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Welcome to Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.2,460,485 articles in EnglishArtsBiographyGeographyHistoryMathematicsScienceSocietyTechnologyAll portalsOverview · Editing · Questions · HelpContents · Categories · Featured content · A–Z indexToday’s featured articleThe participation of Puerto Ricans in World War II as members of the United States armed forces included guarding U.S. military installations in the Caribbean and active combat participation in both the European and Pacific theatres of the war. Puerto Ricans had obtained U.S. citizenship as a result of the 1917 Jones-Shafroth Act and were expected to serve in the military. During World War II, more than 53,000 Puerto Ricans served in the U.S. military. Soldiers from the island served in either the 65th Infantry Regiment or the Puerto Rican National Guard. Those who resided in the mainland of the United States were assigned to regular units of the military. They were often subject to the racial discrimination that was widespread in the United States at the time. Puerto Rican women who served had their options restricted to nursing or administrative positions. In World War II some of the island’s men played active roles as commanders in the military. The military did not keep statistics in regard to the total number of Hispanics who served in the regular units of the Armed Forces, only of those who served in Puerto Rican units; therefore, it is impossible to determine the exact number of Puerto Ricans who served in World War II. (more…)Recently featured: Guitar Hero – FairTax – The Garden of Earthly DelightsArchive – By email – More featured articles…Did you know…From Wikipedia’s newest articles:… that the base of the main memorial (pictured) at George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, designed by Frederic Charles Hirons, has a dirt floor?… that AFL club the Fitzroy Lions’ former best and fairest winner Norm Johnstone is the grandfather of current Brisbane Lions player Travis Johnstone?… that there are nine trans-Neptunian detached objects in our Solar System?… that the first airmail of the United States was a personal letter from George Washington carried on an aerial balloon flight from Philadelphia by Jean Pierre Blanchard?… that Willem IV van den Bergh was Stadtholder of Guelders and Zutphen until being arrested in 1583 by Elbertus Leoninus for treason?… that in his 2004 book The End of Oil, Paul Roberts cautioned that the price of oil might climb to US$60 a barrel within five years, but it took only thirteen months?Archive – Start a new article…In the newsMalaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (pictured) is arrested over allegations he sodomised a male aide.The Taliban attack an outpost in Afghanistan, killing nine ISAF soldiers.The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, requests a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir in connection to the conflict in Darfur.Belgian brewer InBev agrees to buy US-based Anheuser-Busch for over 50 billion dollars; if successful, the merged firm would surpass SABMiller as the world’s largest brewing company.The International Astronomical Union classifies Makemake as a dwarf planet.Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events…On this day…July 17: Birthday of Ali in Iran (2008); Yama-boko Junkō in Kyoto, Japan; Constitution Day in South Korea1762 – Peter III was killed while in custody at Ropsha, a few days after he was deposed as Emperor of Russia and replaced by his wife Catherine II.1918 – Russian Revolution: Bolsheviks executed Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family at Ekaterinburg.1936 – Nationalist rebels attempted a coup d’état against the Second Spanish Republic, sparking the Spanish Civil War.1955 – Disneyland (Sleeping Beauty Castle pictured) in Anaheim, California, the only theme park to be designed, built, and operated by Walt Disney, opened during a televised ceremony.1998 – An international diplomatic conference in Rome organised by the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Rome Statute, establishing the International Criminal Court.More events: July 16 – July 17 – July 18Archive – By email – More anniversaries…It is now 13:54, July 17, 2008 (UTC) – Refresh this pageToday’s featured pictureThe Japanese Squirrel (Sciurus lis) is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to Japan.Photo credit: Ma2baraRecently featured: Mark Twain – Beer Street – Lower Consolation LakeArchive – More featured pictures…