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[Pages S4144-S4145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 641--DESIGNATING APRIL 13, 2020, AS ``NATIONAL
BORINQUENEERS DAY''
Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself, Mr. Rubio, and Mr. Menendez)
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res 641
Whereas, in 1898, Puerto Rico became a territory of the
United States and, the following year, Congress authorized
raising a military unit of volunteer soldiers on the island,
which was organized as the ``Puerto Rico Regiment of
Volunteer Infantry'';
Whereas, in 1908, Congress incorporated the regiment as
part of the regular United States Army as the ``Puerto Rico
Regiment of Infantry'';
Whereas, in 1917, after the United States' entry into World
War I, the Puerto Rico Regiment of Infantry was sent to
Panama to defend the Panama Canal Zone;
Whereas, in 1920, Congress redesignated the unit as the
65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army;
Whereas during World War II, the 65th Infantry Regiment
served in North Africa and Europe, including combat
operations in France and Germany for which members of the
unit received commendations for valiant service, including 1
Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars,
and 90 Purple Hearts;
Whereas, in 1950, the 65th Infantry Regiment deployed to
South Korea, and during the voyage the soldiers nicknamed the
unit the ``Borinqueneers'', a reference to the native Taino
Tribe's name for the island of Puerto Rico;
Whereas during the Korean War, the 65th Infantry Regiment
(hereinafter, the ``Borinqueneers'') engaged in substantial
combat operations on the Korean Peninsula, and the unit
played a central role in several important offensives and
counter-offensives that earned it well-deserved admiration
and commendation;
Whereas the Borinqueneers' extraordinary service during the
Korean War resulted in the Regiment receiving 2 Presidential
Unit Citations (Army and Navy), 2 Republic of Korea
Presidential Unit Citations, a Meritorious Unit Commendation
(Army), a Navy Unit Commendation, the Chryssoun Aristion
Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece), and campaign
participation credits for United Nations Offensive, Chinese
Communist Forces (CCF) Intervention, First United Nations
Counteroffensive, CCF Spring Offensive, United Nations
Summer-Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, Korea Summer-
Fall 1952, Third Korean Winter, and Korea Summer 1953;
Whereas the Borinqueneers' extraordinary service during the
Korean War also resulted in numerous individual commendations
and awards for its soldiers, including 1 Medal of Honor, 9
Distinguished Service Crosses, more than 250 Silver Stars,
more than 600 Bronze Stars, and more than 2,700 Purple
Hearts;
[[Page S4145]]
Whereas, in 1956, the 65th Infantry Regiment was
deactivated from the regular United States Army and, in 1959,
its units and regimental number were assigned to the Puerto
Rico National Guard;
Whereas, in 1982, the United States Army Center of Military
History officially authorized designating the 65th Infantry
Regiment as the ``Borinqueneers''; and
Whereas, on April 13, 2016, Congress awarded the
Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment in
recognition of the Borinqueneers' numerous contributions to
American history and outstanding military service from World
War I through the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates April 13, 2020, as ``National Borinqueneers
Day'';
(2) recognizes the bravery, service, and sacrifice of the
Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment in the
armed conflicts of the United States in the 20th and 21st
centuries;
(3) expresses deep gratitude for the contributions to the
Armed Forces that have been made by hundreds of thousands of
patriotic United States citizens from Puerto Rico; and
(4) urges individuals and communities across the United
States to participate in activities that are designed--
(A) to celebrate the distinguished service of the military
veterans who served in the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as
the ``Borinqueneers'';
(B) to pay tribute to the sacrifices made and adversities
overcome by Puerto Rican and Hispanic military service
members; and
(C) to recognize the significant contributions to American
history made by the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the
``Borinqueneers''.
____________________
