The Borinqueneers: Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment

The Borinqueneers are perhaps the most potent symbol of Puerto Rico's colonial paradox — soldiers who fought heroically for American freedom while being denied American equality.

Formation and Early Service:
- The regiment was established in 1899 — one year after the U.S. invaded Puerto Rico
- Initially composed entirely of Puerto Rican enlisted men with American officers
- Served in WWI in Panama (guarding the Canal Zone — another colonial asset)
- The regiment was consistently treated as second-class within the U.S. military

World War II:
- The 65th served in both the European and Pacific theaters
- Stationed in North Africa, France, Germany, and the Pacific islands
- Despite excellent combat performance, the regiment was often assigned to garrison and support roles — reflecting the military's racial hierarchy
- Puerto Rican soldiers faced discrimination both from fellow U.S. soldiers and from the military command structure

The Korean War (1950-1953):
Korea was the regiment's defining war:
- The 65th fought in major engagements including the Battle of Outpost Kelly, the Chinese Spring Offensive, and numerous engagements along the 38th parallel
- The regiment earned over 2,700 Purple Hearts, 606 Silver Stars, and 9 Distinguished Service Crosses
- They fought in extreme cold for which their Caribbean-origin soldiers were unprepared — suffering disproportionate cold-weather casualties
- The regiment's combat record was exceptional by any standard

The Court-Martials (1952):
The regiment's darkest chapter was also its most colonial:
- In September-October 1952, members of the 65th were ordered to attack heavily fortified Chinese positions after suffering devastating casualties
- Some soldiers refused to continue the attack — arguing that the orders were suicidal
- 91 soldiers were court-martialed for desertion, disobedience, and cowardice
- The court-martials were widely seen as racially motivated — Puerto Rican soldiers were being punished more harshly than white soldiers in similar situations
- The sentences ranged from dishonorable discharge to years of hard labor
- Many convictions were later reduced or overturned — but the damage to the soldiers' reputations was done

The Colonial Irony:
The Borinqueneers' service highlights the deepest contradictions of colonialism:
1. They fought for democracy in Korea — while Puerto Rico had no democratic representation
2. They served in a segregated military — treated as racially inferior
3. They could not vote for the commander-in-chief who sent them to war
4. They died on foreign soil for a country that considered them colonial subjects
5. After heroic service, they returned to a colonial island with no change in status

Recognition:
- Congressional Gold Medal awarded in 2014 — 60+ years after the Korean War
- A documentary film, 'The Borinqueneers' (2007), brought their story to wider audiences
- The regiment was deactivated in 1959 during Army reorganization