List of notable Puerto Ricans

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of highly notable people who were either born in Puerto Rico, are descendents of Puerto Ricans or have chosen Puerto Rico as their homeland. Their contributions to the social and cultural structures of society in some cases are not limited only to Puerto Rico. Unlike the List of Puerto Ricans those listed have never denied being Puerto Rican and have met one or more of the requirements set by the following criteria.

When adding a name to the list, please place it in the proper sub-category in alphabetical order by last name and state the criteria met.

Contents

[edit] Artist

[edit] Actors, actresses, and comedians

[edit] Authors, playwrights and poets

[edit] Composers, musicians and singers

[edit] Painters and sculptors

[edit] Others

[edit] Beauty queens and supermodels

[edit] Business People and industrialists

[edit] Criminals and Outlaws

[edit] Educators and scientists

[edit] Politicians

[edit] Governors

[edit] Journalists

[edit] Military

  • Sergeant First Class Agustin Ramos Calero, U.S. Army, was the second most decorated soldier in all of the United States during World War II
  • Rear Admiral Dr. Alberto Diaz, Jr., U.S. Navy, first Hispanic Director of the San Diego Naval Medical District
  • Capt. Angel Rivero Mendez, Spanish Army, fired the first shot against the Americans in the Spanish-American War in Puerto Rico, invented the "Kola Champagne"
  • Capt.Antonio de los Reyes Correa, Spanish Army, defeated the British in Arecibo
  • Brigadier General Antonio Rodriguez Balinas, U.S. Army, the first commander of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command.
  • Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabe, fought alongside Simón Bolívar
  • Col. Carlos Betances Ramirez, U.S. Army, first Puerto Rican to command a battalion in the Korean War
  • PFC Carlos Lozada, U.S. Army, awarded Medal of Honor
  • Tech4 Carmen Contreras-Bozak, became the first Hispanic woman to serve in the Women’s Army Corps as an interpreter and in numerous administrative capacities
  • 2 Lt. Carmen Dumler, WAC's, one of the first Puerto Rican women Army officers
  • Vice Admiral Diego E. Hernandez, the first Hispanic to be named Vice Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command.
  • PFC Domingo Arroyo, USMC, first Puerto Rican and U.S. serviceman to die during the Somalian Civil War
  • Captain Euripides Rubio, U.S. Army, awarded Medal of Honor
  • Rear Admiral Frederick Lois Riefkohl, U.S. Navy, first Puerto Rican to graduate from the United States Naval Academy.
  • Major, Dr. Fernando E. Rodriguez Vargas, U.S. Army, discovered the bacteria which causes dental cavity
  • PFC Fernando Luis Garcia, USMC, first Puerto Rican awarded the Medal Of Honor
  • Major Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci, U.S. Air Force, perished in Operation El Dorado Canyon
  • SPC Frances M. Vega, U.S. Army, first Puerto Rican female soldier born in the U.S. to die in a war
  • Lt. Francisco Gonzalo Marin, Cuban Liberation Army, fought alongside José Martí, designed Puerto Rican flag
  • Rear Admiral Frederick Lois Riefkohl, U.S. Navy, first Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Rear Admiral
  • Colonel Hector Andres Negroni, First Puerto Rican graduate of the United States Air Force Academy
  • Sp4c Hector Santiago-Colon, U.S. Army, awarded Medal of Honor
  • Admiral Horacio Rivero, U.S. Navy, first Hispanic four-star admiral
  • Captain Humbert Roque Versace,U.S. Army, first Army P.O.W. to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions Southeast Asia during captivity.
  • Staff Sgt.Humberto Acosta-Rosario, U.S. Army, only Puerto Rican still listed as Missing in Action
  • Rear Admiral Jose M. Cabanillas, U.S. Navy, In WWII he was Executive Officer of the USS Texas and participated in the invasions of Africa and Normandy(D-Day).
  • Major General Juan Cesar Cordero Davila, U.S. Army, commanding officer of the 65th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War becoming one of the highest ranking ethnic officers in the Army.
  • General Juan Rius Rivera, Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Liberation Army
  • SPC Lizbeth Robles, U.S. Army, first Puerto Rican female soldier born in Puerto Rico to die in Iraq
  • Brigadier General Luis Padial, Spanish Army, played an essential role in the abolishment of slavery in Puerto Rico
  • Major General Luis R. Esteves, U.S. Army, organized the Puerto Rican National Guard
  • Capt. Manuel Rivera, USMC, First Puerto Rican and U.S. servicemen to die in Operation Desert Shield
  • Capt. Miguel Henriquez, Spanish naval captain, pirate, defeated the British in Vieques
  • Staff Sgt. Modesto Cartagena, U.S. Army, most decorated Hispanic in history
  • Lieutenant General Pedro Del Valle, U.S. Marine Corps, first Hispanic three-star Marine general
  • Rear Admiral Rafael Celestino Benitez, U.S. Navy, highly decorated submarine commander who led the rescue effort of the crew members of the USS Cochino during the Cold War.
  • Admiral Ramon Power y Giralt, Spanish Navy, distinguished himself in 1808-1809 with the defense of the Spanish Colony of Santo Domingo against an invasion from French forces by enforcing a blockade.
  • Vice Admiral, Dr.Richard Carmona, U.S. Surgeon General under President George W. Bush
  • CWO3 Rose Franco, USMC, first Hispanic woman Chief Warrant Officer in the Marine Corps
  • Brigadier General Ruben A. Cubero, U.S. Air Force, former Dean of the Air Force Academy
  • Major General Salvador E. Felices, U.S. Air Force, first Puerto Rican general in the U.S. Air Force
  • Lieutenant Colonel Teofilo Marxuach, U.S. Army, fired the first shot in World War I on behalf of the United States
  • Major General William A. Navas, Jr., U.S. Army, first Puerto Rican named Assistant Secretary of the Navy

[edit] Religion

[edit] Sports

[edit] Taínos

[edit] Others