Carmen Contreras-Bozak

Tech4 Carmen Contreras Bozak (December 31, 1919 – January 30, 2017) was the first Puerto Rican woman

Early years Carmen Contreras Bozak (birth name: Carmen Contreras Torres) was the oldest of three siblings born and raised in the town of Cayey, Puerto Rico, located in the central mountains of the island. In Cayey, she received her primary education.

Her parents divorced and her mother, Lila Baudilia Lugo Torres, moved the family to New York City. In New York, Bozak attended Julia Richman High School and after she graduated, she went to work for the National Youth Administration. Bozak worked for the War Department in Washington, D.C. as a payroll clerk after taking and passing a Civil Service test.

In 2019, she was posthumously inducted into the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.

Awards and decorations Among her military decorations were the following:

Army Good Conduct MedalWomen's Army Corps Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service starsWorld War II Victory Medal