Hello everybody, welcome to this week post. Well as
you know I’m from Puerto Rico and today I want to talk about one of the highest
contribution that Puerto Rico gave to the U.S. Army. First, lot of people don’t
understand the political situation of this island, sometime people think that
we aren’t part of the United States, other say that we are part of U.S. and
here begin the debate. The true is that we are a rare political situation, but
in short words we are an island that works under the laws and the supervision
of U.S. Yes, we are U.S. citizens and we are part of the U.S. Army too. So
today I want show you a good example of the “puertorrican” soldiers and the
best form of show that are with the 65th Infantry Regiment, the
“Borinqueneers”.
The Borinqueneers was a U.S. Army Infantry Regiment
that has its beginning in 1899 in the American Colonial Army with the name of
Porto Rico Regiment, U.S. Volunteer. The name changed constantly, but in 1908
the Regiment became be part of the U.S. Army. In 1917 with the Jones-Shafroth
law the U.S. gave citizenship to Puerto Rico and with the declaration of war on
Germany, Porto Rico Regiment was sent to Panama Canal until 1919. In 1920 was
re-designated as 65th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army. In 1944 (WWII)
the Borinqueneers was deployed to North Africa, Italy, Corsica, France, and the
Maritime Alps of Peira Cava, they had 47 casualties. In 1950 the Regiment was
assigned to serve with the 3rd Infantry Division in Korea war. In
this war, the Borinqueneers converted in the last battalion- sized bayonet
charge in the U.S. Army History. Also they fought in the bloody fighting for
Hill 167, outpost Kelly and outpost Jackson Heights. This is the most recognized war participation
of the Borinqueneers where they had 750 killed and 2,400 wounded in action,
making this war the bloodiest war in Puerto Rico history. The Regiment was
inactivated in 1956 at Camp Losey, Puerto Rico. In 1959 the 65th Infantry was
transferred to the Puerto Rico National Guard as the only unit from active-duty
transferred to the National Guard or Reserve and still serves. Last year the 65th
Infantry received the Congressional Gold Medal with the signs of President
Obama.
This great
unit had good soldiers too, that fought in different fields and battles. The
most decorated Puerto Rico soldier, Sergeant First Class (SFC) Modesto
Cartagena served in the World War II (WWII) and Korea with this unit. Some of the awards are: Distinguish Service
Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with leaf cluster and “V”
device, and Purple Heart. This fact shows us that Puerto Rico soldiers are good
elements on the field and garrison. The cadets of the University of Puerto Rico
at Cayey ROTC program are very proud and we recognize the SFC Cartagena
glorious military life and his awards. He is a role model of soldier that we
should be and develop in the U.S. Army. Thank you to all veterans of this great
battalion, you made the difference!
65th Infantry History (2014).
Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance. April 8, 2015, complied from: http://www.borinqueneers.org/census.html#sthash.lcyW9N4o.dpbs
The Borinqueneers: 65th Infantry
Regiment(2013). Daniel Ramos, Military
History Online. April 7, 2015, complied from: http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/general/articles/Borinqueneers.aspx
No comments:
Post a Comment