Puerto Ricans in World War II: Fighting for a Country That Won't Let You Vote

Puerto Rican military service in World War II embodies the fundamental contradiction of colonial citizenship: dying for a country that treats you as a subject, not a citizen.

The Numbers:
- Approximately 65,000 Puerto Ricans served in WWII
- Puerto Rico had one of the highest per-capita enlistment rates in the U.S. military system
- Puerto Ricans served in all branches: Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard
- Many volunteered; others were drafted under the Selective Service Act (which applied to Puerto Rico)

The 65th Infantry Regiment — 'Borinqueneers':
- An all-Puerto Rican Army unit with a predominantly white officer corps (a colonial military structure)
- Served in North Africa, France, and Germany
- Participated in the defense of the Panama Canal
- Fought in some of the war's most intense combat
- Earned numerous commendations and decorations
- Despite their service record, they were segregated — served in a 'Hispanic' unit separate from both white and Black units

Other Service:
- Puerto Rican women served as nurses and in the Women's Army Corps (WAC)
- Puerto Ricans served in the Merchant Marine — critical for supply lines
- The island itself served as a military staging area — Roosevelt Roads, Camp Santiago, and other installations
- U-boat activity in the Caribbean threatened Puerto Rico directly — German submarines sank ships near the island

The Contradictions:
1. Fighting for democracy: Puerto Ricans were sent to fight fascism and defend democracy — but had no democratic representation in the government that sent them
2. Citizenship without rights: They were U.S. citizens (since 1917) who could be drafted but could not vote for president
3. Segregation: Despite being U.S. citizens, Puerto Rican soldiers were segregated into separate units — a racial classification that treated them as neither white nor Black but as a separate category
4. Colonial officers: The 65th Infantry was led by mainland officers who often did not speak Spanish — commanding troops in a language they didn't share
5. Returning to colonialism: After fighting to liberate Europe from occupation, Puerto Rican veterans returned to an occupied island

The Post-War Impact:
WWII veterans became a powerful political force in Puerto Rico:
- Many joined the independence movement — radicalized by fighting for someone else's freedom
- Others channeled their experience into demands for political reform
- The veterans' generation pushed for Commonwealth status (1952) as a step toward greater autonomy
- Some veterans became leaders of the Nationalist movement
- The GI Bill provided education benefits, creating a new professional class — but benefits were often less accessible in Puerto Rico than on the mainland

The Korean War Continuation:
The 65th Infantry Regiment went on to serve in the Korean War (1950-1953), where they participated in some of the war's most brutal combat:
- Fought at the Chosin Reservoir, one of the most desperate battles in Marine Corps history
- Suffered heavy casualties
- In 2014, the unit was belatedly awarded the Congressional Gold Medal
- The award came 60+ years after their service — a delayed recognition that itself reflects colonial neglect