Worcester in Worcester County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

The 65th Infantry Regiment / El Regimiento Del 65 De Infantería

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 20, 2020

1. The 65th Infantry Regiment / El Regimiento Del 65 De Infantería Marker

Inscription.

, Honor and Fidelity , The 65th Infantry Regiment, one of the largest and best-trained in the U.S. Eighth Army, arrived in Korea on 23 September 1950. Its first mission took place on September 28, when it assaulted a strongly-defended North Korean hilltop position. The Puerto Rican troops of the 65th took their objective, suffering six casualties., Between September 23 and October 31, the regiment blocked escape routes north of isolated North Korean units, and was engaged in anti-guerilla operations. It inflicted more than 1,500 casualties on the Communists, while suffering 221 itself. General Douglas MacArthur, the senior military commander in Korea, wrote to the Governor of Puerto Rico that the island's soldiers were "showing magnificent ability and courage in field operations. They are a credit to Puerto Rico, and I am proud to have them in my command.", At the end of October, the 65th was attached to X Corps for operations in North Korea. On 5 November 1950, it arrived in Wonsan to become the lead element of the 3rd Infantry Division. When the Chinese attacked U.S. Forces near the Changjin (Chosin) Reservoir at the end of November, the 65th was critical in covering the withdrawal of the 1st Marine Division. The regiment later defended a sector of the Hungnam beachhead, the exit point through which all United Nations forces were evacuated from northeastern Korea. Elements of the 65th's 2nd Battalion were among the last to leave the beach when the evacuation of Hungnam was completed on 24 December 1950., During January 1951, the 65th Infantry participated in Operation Thunderbolt and Operation Exploitation, an attack toward the Han River. By the end of the month, the regiment had advanced to a point just south of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and was under orders to seize three hills held by the Chinese 149th Division. The three-day assault began on 31 January. On the morning of 2 February, two battalions of Puerto Ricans fixed bayonets and charged the enemy positions, seizing the hills. Their performance caused General MacArthur to write, "The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry give daily proof on the battlefields of Korea of their courage, determination, and resolute will to victory, their invincible loyalty to the United States and their fervent devotion to those immutable principles of human relations, which the Americans of the Continent and of Puerto Rico have in common. They are writing a brilliant record of heroism in battle and I am indeed proud to have them under my command. I wish that we could count on many more like them.", In February and March, the 65th participated in Operations Killer and Ripper, destroying an entire North Korean regiment that had slipped through the front lines and attacked the 3rd Infantry Division from the rear. In April, the regiment led the 3rd Infantry Division's attack, defeating elements of the Chinese 26th Army in Operation Dauntless. During the Chinese Spring Offensive in April, the 65th defended its position tenaciously against the vanguard of two Communist divisions, withdrawing in an organized fashion when ordered to do so. From May into July 1951, the regiment participated in operations to seize and hold the Ch'orwon Valley and was instrumental in stopping Communist counterattacks in the Ch'orwon-P'yonggang-Kumhwa area., By the time it left Korea, the regiment had participated in nine major campaigns and had earned a Presidential Union Citation, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and two Republic of Korea Citations. The regiment's soldiers had been awarded 12 Distinguished Service Crosses, nearly 200 Silver Stars, almost 600 Bronze Stars and more than 1,000 Purple Hearts., Puerto Rican soldiers serving in the American Eighth Army in Korea had proven that they were more than a match for their Communist opponents. Their performance convinced the U.S. Army to fully integrate Puerto Ricans into its ranks. In all, some 61,000 Puerto Ricans served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War; 743 were killed and 2,318 wounded., Why did the Puerto Rican soldier in Korea fight so well? Puerto Rican Governor Muñoz-Marin wrote: "The flag of the United States, which they followed with devotion into battle, represents their greatest democratic faith as citizens of the United States. The flag of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, under which they proudly fought, represents in their hearts those ideals important to Puerto Rico, for their homes in the hills and villages of Puerto Rico, their pride in their traditions, and their hope that their island would assume, each day, a greater role as an exporter of goodwill and understanding between peoples of all countries.,

Honor and Fidelity
The 65th Infantry Regiment, one of the largest and best-trained in the U.S. Eighth Army, arrived in Korea on 23 September 1950. Its first mission took place on September 28, when it assaulted a strongly-defended North Korean hilltop position. The Puerto Rican troops of the 65th took their objective, suffering six casualties.

Between September 23 and October 31, the regiment blocked escape routes north of isolated North Korean units, and was engaged in anti-guerilla operations. It inflicted more than 1,500 casualties on the Communists, while suffering 221 itself. General Douglas MacArthur, the senior military commander in Korea, wrote to the Governor of Puerto Rico that the island's soldiers were "showing magnificent ability and courage in field operations. They are a credit to Puerto Rico, and I am proud to have them in my command."

At the end of October, the 65th was attached to X Corps for operations in North Korea. On 5 November 1950, it arrived in Wonsan to become the lead element of the 3rd Infantry Division. When the Chinese attacked U.S. Forces near the Changjin (Chosin)

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Reservoir at the end of November, the 65th was critical in covering the withdrawal of the 1st Marine Division. The regiment later defended a sector of the Hungnam beachhead, the exit point through which all United Nations forces were evacuated from northeastern Korea. Elements of the 65th's 2nd Battalion were among the last to leave the beach when the evacuation of Hungnam was completed on 24 December 1950.

During January 1951, the 65th Infantry participated in Operation Thunderbolt and Operation Exploitation, an attack toward the Han River. By the end of the month, the regiment had advanced to a point just south of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and was under orders to seize three hills held by the Chinese 149th Division. The three-day assault began on 31 January. On the morning of 2 February, two battalions of Puerto Ricans fixed bayonets and charged the enemy positions, seizing the hills. Their performance caused General MacArthur to write, "The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry give daily proof on the battlefields of Korea of their courage, determination, and resolute will to victory, their invincible loyalty to the United States and their fervent devotion to those immutable principles of human relations, which the Americans of the Continent and of Puerto Rico have in common. They are writing a brilliant record of heroism

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 20, 2020

2. The 65th Infantry Regiment / El Regimiento Del 65 De Infantería Marker

English half of the panel

in battle and I am indeed proud to have them under my command. I wish that we could count on many more like them."

In February and March, the 65th participated in Operations Killer and Ripper, destroying an entire North Korean regiment that had slipped through the front lines and attacked the 3rd Infantry Division from the rear. In April, the regiment led the 3rd Infantry Division's attack, defeating elements of the Chinese 26th Army in Operation Dauntless. During the Chinese Spring Offensive in April, the 65th defended its position tenaciously against the vanguard of two Communist divisions, withdrawing in an organized fashion when ordered to do so. From May into July 1951, the regiment participated in operations to seize and hold the Ch'orwon Valley and was instrumental in stopping Communist counterattacks in the Ch'orwon-P'yonggang-Kumhwa area.

By the time it left Korea, the regiment had participated in nine major campaigns and had earned a Presidential Union Citation, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and two Republic of Korea Citations. The regiment's soldiers had been awarded 12 Distinguished Service Crosses, nearly 200 Silver Stars, almost 600 Bronze Stars and more than 1,000 Purple Hearts.

Puerto Rican soldiers serving in the American Eighth Army in Korea had proven that they were more than a match for their Communist

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 20, 2020

3. The 65th Infantry Regiment / El Regimiento Del 65 De Infantería Marker

Spanish half of the marker

opponents. Their performance convinced the U.S. Army to fully integrate Puerto Ricans into its ranks. In all, some 61,000 Puerto Ricans served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War; 743 were killed and 2,318 wounded.

Why did the Puerto Rican soldier in Korea fight so well? Puerto Rican Governor Muñoz-Marin wrote: "The flag of the United States, which they followed with devotion into battle, represents their greatest democratic faith as citizens of the United States. The flag of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, under which they proudly fought, represents in their hearts those ideals important to Puerto Rico, for their homes in the hills and villages of Puerto Rico, their pride in their traditions, and their hope that their island would assume, each day, a greater role as an exporter of goodwill and understanding between peoples of all countries.

Honor y Fidelidad
El Regimiento del 65 de Infantería, uno de los regimientos más grandes y mejor entrenados del 8vo ejército de los Estados Unidos, llegó a Korea el 23 de septiembre del 1950. Su primera misión se llevó a cabo el 28 de septiembre, cuando atacaron una posición que se encontraba en la cima de una montaña, sumamente protegida en Korea del Norte. Los soldados Puertorriqueños del 65 conquistaron su objetivo, sufriendo la pérdida de seis compañeros.

Entre el 23 de septiembre

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y el 31 de octubre, el Regimiento bloqueó las rutas de escape localizadas al norte de las unidades enemigas de Korea del Norte, y también participaron en operaciones anti-guerrilleras. Lograron más de 1500 muertes de soldados comunistas, sufriendo la pérdida de 221 Puertorriqueños. El General Douglas MacArthur, Comandante Militar Principal en Korea, la escribió al Gobernador de Puerto Rico, diciéndole que los soldados de la Isla "...mostraban una capacidad magnífica y un valor notable en el campo de batalla." Añadió... "Representan un orgullo para Puerto Rico y me siento orgulloso al saber que son parte de las fuerzas armadas bajo mi mando."

El 65 de Infantería fue unido al Décimo Cuerpo para operaciones en Korea del Norte a fines de octubre. El Regimiento llegó a Wonsan el 5 de noviembre para convertirse en el componente principal de la Tercera División de Infantería. Cuando los Chinos atacaron las fuerzas americanas cerca de la represa de Changjin (Chosin) a fines de noviembre, la labor que desempeñó el 65 de Infantería fue crítica al proteger el retiro de la Primera División de Infantes de Marina. Poco después, el Regimiento defendió un sector de desembarque en la playa de Hungnam, el punto de salida por el cual todas las fuerzas de la Naciones Unidas salieron del Noréste de Korea. Parte del Segundo batallón del 65 de Infantería se unió al último componente que salió de esa playa al completar la salida de Hungnam el 24 de diciembre del 1950.

Durante el mes de enero del 1951, el 65 de Infantería participó en las Operaciones Thunderbolt y Exploitation; nombres dados al ataque dirigido hacia el Río Han. Para fines de mes, el Regimiento había avanzado hasta un punto al sur de Seoul, capital de Korea del Sur, bajo órdenes de tomar 3 colinas ocupadas por la División China 149. El ataque que duró tres días, empezó el 31 de enero. Durante la mañana del 2 de febrero, dos batallones de Puertorriqueños fijaron sus bayonetas y se lanzaron hacia las posiciones enemigas, tomando así las colinas. Ese logro y la manera en que fue desempeñado causó que el General MacArthur escribiera lo siguiente: "Los Puertorriqueños que forman parte del Regimiento galante del 65 de Infantería ofrecen prueba a diario de su valor, determinación, y la voluntad de decisiva para lograr la victoria en los campos de guerra en Korea. Muestran por igual, una lealtad invencible hacia los Estados Unidos, junto con su apego y devoción hacia los principios inmutables de relaciones humanas que comparten los Americanos del continente con Puerto Rico. Están anotando antecedentes brillantes de heroísmo en batalla, y me siento verdaderamente orgulloso sabiendo que forman parte de las fuerzas armadas bajo mi mando. Ya quisiera poder contar con muchos más como ellos."

Durante los meses de febrero y marzo del 1951, el 65 de Infantería participó en las Operaciones Killer y Ripper, destruyendo un regimiento entero de Koreanos del Norte que había penetrado las líneas delanteras de combate, atacando así la retaguardia de la Tercera División de Infantería. El Regimiento encabezó el ataque de la Tercera División de Infantería en abril, derrotando ciertos componentes del Regimiento #26 de los Chinos en la Operación Dauntless. Durante la ofensiva de los Chinos en abril, el 65 de Infantería defendió su posición persistentemente contra la vanguardia de dos divisiones comunistas, retirándose de manera organizada cuando se les ordenó hacerlo. Entre los meses de mayo y julio del 1951, el Regimiento participó en operaciones que lograron tomar y dominar el Valle de Ch'orwon, además de desempeñar un papel decisivo, en las maniobras que detuvieron los contra-ataques comunistas que ocurrían en Ch'orwon, P'yonggang, y en el área de Kumhwa.

Cuando llegó el momento de partida, el Regimiento se despidió de Korea habiendo tomado parte en nueve campañas principales y ganándose un Galardón Presidencial para una Unidad, un Reconocimiento de Mérito para una Unidad, y dos Reconocimientos otorgados por la República de Korea. Los soldados del Regimiento fueron otorgados 12 Cruzes por Servicio Distinguido, cerca de 200 Estrellas de Plata, casi 600 Estrellas de Bronze, y más de 1000 Corazones Púrpura.

Los soldados Puertorriqueños que sirvieron en el 8vo Ejército Americano en Korea, probaron ser superiores a los enemigos comunistas. La manera en que desempeñaron su capacidad convenció al ejército de los Estados Unidos de que los Puertorriqueños debían ser integrados a cada nivel de las fuerzas armadas. En resumidas cuentas, unos 61,000 Puertorriqueños sirvieron en el ejército de los Estados Unidos durante la Guerra de Korea; 743 murieron y 2,318 fueron heridos.

¿Porqué fue que el soldado Puertorriqueño peleó tan bien? El Gobernador de Puerto Rico, Don Luis Muñoz Marín escribió lo siguiente: "La bandera de los Estados Unidos, que siguieron con tanta devoción en batalla, representa la gran fé que tienen en la democracia, como ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos. La bandera del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico bajo la cual pelearon con orgullo, representa los ideales en sus corazones, los cuales son tan importantes para Puerto Rico. Representa los ideales que se sienten en los hogares que se encuentran en las colinas y las aldeas de Puerto Rico. Representa el orgullo que sintieron por sus tradiciones y la esperanza de que su isla cobre cada día más, un papel de más mérito como exportador de buena voluntad y entendimiento entre los seres humanos de todos los países."

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Hispanic Americans • Patriots & Patriotism • War, Korean. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1951.

Location. 42° 15.721′ N, 71° 47.758′ W. Marker is in Worcester, Massachusetts, in Worcester County. Marker is at the intersection of Front Street and Foster Street, on the right when traveling west on Front Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 52 Foster St, Worcester MA 01608, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Communist Chinese Intervention (here, next to this marker); The United Nations Offensive (here, next to this marker); The United Nations Defensive (a few steps from this marker); Forgotten No More (within shouting distance of this marker); The Central Massachusetts Korean War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); No City Has A Worthier Memorial Of Her Honored Sons (approx. 0.2 miles away); To The Memory Of Her Sons Who Died For The Unity Of The Republic (approx. 0.2 miles away); Worcester Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Worcester.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 745 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 24, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

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