User:Marine 69-71

Hi! My name is Tony. My wife's name is Milly and I am the proud father of Antonio as well as another son Jose, and a daughter Nilda, and the grandfather of two beautiful girls named Isabel and Nina.

I was born the son of Puerto Rican immigrants, in New York, New York, more specifically in the Bronx area where being a gang member was a way of life. I was raised in the mean streets (Simpson St.) of New York and when my family moved to Queens I became a gang leader.

In New York, I remember meeting Muhammad Ali and Nelson Rockefeller in person. It wasn't until several years later, however, that I would reunite with Ali, as my two sons and I share a passion, with capital letters, about autograph hunting. I have met several other sports super-stars, Presidents, and singers of all walks of life during my family's autograph adventures and I have over 1,800 different autographed items.

I was an active member of the United States Marine Corps from 1969 to 1971 and in the reserves until 1975, fighting in the Vietnam War. As I saw how many disparities there were between White soldiers and soldiers of ethnic minorities, I formed a group of soldiers within my company, one that included Puerto Ricans,Mexicans, Central Americans and others. This group was named the Latin Power In unity. My friend and comrade Reese formed the Black Power group and our groups worked closely towards better treatment of minorities and to improve the relationship between the members of the other races in our company (H&S Co., 2/9 3rd. Marine Division).

This, in turn, led me to view American politics on Puerto Rico differently. It also made me curious of my roots. I can honestly say that I am proud to be a Puerto Rican. I never returned to New York, I rather flew to San Juan, where I was supposed to visit my father for two weeks before returning home, but I met my future wife (my dad's neighbor) while in Puerto Rico, and decided to stay for twenty years. Because of what I saw, I am a strong believer that Puerto Rico should become an independent nation. I became a member of the Puerto Rican Independence Party headed by Ruben Berrios.

I enrolled in the Interamerican University and I majored in Business Administration and accounting. I was a magna cum laude student. I have also graduated from the Puerto Rican Real Estate Academy and the American Banking Institute with honors. I studied computers in the Polytechnical Institute of Caguas, Puerto Rico. I was the owner of R & S Sales Corp., a wholesale business and of other ventures.

My son Antonio, as you might have noticed by reading his works, is a huge fan of boxing and aviation. I can't say I show the same enthusiasm as he does for those two subjects, but I do enjoy boxing as well as baseball, and I am very enthusiastic about my son's airplane model collection. I also enjoy reading (especially about history and psychology) and listening to all kinds of music (rock, soul, salsa and the classics, Mozart etc.)

Whenever my son Antonio gets a new airliner model or my grand-daughter Isabel gets a new Bendo toy, I share their happiness.

It was Antonio who inspired me to become interested in this project. My main objective is to write mini-bios about famous Puerto Ricans and their accomplishments.

Military Decorations Awarded

National Defense Service Medal

USN and USMC Presidential Unit Citation

Combat Action Ribbon

Licence

I agree to multi-license all my contributions, with the exception of my user pages, as described below:

Articles (Bios) Written By Me

Agueybana, Agustin Stahl, Alani Vasquez, Alejandrina Benitez de Gautier, Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, Ana G. Mendez, Ana Maria O'Neill, Angel Cordero Jr., Angel Mislan, Angel Ramos (educator), Angel Ramos (Industrialist), Angelita Lind, Anibal Gonzalez Irizarry, Antonia Pantojas, Antonio Caban Vale, Antonio Fernós-Isern, Antonio Paoli, Antonio R. Barcelo, Antonio Rodriguez Balinas, Antonio Valero de Bernabe, Antonio de los Reyes Correa, Arasibo, Ari Meyers, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, Arturo Somohano, Astrid Munoz, Barbara Bermudo, Blanca Canales, Bobby Cruz, Bobby Valentin, Bold Forbes, Braulio Dueno Colon, Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez, Carlos Betances Ramirez, Carlos Lozada, Carlos Ponce, Carmen Belen Richardson, Carmen Delia Dipini, Carmen Durnier, Carmen E. Arroyo, Carmen Jovet, Cayetano Coll y Toste, Charlie Palmieri, Chay Santini, Cheo Feliciano, Chita Rivera, Concha Melendez, Daniel Santos, David "Kike" Bernier, Diego de Torres Vargas, Eddie Palmieri, Edna Schmidt, Edwin Torres (Judge), Edwin Torres (poet), Elizabeth Vargas, Emilio "Millo" Navarro, Enrique Figueroa, Eugenio Maria de Hostos, Euripides Rubio, Felipe Birriel, Felipe "La Voz" Rodriguez, Felipe Rose, Felisa Rincon de Gautier, Felix Soto Toro, Fernando Fernandez, Fernando Luis Garcia, Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci, Frances M. Vega, Francisco Ayerra de Santa Maria, Francisco Mariano Quiñones, Francisco Oller, Francisco Ramirez Medina, German Rieckehoff, Gilberto Monroig, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Gildo Massó, Giovanni Hidalgo, Glenn Monroig, Hayuya, Hector Elizondo, Hector Santiago-Colon, Henry Darrow, Herman Badillo, Herman Santiago, Horacio Rivero, Ismael Miranda, Ismael Rivera, Ismael Quintana, Ivonne Belen, Ivonne Coll, Ivy Queen, Jackie Guerrido, Jesse Vassallo, Jesus Colon, Jesus T. Piñero, Joe Cuba, John Benitez, John Leguizamo, John Melendez, John Rivas, Johnathan Dwayne, Jon Seda, Jonny Moseley, Jose Julian Acosta, Jose Celso Barbosa, Jose Gautier Benitez, Jose Campeche, Jose Antonio Davila, Jose de Diego, Jose Ignacio Quinton, Jose Juan Garcia, Jose Rivera, Jose Vega Santana, Joseph M. Acaba, Joseph A. Unanue, Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodriguez, Juan F. Acosta, Juan Alejo de Arizmendi, Juan Antonio Corretjer, Juan Evangelista Venegas, Juan Marí Bras, Juan Morel Campos, Juan Ponce de Leon II, Juan Serralles, Juanita Garcia Peraza, Julia de Burgos, Julio Rosado del Valle, Julita Ross, Jumacao, Justino Díaz, Kevin Ceballo, Kirk Acevedo, Kristina Brandi, La India, Lauren and Loraine Velez, Lillian Hurst, Lisa Vidal, Liz Torres, Lola Rodriguez de Tio, Lolita Lebron, Lorenzo Homar, Lucy Boscana, Luis Antonio Rivera, Luis Llorens Torres, Luis R. Esteves, Luis Rafael Sanchez, Luis Rodriguez Olmo, Luisa Capetillo, Lunna, Lynda Lopez, Manuel A. Alonso, Manuel Fernandez Juncos (Journalist), Manuel Gregorio Tavarez, Manuel Rojas, Manuel Zeno Gandia, Mara Croatto, Maria Bibiana Benitez, Maria Elena Holly, Mariana Bracetti, Maritza Correia, Mark Watring, Mathias Bruckman, Maurice Ferre, Mayra Calvani,Mercedes Negron Muñoz {Clara Lair), Michael Stuart, Michele LaFountain, Miguel Algarin, Miguel Angel Alvarez, Miguel Angel Suarez, Miguel Enriquez, Miguel Ferrer, Miguel Piñero, Miguel Ruiz, Miriam Colon, Modesto Cartagena, Mylo Carbia, Myrta Silva, Natalie and Nicole Albino, Nemesio Canales, Nicky Cruz, Nitza Margarita Cintron, Noel Estrada, Norma Candal, Nydia Velazquez, Olga A. Mendez, Olga Tañon, Olga Viscal Garriga, Dr. Orlando Figueroa, Orlando Llenza, Otilio Warrington, Oscar Collazo, Pedro Del Valle, Pedro Flores, Pedro Ortiz "Davilita" Davila, Pedro Pietri, Dr. Pedro Rodriguez, Pedro Rodriguez (soldier), Pellin Rodriguez, Piri Thomas, Rachel Ticotin, Rafael Alers, Rafael Cordero (educator), Rafael Hernandez, Rafi Escudero, Ramiro L. Colon, Ramon Lopez Irizarry, Ramon Power y Giralt, Ramon Emeterio Betances, Raphy Leavitt, Raul Papaleo, Ray Barretto, Raymond Arrieta, Rebekah Colberg, Rene Marques, Ricardo Alegria, Ricardo Alvarez Rivon, Richie Ray, Rick Aviles, Rick Gonzalez, Roberto Cofresi, Roman Baldorioty de Castro, Ron Rivera, Rosario Ferré, Rose Franco, Roselyn Sanchez, Roy Brown (musician), Salvador E. Felices, Salvador Vassallo, Savio Vega, Segundo Ruiz Belvis, Selian A. Diaz, Sylvia Rexach, Talisa Soto, Tito Rodriguez, Tomas Batista, Tomas Blanco, Vanesa Littlecrow, Victor Argo, Dr. Victor A. Carreño, Victor Pellot, Virgilio Davila, Wilkins, William A. Navas, Jr., Willie Rosario, Zoraida Santiago.

Non Bios Written By Me

Nuyorican Movement, List of Tainos, The Jayuya Uprising, Puerto Ricans in NASA, The 65th Infantry, Piñero (movie), Literature of Puerto Rico.

Articles In Which I'm a Co-Writer

List of famous Puerto Ricans, Puerto Ricans, Gilberto Concepcion de Gracia, Joaquin Phoenix, Rita Moreno, Ruben Gomez

Short Profiles Written By Me

I Have Also Written Short Profiles In My Article Puerto Ricans in NASA, About The Following People:

Anthony M. Busquets, Miguel Alvarez Chico, Juan A. Cruz, Lydia Del Rio, Guillermo A. Gonzalez, Olga D. Gonzalez-Sanabria, Amri Hernandez-Pellerano, Gloria Hernandez, Lucas G. Hortas, Carlos A. Luceaga, Debbie Martinez, Lissette Martinez, Dr. Marla E. Perez-Davis, Mercedes Reaves, Dr. Miriam Rodon Naveira, Otilia I. Rodriguez Alvarez, Monserrate Roman, Desiree Santa

Total of Articles: 259 Total of Profiles: 18 Total of Edits: Who Knows?

Honored

I feel honored that "Virtual Boricua" has included four of my articles (Kirk Acevedo, Julia de Burgos, John Leguizamo and Edwin Torres (Judge)) among it's "Best Boricua Related Websites" links.

Barnstars

This barnstar is given to my father for being one of only two people to stay at the hospital everytime I had an emergency (the other one, my mom is not a wikipedian) for being an essential part of my life and loving me so much. Also, for being a fervent writer about Puerto Rican culture at Wikipedia, an invaluable addition so that people around the world can learn nmore about our country. {Antonio No al Matrimonio Martin}

If you please. Judging from your bio I wish I had something better to honor you with than a barnstar. - {Hephaestos04:39, 22 Oct 2004 (UTC))

My Articles in DYK

• Posted December 2004

• Posted January 2005

• Posted March 4, 2005

• Posted March 20, 2005

• Posted March 25, 2005

Some Cool People To Work With

Comrade Nick, SWAdair, Andre, Rossrs, Stormie, Hajor, David Cannon, Wolfman, Lst27, ugen64, Acegikmo1, RickK, Shane King, Ambi, Hephaestos, Cjrs 79, MusiCitizen, Joseph, Everyking