Luis R. Esteves
| Luis R. Esteves Völckers | |
|---|---|
Major General Luis R. Esteves (1915)
|
|
| Born |
April 30, 1893 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico |
| Died | March 12, 1958 (aged 64) San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 Army National Guard
|
| Years of service | 1915–1957 |
| Rank |
 Major General |
| Unit | 92nd Infantry Brigade |
| Commands held | Puerto Rico Adjutant General |
| Battles/wars | "Pancho Villa Incident" |
| Other work | Esteves authored two books: "Los Barrabases" and "¡Los Soldados Son Así". |
Major General Luis Raul Esteves (April 30, 1893 – March 12, 1958) was the first Puerto Rican and the first Hispanic to graduate from the United States Military Academy (West Point), and the founder of the Puerto Rico National Guard. Of his West Point class, that included Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, Joseph McNarney, James Van Fleet and George E. Stratemeyer, Esteves was the first to achieve the rank of General.
Esteves (birth name: Luis Raul Esteves y Völckers ) was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico on April 30, 1893. His father and mother were also natives of Aguadilla. His father, Francisco Esteves Soriano had served in the Spanish Army and his mother, Enedina Völckers Van der Dijs, of German and Dutch descent, was a housewife. 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 Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
At the outbreak of the Spanish–American War, the Esteves Völckers family welcomed the Americans as an alternative to Spanish rule of the island. Esteves's father wanted his son to continue the family military tradition and encouraged him to consider a military career. However, his mother had other plans. She wanted her son to become an engineer and to study in the United States. The family's financial situation did not permit her to realize her dream.
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