Alberto A. Picó (born August 23, 1918, in

Coamo, Puerto Rico Coamo (, ) is a town and municipality founded in 1579 in the south-central region of Puerto Rico, located north of Santa Isabel; south of Orocovis and Barranquitas; east of Villalba and Juana Díaz; and west of Aibonito and Salinas. The ...

– September 4, 2003, in

Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Mayagüez (, ) is the ninth-largest Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality in Puerto Rico. It was founded as Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Mayagüez (Township of Virgin of Candelaria, Our Lady of Candelaria), and is also ...

) was a military officer who became the 4th

Puerto Rico Adjutant General The Puerto Rico Adjutant General () is the commander of the Puerto Rico National Guard. As the adjutant general he is also the senior military advisor to the Governor of Puerto Rico and oversees both State and Federal Missions of the Puerto Rico ...

Early years

After completing elementary and high school in his hometown, in 1938 he went to the

University of Puerto Rico The University of Puerto Rico (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Universidad de Puerto Rico;'' often shortened to UPR) is the main List of state and territorial universities in the United States, public university system in the Commonwealth (U.S. i ...

where he received his B.A. in arts and a commission of Second Lieutenant on May 29, 1940, thru the

Army ROTC The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC) is the United States Army component of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It is the largest Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program which is a group of college and university-based officer tr ...

program.

Military and professional career

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

he served in Puerto Rico, the United States and Europe from 1940 to 1946. Until 1944 he served as an intelligence officer and later moved to the front lines with the 13th Armored Division. In 1947 went on to the

Puerto Rico National Guard The Puerto Rico National Guard (PRNG; ) is the national guard of the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions, which includes to provide ...

. Was called to serve active duty during the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

with the

296th Infantry Regiment The 296th Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Puerto Rico Army National Guard consisting mostly of Puerto Rican enlisted soldiers and officers. Today, only its 1st Battalion remains active; being allotted to the 92nd Military P ...

. In 1951 went to the republic of Colombia to train Colombian troops to fight in the Korean War. Was back in the Puerto Rico National Guard in 1953 as commander of the 3rd Battalion 296th Infantry Regiment. In 1960 became Commander of the First Battle Group of the

65th Infantry The 65th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed "The Borinqueneers" during the Korean War for the original Arawak Native American name for Puerto Rico (Borinquen), is a Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican regiment of the United States Army. The regiment's ...

with the rank of Colonel. On January 10, 1968, appointed Adjutant General of the National Guard of Puerto Rico by governor

Luis A. Ferré Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo (February 17, 1904 October 21, 2003) was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and patron of the arts. He was the governor of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973. He was the founder of the ...

and on March 3, 1968, he was promoted to the rank of General Brigadier. On August 10, 1970, he received another promotion to Major General. Had a 28 year career with the

United States Customs Service The United States Customs Service was a federal law enforcement agency of the U.S. federal government. Established on July 31, 1789, it collected import tariffs, performed other selected border security duties, as well as conducted criminal in ...

where he worked as auxiliary chief in

Ponce, Puerto Rico Ponce ( , , ) is a city and a Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The most populated city outside the San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan metropolitan area, Ponce was founded on August 12, 1692Some publ ...

Military awards and decorations

Among Roig's decorations are the following: Badges: * Combat Infantry Badge

Combat Infantryman Badge The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army military decoration. The badge is awarded to infantrymen and Special Forces (United States Army), Special Forces soldiers in the rank of Colonel (United States), colonel and below, wh ...

Death

Alberto A. Picó died on September 4, 2003, in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico at age 85.

References

1. Negroni, Hector Andres (1992). Historia militar de Puerto Rico. Coleccion Encuentros (in Spanish). Sociedad Estatal Quinto Centenario. . {{DEFAULTSORT:Picó, Alberto A. 1918 births 2003 deaths People from Coamo, Puerto Rico United States Army personnel of World War II National Guard (United States) generals Puerto Rican Army personnel Puerto Rican military officers Adjutants General of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico National Guard personnel University of Puerto Rico alumni