Carlos Fernando Chardón Palacios, also referred to as "Fernando Chardón"Various notable members of his family were named "Carlos Chardón". He preferred to be referred to as "Fernando Chardón" to avoid confusion with the others. (September 5, 1907 – December 9, 1981), was the Secretary of State of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973 and the
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 ...
from 1973 to 1975.
Early years
Carlos Fernando Chardón Palacios was born 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 ...
, to Carlos Felix Chardón and Isabel Palacios Pelletier. His great-grandfather, Juan Bautista Chardón, a Catholic native of
Champagne, France
Champagne () was a province in the northeast of the Kingdom of France, now best known as the Champagne wine region for the sparkling white wine that bears its name in modern-day France. The County of Champagne, descended from the early medie ...
, immigrated to
Puerto Rico
; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
from
Louisiana
Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...
in 1816, encouraged by the Royal Decree of Graces issued by the Spanish Crown.Archivo General de Puerto Rico: Documentos
Chardón received his primary and secondary education in his hometown. After graduating from high school, he enrolled and attended the University of Cornell In 1928, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering."Historia militar de Puerto Rico" Coleccion Encuentros (in Spanish); author= Hector Andres Negroni; Publisher: Sociedad Estatal Quinto Centenario;
Military and political career
After he graduated from Cornell, Chardón returned to Puerto Rico and joined 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 ...
. He was assigned to the 295th Infantry and commissioned a first lieutenant. He served in the regular
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
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 ...
and in 1945, was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of lieutenant colonel.Fernando Chardón /ref>
In 1946, he returned to Puerto Rico and continued to serve in the National Guard. Chardón was promoted to the rank of
colonel
Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
and was named Commander of the 295th Infantry Regiment. Although the unit as such did not participate in 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 ...
, most of its members saw action in the conflict, either as replacements for Puerto Rico's 65th Regiment casualties, or to cover vacancies in that unit resulting from the rotation system.
On July 20, 1965, he served temporarily as Adjutant General of Puerto Rico upon the death of Major General Juan César Cordero Dávila. in 1968, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the Puerto Rican National Guard.
Chardón served as Secretary of State of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973, representing the
New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico
The New Progressive Party (, PNP) is a political party in Puerto Rico that advocates for statehood.Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo As Secretary of State of Puerto Rico he led all efforts to promote the cultural, political, and economic relations between Puerto Rico and foreign countries, and other jurisdictions of the United States. Part of his responsibilities included that he be the acting governor in the event that the Governor of Puerto Rico is unable to perform his duties. He is tied with the 22nd Secretary of State,
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth Davison McClintock-Hernández (born January 19, 1957) is a politician who served as the twenty-second Secretary of State of Puerto Rico, one of the four longest serving in that post. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s N ...
, as the third longest-serving Secretary of State.
In 1973, Chardón was promoted to the rank of major general in the National Guard and resigned his position of Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Chardón served as the
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 ...
from 1973 to 1975 under the governorship of
Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón (October 24, 1936 – May 2, 2019) was a Puerto Rican politician who served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 1973 to 1977 and 1985 to 1993 for a total of three terms. An experienced politician, Hernández held the ...
who represented the political beliefs of the Popular Democratic Party As Adjutant General, he was the Senior Military Advisor to the
Governor of Puerto Rico
The governor of Puerto Rico () is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. Elected to a 4 year-term through popular vote by the residents of the archipelago and island, ...
and oversaw both State and Federal Missions of 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 ...
. During the command of BG Carlos Chardón proposed the naming of the National Guard training facility in
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Salinas (, ) is a Salinas barrio-pueblo, town and Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito, Puerto Rico, Aibonito and Cayey, Puerto Rico, Caye ...
as Camp Santiago. Chardón retired as the Puerto Rico Adjutant General in 1975.
In 2019, Carlos Fernando Chardón was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.
Family
He was married to Carmín Cuyar Gatell and was the father of four offspring. His brother was Carlos E. Chardón, the first Puerto Rican
mycologist
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their taxonomy, genetics, biochemical properties, and use by humans. Fungi can be a source of tinder, food, traditional medicine, as well as entheogens, poison, and ...
, a high-ranking official in government on agriculture during the 1920s, the first Puerto Rican appointed as Chancellor of 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 ...
(1931–1935), and the head of the Puerto Rican Reconstruction Administration in the mid-to late 1930s during the
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
. His nephew is Carlos A. Chardón Lopez, who served as Puerto Rico's Secretary of Education in 1977 and 2009.
Death
On December 9, 1981, Chardón died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the Ashford Memorial Hospital in
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan ( , ; Spanish for "Saint John the Baptist, John") is the capital city and most populous Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality in the Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the ...
Puerto Rico National Cemetery
Puerto Rico National Cemetery is a United States national cemetery located in the city of Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Bayamón, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It encompasses of land, and at the end of 2005, had 44,722 interments. Until 2021, it ...
in
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón (, ) is a Bayamón barrio-pueblo, city and Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality in Puerto Rico. Located on the northeastern coastal plain, it is bounded by Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Guaynabo to the east, Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, Toa A ...
. His widow, Carmín (1911–2000), was buried in the same plot upon her death.
The Puerto Rican Government named a street after him in San Juan: Calle Carlos F. Chardón.
Written works
*"Reseña histórica del origen y desarrollo de las milicias puertorriqueñas bajo el régimen español, 1511-1898"; Published 1978 by .n.in San Juan, P.R.; LC Control Number 81128128 Open Library /ref>
See also
*
List of Puerto Ricans
This is a list of notable people from Puerto Rico which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico (Borinquen) and people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican descent. Puerto Rican citizens are included, as the governm ...
*
List of Puerto Rican military personnel
Throughout history Puerto Ricans, including people of Puerto Rican descent, have gained notability as members of the military. They have served and have fought for many countries, such as Canada, Cuba, England, Mexico, Spain, the United States a ...
*
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 ...