[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.

                          ____________________