Congressional Gold Medal for the 65th Infantry Regiment (Borinqueneers) — 2014

On June 10, 2014, President Barack Obama signed legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal — the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress — to the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers. The award recognized the regiment's distinguished service and sacrifice spanning World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.

The 65th Infantry Regiment:
The Borinqueneers were a U.S. Army infantry regiment composed primarily of Puerto Rican soldiers:
- Established in 1899 — one year after the U.S. invasion of Puerto Rico
- Served in WWI, WWII (European and Pacific theaters), and the Korean War
- In Korea, the regiment fought with distinction in some of the war's most brutal engagements
- The regiment was one of the last segregated units in the U.S. Army — Puerto Rican soldiers commanded by mainland white officers
- Despite discrimination and language barriers, the Borinqueneers earned over 2,700 Purple Hearts, 606 Silver Stars, and 9 Distinguished Service Crosses

The Korean War:
The regiment's Korean War service was particularly notable — and controversial:
- The Borinqueneers fought in major battles including the Battle of Outpost Kelly, the Battle of Jackson Heights, and the Chinese Spring Offensive
- In 1952, members of the regiment refused orders to continue attacking a heavily fortified position after suffering devastating casualties — 91 soldiers were court-martialed for desertion or disobedience
- Many of these court-martials were later reviewed and overturned — they were widely seen as unjust punishments of soldiers who had been pushed beyond human endurance by officers who treated them as expendable
- The incident highlighted the racial and colonial dynamics of the regiment: Puerto Rican soldiers, viewed as lesser, commanded by mainland officers, and punished disproportionately

The Congressional Gold Medal:
The 2014 award came after years of advocacy by Puerto Rican veterans, their families, and political leaders. The medal recognized:
- The regiment's cumulative combat record across three wars
- The soldiers' service despite facing discrimination
- The sacrifice of Puerto Rican soldiers who served a country that denied them full citizenship rights

The Colonial Irony:
The Borinqueneers served with distinction in the U.S. military while being denied basic democratic rights at home:
- They fought for democracy abroad while living under colonial governance
- They could not vote for the commander-in-chief who sent them to war
- They served in a segregated military that treated them as second-class soldiers
- Their valor was celebrated — but their political status remained unchanged