My Father

1SG Victor Rodriguez Marrero, Ret.

My FatherEnlisted in the US Army in 1918. After returning from World War I,

were he fought as an Infantryman, he joined the 65th

Infantry Regiment.

He excelled in his military duties, especially rifle marksmanship. He participated in numerous Regimental matches and competitions. In 1930, the Second Central American and Caribbean Games were to be held in Cuba. Puerto Rico was not invited to the First Games. With the encouragement and invitation of Mr. Harry Guggenheim US Ambassador in Cuba , the Governor of Puerto Rico, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. started to organize a team of competitors. The events in which they were to participate were limited, track and field and tennis. It occurred to the Governor to additionally send a Rifle Marksmanship Team from the 65th Infantry Regiment. These Games were the First International Olympic Level games in which Puerto Rico was to participate.

The Competition

• Puerto Rico send a total of twelve athletes

• Earned three Silver Medals

• In chronological order the medals are:

Rifle Marksmanship - March 27, 1930

Pole vaulting - April 2, 1930

200 Meter Dash - April 3, 1930

Immediately, after the end of the competition.

My father is the third from the left, next to the civilian

The Competition

After earning the Silver Medal, the 65th Infantry Team celebrates, my father is thesoldier in the far right, with the campaign hat over his right thigh.

The Medal

The Medal

The Medal

• Chronologically is the First Olympic Medal earned by a Puerto Rican athlete in history

• The medal earned for 200 meter dash is in display in Puerto Rico at the Albergue Olimpico in Salinas, Puerto Rico.

• The Athlete was Eugenio (Geño) Guerra

My father

• Those were the only Olympic games in which my father participated

• He continued to be and excellent Marksman

• He competed in other Regimental and U S Army Matches

Excellence in Marksmanship

Awarded the Excellence in Rifle Marksmanship Badge by MG BlantonWinship, Ret, Governor of Puerto Rico. Ceremonies held at Patio BallajaFort Brooke, Puerto Rico, March 1936.

My Father

• During World II

First Sergeant , Company D, 1st Battalion 65th Infantry

Received one of the twenty two Bronze Star

Medals awarded to men of the Regiment

Awards and Decorations

After World War II

• Retired in 1949

• His last assignment was First Sergeant

Company E, 2nd Battalion 65th Infantry

• His older son was a Private in the same

Company