Army honors Korean War heroes from Puerto Rico

Former Sgt. 1st Class Modesto Cartagena, 80, is a Distinguished Service Cross recipient from Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry. (photo by Gary Sheftick.)

by Gary Sheftick

ARLINGTON, Va. (Army News Service, Sept. 21, 2000) -- On the 50th anniversary of their arrival in Korea, veterans of the 65th Infantry Regiment from Puerto Rico gathered at Arlington National Cemetery and were recognized for their feats.

Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, dedicated a tree and unveiled a plaque at the cemetery Sept. 20 in honor of 65th Infantry soldiers. During the Korean War, six of those soldiers earned the Distinguished Service Cross, more than 130 earned the Silver Star and more than 3,800 received the Purple Heart for being wounded or killed in action.

One of the Distinguished Service Cross recipients, 80-year-old Modesto Cartagena, traveled from Puerto Rico to be at the ceremony. He wore his class A uniform with sergeant first class stripes. "I'm very proud to be here today," Modesto said through the translation of his son, a retired border patrol agent.

Modesto's citation credits him with "single-handedly" knocking out enemy machine-gun emplacements on hill 206 near Yonchon, Korea, in April 1951. Modesto said he destroyed the enemy positions with grenades the Chinese threw at him, but he hurled back. His citation reads that "although knocked to the ground by exploding enemy grenades," he made three more assaults on enemy positions before being wounded by automatic weapons fire. Modestly, when asked about attacking the positions alone, Modesto said at first he thought the rest of his squad was behind him, and didn't realize they had been wounded and forced to seek cover.

The 65th Infantry participated in nine major battles in Korea, according to Maj. Gen. Roger C. Schultz, director of the Army National Guard. During welcoming remarks at the ceremony, he said the unit's action in December 1950 is "recognized as one of the most significant in the annals of military history."

In December of 1950, U.N. forces had fought across Korea and almost reached the Manchurian border when thousands of Chinese troops entered the fight. The 65th did a blocking action, enabling the Marines to withdraw.

"We are talking about a regiment that yet has been equaled in terms of performance," Schultz said.

Soldiers of the 65th were not accustomed to the bitter cold of Korea in December, said Congressman Carlos Romero-Barcelo, resident commissioner for Puerto Rico. He said many had never before seen snow -- yet they fought on bravely.

"They faced hordes of Chinese, but did not flinch, not even an eyelash," he said. "...in the face of terrifying odds, they forged a legend."

Just days after their ship came into the Pusan harbor in September 1950, infantrymen of the 65th engaged the enemy, Romero-Barcelo said, adding that they were often in the thick of fighting until the end of the war in 1953.

Caldera said that soldiers of the 65th also faced another enemy: prejudice. He said that although President Truman had ordered integration of the armed forces almost two years earlier, units were still segregated when the Korean War began.

"Their pride did not let that affect their performance," Caldera said of the 65th soldiers. He said their performance attracted the personal attention of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who in February 1951 wrote: "The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry on the battlefields of Korea by valor, determination and a resolute will to victory give daily testament to their invincible loyalty to the United States..."

A statement by retired Brig. Gen. Rodriguez-Balinas of the 65th was also read at the ceremony. It said for too long, the Korean War had been called a "conflict" and a forgotten war. "For those of us who fought, it was a full-scale war," the general said. "Veterans are grateful for the change of attitude."

The general had planned to be at the ceremony, but could not make it due to being hospitalized earlier this week in Puerto Rico, according to a spokesman. His statement went on to say that 8 percent of all the American infantrymen who fought in Korea were Puerto Ricans.

The 65th fought in Korea as part of the 3rd Infantry Division, known as the "Rock of the Marne." Soldiers of the 65th Infantry themselves went by the nickname "Borinqueneers."

Today the National Guard newspaper in Puerto Rica is called the Borinqueneer. And the 92nd Brigade of the Puerto Rican National Guard, Schultz said, carries on the lineage of the 65th Infantry.
 
 

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