[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6911]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE 65TH INFANTRY REGIMENT

  Mr. NELSON. Mr President, today I wish to recognize and honor the 
achievements of the 65th Infantry Regiment known as the 
``Borinqueneers'' for their contribution to the defense of our great 
Nation.
  The Borinqueneers were a segregated Puerto Rican Army unit which 
served our Nation with great distinction during World War I, World War 
II, and the Korean war. The Borinqueneers served our Nation with valor 
during a period of history in which their own nation's sovereignty was 
dependent upon the United States.
  The Borinqueneers earned 10 Distinguished Service Crosses, 256 Silver 
Stars, 606 Bronze Stars, and 2,771 Purple Hearts. Six hundred and 
seventy Borinqueneers gave the ultimate sacrifice for both Puerto Rico 
and the United States.
  After watching the Borinqueneers in action during his visit to Tokyo, 
General Douglas MacArthur wrote the following,
  The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry 
Regiment give daily proof on the battlefields of Korea of their 
courage, determination and resolute will to victory, their invincible 
loyalty to the United States and their fervent devotion to those 
immutable principles of human relations which the Americans of the 
Continent and of Puerto Rico have in common. They are writing a 
brilliant record of heroism in battle and I am indeed proud to have 
them under my command. I wish that we could count on many more like 
them.
  I would also like to honor the men and women of Puerto Rico, who wear 
the uniform of the United States military to this day and continue the 
legacy of the Borinqueneers. The Borinqueneers have brought great 
credit upon themselves, the U.S. Army, Puerto Rico, and the United 
States of America.

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