Ruben Alonso Rosales
Encyclopedia
Rubén Alonso Rosales was one of a six-man junta
government that took control of El Salvador
by peaceful coup in 1960.
Born on January 11, 1925, in the tiny village of Paraiso De Osorio, La Paz department, El Salvador, to Vicente and Maria Soriano Rosales as the third child of seven. Despite his father's effort to have his male children help in the farm, his mother, a school teacher, insisted that all their children obtain an education and made all efforts to ensure that they obtained at least a high school education, having to send all children to a larger town, Cojutepeque
, to achieve that. Showing interest to enter the military at the age of fifteen, his parents worked hard to enroll him into the country's military academy, despite being of little means.
On February 2, 1941, he joined the academy, as one of 124 new recruits. However, by July, his parents could no longer afford his tuition but his stay at the academy was assured when he received one of the two scholarships that were being granted to the new recruits. Also, during his first year at the academy he was befriended by Colonel Óscar Osorio
, who was the sub-director of the academy and would later be a member of the Revolutionary Council governing the country (1948–1950) and eventually President of the Republic (1950–1956).
On April 2, 1944, while on military leave working the family farm, a rebellion to overthrow President Maximiliano Hernández Martínez
broke out, he reported to the Cojutepeque garrison for duty and was one of two cadets from the entire academy who saw military action against the rebellion.
Later that year, he was introduced to a cadet recruit's sister, Maria Garay, daughter of Colonel Eduardo Garay, who would become his wife three years later. They would have four children.
On July 1945, he along with twelve others from the original 124, graduated as commissioned officers. He was assigned to the artillery regiment, known as El Zapote, in the nation's capital, across from the Presidential House.
On December 14, 1948, being the commander on duty at the strategic location across the Presidential house for that day, he was enlisted to participate in a rebellion to overthrow President Salvador Castaneda Castro
. The rebellion proved successful and brought an old friend, Coronel Óscar Osorio, into a governing position in the country.
From February, 1950 to February, 1953, he was one of two Salvadorean officers to receive a scholarship from the Mexican government to attend the Escuela Superior de Guerra in Mexico City. Upon his return to El Salvador, he served in the Military Academy but eventually returned to El Zapote as the third in command. By this time, the artillery regiment had become the most elite of the armed forces in the nation.
In 1957–1958, as a delegate of the Armed Forces, he joined the entourage of President José María Lemus
in many of his official trips throughout Latin America.
In 1958, he was promoted to second in command of El Zapote. Major Arturo Armando Molina
, who later became President of the Republic (1972–1977) was his replacement as third in command.
In 1960, in large part due to the strategic position of the elite regiment across the Presidential House, he was enlisted to play a part in the overthrow of President José María Lemus. Coronel Óscar Osorio was instrumental in the planning of the overthrow. Upon the successful overthrow, Major Rosales was named one of the six-man government that took control of the country. The junta ruled from October 26, 1960 to January 25, 1961, when it was subsequently overthrown by another coup and replaced by the Directorio Civico-Militar.
Sent into exile, Rubén Alonso Rosales, ended in Mexico, where he had befriended many military officers from the Mexican Army a decade earlier, who assisted him for a few months. Returning to El Salvador at the end of 1961, he was allowed to stay in the country, but the government in power, suspecting that he was fomenting a rebellion, strongly recommended that he leave the country for his own safety. The Salvadorian government arranged for his immigration to the United States in September, 1962.
Settling in Los Angeles area, he worked for a furniture moving company until 1985, when he retired. During his time in the United States, he became one of Jehovah's Witnesses
in 1969, and served and participated in numerous functions within that organization.
He died of a heart attack on May 13, 2000 while tending his wife's garden, who had died two years earlier.
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
government that took control of El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
by peaceful coup in 1960.
Born on January 11, 1925, in the tiny village of Paraiso De Osorio, La Paz department, El Salvador, to Vicente and Maria Soriano Rosales as the third child of seven. Despite his father's effort to have his male children help in the farm, his mother, a school teacher, insisted that all their children obtain an education and made all efforts to ensure that they obtained at least a high school education, having to send all children to a larger town, Cojutepeque
Cojutepeque
Cojutepeque is the capital city of El Salvador's Cuscatlán department. It also serves as the administrative centre for the surrounding municipality of Cojutepeque...
, to achieve that. Showing interest to enter the military at the age of fifteen, his parents worked hard to enroll him into the country's military academy, despite being of little means.
On February 2, 1941, he joined the academy, as one of 124 new recruits. However, by July, his parents could no longer afford his tuition but his stay at the academy was assured when he received one of the two scholarships that were being granted to the new recruits. Also, during his first year at the academy he was befriended by Colonel Óscar Osorio
Óscar Osorio
Óscar Osorio ruled as a member of the revolutionary government Council of December 14, 1948 to September 14, 1950...
, who was the sub-director of the academy and would later be a member of the Revolutionary Council governing the country (1948–1950) and eventually President of the Republic (1950–1956).
On April 2, 1944, while on military leave working the family farm, a rebellion to overthrow President Maximiliano Hernández Martínez
Maximiliano Hernández Martínez
Maximiliano Hernández Martínez was the President of El Salvador from 1931 to 1944...
broke out, he reported to the Cojutepeque garrison for duty and was one of two cadets from the entire academy who saw military action against the rebellion.
Later that year, he was introduced to a cadet recruit's sister, Maria Garay, daughter of Colonel Eduardo Garay, who would become his wife three years later. They would have four children.
On July 1945, he along with twelve others from the original 124, graduated as commissioned officers. He was assigned to the artillery regiment, known as El Zapote, in the nation's capital, across from the Presidential House.
On December 14, 1948, being the commander on duty at the strategic location across the Presidential house for that day, he was enlisted to participate in a rebellion to overthrow President Salvador Castaneda Castro
Salvador Castaneda Castro
Salvador Castaneda Castro was President of El Salvador 1 March 1945 - 14 December 1948....
. The rebellion proved successful and brought an old friend, Coronel Óscar Osorio, into a governing position in the country.
From February, 1950 to February, 1953, he was one of two Salvadorean officers to receive a scholarship from the Mexican government to attend the Escuela Superior de Guerra in Mexico City. Upon his return to El Salvador, he served in the Military Academy but eventually returned to El Zapote as the third in command. By this time, the artillery regiment had become the most elite of the armed forces in the nation.
In 1957–1958, as a delegate of the Armed Forces, he joined the entourage of President José María Lemus
José María Lemus
José María Lemus Lopez was President of El Salvador 14 September 1956 - 26 October 1960.He was a military ruler and member of the Party of Democratic Unification. He put into law the Tenant Law, over people renting and the renters of houses or "Mesones"...
in many of his official trips throughout Latin America.
In 1958, he was promoted to second in command of El Zapote. Major Arturo Armando Molina
Arturo Armando Molina
Colonel Arturo Armando Molina is a former President of El Salvador. He served between July 1, 1972 and July 1, 1977. Molina was a member of the National Conciliation Party....
, who later became President of the Republic (1972–1977) was his replacement as third in command.
In 1960, in large part due to the strategic position of the elite regiment across the Presidential House, he was enlisted to play a part in the overthrow of President José María Lemus. Coronel Óscar Osorio was instrumental in the planning of the overthrow. Upon the successful overthrow, Major Rosales was named one of the six-man government that took control of the country. The junta ruled from October 26, 1960 to January 25, 1961, when it was subsequently overthrown by another coup and replaced by the Directorio Civico-Militar.
Sent into exile, Rubén Alonso Rosales, ended in Mexico, where he had befriended many military officers from the Mexican Army a decade earlier, who assisted him for a few months. Returning to El Salvador at the end of 1961, he was allowed to stay in the country, but the government in power, suspecting that he was fomenting a rebellion, strongly recommended that he leave the country for his own safety. The Salvadorian government arranged for his immigration to the United States in September, 1962.
Settling in Los Angeles area, he worked for a furniture moving company until 1985, when he retired. During his time in the United States, he became one of Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
in 1969, and served and participated in numerous functions within that organization.
He died of a heart attack on May 13, 2000 while tending his wife's garden, who had died two years earlier.