Jose M. Cabanillas

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Jose M. Cabanillas
September 23, 1901(1901-09-23) – September 15, 1979 (aged 77)
Rear Admiral Jose M. Cabanillas
Place of birth	Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Place of death	Richmond, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1920-1955
Rank	Rear Admiral
Commands held	USS Texas USS Grundy USS Dixie
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War

Rear Admiral Jose M. Cabanillas (September 23, 1901-September 15, 1979) born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, was an Executive Officer of the USS Texas which participated in the invasions of North Africa and Normandy (D-Day) during World War II.

1 Early years
2 Korean War
3 Later years
4 Awards and recognitions
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Early years

Cabanillas was born and raised in the city of Mayagüez which is located in the western coast of Puerto Rico. There he received his primary and secondary education. In 1917, at the age of 16, he was sent to Alabama to attend the Marion Military Institute. In the school he underwent a two-year preparatory course which prepared him for the United States Naval Academy. He graduated from the institute in 1919 and on June 16, 1920 received an appointment from Arthur Yager, the U.S. appointed governor of Puerto Rico from 1913 to 1921, to attend the United States Naval Academy. Cabanillas graduated from the Academy in 1924 and was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy.^[1]

Prior to World War II, Cabanillas served aboard various cruisers, destroyers and submarines. In 1942, upon the outbreak of World War II, he was assigned Executive Officer of the USS Texas (BB-35).

USS Texas

The USS Texas was the oldest remaining dreadnought, and was one of only two remaining ships to have served in both world wars at that time. On November 8, the Texas participated in the invasion of North Africa. by destroying an ammunition dump near Port Lyautey. Cabanillas also participated in the invasion of Normandy on (D-day). On June 6, 1944, her secondary battery went to work on another target on the western end of "Omaha" beach.^[2]

In 1945, Cabanillas became the first Commanding officer of the USS Grundy (APA-111), which was commissioned on January 3, 1945. The Grundy helped in the evacuation of Americans from China during the Chinese Civil War. Under his command, the Grundy earned the following citations: China Service Medal (extended), American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp). In December 1945, he was reassigned to Naval Station Norfolk located in Norfolk, Virginia, as Assistant Chief of Staff (Discipline), 5th Naval District.^[3]

[edit] Korean War

In July 1949, Cabanillas was transferred to Naval Station Orange, located in Orange, Texas where he served as Commanding Officer.

On July 1950, he became Commander of the USS Dixie, a destroyer tender in the Pacific. During the Korean War he provided firing cover to the U.S. Marines involved in the Inchon invasion. In 1951, Cabanillas was reassigned to the staff of the United States Pacific Fleet in Hawaii. In 1953, he was transferred to the fifth Naval District in San Juan, Puerto Rico as Chief of Staff.

[edit] Later years

Jose M. Cabanillas - 1959

Cabanillas retired from the Navy in 1955 and moved to Richmond, Virginia. In 1956, Cabanillas made use of the benefits of the G.I. Bill and studied law at the University of Richmond School of Law. He passed the Virginia Bar at the end of his second year. He served as law librarian at the University for 6 years and then joined a Richmond law firm.

Cabanillas died on September 15, 1979 in the Veterans Hospital in Richmond. He was the first Puerto Rican to make rear admiral in the US Navy, albeit a tombstone promotion. He was cremated and buried at sea with full military honors.^[4]