Puerto Ricans served a very important role in WWII for the allied forces. Their forces varied from the 65th infantry division to the medical corps in PR. Approximatley 65,000 Puerto Ricans served in WWII. Many troops remained stationed in PR, such as our intervewee, Angel Martin. A number of Puerto Ricans served in the Medical Corps in PR.
Puerto Ricans might have thought that they were far away from the war, but they were wrong. German U-Boats blocked food and other supplies coming from the US to Puerto Rico. The Germans saw Puerto Rico as a strategic location, as did the US. For a long time, many Puerto Ricans thought that they would meet their demise because little food and supplies were arriving. Towards the end of the war, they left to Germany.
At the time, Puerto Rico was very poor as was much of the world. With a high unemployment rate and an immense migration to the states, Puerto Rico was losing people and jobs. Many supplies from the US were cut off, and many Puerto Ricans left to the US and hoped that they would find better and higher paying jobs, higher securtity, and a more stable lifestyle.
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