Marxuach, Gilberto José (0405503) - Revision history

Admin: Biography enrichment from Wikipedia (merged with existing sources)

2026-09-25T03:39:08Z

Biography enrichment from Wikipedia (merged with existing sources)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:39, 25 September 2026
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	<div class="soldier-lead">		<div class="soldier-lead">
	~~Colonel~~ Gilberto José Marxuach ~~a.k.a. "The Father of the San Juan Civil Defense"~~ (November ~~19,~~ 1910 – April ~~18,~~ 1957), was a ~~former officer in the~~ United States Army who in ~~1951 founded~~ and became the first director of the Civil Defense in the ~~City~~ of San Juan~~, Puerto Rico~~.		'''Gilberto José Marxuach''' (19 November 1910 – 18 April 1957) was a Puerto Rican United States Army officer who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]] in [[:Category:Class 10\|Class 10]], commanded units of the 296th Infantry Regiment during World War II, and in 1952 became the first director of the San Juan Civil Defense, earning the name "the Father of the San Juan Civil Defense".
	</div>		</div>

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	~~Colonel~~ Gilberto José Marxuach a.~~k.a. "The Father~~ of ~~the~~ San Juan ~~Civil Defense" (November 19, 1910 &ndash~~; ~~April 18~~, ~~1957)~~, ~~was a former officer in~~ the United States ~~Army who~~ in ~~1951 founded~~ and ~~became~~ the ~~first director~~ of the ~~Civil Defense~~ in the ~~City of San Juan,~~ Puerto Rico.		Gilberto José Marxuach was born Gilberto José Marxuach Acosta on 19 November 1910 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, one of three sons of Colonel Teófilo Marxuach Plumey and Carolina Acosta Acosta, into a family prominent in the island's commercial, political, and military life. His grandfather José María Marxuach was twice mayor of San Juan; his father, an officer of the Porto Rico Regiment, ordered the first shot fired on behalf of the United States in World War I, on 21 March 1915; and his mother was a granddaughter of the journalist and abolitionist José Julián Acosta. Growing up near Fort San Cristóbal, where his father was stationed, gave him a lifelong love of the military. He graduated from Central High School in Santurce in 1928 and on 17 June 1928 joined the Puerto Rico National Guard, training at Camp Las Casas. Governor Theodore Roosevelt Jr. appointed him to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, but an automobile accident left him bedridden for more than a year, and by his recovery he was over the age limit.

	~~In 1937, Japan invaded China and~~ in ~~September 1939~~, ~~Germany invaded Poland~~. As a ~~precautionary measure~~, the ~~295th and 296th Infantry Regiments of the Puerto Rican National~~ Guard, ~~founded by Major General Luis R. Esteves, were called into Federal Active Service~~ and ~~assigned to the Puerto Rican Department~~ in ~~accordance with the existing War Plan Orange. That same month, Marxuach~~ joined the ~~United States Army and on October 15, 1940~~, ~~was commissioned~~ a ~~second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 295 Regiment at Camp Tortuguero~~ in ~~Puerto Rico and soon after was reassigned to 296th Infantry Regiment~~. ~~By then Marxuach had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel~~ and ~~was~~ in ~~charge~~ of ~~the 1114th Artillery Co. And the 1558th Engineers Co~~.		Marxuach served in the National Guard until 1931, when he entered the University of Puerto Rico. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1936, rejoined the Guard that year, and in 1937 joined the university's science faculty, becoming a professor of science in 1938. On 23 December 1938 he married Margarita Ginorio Dominguez, and he earned a master's degree in botany at the University of Michigan.

	~~During his military career~~, Marxuach attended the Infantry School at Fort Benning in Georgia for 3 months ~~where he learned the mechanical functioning~~ and ~~tactical employment of all infantry weapons. For~~ another three months ~~he attended~~ the Military Intelligence Center at Camp Ritchie, ~~situated in the mountains near Pennsylvania. Here he studied~~ the organization ~~and composition~~ of foreign armies, advanced map reading, interrogation of the ~~enemy during war~~, and ~~evaluation~~ of ~~information~~.		When the 295th and 296th Infantry Regiments of the Puerto Rico National Guard were called into federal service, Marxuach entered the Army and on 15 October 1940 was commissioned a second lieutenant, serving with the 295th at Camp Tortuguero and then the 296th. He attended the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, for three months, and for another three months trained at the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie as a major with [[:Category:Class 10\|Class 10]] (section 7B), studying the organization of foreign armies, advanced map reading, interrogation, and the evaluation of information. On 12 January 1944 the 296th left Puerto Rico for the Panama Canal Zone, where Marxuach, promoted from first lieutenant to major, commanded its 2nd Battalion, underwent jungle training, and led a mission to recover the remains of American soldiers killed in the crash of a C-45 Expeditor. The regiment returned to Puerto Rico in April 1945 and reached Hawaii on 25 June 1945, attached to the Central Pacific Base Command at Kahuku Army Air Field; by then a lieutenant colonel, Marxuach commanded the 1114th Artillery Company and the 1558th Engineer Company. The 296th returned home on 6 March 1946, and he was promoted to colonel on 12 November 1946. He retired in 1947 as the regiment's executive officer because of a service-related disability. His decorations included the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal.

	~~Among~~ Colonel Gilberto ~~José~~ Marxuach~~'s many military decorations are the following:~~		After the war Marxuach studied law at the University of Puerto Rico, working in its Carnegie Library to pay his tuition, earned his law degree on 27 June 1949, and opened a private practice in San Juan. In 1951 he joined the administration of Mayor Felisa Rincón de Gautier as municipal legal adviser and was charged with organizing the San Juan Municipal Civil Defense, becoming its first director on 8 March 1952. He held both posts until he died after a brief illness at his home in Santurce on 18 April 1957. He was buried with full military honors at the Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamón. On 26 June 1970 San Juan named an underground nuclear shelter in Río Piedras housing municipal emergency offices the Colonel Gilberto Marxuach Center in his honor.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
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			== Timeline ==
			<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
			<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
			* 19 November 1910 — Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
			* 17 June 1928 — Joined the Puerto Rico National Guard.
			* 1936 — BS, University of Puerto Rico.
			* 23 December 1938 — Married Margarita Ginorio Dominguez.
			* 15 October 1940 — Commissioned second lieutenant.
			* 12 January 1944 — Departed with the 296th Infantry Regiment for the Panama Canal Zone.
			* 25 June 1945 — Arrived in Hawaii with the 296th.
			* 12 November 1946 — Promoted to colonel.
			* 1947 — Retired for service-related disability.
			* 27 June 1949 — Earned law degree, University of Puerto Rico.
			* 8 March 1952 — Became first director of the San Juan Municipal Civil Defense.
			* 18 April 1957 — Died in Santurce, Puerto Rico.
			* World War II — Infantry School, Fort Benning; Military Intelligence Training Center, Camp Ritchie (Class 10).
			</div>
			</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

Admin: Expand documented full name in infobox and lead

2026-09-20T20:14:22Z

Expand documented full name in infobox and lead

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	\|surname=Marxuach		\|surname=Marxuach
	\|first=Gilberto		\|first=Gilberto
	\|middle=J.		\|middle=José
	\|class_section=7B		\|class_section=7B
	\|class_rank=Major		\|class_rank=Major

Admin: Admin moved page Marxuach, Gilberto J. (0405503) to Marxuach, Gilberto José (0405503) without leaving a redirect: Expand documented middle name: José

2026-09-20T20:14:21Z

Admin moved page Marxuach, Gilberto J. (0405503) to Marxuach, Gilberto José (0405503) without leaving a redirect: Expand documented middle name: José

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:14, 20 September 2026
(No difference)

Admin: Apply shared profile publish standards

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Apply shared profile publish standards

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	\|branch=United States Army		\|branch=United States Army
	\|years_of_service=1928–31, 1940–47		\|years_of_service=1928–31, 1940–47
	\|rank_final=~~50px;~~ Colonel		\|rank_final=Colonel
	\|battles=World War II		\|battles=World War II
	\|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Army_of_Occupation_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Army_Overseas_Service_Ribbon.png		\|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Army_of_Occupation_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Army_Overseas_Service_Ribbon.png
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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==







	Colonel Gilberto José Marxuach a.k.a. "The Father of the San Juan Civil Defense" (November 19, 1910 – April 18, 1957), was a former officer in the United States Army who in 1951 founded and became the first director of the Civil Defense in the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico.		Colonel Gilberto José Marxuach a.k.a. "The Father of the San Juan Civil Defense" (November 19, 1910 – April 18, 1957), was a former officer in the United States Army who in 1951 founded and became the first director of the Civil Defense in the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

	In 1937, Japan invaded China and in September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. As a precautionary measure, the 295th and 296th Infantry Regiments of the Puerto Rican National Guard, founded by Major General Luis R. Esteves, were called into Federal Active Service and assigned to the Puerto Rican Department in accordance with the existing War Plan Orange. That same month, Marxuach joined the United States Army and on October 15, 1940, was commissioned a second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 295 Regiment at Camp Tortuguero in Puerto Rico and soon after was reassigned to 296th Infantry Regiment. By then Marxuach had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was in charge of the 1114th Artillery Co. ~~and~~ the 1558th Engineers Co.		In 1937, Japan invaded China and in September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. As a precautionary measure, the 295th and 296th Infantry Regiments of the Puerto Rican National Guard, founded by Major General Luis R. Esteves, were called into Federal Active Service and assigned to the Puerto Rican Department in accordance with the existing War Plan Orange. That same month, Marxuach joined the United States Army and on October 15, 1940, was commissioned a second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 295 Regiment at Camp Tortuguero in Puerto Rico and soon after was reassigned to 296th Infantry Regiment. By then Marxuach had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was in charge of the 1114th Artillery Co. And the 1558th Engineers Co.

	During his military career, Marxuach attended the Infantry School at Fort Benning in Georgia for 3 months where he learned the mechanical functioning and tactical employment of all infantry weapons. For another three months he attended the Military Intelligence Center at Camp Ritchie, situated in the mountains near Pennsylvania. Here he studied the organization and composition of foreign armies, advanced map reading, interrogation of the enemy during war, and evaluation of information.		During his military career, Marxuach attended the Infantry School at Fort Benning in Georgia for 3 months where he learned the mechanical functioning and tactical employment of all infantry weapons. For another three months he attended the Military Intelligence Center at Camp Ritchie, situated in the mountains near Pennsylvania. Here he studied the organization and composition of foreign armies, advanced map reading, interrogation of the enemy during war, and evaluation of information.

	Among Colonel Gilberto José Marxuach's many military decorations are the following:		Among Colonel Gilberto José Marxuach's many military decorations are the following:


	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==

Admin: Clarify museum roster and Dan Gross research sources

2026-08-31T03:59:25Z

Clarify museum roster and Dan Gross research sources

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:59, 31 August 2026
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	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
	* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilberto_Jos%C3%A9_Marxuach Wikipedia: Gilberto José Marxuach]		* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilberto_Jos%C3%A9_Marxuach Wikipedia: Gilberto José Marxuach]
	* Camp Ritchie ~~class roster~~ (~~classes~~ 1–31), ~~merged~~ research ~~file~~		* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
			* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
	* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)		* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
	* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)		* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)

Admin: Normalize nativity/religion; split arm of service from branch

2026-08-26T18:28:30Z

Normalize nativity/religion; split arm of service from branch

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	\|class_section=7B		\|class_section=7B
	\|class_rank=Major		\|class_rank=Major
	~~\|class_branch=United States Army~~
	\|birth_year=1910		\|birth_year=1910
	\|death_year=1957		\|death_year=1957
	\|nativity=PR		\|nativity=Puerto Rico
	\|religion=C		\|religion=Catholic
	\|overseas=Y		\|overseas=Y
	\|certificate=3148		\|certificate=3148

Admin: Enrich from Wikipedia: Gilberto José Marxuach

2026-08-25T01:29:57Z

Enrich from Wikipedia: Gilberto José Marxuach

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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==

Admin: Enrich from Wikipedia: Gilberto José Marxuach

2026-08-25T01:19:31Z

Enrich from Wikipedia: Gilberto José Marxuach

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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==

Admin: Enrich from Wikipedia: Gilberto José Marxuach

2026-08-25T01:15:43Z

Enrich from Wikipedia: Gilberto José Marxuach

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	\|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Army_of_Occupation_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Army_Overseas_Service_Ribbon.png		\|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Army_of_Occupation_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Army_Overseas_Service_Ribbon.png
	\|photo=Wikipedia_GilbertoMarxuach.jpg		\|photo=Wikipedia_GilbertoMarxuach.jpg
			\|awards=American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal; Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 10
			\|awards_grid=American Defense Service Medal;;American Campaign Medal;;Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal@@World War II Victory Medal;;Army of Occupation Medal;;Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 10
			\|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.png@@Ribbon_World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Army_of_Occupation_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Army_Overseas_Service_Ribbon.png
	}}		}}

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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==

Admin: Enrich from Wikipedia: Gilberto José Marxuach

2026-08-25T01:09:46Z

Enrich from Wikipedia: Gilberto José Marxuach

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:09, 25 August 2026
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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==