65th Infantry Regiment Patch

They were born on an island rich with pride, honor, and fierce devotion to the United States. For more than a century, the 65th Infantry Regiment—the Borinqueneers—stood as Puerto Rico’s finest fighting force, a unit whose courage carried across oceans and whose sacrifices carved a permanent place in American military history. Their legacy is marked by loyalty in the face of discrimination, valor in the midst of impossible battles, and a spirit that refused to break even when the world seemed determined to overlook them.

Formed in 1899, the 65th Infantry Regiment first served during the closing chapter of the Spanish-American War, but it was in the 20th century that their legend fully awakened. In World War I, they patrolled the Caribbean and protected vital shipping lanes. During World War II, they deployed to North Africa, Italy, and Central Europe—fighting through snow, mud, and fierce resistance. The men of the regiment earned praise for discipline, resilience, and their unwavering willingness to take the toughest missions.

But it was on the frozen mountains of the Korean War that the Borinqueneers wrote one of the most remarkable chapters in American combat history. Serving in brutal terrain under Arctic winds, often with limited supplies and outdated equipment, the 65th fought with unmatched ferocity. At Hill 543, Jackson Heights, and Outpost Kelly, they launched assault after assault against dug-in enemy positions. Their bayonet charges became legendary—so relentless and fearless that even enemy commanders took note.

The regiment suffered terrible losses. They faced prejudice, communication barriers, and hardships seldom acknowledged. Yet when the front collapsed or when units faltered, commanders repeatedly turned to the 65th Infantry Regiment to restore the line. They earned Distinguished Service Crosses, Silver Stars, Bronze Stars, and thousands of commendations—a testament to their courage and sacrifice.

In 1954, the regiment was deactivated amid controversy and hardship, but history refused to forget. Decades later, the nation recognized what had always been true: the Borinqueneers had fought with honor equal to any regiment in American history. In 2014, Congress awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal, placing them beside the Tuskegee Airmen and Navajo Code Talkers as icons of heroism forged through adversity.

The 65th Infantry Regiment patch honors this extraordinary story—of Puerto Rican soldiers who proved their valor time and again, who charged into impossible battles with heart and resolve, and who carried the pride of their island and their nation wherever the mission led. To wear it is to honor the Borinqueneers: warriors of dignity, endurance, and unshakeable brotherhood.