No other time of year is more appropriate than during Hispanic Heritage Month to reclaim recognition of the Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment, the only all-Hispanic unit in the history of the U.S. Army, better known as “The Borinqueneers.”

The war courageous stories and sacrifices of tens of thousands of young Puerto Ricans enlisted to fight in World War I, World War II and the Korean War has been compiled and remarkably told in an award-winning film that premiered nationally in 2007. It is still being screened all across the country and abroad.

“Our goal is not only to share this untold story of Puerto Ricans soldiers’ courage and patriotism but also to obtain proper Congressional recognition of their actions. We are asking Congress to award the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, with the Congressional Gold Medal,” said Noemi Figueroa Soulet, producer, director and writer of the film.

The untold story of  The Borinqueneers

Through interviews of members of the regiment that are still alive –most of them now in their eighties and nineties–, testimonies of former military officers and historians’ recounting, the documentary provides an objective unfolding of the facts while capturing the vivid memories of the veterans.

“I have never talked to anyone about these memories,” said Vet. Ervin Machado, resident of Perth Amboy, NJ. “Not even to my family,” he shared with VOXXI as the recollections unfold in an emotional description of the events.

Machado was enlisted in 1951, right out of high school, and spent nine months in the Korean War.

“It was rainy and cold when we got there. After we were taken to the camp, we were assigned to different platoons. My mission was to recognize the field and determine the position of the enemy. Then we would go back to the trenches. The water would come down on the trenches sides, but we had to stay in to avoid the fire of the enemy,” Machado recalls.

The Borinqueneers were famous for their combative spirit and fearless actions, earning praise from General MacArthur at the time.

“Once the missions were assigned, yes, you would feel fear… I was a kid… but then, on the field, the fear will disappear, and we did what we had to do,” Machado said. “Another division within the army called ‘the Greek’ used to say, ‘If the Borinqueneers go, we’ll go,’ because they trusted that we would never let them down.”

A change of events

In the fall of 1952, the regiment felt in a chaotic turn of events, when dozens of Borinqueneers abandoned their positions. The truth of discrimination, segregated treatment and unjustified exposure to danger came out publicly during the largest court martial of the war. Almost one hundred men were court martialed.

“The Borinqueneers were an elite unit that made its mark particularly in the Korean War and represented the pride and fighting spirit of Puerto Ricans,” said Figueroa Soulet. “In a military culture that often discriminated against them, they found strength in their common cultural roots and language.”

Figueroa Soulet recognizes that as a Puerto Rican, she had little knowledge of the 65th regiment existence until she came across with films such as Saving Private Ryan and others that vividly portrayed the horrors of the war. “Latinos were ‘missing in action’, but I knew there had to be untold stories,” she said to VOXXI.

“Despite their limitations as restricted citizens of the United States –residents of the island cannot elect the President of the United States, their Commander-in-Chief–, the regiment served with extreme patriotism. To this day, their sacrifices have had little recognition,” she said.

 

Bonrinqueneers CGM Alliance

The Bonrinqueneers CGM Alliance, a group or individuals and organizations sponsored by the 65th Infantry Veterans Association of Puerto Rico, requested from Congress the recognition of the prominent role the regiment played during three international conflicts.

The unit participated in nine major campaigns, earned numerous commendations and medals including ten Distinguished Service Crosses, 258 Silver Stars, 628 Bronze Stars and over 2700 Purple Hearts.

“Other minority veterans that served in segregated units have been awarded with the Congress Gold Medal,” said Figueroa Soulet. Legislative bills requesting the recognition to their sacrifices have been presented in both houses by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT) and Pedro Perluisi (PR). We just need to obtain the necessary co-sponsorchips by our politicians,” the director explained.

The film has been presented in many occasions and even was transmitted for five years on the Armed Forces Network for soldiers in combat. Now is time that the American people, through their Congress, give well-deserved recognition to this group of war heroes.

 

 

The Borinqueneers: The real story of Puerto Rican war heroes originally published at VOXXI.