[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 75 (Monday, May 19, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H4440-H4444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AWARDING CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO THE 65TH INFANTRY REGIMENT
Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 1726) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to
the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1726
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) In 1898, the United States acquired Puerto Rico in the
Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American War and, by
the following year, Congress had authorized raising a unit of
volunteer soldiers in the newly acquired territory.
(2) In May 1917, two months after legislation granting
United States citizenship to individuals born in Puerto Rico
was signed into law, and one month after the United States
entered World War I, the unit was transferred to the Panama
Canal Zone in part because United States Army policy at the
time restricted most segregated units to noncombat roles,
even though the regiment could have contributed to the
fighting effort.
(3) In June 1920, the unit was re-designated as the ``65th
Infantry Regiment, United States Army'', and served as the
United States military's last segregated unit composed
primarily of Hispanic soldiers.
(4) In January 1943, 13 months after the attack on Pearl
Harbor that marked the entry of the United States into World
War II, the Regiment again deployed to the Panama Canal Zone
before deploying overseas in the spring of 1944.
(5) Despite relatively limited combat service in World War
II, the Regiment suffered casualties in the course of
defending against enemy attacks, with individual soldiers
earning one Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars,
two Bronze Stars and 90 Purple Hearts. The Regiment received
campaign participation credit for Rome-Arno, Rhineland,
Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.
(6) Although an executive order issued by President Harry
S. Truman in July 1948 declared it to be United States policy
to ensure equality of treatment and opportunity for all
persons in the armed services without respect to race or
color, implementation of this policy had yet to be fully
realized when armed conflict broke out on the Korean
Peninsula in June 1950, and both African-American soldiers
and Puerto Rican soldiers served in segregated units.
(7) Brigadier General William W. Harris, who served as the
Regiment's commander during the early stages of the Korean
War, later recalled that he had initially been reluctant to
take the position because of ``prejudice'' within the
military and ``the feeling of the officers and even the brass
of the Pentagon . . . that the Puerto Rican wouldn't make a
good combat soldier. . . I know my contemporaries felt that
way and, in all honesty, I must admit that at the time I had
the same feeling . . . that the Puerto Rican was a rum and
Coca-Cola soldier.''.
(8) One of the first opportunities the Regiment had to
prove its combat worthiness arose on the eve of the Korean
War during Operation PORTREX, one of the largest military
exercises that had been conducted up until that point, where
the Regiment distinguished itself by repelling an offensive
consisting of over 32,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne
Division and the United States Marine Corps, supported by the
Navy and Air Force, thereby demonstrating that the Regiment
could hold its own against some of the best-trained forces in
the United States military.
(9) In August 1950, with the United States Army's situation
in Korea deteriorating, the Department of the Army's
headquarters decided to bolster the 3rd Infantry Division
and, owing in part to the 65th Infantry Regiment's
outstanding performance during Operation PORTREX, it was
among the units selected for the combat assignment. The
decision to send the Regiment to Korea and attach it to the
3rd Infantry Division was a landmark change in the United
States military's racial and ethnic policy.
(10) As the Regiment sailed to Asia in September 1950,
members of the unit informally decided to call themselves the
``Borinqueneers'', a term derived from the Taino word for
Puerto Rico meaning ``land of the brave lord''.
(11) The story of the 65th Infantry Regiment during the
Korean War has been aptly described as ``one of pride,
courage, heartbreak, and redemption''.
(12) Fighting as a segregated unit from 1950 to 1952, the
Regiment participated in some of the fiercest battles of the
war, and its toughness, courage and loyalty earned the
admiration of many who had previously harbored reservations
about Puerto Rican soldiers based on lack of previous
fighting experience and negative stereotypes, including
Brigadier General Harris, whose experience eventually led him
to regard the Regiment as ``the best damn soldiers that I had
ever seen''.
(13) After disembarking at Pusan, South Korea in September
1950, the Regiment blocked the escape routes of retreating
North Korean units and overcame pockets of resistance. The
most significant battle took place near Yongam-ni in October
when the Regiment routed a force of 400 enemy troops. By the
end of the month, the Regiment had taken 921 prisoners while
killing or wounding more than 600 enemy soldiers. Its success
led General Douglas MacArthur, Commander-in-Chief of the
United Nations Command in Korea, to observe that the Regiment
was ``showing magnificent ability and courage in field
operations''.
(14) The Regiment landed on the eastern coast of North
Korea in early November 1950. In December 1950, following
China's intervention in the war, the Regiment engaged in a
series of fierce battles to cover the rear guard of the 1st
Marine Division during the fighting retreat from the Chosin
Reservoir to the enclave at Hungnam, North Korea, one of the
greatest withdrawals in modern military history.
(15) When General MacArthur ordered the evacuation of
Hungnam in mid-December, the Regiment was instrumental in
securing the port, and was among the last units--if not the
last unit--to depart the beachhead on Christmas Eve,
suffering significant casualties in the process. Under the
Regiment's protection, 105,000 troops and 100,000 refugees
were evacuated, along with 350,000 tons of supplies and
17,500 military vehicles.
(16) The brutal winter conditions during the campaign
presented significant hardships for soldiers in the Regiment,
who lacked appropriate gear to fight in sub-zero
temperatures.
(17) Between January and March 1951, the Regiment
participated in numerous operations to recover and retain
South Korean territory lost to the enemy, assaulting heavily
fortified enemy positions and conducting the last recorded
battalion-sized bayonet assault in United States Army
history.
(18) On January 31, 1951, the commander of Eighth Army,
Lieutenant General Matthew B. Ridgway, wrote to the
Regiment's commander: ``What I saw and heard of your regiment
reflects great credit on you, your regiment, and the people
of Puerto Rico, who can be proud of their valiant sons. I am
confident that their battle records and training levels will
win them high honors. . . . Their conduct in battle has
served only to increase the high regard in which I hold these
fine troops.''.
(19) On February 3, 1951, General MacArthur wrote: ``The
Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry
on the battlefields of Korea by valor, determination, and a
resolute will to victory give daily testament to their
invincible loyalty to the United States and the fervor of
their devotion to those immutable standards of human
relations to which the Americans and Puerto Ricans are in
common dedicated. They are writing a brilliant record of
achievement in battle and I am proud indeed to have them in
this command. I wish that we might have many more like
them.''.
(20) The Regiment played a central role in the United
States military's counteroffensive responding to a major push
by the Chinese Communist Forces (CFF) in 1951, winning praise
for its superb performance in multiple battles, including
Operations KILLER and RIPPER, as well as for its actions on
February 14th, when the Regiment inflicted nearly 1,000 enemy
casualties at a cost of
[[Page H4441]]
only one killed and six wounded, almost singlehandedly
annihilating a North Korean infantry regiment that had
infiltrated the defenses of the 3rd Infantry Division's
headquarters.
(21) By 1952, senior United States commanders ordered that
replacement soldiers from Puerto Rico would no longer be
limited to service in the Regiment, but could be made
available to fill personnel shortages in non-segregated units
both inside and outside the 3rd Infantry Division. This was a
major milestone in United States Army policy that,
paradoxically, harmed the Regiment by depriving it of some of
Puerto Rico's most able soldiers.
(22) Beyond the many hardships endured by most American
soldiers in Korea, the Regiment faced unique challenges
arising from discrimination and prejudice.
(23) In 1953, the now fully integrated Regiment earned
admiration for its relentless defense of Outpost Harry,
during which it confronted multiple company-size probes,
full-scale regimental attacks, and heavy artillery and mortar
fire from Chinese forces, earning one Distinguished Service
Cross, 14 Silver Stars, 23 Bronze Stars, and 67 Purple
Hearts, in operations that Major General Eugene W. Ridings
described as ``highly successful in that the enemy was denied
the use of one of his best routes of approach into the
friendly position''. The recipient of the Distinguished
Service Cross was then-First Lieutenant Richard E. Cavazos, a
Mexican-American, who went on to become the first Latino to
rise to the rank of four-star general in the United States
Army.
(24) For its extraordinary service during the Korean War,
the Regiment received two Presidential Unit Citations (Army
and Navy), two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations,
a Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), a Navy Unit
Commendation, the Bravery Gold Medal of Greece, and campaign
participation credits for United Nations Offensive, CCF
Intervention, First United Nations Counteroffensive, CCF
Spring Offensive, United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive,
Second Korean Winter, Korea Summer-Fall 1952, Third Korean
Winter, and Korea Summer 1953.
(25) In Korea, soldiers in the Regiment earned a total of
nine Distinguished Service Crosses, approximately 250 Silver
Stars, over 600 Bronze Stars, more than 2,700 Purple Hearts.
On March 18, 2014, Master Sergeant Juan E. Negron Martinez
received the Medal of Honor, the Nation's highest award for
military valor, for actions taken on April 28, 1951 near
Kalma-Eri, Korea.
(26) In all, some 61,000 Puerto Ricans served in the United
States Army during the Korean War, the bulk of them with the
65th Infantry Regiment--and over the course of the war,
Puerto Rican soldiers suffered a disproportionately high
casualty rate, with over 740 killed and over 2,300 wounded.
(27) In April 1956, as part of the reduction in forces
following the Korean War, the 65th Infantry Regiment was
deactivated from the regular Army and, in February 1959,
became the only regular Army unit to have ever been
transferred to the National Guard, when its 1st battalion and
its regimental number were assigned to the Puerto Rico
National Guard, where it has remained ever since.
(28) In 1982, the United States Army Center of Military
History officially authorized granting the 65th Infantry
Regiment the special designation of ``Borinqueneers''.
(29) In the years since the Korean War, the achievements of
the Regiment have been recognized in various ways,
including--
(A) the naming of streets in honor of the Regiment in San
Juan, Puerto Rico and The Bronx, New York;
(B) the erecting of monuments and plaques to honor the
Regiment at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington,
Virginia; the San Juan National Historic Site in San Juan,
Puerto Rico; Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver,
Colorado; and at sites in Boston, Massachusetts; Worcester,
Massachusetts; Buffalo, New York; and Ocala, Florida;
(C) the renaming of a park in Buenaventura Lake, Florida as
the ``65th Infantry Veterans Park'';
(D) the dedication of land for a park and monument to honor
the Regiment in New Britain, Connecticut;
(E) the adoption or introduction of resolutions or
proclamations honoring the Regiment by many state and
municipal governments, including in the states and
territories of California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New
York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and
Texas; and
(F) the issuance by the United States Postal Service of a
Korean War commemorative stamp depicting soldiers from the
Regiment.
(30) In a speech delivered on September 20, 2000, at a
ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery in honor of the
Regiment, Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera said: ``Even as
the 65th struggled against all deadly enemies in the field,
they were fighting a rearguard action against a more
insidious adversary--the cumulative effects of ill-conceived
military policies, leadership shortcomings, and especially
racial and organizational prejudices, all exacerbated by
America's unpreparedness for war and the growing pains of an
Army forced by law and circumstance to carry out racial
integration. Together these factors would take their
inevitable toll on the 65th, leaving scars that have yet to
heal for so many of the Regiment's proud and courageous
soldiers.''.
(31) Secretary Caldera further stated: ``To the veterans of
the 65th Infantry Regiment who, in that far off land fifty
years ago, fought with rare courage even as you endured
misfortune and injustice, thank you for doing your duty.
There can be no greater praise than that for any soldier of
the United States Army.''.
(32) Secretary Caldera also noted that ``[t]he men of the
65th who served in Korea are a significant part of a proud
tradition of service'' that includes the Japanese American
442nd Regimental Combat Team, the African American Tuskegee
Airmen, and ``many other unsung minority units throughout the
history of our armed forces whose stories have never been
fully told''.
(33) The service of the men of the 65th Infantry Regiment
is emblematic of the contributions to the armed forces that
have been made by hundreds of thousands of brave and
patriotic United States citizens from Puerto Rico over
generations, from World War I to the most recent conflicts in
Afghanistan and Iraq, and in other overseas contingency
operations.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate
shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf
of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design
in honor of the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the
Borinqueneers, in recognition of its pioneering military
service, devotion to duty, and many acts of valor in the face
of adversity.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury
(hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'')
shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices,
and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in
honor of the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the
Borinqueneers, the gold medal shall be given to the
Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be available for
display as appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of the congress.--It is the sense of the Congress
that the Smithsonian Institution shall make the gold medal
received under this Act available for display elsewhere,
particularly at other appropriate locations associated with
the 65th Infantry Regiment, including locations in Puerto
Rico.
SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the
Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the
gold medal struck under section 2, at a price sufficient to
cover the costs of the medals, including labor, materials,
dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.
Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for
purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
Capuano) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R.
1726, as amended, currently under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1726, a bill to award a
Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the
Borinqueneers, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey).
The bill authorizes the minting and award of a single gold medal in
honor of this brave regiment. The medal would be given to the
Smithsonian Institution, where it would be available for display or
loan, as appropriate.
Mr. Speaker, in 1898, the United States acquired Puerto Rico in the
Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American war. The following
year, Congress had authorized raising a unit of volunteer soldiers in
the newly-acquired territory.
In May 1917, 2 months after President Woodrow Wilson signed into law
legislation granting United States citizenship to all individuals born
in Puerto Rico and 1 month after the United States entered World War I,
the unit was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone.
United States Army policy at the time restricted most segregated
units
[[Page H4442]]
to noncombat roles, although this regiment was otherwise combat-ready
and could have contributed to the fighting effort.
In June of 1920, the unit was redesignated as the 65th Infantry
Regiment, United States Army. It would serve as the United States
military's last segregated unit composed of Hispanic soldiers.
In January of 1943, 13 months after the attack on Pearl Harbor that
sparked the entry of the United States into World War II, the regiment
again was deployed to the Panama Canal Zone, before being deployed
overseas in the spring of 1944.
Despite the regiment's relatively limited combat service in World War
II, the unit suffered casualties in the course of defending the Pacific
and Atlantic sides of the isthmus against enemy attacks.
Individual soldiers earned one Distinguished Service Cross, two
Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, and 90 Purple Hearts; and the unit
received campaign participation credit for its service in the Rome-
Arno, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe theaters.
The story of the 65th Infantry Regiment during the Korean war has
been aptly described as ``one of pride, courage, heartbreak, and
redemption.''
Arriving in Pusan, South Korea, in September 1950, the regiment was
assigned the mission of destroying or capturing small groups of North
Korean soldiers. Its success led General Douglas MacArthur, commander
in chief of the United Nations Command in Korea, to observe the
regiment was ``showing magnificent ability and courage in the field of
operations.''
Fighting as a segregated unit from 1950 until 1952, the regiment
participated in some of the fiercest battles of the war. Its toughness,
courage, and loyalty earned admiration of many who had even previously
harbored reservations.
Mr. Speaker, the service of the men of the 65th Infantry Regiment is
emblematic of the contributions to the Armed Forces that have been made
by hundreds of thousands of brave and patriotic United States citizens
from Puerto Rico, over generations, from World War I to the most recent
conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq and in many other overseas
operations.
This honor is richly deserved. The bill has 301 cosponsors in the
House, and a companion bill introduced by Senator Blumenthal in the
Senate has 63 cosponsors.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for immediate passage of this important
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Pierluisi). As everyone knows,
Puerto Rico has a Resident Commissioner here. He has the luxury of a 4-
year term. We all envy that.
At the same time, it is an important position to have and a position
that we should listen to.
Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1726, a
bill that would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the United States
Army's 65th Infantry Regiment in recognition of its pioneering military
service, devotion to duty, and many acts of valor in the face of
adversity.
The regiment was composed largely of soldiers from the U.S. territory
of Puerto Rico; and members of the unit are called the Borinqueneers,
which is derived from the Taino word for Puerto Rico, meaning the
``land of the brave lord.''
Since the term was first used over 60 years ago, coined by members of
the regiment on their way to Korea, it has become synonymous with
honor, courage, redemption, and pride.
I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to Mr. Posey of Florida.
Working with him on a bipartisan basis to move this bill forward has
been a pleasure. I know that Congressman Posey, like me, feels a
profound sense of responsibility to these veterans and their families.
The surviving members of the regiment are in the twilight of their
lives, and so we hope our colleagues in the House and in the Senate,
acting on behalf of a grateful Nation, will see fit to honor the
Borinqueneers while these humble heroes still walk among us.
{time} 1615
Mr. Speaker, we are honored that the oldest living Borinqueneer, Don
Leonardo Martinez, who is 96 years young, is here with us today.
Of course Congressman Posey and I are not on this mission alone. We
are working shoulder to shoulder with an army of individuals and
organizations from Puerto Rico and the States. These advocates have
been inspired by the legacy of the regiment and are mindful of its
special contribution to the tapestry of American life. Their campaign
on behalf of the Borinqueneers has been exceptional. I want to publicly
thank each and every one of them because they are the heart and soul of
this movement. I must highlight, in particular, the tireless efforts of
the Borinqueneer Congressional Gold Medal Alliance, led by National
Chairman Frank Medina.
To place the achievements of the regiment in context, it is important
to understand that for generations--from World War I, almost a century
ago, to Afghanistan today--American citizens from Puerto Rico have
built and maintained a rich record of military service.
If you visit any U.S. military installation, you will see men and
women from Puerto Rico fighting to keep this Nation safe, strong, and
free. They may speak English with an accent, like I do, but they are
just as devoted to this country as their fellow soldiers, sailors,
airmen, and marines from the States. If you need proof, there is a
frame on my office wall containing photographs of the servicemembers
from Puerto Rico that have fallen since 9/11--row after row of young
faces, sometimes smiling and sometimes stern, usually posing in their
dress uniforms against the backdrop of the American flag.
In a book he wrote about Puerto Rico, former Attorney General Dick
Thornburgh observed that:
Historically, Puerto Rico has ranked alongside the top five
States in terms of per capita military service.
In the forward to that book, former President George H.W. Bush noted:
This patriotic service and sacrifice of Americans from
Puerto Rico touched me all the more deeply for the very fact
they have served with such devotion, even while denied a vote
for the President and Members of Congress who determine when,
where, and how they are asked to defend our freedoms.
No unit better epitomizes Puerto Rico's distinguished tradition of
military service than the 65th Infantry Regiment, which was constituted
just after World War I, participated in an honorable--albeit limited--
fashion during World War II, and came into its own during the Korean
war, earning admiration for its outstanding combat performance.
Like society more generally, the U.S. military in the 1950s was
different than it is today, and attitudes toward ethnic minorities
could be harsh. The men of the regiment not only had to fight the enemy
on the battlefield, which they did with bravery and skill, but they
also had to overcome negative stereotypes held by some of their
commanders and comrades. For example, then-Colonel William Harris, who
commanded the regiment during the early stages of the Korean war, later
recalled that he had been reluctant to assume command of the unit
because of prejudice within the military but that his experience
eventually led him to regard the Borinqueneers as ``the best damn
soldiers that I had ever seen.''
Such sentiments would be expressed by many others who witnessed the
regiment in action, including General Douglas MacArthur, who wrote the
following in 1951:
The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th
Infantry on the battlefields of Korea . . . give daily
testament to their invincible loyalty to the United States .
. . They are writing a brilliant record of achievement in
battle; and I am proud, indeed, to have them in this command.
I wish that we might have many more like them.
The experience of the Borinqueneers during the Korean war was perhaps
best encapsulated in September 2000, at a ceremony held at Arlington
National Cemetery in honor of the regiment, by secretary of the Army
Louis Caldera, who observed that the Borinqueneers ``fought with rare
courage even as they endured misfortune and injustice.''
The Borinqueneers earned many unit-level awards for their service in
Korea, including two Presidential Unit Citations. Soldiers in the
regiment earned many individual awards, including nine Distinguished
Service Crosses, about 250 Silver Stars, over 600 Bronze Stars, and
more than 2,700 Purple Hearts.
[[Page H4443]]
In March of this year, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor--
the military's highest individual award for bravery--to four deceased
American soldiers from Puerto Rico, including Master Sergeant Juan
Negron, who became the first Borinqueneer to be accorded this honor.
Moreover, in recent years, the achievements of the regiment have been
recognized in many ways. A multitude of State legislatures have
approved resolutions in their honor, while numerous parks, streets, and
monuments bear the regiment's name. I hope Congress will pay tribute to
the Borinqueneers by conferring upon them the Congressional Gold Medal.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I now yield such time as he
may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey), the sponsor of
this great legislation.
Mr. POSEY. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be joined here today by my colleague,
Resident Commissioner Pierluisi, whom you just heard from, in support
of our bill, H.R. 1726, to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Puerto
Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers.
During the darkest days of the Korean war, the Borinqueneers, an
ethnically segregated unit, served with singular distinction during a
multitude of major and minor combat engagements. During the now famous
Battle of Chosin Reservoir, the regiment fought alongside the 1st
Marine Division, covering them through what is recognized as one of the
greatest strategic withdrawals in military history. The regiment was
known for its fierceness in the face of the enemy and demonstrated
their exceptional courage by launching the last recorded battalion-size
bayonet charge in U.S. military history.
For its service, the regiment was singled out for special recognition
by General Douglas MacArthur, who declared:
I am proud, indeed, to have them in this command. I wish
that we might have many more like them.
Last month, Borinqueneer Master Sergeant Juan Negron was awarded the
Medal of Honor, our Nation's highest military honor for heroic actions
``above and beyond the call of duty.'' His actions reflect the fighting
spirit, sense of duty, and dedication of the entire regiment.
The Borinqueneers are part of a proud tradition of distinguished
American soldiers that include the Tuskegee Airmen, Montford Point
Marines, Navajo Code Talkers, and the Japanese American Nisei
regiments, all of whom have already received the Congressional Gold
Medal.
I would also like to recognize the grassroots efforts of the
Borinqueneer Congressional Gold Medal Alliance and their national
chair, Frank Medina. For many of their members, this bill was their
first time ever contacting a Member of Congress. Congratulations. We
would not be here today if it were not for the tireless efforts of
literally hundreds of people in the Borinqueneer community.
I would also like to thank Rob Medina of my Florida office, who first
brought this issue to my attention, and Robert Carter, my legislative
counsel, who has advanced this legislation as a member of my staff.
I rise in full support of the Borinqueneers and urge all of my
colleagues to join us to ensure that these American soldiers are
recognized for their exceptional, their courageous, and their selfless
service to our Nation. And I call upon the Senate to take prompt action
to pass this bill and allow us to declare, ``Mission accomplished.''
Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), with whom I agree on almost
everything, with the sole exception of his favorite baseball team,
which, of course, should be the Red Sox, but maybe someday it will be.
Mr. SERRANO. I thank the gentleman for the time and the kind comments
about my favorite team. I thank the majority party for the opportunity
to bring this bill to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, this is a very, very special and emotional day on the
island of Puerto Rico and throughout the Puerto Rican community in the
United States. This is a tribute long, long, long overdue. If you know
the history of our country--and we all do--you know that many groups
have been treated unfairly, and many have been treated unfairly during
wartime, which is so unfair.
Let me read to you something that I found that is very interesting:
The regiment faced unique challenges due to discrimination
and prejudice, including the humiliation of being ordered to
shave their moustaches ``until such a time as they gave proof
of their manhood,'' being forced to use separate showering
facilities from their non-Hispanic officers, being ordered
not to speak Spanish under penalty of court-martial, flawed
personal rotation policies based on ethnic and organizational
prejudices, and a catastrophic shortage of trained
noncommissioned officers.
Yet most of them were volunteers, if not all. Yet they fought with
great valor. Yet they knew that they were very much a part of this
Nation.
So today, in awarding this Congressional Gold Medal, we are not just
repairing a mistake of the past, but we are also paying tribute to
ourselves as a nation. Our Nation is great in many ways. And one of the
things that makes this Nation great is that we have made mistakes in
the past, but every so often we look back and try to correct them.
Under House rules, we are not allowed to point people out in the
gallery; but it is important to note that to my right, there are
members of the Borinqueneers, as the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr.
Pierluisi) said, including one who is 96 years old and is still here
with us. God bless him.
And these folks bring so much glory to our community. I remember
growing up in New York, where I grew up. I came at the age of 6. My
parents--my uncles, my father, who had all served in the military,
would speak about the 65th Infantry Regiment, 65 de Infanteria, as
something so special. It was a moment of glory on Saturday afternoons
during a few drinks and a good roast pork or something and rice and
beans to discuss a lot of the achievements in music and sports, but
also the achievements of the 65th Infantry were always a part of that
conversation because they had endured so much, not to mention the
fact--and this may sound funny, but remember, they came from a tropical
island and went on to suffer some of the most severe cold weather you
could on the battlefields with less equipment, I am told and history
books will show, than other soldiers. So, you see, today we honor them.
But today we honor ourselves. We here, in a bipartisan fashion, agree
on one thing all the time, and that is, whether you agree on military
action or not, when they come home, they should be taken care of
properly, and when they are on the battlefield, they be treated
equally.
Those days have passed. The Borinqueneers were the last segregated
unit in this country. We no longer have that, thank God. We now fight
as one nation, indivisible, undivided under God.
So I thank both sides, and I thank especially my brother from Puerto
Rico (Mr. Pierluisi) for this initiative and Mr. Medina, who have
crossed the country.
I will tell you how important this is. The National Puerto Rican
Parade, which is being held this year on June 8, which is the largest
ethnic parade of its kind in the U.S., has made this one of its top
three priorities, the awarding of this medal. Little do they know that
we beat them to the punch. And while they will be asking for the medal
to be passed, hopefully by 6:30, 7 o'clock tonight, we will have passed
it in the House, and it will be worked on in the Senate, which I don't
think will be very difficult to do.
As one who had a very simple military career in the Army--where did
they send a Puerto Rican? They sent me to Alaska. Luckily, I grew up in
New York, so I was able to adapt to that cold.
But this is a wonderful day, a glorious day. And without pointing to
them in the gallery, we thank the Borinqueneers for their service and
for their patriotism to this country and for honoring Puerto Rico the
way they have.
{time} 1630
Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close and
reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H4444]]
Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield as much time as she
may consume to the gentlelady from New York (Ms. Velazquez), with whom
I had the honor of serving on the Financial Services Committee.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1726,
which will pay tribute to the many patriotic Puerto Ricans who have
served in the 65th Regiment throughout our Nation's conflicts. I am
very proud today to serve in this body and of the fact that we are
having this vote in a bipartisan manner. It is not every day that we
have the pleasure of bringing bipartisan legislation to the floor.
I want to recognize Mr. Pierluisi, the Commissioner from Puerto Rico,
as well as Frank Medina and the countless individuals and organizations
throughout our Nation and Puerto Rico, for trying to get this
recognition to the floor and to the Senate.
Puerto Ricans have a rich heritage of serving in the military. From
the American Revolution, when Puerto Ricans volunteered to fight the
British, to current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, Puerto Ricans
have fought and bled to defend the United States. The 65th Regiment, in
particular, has time and again exemplified the courage of Puerto Rican
soldiers. During World War II, these soldiers were initially deployed
to protect the Panama Canal before later shipping to Europe. There,
members of the unit would earn scores of medals, including Purple
Hearts, the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars and Bronze
Stars.
In the Korean war, the 65th made an even greater mark on history,
participating in some of the most significant and bloodiest battles of
that conflict. In 1950, the American ground situation in Korea
deteriorated, prompting the 65th to be sent to Korea as reinforcements.
While sailing for Asia, members of the unit adopted their informal
name--the ``Borinqueneers.'' Derived from the Taino word for Puerto
Rico, meaning ``land of the brave lord,'' this title exemplified these
soldiers' fighting spirit.
General MacArthur wrote of the unit's achievement in Korea:
They are writing a brilliant record of achievement in
battle, and I am proud indeed to have them in this command. I
wish that we might have many more like them.
I am proud to note, Mr. Speaker, that one of those brave Puerto Rican
troops who served in Korea was my late uncle, Luis Manuel Serrano
Medina.
Since their participation in the Korean war, the 65th has continued
to be an integral part of our Armed Forces, serving in the global war
against terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In San Juan and New York
City, the legacy of these brave warriors has been honored with streets
in their names. It is only fitting that Congress now recognize these
soldiers' contributions with one of the highest civilian awards. I urge
my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation, and I ask the Senate
to do the same.
Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close and
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Pierluisi and Mr.
Posey for proposing this bill, and I hope that it passes as quickly as
possible.
I would just simply like to add one thing, sitting and listening to
these things: particularly in World War II, there was never a question
by almost anyone about people of German American heritage or Italian
American heritage fighting on behalf of the United States of America--
even in the European theater. Yet people had questions about other
ethnicities which I think is a blot on the history of this great
country, and I couldn't be prouder to be a very small, little part to
be here today to try to make amends for those past sins and to say
thank you to the Americans who served this great country and helped me
live a better life.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to reflect
the comments of my colleague from Financial Services, as we have. As
the son of a disabled World War II veteran myself, I certainly know
what that Greatest Generation had done. No matter where they
geographically came from, they fought for that flag that is behind you
today, Mr. Speaker, and we appreciate the work that was done by them
and by any of those colleagues that are here, and to my colleague from
New York, especially her uncle in the service that he had to this fine
Nation, and we want to say thank you for that.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge rapid passage of this, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, it is always an honor to recognize the
sacrifice and bravery of our men and women in uniform. Today, as a
fellow Puerto Rican, I am pleased to join my colleagues in celebrating
the Puerto Rican veterans of the 65th Infantry Regiment, who are known
as the Borinqueneers.
The Congressional Gold Medal will be the highest award granted by
Congress to a Hispanic active duty unit in U.S. history. The
Borinqueneers will be only the second Latino individual or group to
receive a Congressional Gold Medal. This recognition of their service
and sacrifice is long overdue and I thank the authors, the Governor of
Puerto Rico, and Puerto Ricans and veterans from Florida to New York,
to Illinois to Colorado who have made sure the accomplishments of the
Borinqueneers are preserved and celebrated.
The Borinqueneers served during WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. The
unit was segregated through most of the Korean War and composed
primarily of soldiers from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, but also
included recruits from other Latino backgrounds. In the face of
discrimination and segregation, these brave soldiers performed many
remarkable military accomplishments and are known for waging the final
battalion-sized bayonet assault in U.S. Army history.
These soldiers fought valiantly on behalf of the U.S. and served our
nation honorably with great skill and courage. General Douglas
MacArthur said of the Borinqueneers, ``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 Continents 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.''
Throughout the course of the Korean War, Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry
Regiment suffered more casualties than did the vast majority of
mainland states and according to Department of Defense records, 2,700
soldiers received the Purple Heart for wounds received while in battle,
and the Regiment lost 740 Borinqueneers in Korea. The Borinqueneers
selflessly served and many gave their lives for our democracy and have
earned this recognition from Congress. They have inspired new
generations of Puerto Ricans who have continued to answer the call to
serve in the Armed Forces of the United States.
To the Borinqueneers of the 65th Infantry Regiment, their loved ones,
and to the Puerto Rican soldiers who have followed in their footsteps,
I thank you for your proud service to this country. Your sacrifice is
just one more reason I am proud of my Puerto Rican heritage.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1726, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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