José M . Cabanillas José M . Cabanillas ( September 23 , 1901 – September 15 , 1979 ) , was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy who as an Executive Officer of the USS " Texas " participated in the invasions of North Africa and the Battle of Normandy ( also known as D - Day ) during World War II . Early years . Cabanillas was born to José C . Cabanillas and Asunción Grau de Cabanillas in the city of Mayagüez which is located in the western coast of Puerto Rico . There he received his primary and secondary education . In 1917 , at the age of 16 , he was sent to Alabama to attend the Marion Military Institute . In the school he underwent a two - year preparatory course which prepared him for the United States Naval Academy . Naval career . He graduated from the institute in 1919 and on June 16 , 1920 received an appointment from Arthur Yager , the U . S . appointed governor of Puerto Rico from 1913 to 1921 , to attend the United States Naval Academy . Cabanillas graduated from the Academy on June 4 , 1924 and was commissioned an Ensign in the U . S . Navy . Prior to World War II , Cabanillas served aboard various cruisers , destroyers and submarines . Among the battleships that he served in were the " USS Florida " , " USS Colorado " and " USS Oklahoma " . From June 1927 to January 1928 he received instruction in submarines at the Submarine Base , New London , Connecticut , after which he served in the " USS S - 3 " until May 1930 . Cabanillas earned a Master of Science in June 1932 from Yale University . World War II . In 1942 , upon the outbreak of World War II , he was assigned Executive Officer of the USS Texas ( BB - 35 ) . The USS " Texas " was the oldest remaining dreadnought , and was one of only two remaining ships to have served in both world wars at that time . On November 8 , the " Texas " participated in the invasion of North Africa . by destroying an ammunition dump near Port Lyautey . Cabanillas also participated in the invasion of Normandy on ( D - day ) . On June 6 , 1944 , his ship ' s secondary battery went to work on another target , Cherbourg , France , on the western end of " Omaha " beach . Cabanillas was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat " V , " for " meritorious achievement and outstanding performance of duty as Executive Officer of the USS Texas during the Invasion of Normandy and the bombardment of Cherbourg . His Bronze medal citation reads as follows : " Taking over ship control in the conning tower after an enemy shell had destroyed the bridge , the primary control station , Captain Cabanillas rendered invaluable service to his commanding officer in the performance of the assigned mission . . . " In 1945 , Cabanillas became the first Commanding officer of the USS " Grundy " , which was commissioned on January 3 , 1945 . The " Grundy " helped in the evacuation of Americans from China during the Chinese Civil War . Under his command , the " Grundy " earned the following citations : China Service Medal ( extended ) , American Campaign Medal , Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal , World War II Victory Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal ( with Asia clasp ) . In December 1945 , he was reassigned to Naval Station Norfolk located in Norfolk , Virginia , as Assistant Chief of Staff ( Discipline ) , 5th Naval District . Korean War . In July 1949 , Cabanillas was transferred to Naval Station Orange , located in Orange , Texas where he served as Commanding Officer . On July 1950 , he became Commander of the USS " Dixie " , a destroyer tender in the Pacific . During the Korean War he provided firing cover to the U . S . Marines involved in the Inchon invasion . In 1951 , Cabanillas was reassigned to the staff of the United States Pacific Fleet in Hawaii . In 1953 , he was transferred to the fifth Naval District in San Juan , Puerto Rico as Chief of Staff . Later years . Cabanillas retired from the Navy in 1955 and moved to Richmond , Virginia . In 1956 , Cabanillas made use of the benefits of the G . I . Bill and studied law at the University of Richmond School of Law . He passed the Virginia Bar at the end of his second year . He served as law librarian at the University for 6 years and then joined a Richmond law firm . Cabanillas died on September 15 , 1979 at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond . He was the first Puerto Rican to make rear admiral in the US Navy , albeit a tombstone promotion . He was cremated and buried at sea with full military honors . Awards and recognitions . Among Rear Admiral José M . Cabanillas ' decorations and medals were the following : Badges :