frank c brito

Frank Brito was born on August 24, 1877 in Pinos Altos. He studied at the local school and became an apprentice printer then miner.

On May 6, 1898, Frank and his brother Jose enlisted as volunteers in the ^1st American Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, known as the Rough Riders, to fight in the Spanish-American War.

They were sent to San Antonio, Texas for training and transferred to Tampa Camp in Florida.

Frank could read, write and speak in English and Spanish. As a result, he was chosen to take care of possible Spanish prisoners.

At the end of the war, Frank was sent to Wikoff camp in New York with his regiment to cure diseases such as malaria and dysentery. Frank was discharged from the army on September 15, 1898.

His brother will enlist again in the army and was reported missing in the Philippines.

Frank returned to his job as a miner and served five years in prison for killing his sister-in-law. On leaving prison, he will follow the road of the protection of the law and even became Sheriff in Las Cruces.

Re-engaged in the national guard, he was part of the expedition against Pancho Villa in Mexico in 1916.

He died on April 22, 1973, being one of the last two survivors of the Spanish-American War.