World War I - Ricardo Lugo Cuevas

Ricardo Lugo Cuevas (b. abt. 1880 Lares - d. abt. 1935 Utuado)

On March 2, 1917 Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Jones-Shafroth Act, also known as the "Jones Act" or "Jones Law of Puerto Rico" granting US citizenship to all citizens of Puerto Rico.

On May 18th of that same year the Selective Service Act was passed authorizing the President to increase temporarily the military establishment of the USA. During World War I there were three registrations. The first, on June 5, 1917, was for all men between the ages of 21 and 31. The second, on June 5, 1918, registered those who had reached 21 after June 5, 1917. The third registration was held on September 12, 1918, for men 18 through 45.

Having been granted US citizenship merely months before the act was put into law, thousands of Puerto Rican men registered for the War including my great-grandfather Ricardo.

Transcription of registration card:

Ricardo Lugo Cuevas

Direccion recidencia permanente: Caguana Utuado

Edad: 42

Fecha de nacimiento: 1876

Raza: Blanco

Cuidadania de los Estados Unidos: De nacimiento

Ocupacion Actual: Labrador

Nombre de (principal?): Domingo Cuevas

Sitio de empleo: Caguana, Utuado

Pariente mas cercano: Nemesia Capetillo, Caguana Utuado

Descripcion del incsripto:

Estatura: Mediana,

Constitucion: Delgado

Color de los ojos: Negro

Color de pelo: Negro

Signed: R. Espada Oct. 26(?), 1918