Comentarios

My father in law, Jaime C. Borges Bermudez served during the Corean War. He was from Coamo, Puerto RIco and I Would like to know if someone who is still alive, knew him from there. A photo that was published in EL Nuevo Dia, November 10, 2007, we think that one of the soldiers on the right corner, with something white in his hand, might have been my father-in-law. If someone has the names of the soldiers on that photo, could you please e-mail them to us. Thanks.

bonillazapata@yahoo.com

This past weekend, November 11th, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend the Associacion Borinquena Veteran’s Dinner in Orlando, FL. I traveled from Boca Raton to take my father,who was a member of the 65th Infantry Division, “C” Company, Retired Sergeant Francisco Riestra. We had the opportunity to watch the documentary together and I was highly impressed by its quality and the intense research that went into making it. Tears were shed by all members of our family as we watched this film. My sincere thanks to Noemi Figueroa Soulet for directing and producing this documentary. I was truly blessed to be able to honor him and the twenty other 65th Infantry Veterans that attended this beautiful ceremony. I was deeply touched when I turned around and saw a man holding a picture of his father, another 65th Infantry hero who did not live long enough to attend this ceremony. I want to especially thank the Borinqueneers Motorcycle Club of CT and Associacion Borinquena for participating and sponsoring this activity. Most of the 65th Infantry living veterans feel they did not receive the proper recognition from the Army and this ceremony really paid tribute to their many sacrifices.

My Loving Father served with the 65th Infantry “Borinqueneers” unfortunetly I do not know too much about his unit or rank. He didn’t like to say much. Now that I am grown up and my husband serves I am very interested to know more about it.. his name was Candido Ocasio Rosario from Cayey PR. For those who know or have heard anything about my father please email me at da_odell@yahoo.com. I would greatly apreciate it! Gracias!

I ALWAYS USE THE 65TH INFANTRY ROAD ALL THE TIME BUT I NEVER IMAGINED IT WAS THAT BIG IN HISTORY. NEVER HEARD BEFORE ABOUT THE BORINQUENEERS AND IT IS AMAZING. I AM 30 NOW AND I WISH KNEW ABOUT ALL OF THIS IN THE SCHOOL OR OUR TV HERE.  MY RESPECT FOR THESE MEN FROM THE BOTTON OF MY HEART,
AND THANK YOU ALL.

My father is 77 years old and served with the 65th Inf in Korea. I learned about this documentary a couple of years ago when it was still been in the production process. I am very proud of my father, he served 5 years in the Army, his last duty station was at Henry Barracks, what is today the Colegio Universatario de Cayey (UPR). I am retired myself, served 20 years in the US Army, last duty station Ft Bragg, NC.

My father’s name is Ruben Sotero Martinez, he was in the Corean War. He is now 78 years old. His phone number is 7872671257. Isaw the article in the paper and I told him about it. He was the barber and when he was cuttin one man hair a granade explode in the man’s belly. He told me that. My phone number is 7872229557. Thankyou.

My father was in the 65th Reg. Served in 2 wars, and it is with Great Honor and Pride to know that my father was part of the Borinqueneers and to know that all that was done then, was NOT for nothing . I was able to view the movie here in san antonio and quickly recorded it for my father to see, I really don’t like to talk to him about the past for fear that it might stir up bad memories but at the same time I want my dad to know that I am Proud of him and that I REALLY believe in him and that the boriqueneers who served their country, did not get the honors they so dearly deserve. I really believe the boriqueneers served above and beyond the call of duty, but there is a known fact of the Puerto Rican Soldier they are Very Proud People. 
I LOVE YOU DAD AND I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU AND FOR ALL THAT YOU’VE DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY !!!!!!!

I learned a great deal of facts from the film. Prior to the screening, I didn’t know that Puerto Ricans were very much discriminated against as the blacks were.

One of my friends in my high school who was 1/4 boricua once asked me “I don’t understand why Puerto Ricans brag so much about being boricua. What have they done to be able to brag so much.” He was always ashamed and upset to be Puerto Rican, which of course, angered me! He referred to the only achievement they have made was “inventing Bacardi.” Can you believe him? Now, I definitely have my ammunition and maybe, just maybe, I can convert him into a proud Boricua! 🙂

I used this video on an ethnic observance that I prepared for my unit on Hispanic Heritage Month. I was surprised on how interested everyone in my unit was on the film. A lot of people asked to borrow it. My grandfather served with the 65th in Korea as a Grunt, my father served in Vietnam with the 101st as a grunt and I a just returned from my third tour in Irak as a grunt (one with the 82nd, oe with the 3rd ID and one with the 25th). I am proud to take my place in the line of Boricua warriors that has helped to shape the future of our nation.

I’m going to wait to see the repeat of this important documentary film on the 65th Puerto Rican Regiment. It is unfortunate that I only saw the last few minutes of the film on NYC’s TV 21. But I have to say that it did bring forth a well-spring of pride to be Puerto Rican and an American too. Although I’m essentially a pacifist, it does not cloud my thoughts that many our of men fought bravely and with strong convictions that what they were doing was justified for the essential freedom of the Korean peoples of the Southern half of this peninsula. They fought and died for their beliefs in themselves and in their respective “countries” – Puerto Rico and The United States. My father told me that after WWII ended he left the armed forces and soon came to the mainland, to the city of New York. If he had decided to remain in the armed forces he says he would have been deployed along with the 65th regimental Puerto Rican men. But he had no idea that war was on the horizon once again five years later after The Second World War ended. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened to him had he stayed in US Army in PR. Would he have been one of the brave soldiers who died their on Kelly Mountain or Jackson Heights? What would our lives be like today had he gone, and who knows what could have happened to him. I raise a toast to all PR soldiers who participated in so many American wars for the past 100 years, and did so with such bravery and sacrifice.