Teofilo Marxuach

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lieutenant Colonel Teofilo Marxuach, (July 28, 1877-November 8, 1939), born in San Juan, Puerto Rico was the person who fired the first shot in World War I on behalf of the United States on an armed German supply ship trying to force its way out of the San Juan Bay.


Lieutenant Colonel
Teofilo Marxuach
(1877-1939)


World War I Victory Medal

Marxuach was born in Puerto Rico when the island was still under Spanish colonial rule. He was raised and educated in the capital city of San Juan. In 1903, Marxuach wrote and published "El lenguaje castellano en Puerto Rico" (The Spanish language in Puerto Rico). His family had historically played a prominent role in the island's commercial and political affairs.^[1]

Puerto Rico became a U.S. Territory after the 1898 Treaty of Paris which ended the Spanish-American War. The United States appointed a military governor and soon the United States Army established itself in San Juan. The Army Appropriation Bill created by an Act of Congress on March 2, 1889 authorized the creation of the first body of native troops in Puerto Rico. On June 30, 1901, the "Porto Rico Provisional Regiment of Infantry" was organized. On July 1, 1901, the United States Senate passed a Bill which would require a strict mental and physical exmination for those who wanted to join the Regiment. It also approved the recruitment of native Puerto Rican civilians to be appointed the grade of second lieutenants for a term of four years if they passed the required tests.

Though many civilians from all walks of life applied for the officers appointment on January 1905, only seven made it that day and one of those seven was Teofilo Marxuach who on March 3, 1905 was commissioned. An Act of Congress, approved on May 27, 1908, required that all the officers undergo a new physical examination to determine their fitness for commissions in the Regular Army. In June 1908, Lt. Marxuach and all the others passed.

El Morro Castle

By January 30, 1917, the "Porto Rico Regiment of Infantry" was stationed at Las Casas Camp in Santurce. Different units were stationed at other forts throughout the island and Lt. Marxuach was stationed at El Morro Castle at San Juan Bay. On April 6, 1917, the day that the United States declared war on Germany, Lt. Marxuach was the officer of the day at El Morro Castle. The Odenwald, an armed German supply ship tried to force its way out of the bay and deliver supplies to the German submarines waiting in the Atlantic Ocean. Lt. Marxuach gave the order to open fire on the ship from the walls of the fort. The Odenwald was forced to return and its supplies were confiscated. The shots ordered by Lt. Marxuach were the first fired by the United States in World War I.

Even though little else is known about Lt. Teofilo Marxuach, it is known is that he made a career of the Army and eventually reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Lt. Col.. Teofilo Marxuach died in San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 8, 1939 and was buried with full military honors in the Puerto Rico National Cemetery located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.^[2]