On this Veterans Day I would like to highlight the 65th Infantry Regiment of the US Army, nicknamed the “Borinqueneers. The Borinqueneers was the only Puerto Rican-segregated active-duty unit ever in the U.S. Armed Forces that played a prominent role in three U.S. wars (WW1, WW2 & Korea). The most prominent military achievements of the 65th Infantry Regiment came during the Korean War where the unit participated in nine major campaigns and earned two Presidential Unit Citations, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and two Republic of Korea Unit Citations. More than 3,000 65th Infantry soldiers were wounded, and more than 700 were killed. Individual members have earned 10 Distinguished Service Crosses, 258 Silver Stars, 628 Bronze Stars, and more than 2,700 Purple Hearts. Puerto Rico became a U.S. Territory after the 1898 Treaty of Paris which ended the Spanish-American War. Many non-Puerto Rican Hispanics served in the 65th Infantry during the war. Among those who distinguished themselves in combat and who served in the conflict as a member of the 65th Infantry was a young first lieutenant of Mexican-American descent whose name is Richard Edward Cavazos. Cavazos entered the military in Texas and served as Company Commander of Company E of the 2d Battalion. Cavazos, who in 1982, became the first Hispanic to become a four-star general in the United States Army, was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star Medal and the Bronze Star Medal. I fully support the ongoing efforts to recognize the 65th Infantry Regiment, the “Borinqueneers,” with the Congressional Gold Medal.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 19:00:26 +0000
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