As a triumph for all of Puerto Rico and recognition of the value of the Puerto Rican military, Veteran Attorney, Agustín Montañez Allman, has cataloged Congressional approval of April 13 in the United States this Sunday as 65th Infantry Regiment Day as the “Borinqueneers”.
“I am personally moved by this great achievement as I have also served on a battlefield, I feel the weight of those who have shown the highest sacrifice for the values of our democracy and today they are being compensated for their dedication and patriotism,” said In a written statement, he said Montañez Allman, a veteran decorated as a unit commander who saw action in the Persian Gulf theater of war.
Montañez Allman affirmed that the measure promoted by Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González, “ends the last trail of discrimination faced by members of the 65th Infantry Regiment, which took more than 60 years to be recognized as combat unit for the courage and heroism shown ”.
The Attorney General thanked the Resident Commissioner for “her continued support for the charities of the island’s veteran community, as well as for living up to the courage shown by members of the 65th Infantry during the Korean War.”
“Our Commissioner has been a consistent and loyal ally to all of our veterans. It underscores their commitment and dedication to ensuring that veterans can fully enjoy all of the rights and benefits that come from their service to the nation and Puerto Rico, ”said Montañez Allman.
Likewise, he emphasized that today Governor Pedro Pierluisi, as resident commissioner, promoted the legislation that President Barack Obama had enacted to award the Congressional Gold Medal to veterans of the 65th Infantry. In this attempt, Pierluisi was joined by Florida Congressman Bill Posey and Senators Marco Rubio and Richard Blumenthal. Thereafter, eight veterans of the regiment received the gold medal, the highest civilian honor awarded to any person or group by Congress as a representative of a grateful country.
The former prosecutor recalled that more than 700 of the Puerto Rican dead from the Korean conflict honorably wore Puerto Rico’s colors on the 65th Infantry uniform.
Montañez Allman receives this recognition in a very personal way, as his uncle, Jesús Montañez, belonged to the regiment and saw action in the liberation of Europe in World War II, where he was awarded the bronze and purple heart medals.
The resolution was initially introduced by Republican Senator Rick Scott, co-sponsored by Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Democrat Robert Menendez of New Jersey. It recognizes the date the federal government officially awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to members of that regiment, after President Barack Obama signed the measure into law on June 9, 2014.
The 65th Infantry Regiment was formed in 1898, shortly after the Spanish-American War.
More than 62,000 Puerto Ricans enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and more than 43,000 served in the Korean War. On June 25, 1950, North Korea launched an invasion preceded by numerous border disputes with South Korea and an accumulation of North Korean forces on the border.
In general, and according to published data, the Borinqueneers received a medal of honor for their role in the conflict, awarded to Sergeant Juan Negrón; nine Distinguished Service Crosses, 250 Silver Stars, 628 Bronze Stars, and 2,771 Purple Heart Medals.