124:
134:
105:
437:, 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 joined the new entity on February 25, 1920, as commander of the First Battalion of the First Puerto Rico Regiment and its companies. On February 7, 1939, Esteves was named Adjutant General. He was responsible for funneling an increase of new recruits at Camp Tortuguero. In 1942, Esteves was given command of the temporary State Guard.
623:
598:
575:
616:
582:
559:
609:
566:
433:. Esteves pressured colonial governor Arthur Yager and the colonial legislature about the necessity of a local militia. His request was met with approval. The National Guard Bureau approved this initiative, and on July 19, 1919, the current incarnation of the PRNG was organized. 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
706:
592:
441:
157:
529:
concerns. On March 12, 1958, Esteves died in
Santurce as a complication of these issues. His remains are interred in Cementerio HistĂłrico Urbano de Aguadilla. On August 24, 1958, the PRNG's Armory was re-baptized in his honor. On May 11, 1962, Division General Juan Cordero dedicated a speech to him during the re-inauguration of the PRNG's Military Museum.
38:
331:
307:, 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
528:
Esteves married
Guadalupe Navarro, with whom he had four children, RaĂşl, Roberto, Maricel and Vernon. Esteves also helped establish the first two theaters in Aguadilla, his hometown, with the help of fellow community leader Juan Garcia. On April 30, 1957, Esteves retired from service due to health
457:
the
Interim Governor of Puerto Rico to organize a State Guard, with the Army's approval, that in a short time consisted of nine well trained and equipped regiments. On June 22, 1946, Esteves was awarded with the Legion of Merit by the Military Department of the Antilles. During this time, he
354:", 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
517:, 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. He also authored
1303:
448:
On
October 15, 1940, the Puerto Rico National Guard was activated pursuant to Executive Order 3551. Esteves was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and ordered to active duty and given the command of the
366:
were given commissions in the
Continental Army. He obtained the rank of Second Lieutenant and was assigned to the 23rd Infantry Regiment, where he worked in the National Matches of Florida.
1233:
1313:
1238:
1243:
470:
201:
296:
descent, was a housewife. His father, had also served as mayor of
Aguadilla. Esteves received his primary education in the local grammar school and went to high school in
322:
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.
180:
394:
in June 1916, Esteves was promoted to first lieutenant. He was given charge of infantry units and assigned to protect bridges. From El Paso, he was sent to the town of
1248:
469:
organized a series of uprisings in numerous cities in Puerto Rico against the United States rule and the Puerto Rican commonwealth government in what is known as the
1288:
1283:
1298:
1293:
444:
The
National Guard, commanded by the Puerto Rico Adjutant General Major General Luis R. Esteves and under the orders of Gov. Luis Muñoz MarĂn, occupying Jayuya
422:
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
1308:
1253:
1273:
1060:
815:"Historia y Tradiciones: Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico - Cinco Centurias... En Guardia."; Author=José Angel Norat; page=470; publisher=Esmaco Printers
406:
Esteves was then promoted to the rank of captain. Esteves helped organize the 23rd
Battalion, which was composed of Puerto Ricans and was stationed in
1162:
936:
856:
657:
1258:
724:
359:
1263:
1046:
450:
1278:
1268:
1112:
904:
196:
892:"Brigadier General Luis R. Esteves was the first Puerto Rican graduate of West Point and founder of the Puerto Rican National Guard."
749:
289:
1019:
284:
on April 30, 1893. His father and mother were also natives of
Aguadilla. His father, Francisco Esteves Soriano had served in the
1205:
689:
662:
466:
315:
245:
123:
824:
734:
363:
160:
1194:
883:
739:
729:
652:
459:
350:
among his classmates, and was the first Puerto Rican graduate of the academy. He was later the first graduate of 1915, "
184:
20:
490:
430:
419:
351:
133:
684:
249:
170:
537:
391:
304:
1057:
297:
679:
591:
454:
387:
1166:
933:
860:
622:
597:
1038:
398:. After being transferred to the town of Polvo, the population named him mayor and judge during his stay.
281:
91:
60:
474:
346:, as a second language was required in order to graduate. In 1915, Esteves graduated with Eisenhower and
719:
642:
574:
533:
269:
76:
615:
1228:
1223:
339:
319:
253:
581:
1116:
536:"Gen. Luis R. Esteves" and the street in front of the Puerto Rico National Guard's headquarters in
395:
237:
137:
608:
473:. The Puerto Rico National Guard was mobilized under the command of Esteves by orders of Governor
711:
261:
128:
87:
565:
1042:
414:. Esteves was later assigned command of a machine gun company and a battalion. He was sent to
1109:
912:
543:
In 2017 General Esteves was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.
434:
379:
343:
1129:
1064:
1023:
940:
887:
637:
486:
482:
478:
265:
1173:
501:
General Esteves' main hobby was studying military history. He also published two books,
1016:
1148:
Historia y Tradiciones: Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico - Cinco Centurias... En Guardia
1097:
558:
551:
Among Major General Luis R. Esteves' military decoration and awards are the following:
415:
383:
358:
when they remembered that during the American Revolutionary War, foreign officers like
1217:
744:
423:
308:
110:
769:
668:
347:
257:
411:
314:
Esteves saw a news advertisement announcing examinations for the entry into the
293:
440:
701:
880:
839:
514:
375:
355:
311:. The family's financial situation did not permit her to realize her dream.
156:
905:"Myers: Terrorists Not Interested in the Diversity That Makes U.S. Great"
241:
840:
La Precencia Germanica en Puerto Rico, by Haydee Reichard de cancio PHd
773:
374:
Esteves served as a 2nd lieutenant in the 8th Infantry Brigade of the
37:
407:
458:
reorganized the Puerto Rico National Guard and held the position of
330:
439:
329:
285:
481:, and sent to confront the Nationalists in various towns such as
1304:
Graduates of the United States Military Academy Class of 1915
272:, Esteves was the first to achieve the rank of general.
288:
Army and his mother, Enedina Völckers Van der Dijs, of
236:(April 30, 1893 – March 12, 1958) was the first
202:
1950–1954 Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts
471:
Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts of the 1950s
209:
190:
176:
166:
151:
143:
116:
98:
82:
66:
47:
28:
1195:Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard
540:was renamed "La Calle Gen. Esteves" in his honor.
453:. He commanded the 92nd until he was summoned by
280:Esteves was born Luis Raul Esteves y Völckers in
532:The former Puerto Rico National Guard Armory in
782: and the second or maternal family name is
859:. Bell South. November 1, 2002. Archived from
8:
1234:United States Army Infantry Branch personnel
911:. U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from
1314:United States Army generals of World War II
1239:United States Army personnel of World War I
1081:
1079:
1077:
1075:
1073:
1000:
998:
985:
983:
981:
979:
977:
975:
1244:American military personnel of World War I
1178:
962:
960:
958:
956:
954:
952:
950:
948:
857:"Major General Luis Raúl Esteves Völckers"
811:
809:
25:
1041:; Page 7; Publisher: Publicaciones RENÉ;
851:
849:
847:
252:. Of his West Point class, that included
1119:Web Archives, Retrieved November 6, 2007
630:
1249:National Guard (United States) generals
805:
761:
725:List of Puerto Rican military personnel
360:Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
1035:El ataque Nacionalista a La Fortaleza;
1289:Puerto Rican people of German descent
1284:United States Military Academy alumni
1085:
1004:
989:
966:
903:Williams, Rudi (September 16, 2002).
248:(West Point), and the founder of the
7:
1299:Puerto Rico National Guard personnel
1294:Puerto Rican people of Dutch descent
1146:Norat, José Angel (March 27, 1987).
462:until his retirement in June 1957.
19:For the Portuguese footballer, see
1309:Puerto Rican expatriates in Mexico
1254:People from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
1189:First Puerto Rico Adjutant General
240:and the first American citizen of
14:
1274:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
750:German immigration to Puerto Rico
704:
621:
614:
607:
596:
590:
580:
573:
564:
557:
155:
132:
122:
103:
36:
1163:"Luis Raul Esteves (biography)"
547:Military awards and decorations
338:While at West Point he tutored
1259:Puerto Rican military officers
890:, retrieved November 6, 2007.
690:National Defense Service Medal
663:American Defense Service Medal
467:Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
316:United States Military Academy
246:United States Military Academy
244:heritage to graduate from the
1:
1264:Puerto Rico Adjutant Generals
909:American Forces Press Service
735:Puerto Ricans in World War II
509:(Soldiers are like that). In
364:Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
334:Major General Luis R. Esteves
1100:, Retrieved November 6, 2007
1067:, Retrieved November 6, 2007
881:HISPANIC-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
772:, the first or paternal
740:Puerto Rico Adjutant General
730:Puerto Ricans in World War I
653:Mexican Border Service Medal
185:Puerto Rico Adjutant General
1279:United States Army generals
1269:Puerto Rican Army personnel
431:Puerto Rican National Guard
390:". During the onset of the
352:the class the stars fell on
1330:
830:. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
685:World War II Victory Medal
402:Puerto Rico National Guard
250:Puerto Rico National Guard
171:Puerto Rico National Guard
18:
1206:Juan César Cordero Dávila
1201:
1192:
1186:
1181:
688:
683:
678:
661:
658:World War I Victory Medal
656:
651:
641:
636:
620:
613:
606:
586:
579:
572:
563:
556:
538:Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
465:On October 30, 1950, the
35:
21:LuĂs Esteves (footballer)
1174:Generals of World War II
477:and U.S. Brigadier Gen.
30:Luis R. Esteves Völckers
1017:Hispanic Heritage Month
680:American Campaign Medal
303:At the outbreak of the
42:Luis R. Esteves in 1915
513:, he tells about many
511:¡Los Soldados Son AsĂ!
507:¡Los Soldados Son AsĂ!
445:
382:, when he was sent to
335:
282:Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
222:¡Los Soldados Son AsĂ!
92:Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
61:Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
825:Luis R. Esteves 1893.
720:List of Puerto Ricans
643:Mexican Service Medal
534:Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
451:92nd Infantry Brigade
443:
388:Pancho Villa Incident
378:under the command of
370:Pancho Villa incident
333:
298:MayagĂĽez, Puerto Rico
270:George E. Stratemeyer
181:92nd Infantry Brigade
144:Years of service
77:San Juan, Puerto Rico
1058:Los Soldados Son AsĂ
1039:Pedro Aponte Vázquez
455:José Miguel Gallardo
429:He saw a need for a
340:Dwight D. Eisenhower
320:West Point, New York
305:Spanish–American War
1117:Library of Congress
915:on January 16, 2009
863:on January 27, 2010
138:Army National Guard
1150:. Esmaco Printers.
1130:"SalĂłn de la Fama"
1115:2004-10-22 at the
1063:2007-07-01 at the
1022:2007-03-25 at the
939:2006-10-14 at the
886:2009-09-08 at the
712:Puerto Rico portal
446:
392:Battle of Columbus
336:
197:Mexican Border War
129:United States Army
88:Old Urban Cemetery
1212:
1211:
1202:Succeeded by
1182:Military offices
1098:Town of Aguadilla
1047:978-1-931702-01-0
695:
694:
671:
629:
628:
523:Cosas de Soldados
254:Dwight Eisenhower
234:Luis Raul Esteves
230:
229:
1321:
1187:Preceded by
1179:
1170:
1165:. Archived from
1151:
1134:
1133:
1126:
1120:
1107:
1101:
1095:
1089:
1083:
1068:
1055:
1049:
1032:
1026:
1014:
1008:
1002:
993:
987:
970:
964:
943:
931:
925:
924:
922:
920:
900:
894:
878:
872:
871:
869:
868:
853:
842:
837:
831:
822:
816:
813:
789:
766:
714:
709:
708:
707:
667:with one bronze
666:
631:
625:
618:
611:
600:
594:
584:
577:
568:
561:
554:
553:
519:Cosas de Viajero
475:Luis Muñoz MarĂn
460:Adjutant General
435:Washington, D.C.
380:General Pershing
159:
136:
126:
118:
109:
107:
106:
73:
57:
55:
40:
26:
1329:
1328:
1324:
1323:
1322:
1320:
1319:
1318:
1214:
1213:
1208:
1198:
1190:
1161:
1158:
1145:
1142:
1137:
1128:
1127:
1123:
1108:
1104:
1096:
1092:
1084:
1071:
1065:Wayback Machine
1056:
1052:
1033:
1029:
1024:Wayback Machine
1015:
1011:
1003:
996:
988:
973:
965:
946:
941:Wayback Machine
932:
928:
918:
916:
902:
901:
897:
888:Wayback Machine
879:
875:
866:
864:
855:
854:
845:
838:
834:
823:
819:
814:
807:
798:
793:
792:
767:
763:
758:
710:
705:
703:
700:
665:
638:Legion of Merit
602:
601:
595:
549:
499:
479:Edwin L. Sibert
404:
372:
328:
278:
266:James Van Fleet
262:Joseph McNarney
226:
210:Other work
183:
131:
104:
102:
94:
75:
71:
59:
53:
51:
43:
31:
24:
17:
16:US Army general
12:
11:
5:
1327:
1325:
1317:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1216:
1215:
1210:
1209:
1204:Major General
1203:
1200:
1191:
1188:
1184:
1183:
1177:
1176:
1171:
1169:on 2006-10-14.
1157:
1156:External links
1154:
1153:
1152:
1141:
1138:
1136:
1135:
1121:
1102:
1090:
1088:, pp. 474
1069:
1050:
1027:
1009:
1007:, pp. 473
994:
992:, pp. 472
971:
969:, pp. 471
944:
926:
895:
873:
843:
832:
817:
804:
797:
794:
791:
790:
760:
759:
757:
754:
753:
752:
747:
742:
737:
732:
727:
722:
716:
715:
699:
696:
693:
692:
687:
682:
677:
673:
672:
660:
655:
650:
646:
645:
640:
635:
627:
626:
619:
612:
604:
603:
589:
588:
587:
585:
578:
570:
569:
562:
548:
545:
503:Los Barrabases
498:
495:
420:Henry Barracks
416:Camp Las Casas
403:
400:
384:El Paso, Texas
371:
368:
327:
324:
277:
274:
232:Major General
228:
227:
225:
224:
219:
217:Los Barrabases
213:
211:
207:
206:
205:
204:
199:
192:
188:
187:
178:
174:
173:
168:
164:
163:
153:
149:
148:
145:
141:
140:
120:
114:
113:
100:
96:
95:
86:
84:
80:
79:
74:(aged 64)
70:March 12, 1958
68:
64:
63:
58:April 30, 1893
49:
45:
44:
41:
33:
32:
29:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1326:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1307:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1221:
1219:
1207:
1197:
1196:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1172:
1168:
1164:
1160:
1159:
1155:
1149:
1144:
1143:
1139:
1131:
1125:
1122:
1118:
1114:
1111:
1106:
1103:
1099:
1094:
1091:
1087:
1082:
1080:
1078:
1076:
1074:
1070:
1066:
1062:
1059:
1054:
1051:
1048:
1044:
1040:
1036:
1031:
1028:
1025:
1021:
1018:
1013:
1010:
1006:
1001:
999:
995:
991:
986:
984:
982:
980:
978:
976:
972:
968:
963:
961:
959:
957:
955:
953:
951:
949:
945:
942:
938:
935:
930:
927:
914:
910:
906:
899:
896:
893:
889:
885:
882:
877:
874:
862:
858:
852:
850:
848:
844:
841:
836:
833:
829:
828:Books. Google
826:
821:
818:
812:
810:
806:
803:
802:
795:
787:
786:
781:
780:
775:
771:
765:
762:
755:
751:
748:
746:
745:65th Infantry
743:
741:
738:
736:
733:
731:
728:
726:
723:
721:
718:
717:
713:
702:
697:
691:
686:
681:
675:
674:
670:
664:
659:
654:
648:
647:
644:
639:
633:
632:
624:
617:
610:
605:
599:
593:
583:
576:
571:
567:
560:
555:
552:
546:
544:
541:
539:
535:
530:
526:
524:
520:
516:
512:
508:
504:
496:
494:
492:
488:
484:
480:
476:
472:
468:
463:
461:
456:
452:
442:
438:
436:
432:
427:
425:
424:65th Infantry
421:
417:
413:
409:
401:
399:
397:
396:Polvo, Mexico
393:
389:
385:
381:
377:
369:
367:
365:
361:
357:
353:
349:
345:
341:
332:
325:
323:
321:
317:
312:
310:
309:United States
306:
301:
299:
295:
291:
287:
283:
275:
273:
271:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
223:
220:
218:
215:
214:
212:
208:
203:
200:
198:
195:
194:
193:
189:
186:
182:
179:
175:
172:
169:
165:
162:
161:Major General
158:
154:
150:
146:
142:
139:
135:
130:
125:
121:
115:
112:
111:United States
101:
97:
93:
89:
85:
81:
78:
69:
65:
62:
50:
46:
39:
34:
27:
22:
1193:
1167:the original
1147:
1140:Bibliography
1124:
1110:Mark Yannone
1105:
1093:
1053:
1034:
1030:
1012:
929:
917:. Retrieved
913:the original
908:
898:
891:
876:
865:. Retrieved
861:the original
835:
827:
820:
800:
799:
784:
783:
778:
777:
770:Spanish name
764:
669:service star
550:
542:
531:
527:
522:
518:
510:
506:
502:
500:
464:
447:
428:
405:
386:during the "
373:
348:Omar Bradley
337:
313:
302:
279:
258:Omar Bradley
238:Puerto Rican
233:
231:
221:
216:
191:Battles/wars
72:(1958-03-12)
1229:1958 deaths
1224:1893 births
919:November 6,
497:Later years
412:World War I
276:Early years
1218:Categories
1199:1938–1957
1086:Norat 1987
1005:Norat 1987
990:Norat 1987
967:Norat 1987
867:2010-03-22
796:References
326:West Point
99:Allegiance
54:1893-04-30
801:Citations
515:anecdotes
376:U.S. Army
356:precedent
147:1915–1957
1113:Archived
1061:Archived
1020:Archived
937:Archived
884:Archived
785:Völckers
768:In this
698:See also
676:3rd Row
649:2nd Row
634:1st Row
491:San Juan
242:Hispanic
177:Commands
117:Service/
934:Esteves
779:Esteves
774:surname
410:during
344:Spanish
286:Spanish
1045:
487:Utuado
483:Jayuya
408:Panama
290:German
127:
119:branch
108:
83:Buried
756:Notes
294:Dutch
1043:ISBN
921:2007
521:and
505:and
489:and
418:and
362:and
292:and
268:and
167:Unit
152:Rank
67:Died
48:Born
1037:by
776:is
426:).
342:in
318:at
90:in
1220::
1072:^
997:^
974:^
947:^
907:.
846:^
808:^
788:.
525:.
493:.
485:,
300:.
264:,
260:,
256:,
1132:.
923:.
870:.
56:)
52:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
