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NEWS | April 13, 2016

Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment honored at U.S. Capitol

By Lt. Col. Ruth Diaz Calderon Puerto Rico National Guard

ARLINGTON, Va. - The adjutant general of Puerto Rico, Maj. Gen. Marta Carcana, accompanied by veterans of the 65th Infantry Regiment (known as "The Borinqueneers"), placed a wreath of flowers at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday.

The wreath-laying followed a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony at the Emancipation Hall of the Capitol.

The Puerto Rican veterans, who fought in World War I and II and Korean War, visited the Tomb of the Unknowns to pay tribute to their three Soldiers who rest in this cemetery.

"On behalf of all Citizen-Soldiers of the National Guard and our Borinqueneers, it is an honor to place this wreath in this tomb where we honor the memory of these three unknown Soldiers for their courage and heroism," Carcana said.

According to the Army Times, Congress created the 65th Infantry Regiment in 1898 as an all-Puerto Rican segregated unit. The men overcame bias akin to that experienced by the famed Tuskegee Airmen and proved their abilities when called upon to serve the nation in World War I, World War II and the Korean War.

During the famous Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War, the Borinqueneers fought alongside the First Marine Division, covering them through what was recognized as one of the greatest strategic withdrawals in military history, the Army Times reported.

As a unit, they earned a Presidential Unit Citation, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and two Republic of Korea Unit Citations, including personal praise from Gen. Douglas MacArthur when they were called to the front lines of the Korean War. Individuals within the regiment were also awarded the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star.

On June 10, 2014, President Obama signed the bill to award the 65th Infantry Regiment with the Congressional Gold Medal.

The Gold Medal is the highest civilian award given by Congress to the Borinqueneers (bohr-ehn-kin-EERS), for Puerto Rico's native name, Borinken.

This is the second Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Hispanics.  The first was posthumously in 1973 to Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente.

 

 

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