[1] Aviles was born José Blas Avilés in a farm near the town of Naranjito, Puerto Rico, when the island was still a Spanish colony.

[2] There he received his primary and secondary education and participated in the institution's cadet program, thus his fascination with military life at a young age.

Avilés joined the United States Navy in 1915 and served seven years and eight months, eventually reaching the rank of chief gunner's mate.

Upon the outbreak of World War II, Avilés received a war-time promotion to Chief Warrant Officer (November 27, 1944), thus becoming the first Hispanic American to reach that level as well.

The Fast Response Cutter and Engineering Building at the United States Coast Guard Station San Juan was posthumously named after CWO-2 Joseph B. Aviles Sr.