Ralph Cabrera
Ralph Cabrera was born in Tampa, Florida more than 121 years ago on May 26th 1899 to his parents Mr and Mrs. Ramon E. Cabrera.
** Interesting events that occurred around the World during Mr. Cabrera's birth year of 1899 included.
• On January 1st, 1899 Spanish rule ends in Cuba, concluding 400 years of the Spanish Empire in the Americas.
• On February 4th, 1899 the Philippine–American War begins as hostilities break out in Manila.
• On March 14th, 1899 German Ferdinand von Zeppelin receives a U.S. patent for a "Navigable Balloon"
• On March 20th, 1899 at Sing Sing prison in Ossining, New York, Martha M. Place becomes the first Woman executed in an electric chair. Martha was convicted of murdering her 17 year old Stepdaughter, Ida Placer by asphyxiation and having thrown photographic acid in her eyes.
• On June 9th, 1899 American boxer James J. Jeffries knocks out Cornish-born Bob Fitzsimmons in the 11th round and wins the world heavyweight championship in a bout at Coney Island, New York.[
• On June 30th, 1899 Mile-a-Minute Murphy earns his nickname after he becomes the first man to ride a bicycle for one-mile in under a minute, on Long Island, New York.
• On November 8th, 1899 the New York Zoological Society opens the Bronx Zoological Park to the public, in New York City.
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Ralph was one of four boys born to his Mother and Father. Elder Brothers Tony and Joseph Raymond who we featured last evening for Veterans Day bravely served overseas during the First World War and were star amateur barnstorming baseball players. This evenings honoree also had a younger Brother, Charlie and Sisters Mary and Rosa.
Ralph would enist with the American Expeditionary Forces on June 20th, 1916 after having just turned seventeen.( According to his service record it appears as though Ralph lied about his age, claiming to be 18.5!! ) Young Mr. Cabrera would serve along the Mexican border during the contentious "Border War" which spanned nine years between 1910 and 1919.
The United States Army was stationed in force along the border and on several occasions fought with Mexican rebels or "Federals". The height of the conflict occurred as Ralph arrived in 1916 when revolutionary, Pancho Villa attacked the American border town of Columbus, New Mexico. In response, the U.S. Army, under the direction of General John J. Pershing, launched an expedition into Northern Mexico in order to find and capture Villa. Though the operation was a failure in that Villa was not captured, it was partially successful in that the Army found and engaged the "Villista rebels", and in killing Pancho Villa's two top Lieutenants. The revolutionary himself escaped and the American Army returned to the United States in January 1917.
This evenings honoree would r continue serving his country during the First World War when he is sent to France with the AEF's 124th Infantry where he arrived on April 3rd, 1918. After the regiment reached the shores of France, it was split up and its soldiers were used to fill other units as replacements. Ralph we learn, was sent to Italy and both of his Brothers remained in France. Eldest Brother Joseph Raymond at the age of 26 would lose his life In the French town of Aix-les-Bains on December 16th, 1918.
Ralph serves for the entirety of the Great War and remains overseas until April 2nd, 1919 nearly 5 months after the armistice ending the war was signed on November 11th, 1918. Ralph not yet 20 years old would receive his honorable discharge 15 days later on April 17th, 1919.
Ralph would soon arrive back at home in Tampa, Florida and on Saturday May 10th, 1919 with many friends he attended the victory loan celebration in downtown Tampa, Florida.
** The Victory Liberty Loan or Victory Loan, was issued in May of 1919 to consolidate short-term debt issued during the war.
Unbelievably after having just come home after fighting in two Wars, Ralph, a group of friends, and many others were struck by a massive awning that collapsed and fell on them from above while they stood in front of the arcade. Ralph was rushed to the hospital after he suffered a wrenched back, a sprained shoulder, and broken rib.
Ralph we learn was "Attacked by pneumonia" while in France and never fully recovered. As his symptoms worsened this evenings honoree was sent to the military Hospital in Greenville South Carolina in October of 1919. Sorrowfully the wretched disease would take his life on December 20th, 1919, one year and four days after it took big Brother Joseph Raymond.
Ralph Cabrera... Beloved Son, Brother, patriotic Veteran of the Border War, and First World War