WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today cosponsored  SB 1174 awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the 65^th Infantry Regiment, or “Borinqueneers,” a unit comprised of soldiers from Puerto Rico that was the U.S. military’s last Hispanic segregated unit. The legislation currently has 30 Senate sponsors: 20 Democrats and 10 Republicans.   

“The Borinqueneers of the 65^th Infantry Regiment served our country in combat in both World War II and the Korean conflict, even when they were not extended the same rights and respect as other citizens,” Sen. Warner said. “The Congressional Gold Medal is the most prestigious award that Congress can bestow on those individuals whose legacy and achievements outlive one single action. The commitment of the more than 100,000 individuals who served in the 65^th Infantry Regiment during its 60-year history, including hundreds who were killed or injured during their military service, should be honored.” 

The volunteer unit was originally created in Puerto Rico at the conclusion of the Spanish American War in 1899. The soldiers served in the Panama Canal Zone during World War I due to then-Army policy to relegate segregated units to noncombat roles. Eventually re-designated to regular Army service as the 65^th Infantry Regiment, members  served in combat roles in both the Southern and Central European Campaigns of the Second World War.

Though President Truman ordered full integration of American military units, the policy was delayed due to the outbreak of the Korean War. The 65^th Infantry Regiment served as a segregated unit from 1950-1953 in some of the fiercest battles of the Korean conflict. The unit’s toughness, courage and loyalty earned the admiration of many who had previously harbored reservations about the capabilities of Puerto Rican soldiers. In 1982, the United States Army Center of Military History granted the 65th Infantry Regiment the official designation of “Borinqueneers.”

Historically, the Congressional Gold Medal has been awarded to recognize historic achievements and outstanding achievements by individuals or groups. The 65^th Regiment would join the ranks of the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo Code Talkers, and Women’s Air Service Patrol, among others, whose achievements in the face of adversity were given the national recognition they deserved.