World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseEuropeans first reached the island of Puerto Rico in 1493, and it was subsequently made a colony of Spain. At the end of the Spanish-American War of 1898, Spain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris, which transferred Puerto Rico to the United States. At the eve of WW2, Puerto Rico was governed as a unincorporated organized territory, with governors directly appointed by the US President. During the war, Puerto Rico served similar functions as the island of Oahu of the Territory of Hawaii, in which it hosted a large navy base (Roosevelt Roads) and several Army and Navy airfields. During the war, 65,034 Puerto Ricans served in the US military. Most of them served with the 295th and 296th Infantry Regiments of the US Army National Guard and the 65th Infantry Regiment of the US Army, serving in Europe, Pacific Islands, North Africa, and Panama Canal Zone. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico women were not initially accepted into military service; that changed in 1944 when the Army Nurse Corps finally opened its doors by recruiting about 200 Puerto Rican nurses. After the war, in 1947, Puerto Rico was given the right to democratically elect its own governor. In 1952, it was given commonwealth status, which allowed it to draft its own constitution.

Photographs

Puerto Rico in World War II Interactive Map