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More Borinqueneers history...

Borinqueneers plaque at El Morro.

Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance will be adding new historical highlights of the Borinqueneers as time moves forward.
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Tuskegee Airmen and Puerto Ricans

Puerto Ricans also served in the United States Army Air Forces. In 1944, Puerto Rican aviators were sent to the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama to train the famed 99th Fighter Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the United States armed forces. Puerto Ricans were also involved in clerical positions with the Tuskegee unit. Among the Puerto Ricans who helped make the Tuskegee experiment a successful one were T/Sgt. Pablo Diaz Albortt, an NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) in charge of the Special Service Office, and Eugene Calderon, who was assigned to the "Red Tail" unit, as the Company Clerk. By the end of the war, the Tuskegee Airmen were credited with 109 Luftwaffe aircraft shot down, a patrol boat run aground by machine-gun fire, and destruction of numerous fuel dumps, trucks and trains.

442nd Nisei (Japanese) Soldiers & 65th Infantry Regiment

Lieutenant Colonel Juan Cesar Cordero, a Puerto Rican National Guard officer, commanded the 3d Battalion in combat. The 40-year old officer was a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and Mayaguez’s College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, where he had received his Reserve Commission as a second lieutenant. His battalion had relieved the 2nd Battalion of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, a Regiment which was made up of Japanese Americans under the command of Col. Virgil R. Miller, also a native of Puerto Rico on 13 December. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was on the 65th Infantry’s right, while the 899th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, fighting as infantry, was on the left. Facing the regiment was the German 34th Infantry Division’s 107th Infantry Regiment. During the month the Puerto Ricans participated in a number of small unit engagements at Turini, Epinal-Chenimenil, and Leintray. The 3rd Battalion fought against and defeated Germany's 34th Infantry Division's
107th Infantry Regiment. There were 47 battle casualties, including Private Sergio Sanchez-Sanchez and Sergeant
Angel Martinez from the town of Sabana Grande, who became the first two Puerto Ricans to be killed in combat action from the 65th Infantry as a result of a German assault on Company "L".

"Fijar bayonetas!" ("Fix bayonets!")

The US Army commissioned this now famous painting of the Borinqueneers' bayonet assault.

The Borinqueneers are credited with the last regimental bayonet assault in US Army history. In early 1951 while fighting in Korea, two battalions of the 65th fixed bayonets and charged straight up hill toward the enemy, over running them and overtaking the enemy’s strategic position.

“The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry give daily proof on the battlefields of Korea of their courage, determination and resolute will to victory, their invincible loyalty to the United States and their fervent devotion to those immutable principles of human relations which the Americans of the Continent and of Puerto Rico have in common. They are writing a brilliant record of heroism in battle and I am indeed proud to have them under my command. I wish that we could count on many more like them.”

-General Douglas MacArthur about the Borinqueneers

Operation PORTREX

Operation PORTREX won by the 65th!

One of the pinnacle achievements of the 65th Infantry Regiment Borinqueneers was the Operation PORTEX military exercise held on the island of Vieques before the Korean War.

The Borinqueneers prevented more than 32,600 combat troops from the US Army & US Marine Corps, who were aided by Naval & Air forces, from establishing a beachhead on the island.

This victory confirmed the Borinqueneers as a potent fighting force to be reckoned with.

They were soon on their way to Korea.

Pacific Stars & Stripes:
Vaya Con Dios by Cpl. John O’Brien, April 12, 1952

"Displaying a religious fervor like the crusaders of old, the 65th (Puerto Rican) Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Division today is carrying the Maltese Cross (La Cruz de Malta) in Korea. Religion holds an important place in the Puerto Rican family. It is not neglected by the soldiers in Korea. ... Recently the mother of the Headquarters Company mess sergeant died in Puerto Rico. For three nights in the mess tent, without the services of a chaplain, the cooks knelt- their heads bowed in prayer for repose of her soul. In times of trouble, the Borinqueneers turn to God. During their attacks and patrols, they pray silently, putting complete trust in the Lord who has watched over them before. After a safe return, they thank him. The Borinqueneers are devoted to their chaplain..."

Distinguished Service Cross & Silver Star Recipient:
Private Badel Hernandez Guzman

Distinguished Service Cross Citation:
"The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Badel Hernandez-Guzman, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Private Hernandez-Guzman distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chorwon, Korea, on 1 October 1951. On that date, Private Hernandez-Guzman's company was assigned the mission of attacking a numerically superior hostile force occupying well fortified hill positions. In the opening phase of the attack, the assaulting elements were pinned down by a devastating volume of hostile automatic weapons fire. Realizing that his comrades faced annihilation in their present untenable positions, Private Hernandez-Guzman picked up a flame thrower and began to move forward. Upon locating the hostile emplacement which posed the greatest threat to his comrades, he unhesitatingly ran toward it. Crossing a wide expanse of open terrain, and completely exposed to the concentrated fire of the enemy, he made his way to within twenty yards of the machine gun position. The enemy, in desperation, converged the entire volume of their firepower on Private Hernandez-Guzman, hurling numerous grenades in an attempt to halt the single-handed assault. Undeterred by the intense hostile fire, Private Hernandez-Guzman charged the remaining twenty yards and destroyed the enemy strongpoint with the flame thrower. Through his courageous and selfless actions, the friendly force was able to renew its assault and overrun its objective. The extraordinary heroism and steadfast devotion to duty displayed by Private Hernandez-Guzman reflect the greatest credit on himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. Entered the federal service from Puerto Rico." Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 3 (January 2, 1952).
Private Hernandez Guzman also earned a Silver Star during the spring of 1952.

Newly Re-discovered!

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Newly re-discovered newspaper cartoon depicting the heroism of Borinqueneer Don Modesto Cartegena in battle before receiving his Distinguished Service Cross. He is the most decorated Puerto Rican soldier in history.

Borinqueneer Beginnings...

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Little-known Borinqueneers FACT:
During WWI, the "Porto" Rico Regiment in 1917 was sent to Panama in defense of the Panama Canal Zone. It is estimated that, while in Panama, 335 Puerto Ricans were wounded by the chemical gas experimentation which the United States conducted as part of its active chemical weapons program. The Regiment returned to Puerto Rico in 1919 and was renamed the "65th Infantry Regiment."

Pictured: BORINQUENEER BEGINNINGS. Historical pics clockwise from top left, the 1st Company of native "Porto" Ricans enlisted in the regiment in 1899; (then LT) Teófilo Marxuach ordered the first shots of WWI by the US from El Morro in 1915 & then served in the Canal Zone with the regiment; Regimental officer corps in 1906; and Camp Las Casas regimental training in 1904.

Click below links or more historical information:

65th Infantry Historia

History on 65th Infantry Lineage

History on 65th Infantry Regiment Crest

65th Infantry Great Facts

65th Infantry Galeria

Click pic to contact Congress!

Mambo on Hill 167

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“Many officers at the time thought it was the kiss of death to be assigned to the Puerto Rican Regiment. Critics called it the “seeeexty feeeeth” mockingly imitating the Spanish accent of most of the regiment’s Puerto Rican soldiers.”

“No platoon member living or dead was left behind.”

“Arriba muchachos!”

“One general called it a regiment of “colored” troops, unreliable and inferior to continental “white” soldiers.”

- from Mambo on Hill 167, a captivating story of heroism & sacrifice despite prejudice, by Bart Soto, alliance national steering committee member, author, & historian.

Follow this link to read the story & learn more about the legendary 65th Inf. Reg. Borinqueneers in our Special Hispanic Heritage Report!

Victor Rosario of MA was there! Click autographed visual to enlarge!

Borinqueneers Raul Reyes Castaniera & 3 brothers! Click visual to enlarge!

Two Silver Stars

2nd Lt. Vidal Rodriguez Amaro

Borinqueneer 2nd Lt. Vidal Rodriguez Amaro received the Silver Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (2nd Silver Star) on January 26, 1953. The citation reads as follows:
"The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting an Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Silver Star Medal to Vidal Rodriguez-Amaro (0-12034123), Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On the morning of 26 September 1952, a platoon of Company I, led by Lieutenant Rodriguez-Amaro, was assigned the mission of making contact with and locating enemy positions on a hill known as KELLY in the vicinity of Koyangdae, Korea. While leading his men to the crest of the hill, Lieutenant Rodriguez-Amaro sustained a serious leg wound when the friendly unit was subjected to intense hostile machine gun fire. Disregarding his painful wound and ignoring the heavy hostile fire, he ordered his men to fix bayonets and fearlessly continued in the attack. The foe immediately counteracted the bayonet charge by subjecting the friendly forces to an intense barrage of mortar and artillery fire. Realizing that it would be fatal to continue in the attack in the face of such devastating fire, Lieutenant Rodriguez-Amaro ordered his men to withdraw. Refusing medical aid and evacuation, he directed the withdrawal of his unit. Upon seeing a wounded soldier that was unable to participate in the retrograde, he selflessly and with complete disregard for his personal safety, carried the casualty through the shrapnel torn area towards a position of safety. During this act, he received additional wounds of a serious nature but again refused medical aid and evacuation until all friendly casualties had been removed to positions of safety. Lieutenant Rodriguez-Amaro's outstanding gallantry and inspirational leadership were highly instrumental in the unit successfully accomplishing its mission and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the military service.
Home Of Record: Puerto Rico"

Click on Heroes visual to enlarge!

Evacuation of casualty at Outpost Kelly: click to enlarge.