Born: 8 April 1816, Costa Rica
Died: 31 December 1890
Country most active: Costa Rica
Also known as: Francisca Carrasco Jiménez
Born in 1816, Francisca Carrasco Jiménez, better known as Pancha Carrasco, etched her name in Costa Rican history as the nation’s first woman in the military. Despite initially volunteering as a cook and medic during the 1856 Filibuster War, Carrasco’s unwavering courage propelled her to the front lines. Armed with a rifle and pockets full of bullets, she joined the defense at the Battle of Rivas, forever altering the trajectory of her life and becoming a symbol of national pride.
Her defiance against the invading forces resonated beyond the battlefield. Carrasco’s image graced a Costa Rican postage stamp in 1984, and her legacy further thrived through the Pancha Carrasco Police Women’s Excellence Award, honoring exceptional female officers. Even the former U.S. Coast Guard cutter Point Bridge received a new name – Pancha Carrasco – upon its transfer to Costa Rica in 2001, solidifying her enduring presence in the national consciousness.