Pedro de Anca Villafañe spent four years in the U.S. Navy, serving as an Aviation Ordnance Officer with the Sunliners, a Strike Fighter Squadron deploying F/A-18E Super Hornet planes on the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier. De Anca Villafañe was engaged in battle in Somalia and the Red Sea.
“I am proud to have done my part to defend my country and my nation, and thus maintain our freedom and our way of life,” he said.
Tradition
The pilots and other crew of the USS Harry Truman have the honor of naming their planes. This recognition is given only to those exemplary service members who have demonstrated exceptional courage, discipline, and commitment. De Anca Villafañe was selected for this honor in recognition of his service and his technical skill.
Puerto Ricans have served honorably in the U.S. Navy since Frederick Lois Riefkohl graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1911. Riefkohl went on to become a Rear Admiral and was awarded the Navy Cross in 1917, the same year that people born in Puerto Rico achieved U.S. citizenship. Six other Puerto Ricans have received the Navy Cross.
Puerto Rican naval bases like Roosevelt Roads played a critical role in supporting Atlantic and Caribbean operations in World War II. Notable officers emerged, such as Captain Marion Frederic Ramírez de Arellano, who commanded the submarine USS Balao, and Lieutenant Eugene Valencia, a Hellcat fighter pilot credited with 23 aerial victories, among the highest for any Navy pilot.
One of the most prominent Puerto Ricans in naval history is Admiral Horacio Rivero Jr. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and a graduate of the Naval Academy’s Class of 1931, Admiral Rivero’s career spanned over four decades. He distinguished himself in World War II, serving aboard the light cruiser USS San Juan in key Pacific campaigns. Later, as Commander of Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet, he played a vital role during the tense Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, on the front lines of vessels deployed by President Kennedy. In 1964, Rivero made history as the first Puerto Rican and first Hispanic to become a four-star Admiral.
Lieutenant Maria Rodriguez Denton became the first woman from Puerto Rico to become an officer in the U.S. Navy as a member of the WAVES. It was Lt. Denton who forwarded the crucial message that the war had ended to President Truman.
The history of Puerto Ricans serving in the United States Navy is a testament to their enduring patriotism, courage, and significant contributions to national defense. Their dedication has spanned from the earliest days of American naval expansion to modern-day operations, shaping the very fabric of the U.S. Navy. Pedro de Anca Villafañe continues this admirable tradition.
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