabitants of the islands prior to their conquest. Ponce de León

3738-551: A new town in Higüey, which he named Salvaleón . In 1508 King Ferdinand (Queen Isabella having opposed the exploitation of natives but dying in 1504) authorized Ponce de León to conquer the remaining Taínos and exploit them by forcing them to mine gold. Around this time, Ponce de León married Leonora, an innkeeper's daughter. They had three daughters, Juana, Isabel and María, and one son, Luis. The large stone house Ponce de León ordered built for his growing family still stands today near

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3916-566: A peninsula near Cuba that looks like Florida's and includes characteristic place names. According to a popular legend, Ponce de León discovered Florida while searching for the Fountain of Youth. Though stories of vitality-restoring waters were known on both sides of the Atlantic long before Ponce de León, the story of his searching for them was not attached to him until after his death. In his Historia general y natural de las Indias of 1535, Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés wrote that Ponce de León

4094-401: A plan where the PRNG would be reorganized into headquarters, two units 295th and 296th, an anti-air group, and numerous battalions, detachments, companies and other specialty groups at a cost of 2.5 million per year. Secretary Patterson, who was once a member of his local national guard, felt an urgency to reorganize the civil guard as soon as possible. In the recruitment initiative that followed,

4272-534: A slaving voyage or had been sent by Diego Colón to spy on Ponce de León. Shortly thereafter Miruelo's ship was wrecked in a storm and Ponce de León rescued the stranded crew. From here the little fleet disbanded. Ponce de León tasked the Santa Maria with further exploration while he returned home with the rest of crew. Ponce de León reached Puerto Rico on 19 October 1513 after having been away for almost eight months. The other ship, after further explorations returned safely on 20 February 1514. Although Ponce de León

4450-531: A son of Ponce Vela de Cabrera and his wife Teresa Rodríguez Girón named Pedro Ponce de Cabrera married Aldonza Alfonso , an illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso IX of León . The descendants of this marriage added the "de León" to their patronymic and were known thereafter by the name Ponce de León. Although the identity of Juan Ponce de León's parents is still a matter of conjecture, according to Fuson and Arnade, citing Puerto Rican historian Aurelio Tió, Pedro Ponce de León and Leonor de Figueroa were most likely

4628-458: A storm on 30 March, sailing in it for two days, with no indication in Herrera of the wind direction or how strong it was, and that this fact complicates any attempt to reconstruct the voyage (not to mention that Peck's boat was nothing like the Spanish ships). On 2 April, after the weather improved, Ponce's pilot Anton de Alaminos took a navigational fix by the sun at noon in nine fathoms of water with

4806-435: A suitable site about two miles from the bay. Here he erected a storehouse and a fortified house, creating the first settlement in Puerto Rico, Caparra . Although a few crops were planted, the settlers spent most of their time and energy searching for gold . By early 1509 Ponce de León decided to return to Hispaniola. His expedition had collected a good quantity of gold but was running low on food and supplies. The expedition

4984-452: Is a Puerto Rican political party founded on September 17, 1922, in San Juan, Puerto Rico . Its primary goal is to work for Puerto Rico's independence . The Party's selection in 1930 of Pedro Albizu Campos as its president brought a radical change to the organization and its tactics. In the 1930s, intimidation, repression and persecution of Party members by the government, then headed by

5162-713: Is known as the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts of the 1950s . The Puerto Rico National Guard was mobilized under the command of Puerto Rico adjutant general Luis R. Esteves by orders of Governor Luis Muñoz Marín and sent to confront the Nationalists in various towns such as Jayuya , Utuado and San Juan . Due to the lack of belligerent invaders, the PRNG has participated in a number of functions such as coordination during natural disasters (mainly tropical storms, hurricanes, floods and droughts) repairing roads, bridges, telecommunication arrays and aqueducts. The PRNG also hosts other disciplines, including

5340-662: Is that the Governor [Winship] himself through his military approach to things has helped keep Puerto Rico in an unnecessary state of turmoil. He seems to think that the political problem of Puerto Rico limits itself to a fight between himself and the Nationalists, that no holds are barred in that fight and that everybody else should keep out. As a matter of fact he has played the Nationalist game and they have played his. Soon afterward, two Nationalist partisans, among them Raimundo Díaz Pacheco, attempted to assassinate Robert Cooper , judge of

5518-510: Is widely credited with the discovery of Florida, he almost certainly was not the first European to reach the peninsula. Spanish slave expeditions had been regularly raiding the Bahamas since 1494 and there is some evidence that one or more of these slavers made it as far as the shores of Florida. Another piece of evidence that others came before Ponce de León is the Cantino Map from 1502, which shows

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5696-628: The Atlantic coast down to the Florida Keys and north along the Gulf coast; historian John R. Swanton believed that he sailed perhaps as far as Apalachee Bay on Florida's western coast. Though in popular culture he was supposedly searching for the Fountain of Youth , there is no contemporary evidence to support the story, which most modern historians consider a myth. Ponce de León returned to Spain in 1514 and

5874-652: The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista in San Juan . Juan Ponce de León was born in the village of Santervás de Campos in the northern part of what is now the Spanish province of Valladolid . Although early historians placed his birth in 1460, and this date has been used traditionally, more recent evidence shows he was likely born in 1474. The surname Ponce de León dates from the 13th century. The Ponce de León lineage began with Ponce Vélaz de Cabrera , descendant of count Bermudo Núñez , and Sancha Ponce de Cabrera , daughter of Ponce Giraldo de Cabrera . Before October 1235,

6052-709: The Granada War , but Arnade cautions, "Without proof the biographers of the conquistador state that he accompanied Pedro Núñez de Guzmán in the war against the Moors during the Granada campaign". In September 1493, some 1,200 sailors, colonists, and soldiers joined Christopher Columbus for his second voyage to the New World. Ponce de León, nineteen years old, was able to get passage in this expedition, with Núñez de Guzmán's help, as one of 200 "gentleman volunteers". The fleet reached

6230-471: The Lesser Antilles ). During this decade, French buccaneers would also become a threat, attacking the archipelago in 1528, only for more exiled Taínos to attack the following year. Hostile adversaries would make a single incursion during the following decade, one was an attack attributed to island Caribs (in 1556) and the other a French attack, the only reported during the following thirty years. However,

6408-519: The Minutemen , were involved in a number of military and piratical incursions during the Spanish colonial period. Due to this, the PRNG claims to be the only member of the National Guard of the United States to be a product of two distinct lineages. The entity claims a unique tradition that unlike the rest of the state national guards, also includes the early American period that preceded the creation of

6586-638: The Nasrid Kingdom of Granada , the last Muslim polity surviving in the Iberian peninsula. Puerto Rican historian Vicente Murga Sanz states that as the squire of Pedro Núñez de Guzmán, it is possible that Juan Ponce de León fought on the side of Rodrigo Ponce de León at the Battle of Granada. Fernandez de Oviedo writes that when Juan Ponce de León arrived in the Americas he was a military man who had gained his experience in

6764-552: The Partido Popular Democrático ( PPD ), had gained an overwhelming number of seats in the legislature and, in 1948, it passed Ley de la Mordaza ( Gag Law ), which attempted to suppress the Nationalist Party and similar opposition. The Puerto Rican police arrested many Nationalist Party members under this law, some of whom were sentenced to lengthy prison terms. With a new political status pending for Puerto Rico as

6942-573: The Ponce massacres. In these, government forces fired on unarmed civilians. After the Río Piedras massacre, in December 1935, Albizu Campos announced that the Nationalist Party would withdraw from electoral participation while the United States kept control. Albizu Campos began to advocate direct, violent revolution. Nationalist Party partisans were involved in a variety of dramatic and violent confrontations between 1930 and 1950: The point I am to make

7120-863: The Puerto Rico Army National Guard and the Puerto Rico Air National Guard respectively, with a total authorized strength of 8,400 citizen-soldiers and airmen. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the different National Guards with dual federal and state missions. The Puerto Rico National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state/territorial status within Puerto Rico. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full-scale law enforcement of martial law when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The Puerto Rico National Guard may be called into federal service in response to

7298-499: The Spaniards treated the Taínos very harshly and death rates were very high. The demand for slaves kidnapped from other islands grew. By June 1511, the Taínos, pushed to the limits of their endurance, began a short-lived rebellion, which was forcibly put down by Ponce de León and a small force of troops armed with crossbows and arquebuses (long guns). Even as Ponce de León was settling

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7476-512: The Thirteen Colonies . This claim is reflected in its first coat of arms which depicts the defeat of the British in the second Battle of San Juan and the patch worn by the 295th Regiment, designed by John Roqueña in 1953, which features a man wearing a morion . The first coat of arms of the PRNG featured a lion guarding a tower on top of an isle located in the middle of a blue field representing

7654-559: The US House of Representatives when four party members shot and wounded five Congressmen. After Albizu Campos's death in 1965, the party dissolved into factions and members joined other parties, but some continue to follow the party's ideals in one form or another, often informally or ad hoc , to this day. After four hundred years of colonial domination under the Spanish Empire , Puerto Rico finally received its sovereignty in 1898 through

7832-433: The 1558th Engineering and the 1114th Artillery, the unit took charge of training at camps Aiea and Kahuco, where the first, second and third battalions were assigned to different locations. The 296th Regiment was trained in anticipation for an impending invasion of Japan, but was later reassigned to work as occupation troops. On April 19, 1945, the 162nd Battalion arrived at France, where it participated in operations held along

8010-463: The 1570s saw a surge in activity, with buccaneers attacking in 1570 and 1576 and the natives in 1573. Puerto Rico was considered a strong strategic point by the Spanish Empire due to its location as the last bastion before taking the transatlantic voyage to Europe, and due to this fortification of its ports began during the second half of the 16th century. The first major attack faced by the militias

8188-585: The 1952 status referendum on it; 82% of the voters approved the constitution. The US Congress also approved the constitution. On March 1, 1954, Lolita Lebrón together with fellow Nationalists Rafael Cancel Miranda , Irvin Flores and Andrés Figueroa Cordero attacked the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. The group opened fire with automatic pistols. Some 30 shots were fired (mostly by Cancel, according to his account), wounding five lawmakers. One of

8366-609: The 295th was reorganized at Ceiba under Lt. Alejo Rivera, moving from its previous base in Fajardo. On August 11, 1947, a parade led by the 295th was held in honor of Col. Miguel Muñoz. During the following years, the national guard was involved in training, with Company I of the 296th hosting visiting officers. On September 16, 1948, colonial governor Piñero and president Truman proclaimed the celebration of National Guard Day. During this year, seven su officials were commended by Gen. Ray Porter for their performance at Panama. Shortly after war

8544-509: The 296th Regiment. In December 1943 the 295th Infantry Regiment was reorganized in Puerto Rico and the following month began replacement operations in Campanento Tortuguero. That same month, Col. Andrés López Antongiorgi took over the 296th Regiment and its battalions were systematically transported to Panama where it took over the work previously done by the 65th, which was reassigned to North Africa. The regiment also provided 400 men and

8722-533: The 296th in 1940 and reassigned to the Puerto Rico Military Department the following years. The 295th and 296th Regiments, 192nd Battalion, 162nd Second Support Battalion, 892nd Engineering Company, Rangers E Company and Troop E of the signaling platoon were placed under it. In 1955, the 296th's Company G won the local National Guard Trophy and the Pershing Trophy, beating other national guards in

8900-473: The 296th was fully reorganized. In May 1947, Esteves re-designated several companies of the 295th and 296th in order to facilitate their training with tanks and mortars. In the summer of 1947, the 296th traveled to Tortuguero to attend its first training camp after reorganizing. The following year, it held its first training at full force. The 296th Regiment received Class A recognition, earning priority status in order of activation. On June 15, 1947, Company K of

9078-670: The 373rd, 374th, and 375th Infantry Regiments of the National Army and the Puerto Rican Regiment of the Regular Army. Approximately 20,000 troops were trained at Camp Las Casas . The young Puerto Rican officer, Luis Raúl Estevez , thought a Puerto Rican National Guard was needed. As the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the US Military Academy at West Point , he had learned about military units in other states. He discussed

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9256-657: The 482nd was returned to the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico and received a recognition by the Army. Brigadier Gen. Kenneth Sweany attended the summer training in July 1954, expressing satisfaction following the Governor's Day parade that culminated it. On November 19, 1954, the Regular Army formally returned the designation of 296th Regiment to the PRNG in an activity hosted by Muñoz Marín, this under new administrative personnel due to several former members remaining in active service. Detachments were then assigned to several municipalities. The Regiment

9434-416: The 65th, replacing him with Lt. Col. Sepúlveda. Company D of Yauco was the first to complete its quorum, being recognized by the Army on February 15, 1953. On September 14, 1952, the 296th's Headquarters Company was organized. In 1953, the 296th Annual Training was heavily affected by the moves to service. The PRNG also promoted assistance by awarding a golden cup to units with perfect assistance. Battery B of

9612-507: The 92nd Brigade (47 men), the 162nd Artillery Battalion (274 men), the 130th Engineering Battalion (193 men), the 253rd Artillery Battalion (175 men) and the 201st/123rd Artillery Battalion (323 men). Besides San Juan, the municipalities of Ponce, Mayagüez, Vega Baja, Manatí, Arecibo, Bayamón, Caguas, Fajardo, Humacao, Cayey, San Germán, Maricao, Cabo Rojo, Sabana Grande, Peñuelas, Yauco, Aibonito, Coamo, Juana Díaz, Río Piedras, Guayama and Aguadilla had personnel assigned to them. The 130th Regiment

9790-479: The Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The 130th was re designated 130 Engineer Battalion Combat and placed under Lt. Col. Walter Torres. In June 1943, a large portion of the 130th Puerto Rican officers were sent to Fort Belvoir for training. Later in the year, the 130th was reassigned to Panama and given the task of building a landing strip in the jungle and a bridge between Piña Island and the Panamanian mainland, for which it

9968-453: The Bahamas, which had been depopulated by slaving ventures, some scholars believe that this "island" was actually Florida, as it was thought to be an island for several years after its formal discovery. Historian and marine archeologist Samuel Turner says that Ponce de León sighted the Florida coast on Easter Sunday of 1513, and that many historians have misinterpreted Herrera's text by claiming it

10146-654: The Caribbean in November 1493. They visited several islands before arriving at their primary destination in Hispaniola , and anchored on the coast of a large island the native people called Borikén (Boriquen in Spanish), "the land of the brave lord", which would eventually become known as Puerto Rico . This was Ponce de León's first glimpse of the place that would play a major role in his future. Historians are divided on what he did during

10324-552: The Federal Court in Puerto Rico. On May 12, 1939, Winship was summarily removed from his post as Governor by President Roosevelt. The first battle of the Nationalist uprisings occurred in the early hours of October 29, in barrio Macaná of Peñuelas . The police surrounded the house of the mother of Melitón Muñiz, the president of the Peñuelas Nationalist Party, that he was using as a distribution center for weapons for

10502-581: The First Regiment Puerto Rico Infantry was provisionally organized under Mayor Luis Esteves, receiving Companies A, B, M, L, E, G and Headquarters. Company F was organized on March 7, 1920, in Peñuelas. The following week, Company I was organized at Arecibo. On April 13, 1920, Company C was organized in Cabo Rojo. On April 25, 1920, Company H was organized at Sabana Grande. On April 30, 1920,

10680-636: The First Regiment received command of a number of headquarters at San Juan, Mayagüez and Sabana Grande. On May 9, 1920, Company D was organized at San Germán. Towards the month's end, Company K was organized at Bayamón. On May 30, 1920, the designation of Company B was reassigned to a company in Maricao. That same day, Troop A of the First Squadron P.R. Cavalry was organized in Mayagüez. The First Infantry Regiment

10858-462: The House of Representatives supervised the PRNG's exercises to gauge the entity's efficiency. During the passing of Hurricane Santa Clara, the 296th's Company I provided support to the government. The 296th's Engineering Company 225 was tasked with the construction of a bridge. The PRNG underwent another reorganization on February 15, 1959. The tank companies of the 295th and 296th Regiments were assigned to

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11036-739: The Nationalist Association transferred the remains from San Juan to the town of Cabo Rojo , where his ashes were interred by his monument . By the 1920s, two other pro-independence organizations had formed on the Island: the Nationalist Youth and the Independence Association of Puerto Rico . The Independence Association was founded by José S. Alegría , Eugenio Font Suárez and Leopoldo Figueroa in 1920. On September 17, 1922, these three political organizations joined forces and formed

11214-417: The Nationalist Revolt. Without warning, the police fired on the Nationalists and a firefight ensued, resulting in the death of two Nationalists and wounding of six police officers. In the Jayuya Uprising , led by Nationalist leader Blanca Canales , a police station and post office were burned. The town was held by the Nationalists for three days. The Utuado Uprising culminated in the Utuado Massacre by

11392-411: The Navy. The three regiments formed a brigade that was led by brigadier general Walter Short and was given jurisdiction over Puerto Rico in case of military action. The following two years, annual training was held in Arecibo and Tortuguero in anticipation to the impending activation in the newly declared World War II . Wilson died in December 1938, and months later Luis Raúl Esteves was given command of

11570-446: The PRNG also transitioned to the Joint Uniform Military Pay System (JUMPS). On May 1, 1983, González was named General Adjutant of Puerto Rico. The adjutant general is the executive officer and commander of both the Puerto Rico National Guard and the Puerto Rico State Guard. Notes Juan Ponce de Le%C3%B3n Juan Ponce de León ( c.  1474 – July 1521 ) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador known for leading

11748-458: The PRNG in response to a strike being declared in the Autoridad de Fuentes Fluviales. The 92nd Brigade and other units were in service for a week under Brigadier General Salvador Padilla. On November 28, 1974, Hernández Colón activated the national guard again, this time in response to a strike being declared in the Puerto Rico Aqueducts and Sewers Authority . This time, the PRNG remained in service for two weeks. On September 6, 1975, Salvador Padilla

11926-582: The PRNG would finish second among the 51 national guards affiliated to the USNG, only behind Wyoming, surpassing pre-established goals for a 204% of the total. The most successful recruiter, Arturo Romañat, received a commendation and traveled to Washington where he met several high-ranking officials. The 296th was placed in charge of Col. Juan Cordero. Company Headquarters for the first and second natal lions were located in Mayagüez and Ponce, with Lieutenant Colonels Rafael Sepúlveda, Manuel Nazario and Invan Domínguez. The 296th's Company A (based in San Germán) became

12104-481: The PRNG, going to the extent that if the president asked which was the best regiment for defense, it would be the 295th. The 296th remained under the supervision of the 295th until June 1, 1936, when it was designated as a regiment under Col. Luis Irizarry. In 1937, the 296th first Battalion was reassigned to the 295th as Company A. In 1938, the PRNG joined the 65th Infantry Regiment and participated in exercises supervised by Gen. Frank Ross McKoy. On July 25, 1938, Irizarry

12282-425: The PRNG. On August 3, 1939, the national guard paid homage to the colonel of the 296th, José Colom, who was serving as interim governor of Puerto Rico, with a mass march (the first of this kind held under the colonial administration) to commemorate Governor's Day. In turn, Colom handed several recognitions to the companies and soldiers that distinguished themselves during the year. On January 8, 1940, an emergency camp

12460-417: The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party date to 1917, when a group of Union Party members in Ponce, dissatisfied with the attitude of the Union Party of Puerto Rico towards the "granting" of U.S. citizenship, formed the "Asociación Nacionalista de Ponce" (Ponce Nationalist Association). Among its founders were Guillermo Salazar, Rafael Matos Bernier, J. A. González, and Julio César Fernández. These men also founded

12638-501: The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, Jose Castillo spoke before the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization and said that the Nationalist Party "had appeared in the past to denounce colonialism in Puerto Rico and hoped the Special Committee would show its commitment to the island's struggle for self-determination, so that it could join the United Nations in its own right ... The Special Committee and its resolutions on Puerto Rico were indispensable instruments." Castillo "called upon

12816-477: The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. Coll y Cuchi was elected president and José S. Alegría (father of Ricardo Alegría ) vice-president. In 1924, Pedro Albizu Campos joined the party and was named vice-president. Alegría was named Nationalist Party president in 1928 and held that position until 1930. By 1930, disagreements between Coll y Cuchi and Albizu Campos as to how the party should be run, led

12994-630: The Puerto Rican Nationalists whom would come to establish the indigenous grassroots civil rights movement in Puerto Rico. Although less active, the Nationalist Party continues to exist as an organization and an ideology . It also has somewhat of a "chapter" in New York City. The New York Junta is an autonomous organ of the party that recognizes, and is recognized by, the National Junta in Puerto Rico. In 2006 and in representation of

13172-541: The Puerto Rican archipelago. In 1765, Marshall Alejandro O'Reilly who would later become known as "El Padre de las Milicias", reorganized the militias and created a group that was disciplined enough to fight in regular combat at the Anglo-Spanish War and be commended by the crown. In 1797, the British attempted another invasion, this time led by Ralph Abercrombie , but were defeated by a force that heavily depended on

13350-499: The Puerto Rican people poorer. The fact that Puerto Rico was the last territory in the world could not be hidden. Violation of rights there would cease only once it was a free and independent nation. The United States must provide compensation for what it had done to Puerto Rico's land and people." In 2013 the Puerto Rico Nationalist Party made a public demonstration of their pro-Independence commitment by protesting

13528-617: The Puerto Rico National Guard Shooting Club presided by Salvador Roig. The national guard was mobilized after the passing of hurricane San Felipe in 1928 and San Ciprián in 1932. During these disasters, they were assigned civil assistance. Similar interventions took place in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In 1933, the 296th First Battalion won the Harrison Cup. On May 3, colonial governor Winship argued for

13706-423: The Puerto Rico National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations in which National Guard use is appropriate. The state mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law." The PRNG claims direct descent from the Puerto Rican militias that were founded after the Spanish Empire granted

13884-577: The Puerto Rico Water Resources Authority. In turn, Esteves commended a number of officers for their coordination. On January 22, 1951, the 296th Regiment was moved to Camp Losey under Col. Cordero. On February 1, 1951, the 296th was formally reorganized. Its units systematically operated at Salinas and training continued in expectation. During this time, the 296th replaced personnel for the 65th Regiment. Chief of Staff J. Lawton Collins visited Puerto Rico and translated Col. Cordero to

14062-569: The Seventh Army, the Sixth Group, 63rd Infantry, VI Army Corps, 84th Army Division and the Third Army. On October it was returned to Puerto Rico, where it remained until its demobilization seven month later. The 130th was sent to Camp Bowie, where they would complete further training an await further mobilization, but the war would end before. In March 1946, they were returned to Puerto Rico, where it

14240-408: The Spanish crown in 1504 had commissioned Vicente Yáñez Pinzón to explore the island and build a fort. Pinzón did not fulfill his commission and it expired in 1507, leaving the way clear for Ponce de León. His earlier exploration had confirmed the presence of gold and gave him a good understanding of the geography of the island. In 1508, Ferdinand II of Aragon gave permission to Ponce de León for

14418-640: The Spanish–American War could not have empowered the Spanish to "give" to the US what was no longer theirs. Under Albizu Campos's leadership during the years of the Great Depression , the party became the largest independence movement in Puerto Rico. In the mid-1930s, there were disappointing electoral results and strong repression by the territorial police authorities. The party staged some protests that developed into celebrated incidents because of police overreaction: The October 1935 Rio Piedras and

14596-585: The Third Area of the South. On April 30, 1957, Esteves retired from service due to health concerns. Gen. Juan Cordero took office on October 1, 1958, and was ascended to the rank of brigadier general. On February 21, 1960, commemorated as National Guard Day, the 65th Infantry Regiment was transferred from the Regular Army to the PRNG, in an activity where Gen. Cesár Cordero handed the unit's colors to Col. Rafael Rodríguez. During this time, governor Luis Muñoz Marín took over

14774-491: The United Fruit Company owned 50 percent of all private land in the entire country. In Guatemala, the United Fruit Company owned 75 percent of all private land by 1942 – plus most of Guatemala's roads, power stations and phone lines, the only Pacific seaport, and every mile of railroad. The U.S. government supported all these economic exploits, and provided military "persuasion" whenever necessary. The origins of

14952-476: The United Nations resolution calling for a constituent assembly to begin decolonization." Castillo added that "Puerto Rico had its own national identity ... Since its 1898 invasion, the United States had tried to destroy the nationality of Puerto Rican people. It kept Puerto Rico in isolation, maintaining it as private corporation from which it earned billions a year ... exploitation had made foreigners richer and

15130-586: The United States Government to assure the Puerto Rican people of their right to self-determination and human rights and immediately cease the persecution, arrests, and murders perpetrated against independence fighters. Vieques peace activists must be freed immediately, and the FBI's electronic surveillance and continued harassment of independence fighters must be stopped. The United States must also end its actions against basic human rights while fully implementing

15308-522: The United States military has bombed a locale under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Following the crossfire, the PRNG confiscated a flag of Puerto Rico that had been placed before the Jayuya Police Headquarters. For its participation in this conflict, the entity received letters of gratification from the Police of Puerto Rico and other organizations affiliated to the government such as

15486-440: The United States. US military authorities discussed Puerto Rico's military value. It offered tremendous commercial value in expanding commerce among the US, Central and South America. Because of the political changes in the beginning of the 20th century, the strategic military importance of Puerto Rico grew. In 1906, a group of Puerto Ricans met with Governor Winthrop , and the commissioner of interior, Lawrence H. Graham, to organize

15664-504: The United States. [google.com] When the war ended, U.S. President McKinley appointed Charles Herbert Allen as the first civilian governor of Puerto Rico . Though Allen had a business background, his financial administration of Puerto Rico was strikingly unsound. He ignored the appropriation requests of the Puerto Rican House of Delegates , refused to make any municipal , agricultural or small business loans, built roads at double

15842-710: The arable land in Puerto Rico had been converted into sugar plantations , which were entirely owned by Domino Sugar Company and U.S. banking interests. These bank syndicates also owned the entire coastal railroad, and the San Juan international seaport. This was not limited to Puerto Rico. By 1930 the United Fruit Company owned over one million acres of land in Guatemala , Honduras , Colombia , Panama , Nicaragua , Costa Rica , Mexico and Cuba . By 1940, in Honduras alone,

16020-414: The area and possibly two or three other encounters. The campaign came to an abrupt end in 1516 when Ferdinand died. The king had been a strong supporter and Ponce de León felt it was imperative he return to Spain and defend his privileges and titles. He did receive assurances of support from Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros , the regent appointed to govern Castile, but it was nearly two years before he

16198-541: The ascension of several officers to accommodate the new units. On October 15, 1940, the PRNG was activated pursuant to Executive Order 3551. A group of 1,359 belonging to 295th Infantry Regiment were assigned to Campamento Tortuguero in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico where training was under seen by Esteves under Col. Miguel A. Muñoz. The 296th had a force of 1,363 and joined the 295th at Tortuguero. The other units, which included those that received formal recognition on this date, were

16376-480: The attackers for three hours, received five wounds, including one in the head. The battle was transmitted "live" via the radio airwaves to the public in general. On November 1, 1950, Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate U.S. President Harry S. Truman , who was staying at the Blair House in Washington, D.C. Truman supported development of a constitution for Puerto Rico and

16554-510: The authority of Colón. Ponce de León readily agreed to a new venture, and in February 1512 a royal contract was dispatched outlining his rights and authorities to search for "the Islands of Beniny". The contract stipulated that Ponce de León held exclusive rights to the discovery of Beniny and neighboring islands for the next three years. He would be governor for life of any lands he discovered, but he

16732-458: The city of San Rafael del Yuma ; he named it Salvaleón after his grandmother's estate in Castile. As provincial governor, Ponce de León heard stories from Island Caribs who had been captured when they raided Spanish colonies. They told him of gold on the neighboring island of San Juan, now Puerto Rico , which he had first seen as a member of Christopher Columbus's second voyage in 1493, describing

16910-495: The communities of Salinas. The initiative then moved to the municipality of Culebra. Other municipalities treated during this time include Aibonito, Coamo, Orovovis, Vega Baja, Guánica, Ponce, San Juan, as part of yearly trainings, requests or emergent circumstances. Similar operations held at Utuado in 1974, led to a recognition by the House of Representatives. On January 10, 1969, Picó was promoted to Adjutant General. The Civic Action and Rehabilitation from Disaster and Rescue Program

17088-409: The companies were being formed, all of the officers and soldiers had to purchase their own uniforms and supplies, since there was no government funding for the enterprise. This organization failed due to existing US federal law, which prohibited the formation of any armed force within the United States and its territories without authorization from Congress. During World War I , Puerto Ricans served in

17266-471: The congressmen, Representative Alvin Bentley from Michigan, was seriously wounded. On her arrest, Lebrón yelled "I did not come to kill anyone, I came to die for Puerto Rico!" On November 18, 1955, a non-violent splinter group of nationalists calling themselves La Quinta Columna (The 5th Column) broke away from the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party due to not supporting the ideas and thoughts of Albizu Campos, as to

17444-572: The continent affected the maintenance of the local military installations and of the force, leading to an ill-prepared force with which to face the Hispano-American War . In 1906, a group of men led by Commissioner of Interior Lawrence H. Grahame decided that there was a need to create a national guard that mirrored those in the states in order to replace the militias. Companies were created in Yauco, Juana Díaz, Peñuelas, Ponce and San Juan. This entity

17622-411: The costs of preceding administrations, and left 85% of the school-age population without schools. Rather than making these requested infrastructure and education investments, Allen's budget raided the Puerto Rican treasury. His administration re-directed tax revenues to no-bid contracts for U.S. businessmen, railroad subsidies for U.S.-owned sugar plantations, and high salaries for U.S. bureaucrats in

17800-444: The creation of new units. In June 1940, the 162nd Battalion of Field Artillery was first organized, with its batteries (A through C) being assigned to San Juan, Río Piedras and Ponce. This same year, the 130th Engineering Regiment received authorization to organize its 1st Battalion, with its companies being assigned to San Juan, Mayagüez and Guayama. The 295th's Company A was reassigned as the 296th's Company K. This reorganization led to

17978-430: The exact site of their landfall is controversial. The vicinity of Charlotte Harbor is the most commonly identified spot, while some assert a landing further north at Tampa Bay or even Pensacola . Other historians have argued the distances were too great to cover in the available time and the more likely location was Cape Romano or Cape Sable . Here Ponce de León anchored for several days to take on water and repair

18156-499: The first official expedition to the island, which the Spanish then called San Juan Bautista. Ponce de León led a small exploratory party to Puerto Rico in 1508 that found placer deposits of gold in the western end of the island. This expedition, consisting of about 50 men in one ship, left Hispaniola on 12 July 1508 and eventually anchored in San Juan Bay , near today's city of San Juan. Ponce de León searched inland until he found

18334-459: The first battalion in Ponce. Several pre-existing companies were reassigned into the creation of the new Group 65. Several other companies were reassigned new names and purpose, including the 162nd, 482nd and 123th Battalions. On February 15, 1959, the 296th was assigned to Mayagüez under Col. Raúl Mercado. This same date the 92nd Brigade was returned to the PRNG, after having been formed from the 295th and

18512-707: The first commander of the current interaction of the PRNG. Company A was organized under Cpt. Luis Irizarry on November 23, 1919. The unit was trained in terrains and buildings that were lent by Carmelo Alemar of the Agricultural Experimental Station. Company B was organized on February 1, 1920, and was separated a week later in two companies stationed in San Sebastián (Company M) and Lares (Company L) which were later formally organized. On February 7, 1920, several new companies were organized, including Company E in Ponce, Company G in Yauco. On February 25, 1920,

18690-575: The first conquistador to receive these honors. He also visited Casa de Contratación in Seville , which was the central bureaucracy and clearinghouse for all of Spain's activities in the New World. The Casa took detailed notes of his discoveries and added them to the Padrón Real , a master map which served as the basis for official navigation charts provided to Spanish captains and pilots. During his stay in Spain,

18868-404: The first large-scale attempt to establish a Spanish colony in what is now the continental United States . However, the native Calusa people fiercely resisted the incursion, and Ponce de Léon was seriously wounded in a skirmish. The colonization attempt was abandoned, and he died from his wounds soon after returning to Cuba in early July. He was interred in Puerto Rico; his tomb is located inside

19046-471: The first official European expedition to Puerto Rico in 1508 and Florida in 1513. He was born in Santervás de Campos , Valladolid , Spain, in 1474. Though little is known about his family, he was of noble birth and served in the Spanish military from a young age. He first came to the Americas as a "gentleman volunteer" with Christopher Columbus 's second expedition in 1493. By the early 1500s, Ponce de León

19224-446: The first set of commissions were awarded to the new PRNG. Black men were not allowed to enlist in the PRNG until December 3, 1946, when colonial governor Jesús T. Piñero authorized it. On February 9, 1947, the 482nd Artillery Battalion was organized under Lt. Col. Jacinto Hidalgo, its batteries were organized in San Juan and Cayey throughout the year and one in 1948. Along the 225th Engineering Battalion, reorganized on January 22, 1948,

19402-638: The first unit to complete quorum among all national guards affiliated to the United States following the war, and won the Eisenhower Trophy in consecutive years. Between October and December 1946, other companies were scattered throughout Puerto Rico. On September 15, 1946, the 295th Infantry Regiment was taken over by Col. Wilson Colberg. This coincided with the establishment of Company Headquarters led by Cpt. Ramón Cantero. The 295th held its first Annual Training under this new regime in August. On November 3, 1946,

19580-523: The fleet reached and named Biscayne Bay . They took on water at an island they named Santa Marta (now Key Biscayne ) and explored the Tequesta Miami mound town at the mouth of the Miami River. The Tequesta people did not engage the Spanish, but instead evacuated into the coastal woodlands. On 15 May they left Biscayne Bay and sailed along the Florida Keys , looking for a passage to head north and explore

19758-543: The following years this camp would be moved throughout the camps. In the 1920s, several groups dedicated to target shooting were scattered throughout Puerto Rico, with the PRNG deciding to organize competitions. On November 24, 1930, personnel from the entity founded the Ponce Rifle and Sporting Club, later affiliating itself with the National Rifle Association . The PRNG itself would promote these events, forming

19936-504: The former and his followers to leave and return to the Union Party. Albizu Campos did not like what he considered to be Coll y Cuchí's attitude of fraternal solidarity with the enemy. On May 11, 1930, Pedro Albizu Campos was elected president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party maintained that, as a matter of international law, the Treaty of Paris following

20114-468: The insurrection until November 6, 1950. In the crossfire that took place at Utuado, Corporal José Rodríguez Alicea of H Unit in Arecibo was killed. The 296th's First Battalion was mobilized under Lt. Col. Rafael Sepúlveda, was moved to forts Brooke and Buchanan. This revolution was quelled after the Puerto Rico Air National Guard bombed the municipalities of Jayuya and Utuado, the first and so far only time that

20292-496: The island a governor and general captain. Its first large conflict emerged from the response to the Spanish–Taíno War of San Juan–Borikén , only years after the arrival of Juan Ponce de León and before the totality of Puerto Rico was under Spanish sovereignty. The Taínos of Borikén, led by Agüeybaná II were forced into labor and their territory threatened by the Spanish expansionism in the region, consequently deciding to begin

20470-581: The island government. Allen's financial acumen improved considerably when he returned to the U.S., and resumed his own personal business interests. In 1901, Allen resigned as governor and installed himself as president of the largest sugar-refining company in the world, the American Sugar Refining Company . This company was later renamed as the Domino Sugar company. In effect, Charles Allen leveraged his governorship of Puerto Rico into

20648-533: The island of San Juan, significant changes were taking place in the politics and government of the Spanish West Indies . On 10 July 1509, Diego Colón , the son of Christopher Columbus , arrived in Hispaniola as acting Viceroy , replacing Nicolás de Ovando. For several years Diego Colón had been waging a legal battle over his rights to inherit the titles and privileges granted to his father. The Crown regretted

20826-447: The island, effectively overriding the authority of the governor. This situation prevailed until 2 March 1510, when Ferdinand issued orders reaffirming Ponce de León's position as governor. Ponce de León then had Ceron and Diaz arrested and sent back to Spain. The political struggle between Colón and Ponce de León continued in this manner for the next few years. Ponce de León had influential supporters in Spain and Ferdinand regarded him as

21004-524: The island. Puerto Rican scholar Aurelio Tió wrote two books which contain much archival material concerning Ponce de León, including documentation he discovered in Spain and in Puerto Rico. He writes in detail of the Probanza de Juan González , according to which a temporary base was established on the west coast of Puerto Rico near the Bay of Añasco in 1506. This earlier trip was said to have been done quietly because

21182-511: The issue with the governor of Puerto Rico, Arthur Yager , soon after the conclusion of World War I. The governor, Legislature of Puerto Rico, and US Congress approved the plan, and the National Guard was organized in 1919. In 1938, Luis R. Esteves was promoted to major general and appointed as Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard . The first regiment of the Puerto Rico National Guard, "First Infantry Regiment",

21360-524: The late Christopher Columbus's son, over the right to govern Puerto Rico. After a long court battle, Columbus replaced Ponce de León as governor in 1511. Ponce de León decided to follow the advice of the sympathetic King Ferdinand and explore more of the Caribbean Sea . In 1513, Ponce de León led the first known European expedition to La Florida , which he named during his first voyage to the area. He landed somewhere along Florida's east coast, then charted

21538-474: The local militias in the fourth Battle of San Juan . In 1868, amidst a growing pro-independence in the population that eventually lead to the Grito de Lares , the Spanish government decided to replace the mostly Puerto Rican quorum of the militias with an Institute of Volunteers that was completely composed of Spanish-born citizens. During the decades that followed, the loss of several former colonies and of influence in

21716-714: The local police, in which five Nationalists were executed. The San Juan Nationalist revolt was a Nationalist attempt to enter the Governor's mansion, La Fortaleza , in order to attack then-governor Luis Muñoz Marín . The hour-long shootout resulted in the death of four Nationalists: Domingo Hiraldo Resto, Carlos Hiraldo Resto, Manuel Torres Medina and Raimundo Díaz Pacheco. Three guards were also seriously wounded. Various other shootouts took place throughout island – including those at Mayagüez , Naranjito , Arecibo , and Ponce , where Antonio Alicea, Jose Miguel Alicea, Francisco Campos (Albizu Campos's nephew), Osvaldo Perez Martinez and Ramon Pedrosa Rivera were arrested and accused of

21894-567: The municipality of Sabana Grande held an activity in homage of the PRNG. During the following years, the dichotomy between the government of Luis Muñoz Marín and the Nationalist Party was widened over the Commonwealth that was being negotiated in Congress. On October 30, 1950, these differences materialized in the Jayuya Uprising . The 295th Infantry Regiment was mobilized from the beginning of

22072-543: The murder of police corporal Aurelio Miranda during the revolt. Raul de Jesus was accused of violating the Insular Firearms Law. On October 31, police officers and National Guardsmen surrounded Salón Boricua, a barbershop in Santurce . Believing that a group of Nationalists were inside the shop, they opened fire. The only person in the shop was Campos barber Vidal Santiago Díaz . Santiago Díaz, who fought alone against

22250-546: The nascent organization. On July 19, 1919, the United States Department of War informed Yager about the administration's intention of supporting a local reserve pursuant to the statutes of this law to create a permanent national guard that was capable of assisting the other branches of the military or working independently. The entity resumed operation and was meant to receive an infantry brigade, with artillery, cavalry, engineering and specialized troops. Esteves became

22428-467: The national guard twice. The First Regiment's First Headquarters Company was organized in Bayamón three days later. Later that week, the first PRNG band was organized at Mayagüez. The First Regiment's Machine Gun Company was organized at San Juan on September 19, 1920. More than two months later, its Supply Company was organized at San Juan. The first annual exercises began on December 6, 1920, at Salinas, during

22606-563: The native Taínos , and consequently authorized the Jaragua massacre in November 1503. In 1504, when Taínos overran a small Spanish garrison in Higüey on the island's eastern side, Ovando assigned Ponce de León to crush the rebellion. Ponce de León was actively involved in the Higüey massacre, about which friar Bartolomé de las Casas attempted to notify Spanish authorities. Ovando rewarded his victorious commander by appointing him frontier governor of

22784-435: The newly conquered province, then named Higüey also. Ponce de León received a substantial land grant with an encomienda of sufficient Indian labor to farm his new estate. Ponce de León prospered in this new role. He found a ready market for his farm produce and livestock at nearby Boca de Yuma where Spanish ships stocked supplies before the long voyage back to Spain. In 1505 Ovando authorized Ponce de León to establish

22962-495: The newspaper El Nacionalista . The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was formed as a direct response to the American colonial government. In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí , a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico , felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence. Coll y Cuchí and some followers left to form the Nationalist Association of Puerto Rico in San Juan . Under Coll y Cuchí's presidency,

23140-605: The next governor, Alonso de Mercado, to reportedly send back most of the soldiers that accompanied him in his voyage and rely on them for defensive purposes. The main fortress of San Juan Bay , El Morro, was finished by 1608 and additional fortifications such as San Cristóbal soon followed. The next major engagement took part 27 years later, when the Netherlands led another failed invasion in the third Battle of San Juan . The militias would also participate in military incursions in other adjacent islands, including some that are now part of

23318-462: The next several years, but it is possible that he returned to Spain at some point and made his way back to Hispaniola with Nicolás de Ovando . In 1502 the newly appointed governor, Nicolás de Ovando , arrived in Hispaniola , with the Spanish Crown expecting him to bring order to a colony in disarray, a task in which he succeeded. Ovando interpreted his instructions as authorizing subjugation of

23496-429: The ocean, the beast representing the militia guarding San Juan, three sailboats that represent the defeated British float in 1798, and a sheep next to a red book representing Puerto Rico as seen in the coat of arms. Since its early days, the units stationed in Puerto Rico used a yellow and red patch that features a guerite , similar to those at El Morro. After the Spanish–American War in 1898, Spain ceded Puerto Rico to

23674-408: The office of adjutant general. On September 5, 1960, the PRNG was activated to attend a series of building and bridge collapses caused by floods brought by the adjacent passing of Hurricane Donna , which lead to the deaths of 149 civilians. In December 1961, the PRNG was involved in the reception of John F. Kennedy during his visit to Puerto Rico. The Military Academy of the Puerto Rico National Guard

23852-528: The parents of Juan Ponce de León. Thus Ponce appears to have been a member of a distinguished and influential noble family. His relatives included Rodrigo Ponce de León, Duke of Cádiz , a celebrated figure in the Moorish wars (sometimes known as a "new Cid "), and Juan Ponce de León's first cousin. Aurelio Tió, in his Nuevas fuentes para la historia de Puerto Rico , made a vigorous case for Juan Ponce's aristocratic heritage, determining that Juan Ponce's father

24030-519: The party convinced the Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly to approve an Act that would permit the transfer of the remains of the Puerto Rican patriot, Ramón Emeterio Betances , from Paris, France , to Puerto Rico. The Legislative Assembly appointed Alfonso Lastra Charriez as its emissary since he had French heritage and spoke the language fluently. Betances' remains arrived in San Juan on August 5, 1920. A funeral caravan organized by

24208-458: The powerful currents pushing them eastward, they struck the northeast shore of Cuba and were initially confused about their location. Once they regained their bearings, the fleet retraced their route east along the Florida Keys and around the Florida peninsula, reaching Grand Bahama on 8 July. They were surprised to come across another Spanish ship, piloted by Diego Miruelo , who was either on

24386-432: The remainder of the day before anchoring for the night and rowing ashore the next morning. After remaining in the area of their first landing for about five days, the ships turned south for further exploration of the coast. On 8 April they encountered a current so strong that it pushed them backwards and forced them to seek anchorage. The smallest ship, the San Cristobal , was carried out of sight and lost for two days. This

24564-532: The rest of the personnel was placed on detachments and sent in operations that took place in Suriname , Trinidad , Jamaica and Cuba . On January 7, 1943, the 65th Infantry Regiment was assigned to Panama led by Commander Salvador Roig, with 300 men being transferred from the 296th to complement its force. The remainder of that regiment remained at Camp O'Reilly in Gurabo. On October 30, 1943, Col. Eduardo Andini took over

24742-443: The ships. They were approached by Calusa , who initially indicated an interest in trading, but relations soon turned hostile. Several skirmishes followed with casualties on both sides. The Spaniards captured eight Calusa (four men and four women) and seized five war canoes abandoned by the retreating warriors. On 5 June, a final confrontation occurred when some 80 Calusa warriors attacked a party of eleven Spanish sailors. The result

24920-495: The sweeping powers that had been granted to Columbus and his heirs and sought to establish more direct control in the New World. In spite of the Crown's opposition, Colón prevailed in court and Ferdinand was required to appoint him Viceroy. Although the courts had ordered that Ponce de León should remain in office, Colón circumvented this directive on 28 October 1509 by appointing Juan Ceron chief justice and Miguel Diaz chief constable of

25098-483: The war concluded, a local officer, Luis Raúl Estevez, inquired colonial governor Arthur Yager about reactivating the national guard, an initiative that gained the support of the official and the colonial legislature. On July 19, 1919, Congress passed a law approving the budget for the following year to meet the requirements of the National Defense Act of 1916 . Adjutant General John Wilson was given command over

25276-532: The way of life of the Taíno native people. Back on his island, Ponce de León parceled out the native Taínos among himself and other settlers using the system of forced labor known as encomienda . The Indians were put to work growing food crops and mining for gold. Ponce put those assigned to his personal encomienda , Hacienda Grande , to work searching for gold in the Toa Valley just east of San Juan. Many of

25454-632: The west coast of the Florida peninsula. From a distance the Keys reminded Ponce de León of men who were suffering, so he named them Los Martires (the Martyrs). Eventually they found a gap in the reefs and sailed "to the north and other times to the northeast" until they reached the Florida mainland on 23 May, where they encountered the Calusa , who refused to trade and drove off the Spanish ships by surrounding them with warriors in sea canoes armed with long bows. Again,

25632-467: Was Pedro Ponce de León, the Fourth Lord of Villagarcía, and his mother was Leonor de Figueroa, the daughter of Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, Lord of Salvaleón, and María Manuel; consequently Juan Ponce's paternal grandmother, Teresa de Guzmán (Teresa Ponce de León y Guzmán), was La Señora de la Casa Toral, making Juan Ponce a Ponce de León on both sides of his family. Through this grandmother, Ponce de León

25810-560: Was a standoff with neither party willing to come within striking distance of their opponents' weapons. On 14 June they set sail again looking for a chain of islands in the west that had been described by their captives. They reached the Dry Tortugas on 21 June. There they captured giant sea turtles, Caribbean monk seals , and thousands of seabirds. From these islands they sailed southwest in an apparent attempt to circle around Cuba and return home to Puerto Rico. Failing to take into account

25988-492: Was a top military official in the colonial government of Hispaniola , where he helped crush a rebellion of the native Taíno people. He was authorized to explore the neighboring island of Puerto Rico in 1508 and to take office as the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown in 1509. While Ponce de León grew quite wealthy from his plantations and mines, he faced an ongoing legal conflict with Diego Colón ,

26166-506: Was able to gather enough troops, but the officers were scarce due to active service and the Inactive Reserve. Other moves included the adoption of a fighting cock as new insignia and the establishment of a periodical. The efficiency of the personnel was gauged in shooting competitions, with the results being sent back to the USNG for comparison with other national guards. In 1955, a Commission of

26344-404: Was able to return home to Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, there had been at least two unauthorized voyages to "his" Florida both ending in repulsion by the native Calusa or Tequesta warriors. Ponce de León realized he had to act soon if he was to maintain his claim. Puerto Rican Nationalist Party The Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico ( Spanish : Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico , PNPR)

26522-479: Was also involved in the activities of Constitution Day on July 25. Other activities included raising funds for civic organizations, specific constructions, disposing of garbage, building restorations, and cooperating with the Boy Scouts of America . On October 9, 1970, the PRNG was activated to attend a series of floods, mobilizing 265 men which remained in service for a period of ten days. The entity's role in this event

26700-514: Was also ordered to organize an armada for the purpose of attacking and subduing the Caribs, who continued to attack Spanish settlements in the Caribbean. Three ships were purchased for his armada and after repairs and provisioning Ponce de León left Spain on 14 May 1515 with his little fleet. The record of his activities against the Caribs is vague. There was one engagement in Guadeloupe on his return to

26878-568: Was another island. He named it La Florida in recognition of the verdant landscape and because it was the Easter season, which the Spaniards called Pascua Florida (Festival of Flowers). The following day they came ashore to seek information and take possession of this new land. The precise location of their landing on the Florida coast has been disputed for many years. Some historians believe it occurred at or near St. Augustine , but others prefer

27056-475: Was commended. On June 27, 1944, the 162nd Battalion returned to the United States and was assigned to Camp Burtner and later to Hampton Road and Fort Jackson. The 296th was reassigned to serve in the Pacific, and on November 11, 1944, Col. Ramón Nadal took over it. In January 1945, Col. Amaury Gandía took over and lead the 295th Regiment until it was demobilized and returned to Puerto Rico. In Hawaii and accompanied by

27234-636: Was declared in Korea, the 65th regiment was activated, with the 296th Regiment taking its place at Puerto Rico on August 11, 1950. Led by Col. César Cordero, who was given control of Camp Tortuguero, the regiment was assigned for training in anticipation for future deployment and waiting for orders from the General Headquarters of the Antilles Department. During the following months, its battalions were scattered throughout Puerto Rico. On September 8, 1950,

27412-418: Was deemed a great success and Ovando appointed Ponce de León governor of San Juan Bautista. This appointment was later confirmed by Ferdinand II on 14 August 1509. He was instructed to extend the settlement of the island and continue mining for gold. The new governor returned to the island as instructed, bringing with him his wife and children. The rush of Spaniards from Hispaniola wanting to mine gold disrupted

27590-459: Was demobilized shortly after arrival. On May 6, 1946, the 162nd was demobilized and reorganized under Lt. Col. Jaime Fullana, with its batteries being granted recognition between 1947 and 1948. The conclusion of the war lead to the license and honorable discharge of several members of the PRNG, who wanted to continue their civilian lives. during the summer of 1946, Esteves reorganized the 295th and 296th Infantry Regiments. The Department of War issued

27768-453: Was established on June 1, 1963, at Camp Tortuguero on an initiative of César Cordero. Its curriculum was equivalent to Fort Benning's and lasted for a year and 15 days, at which point graduates received their certification. The institution was subsequently moved to Henry Barracks in Cayey and from there to Campamento Santiago. On May 1, 1964, the PRNG underwent another reorganization, the second under Gen. Cordero. On March 20, 1966, Salvador Roig

27946-439: Was established parallel to this, with the expressed intention of aiding civic organizations in non intrusive ways following natural disasters. Under this initiative, the 892nd Company and personnel from the 130th of Engineering was engaged in projects such as reconstructing damaged roads, the removal of debris and replacing bridges. They also attended some civic and government requests, particularly during training exercises. The PRNG

28124-518: Was expected to finance all costs of exploration and settlement himself. In addition, the contract gave specific instructions for the distribution of gold, Native Americans, and other profits extracted from the new lands; the contract made no mention of a rejuvenating fountain. Ponce de León equipped three ships with at least 200 men at his own expense and set out from Puerto Rico on 4 March 1513. The only near contemporary description known for this expedition comes from Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas ,

28302-460: Was formally recognized on June 2, 1920, before becoming the 295th Infantry Regiment two years later. With Esteves as its senior instructor, The regiment is symbolically considered the older within the structure of the US national guards due to its claim. On June 14, 1920, the First Infantry Medical Detachment was organized in Mayagüez. On June 17, 1923, the 296th was separated as a splinter, with its first Battalion winning recognition for best company in

28480-406: Was held and a training exercise where an invasion of the northern coast of Puerto Rico was being invaded, in particular the municipalities of Arecibo and Vega Baja, and the 295th and 296th were tasked with repelling it. Both were placed in charge of solving a tactical exercise, code named MUSKETRY, which involved a sudden appearance by a hostile force. In March 1940, a new military code for Puerto Rico

28658-492: Was initially dependent on volunteers that were trained in El Morro, none of which received a salary. However, the colonial legislature failed to approve a project that was meant to authorize the organization and seek funding, causing the initiative to be halted. With the onset of World War I and the mobilization of the 373th, 374th and 375th regiments of the Regular Army, the need for a local military force became evident as some 20,000 men were trained in Camp Las Casas. As soon as

28836-427: Was killed during an assassination attempt against colonial governor Winship in one of several confrontations between the government and the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party following the events of the Ponce massacre . Col. José Enrique Colom took over the 296th Regiment. In 1938, the 295th, 65th and 296th Regiments and other personnel from the PRNG joined the Regular Army in a number of military exercises also involving

29014-470: Was knighted by King Ferdinand, who also reinstated him as the governor of Puerto Rico and authorized him to settle Florida. He returned to the Caribbean in 1515, but plans to organize an expedition to Florida were delayed by the death of King Ferdinand in 1516, after which Ponce de León again traveled to Spain to defend his grants and titles. He did not return to Puerto Rico for two years. In March 1521, Ponce de León finally returned to Southwest Florida with

29192-485: Was later translated to Losey Field . On May 13, 1943, the 162nd Battalion traveled to Panama, where it replaced the 2nd Field Artillery Battalion and was assigned the medical detachment two months later. During the summer, the 295th was assigned to Panama, where replaced the 296th Regiment in the Mobile Force and surveillance operations under Col. Ramón Nadal. There the battalions underwent jungle setting training along Latin American personnel and participated in monitoring of

29370-406: Was led by Francis Drake in 1595, leading thousands of men in the Battle of San Juan but being repelled. In 1598, George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland managed to take the city in the second Battle of San Juan after battling his way through the local militias, but was forced to leave two months later due to an epidemic. Despite this setback, the local militias earned enough of a reputation for

29548-418: Was looking for the waters of Bimini . A similar account appears in Francisco López de Gómara 's Historia general de las Indias of 1551. Then in 1575, Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda , a shipwreck survivor who had lived with the Native Americans of Florida for 17 years, published his memoir in which he locates the waters called the River Jordan (flowing out of Eden) in Florida, and says that Ponce de León

29726-410: Was mostly focused on the evacuation of victims and providing supplies in cooperation with other government agencies. For these efforts, a number of government functionaries sent letters to Gen. Picó, in which they thanked him for the services provided. On February 1, 1973, Chardón was named Adjutant General and ascended to the rank of brigadier general. On July 6, 1973, Rafael Hernández Colón activated

29904-440: Was named Adjutant General of the PRNG. The following month, Tropica Storm Eloise passed near the North Coast of Puerto Rico, with a large number of guardsmen voluntarily joining the Civil Defense in the evacuation, clearing of debris, transportation and the management of Assistance Centers that followed. On January 2, 1977, Orlando Llenza was promoted to brigadier general and named Adjutant General of Puerto Rico. During this decade,

30082-413: Was one of the Bahama Islands Ponce saw on that date. Turner writes that because Beimini is described as an island, they assume that Herrera refers to one of the Bahama Islands, variously proposing that this "island" was Eleuthera , Man-O-War Cay , Great Abaco , or Grand Bahama . For the next several days the fleet crossed open water until 2 April , when they sighted land which Ponce de León believed

30260-437: Was organized on June 2, 1920 and reorganized on December 26, 1922, as the 295th Infantry Regiment. On March 1, 1936, the 296th Infantry Regiment was organized. Before, the 296th existed as a battalion of the 295th Infantry Regiment. On October 30, 1950, the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party organized a series of uprisings in numerous cities in Puerto Rico against United States rule and the Puerto Rican commonwealth government in what

30438-424: Was placed in charge of the PRNG by Roberto Sánchez Vilella. The PRNG also engaged in other civil activities, such as cooperativism (several becoming involved with Cooperativa El Sentinela) and inter-agency softball tournaments. In 1968 and 1969, Gen. Alberto Picó created the Civic Medical Service Program led by Support Battalion 192's Company B and the 201 Surgery Hospital of the Mobile Army, first offering service to

30616-469: Was placed under the Regular Army and trained by the 27th Combat Engineering Regiment at Tortuguero, where its Company A was charged with additional constructions. On March 19, 1941, additional personnel was assigned to the 295th Regiment, and shortly afterwards it was moved to Salinas, Puerto Rico , for further training. On August 12, 1941, Colom left the 296th Regiment and was replaced by Col. Antulio Segarra. The 130th and 27th Engineering were reorganized in

30794-413: Was presented to the colonial legislature along other initiatives related to the PRNG. The final annual camp prior to activation in World War II was the longest yet, lasting three weeks. On May 19, 1940, the PRNG was mobilized to attend the flooding caused by Rivera Portugués and Bucaná in Ponce. During this time, the PRNG underwent a reorganization that led to the transfer of guardsmen and units, as well as

30972-434: Was related to another notable family, the Núñez de Guzmáns; a contemporary chronicler, Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés , says that as a young man he served as a page and then as a squire to Pedro Núñez de Guzmán, Knight Commander of the Order of Calatrava . Devereux says Ponce de León probably joined the Spanish campaigns against the Muslims in the Granada War in which the Catholic Monarchs finally conquered in 1492

31150-422: Was supposed to have looked for them there. Though Fontaneda doubted that Ponce de León had really gone to Florida looking for the waters, the account was included in the Historia general de los hechos de los castellanos of Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas of 1615. Most historians hold that the search for gold and the expansion of the Spanish Empire were far more imperative than any potential search for such

31328-408: Was the first known encounter by Europeans with the Gulf Stream , occurring where it reaches maximum force between the Florida coast and the Bahamas. Because of the powerful boost provided by the current, it would soon become the primary route for eastbound ships leaving the Spanish West Indies bound for Europe. They continued down the coast hugging the shore to avoid the strong head current. By 4 May

31506-444: Was their chief pilot. He was already an experienced sailor, and would become one of the most respected pilots in the region. After leaving Puerto Rico, they sailed northwest along the great chain of Bahama Islands, known then as the Lucayos. Herrera wrote that on 27 March 1513, Easter Sunday, they sighted land he described as an island that was unfamiliar to the sailors on the expedition. Because many Spanish seamen were acquainted with

31684-423: Was working to further undermine his position on the island and perhaps even to take his claims for the newly discovered Florida. Ponce de León decided he should return to Spain and personally report the results of his recent expedition. He left Puerto Rico in April 1514 and was warmly received by Ferdinand when he arrived at court in Valladolid . There he was knighted, and given a personal coat of arms , becoming

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