Comentarios

When I was a little boy in the early 50’s, the topic of discussion at family gatherings was the war in Korea. As I was shuttled back and forth from the mainland to Puerto Rico, the only thing I heard was that Puerto Ricans were either being drafted or fighting in Korea. I, therefore, concluded that “all Puerto Ricans were fighting in Korea.”
While I was watching your wonderful documentary, I thought to myself that I was not that far from the truth.

I am looking forward to seeing this movie, I am retired with 20 years of service in the U.S. Army and I can say that the Puerto Rican soldier is one of the greatest soldiers. I have alway told my son that I did not understand why there wasn’t a movie about the 65th. I am glad to know that there is one. I thank God for my only family member to serve in the 65th, Roberto Vasquez of Guayama P.R. “Tio” I am proud of you and thanks for your service.

I was flipping through channels last night when I stumbled upon PBS and saw the documentary on the Borinqueneers. I have never heard of the 65th infantry until last night, but I also happen to be Mexican/American and that could also be another reason. I just wanted to thank all my fellow Latino’s who gave their lives in those Wars. You made me feel proud to stand here today as a Latina knowing that my people have been playing a part in the US Military since then. My heart/prayers go out to all the Latino military members from back then to the one’s who are serving today. You make us proud.

Unfortunately I only caught the end of the video on Public Television Saturday 11/24. I will be purchasing the video and looking for the book also for my father. I didn’t even know there was such a book or video.

My father joined the army, WWII in Puerto Rico in 1940-1945, in the 296th Infantry. He trained in Africa,and fought in France and Germany. He was wounded in Kaffertal, a small town in Germany. He spent two weeks in hospital before returning to duty.

During the period of 1945-1950, he received inpatient treatment at a Naval Facility in San Juan, Puerto Rico for service related injuries to his ear. My father lost more than 30% of his hearing and to this day, suffers from excrutiating headaches.

After WWII, my father reinlisted in Puerto Rico in 1950-1953, joining the Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment, of which your documentary is about. During the third year and on the front lines, my father was again wounded and hospitalized for one week, unable to walk having received shrapnel wounds to his left arm and left side. His arm so torn, his bone was exposed.

My father, Isidro Ferrer Diaz, born 5/15/1921, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, is a war Hero. He received the Purple Heart among more than a dozen other medals which he has in a beautiful mahogony box for safekeeping. My father has told us some of what he went through but not all. We know they were ugly wars with many casualties. By the time he joined for the second time in the Korean war, my father was already a veteran and experienced, however, he tells us sadly about all the young men who fought and so brutally lost their lives.

So, my father is a living testament and one of the Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment survivors. It would have been great if the Producers of this film, would have interviewed my father as one of the men who not only fought in the 65th Infantry, but was also in the WWII 296th Infantry. I am sure he would have told you more than he has told us.

I am sorry that I didn’t get to see the entire program on Public Television, and I hope they present this film again. I wonder if there among the soldiers in your documentary, I will see my father.

Thank you for presenting this historical view of our Puerto Rican men, their sacrifices, and commitment to their country and the United States of America.

Ms. Noemi Figueroa truly did an outstanding job in developing this documentary film. I spent most of my formative years in Puerto Rico and heard many stories aobut the 65th Infantry. This film puts it all into perpective. My donation to PBS is in the mail.

My mom and I watched The Borinqueneers today. Her brother, Luis Amaro Garcia Pfc. was a part of the 65th Infantry in Korea. He died there in Sept of 1952. She remembers my grandfather receiving the news of his death. The video was a very touching and beautiful tribute to the Puerto Rican Soldier. The last time I watched the documentary, I got my brother the book that goes with the video. My family and I would like to sincerely thank all those involved in honoring all the men who fought as part of the most honored Puerto Rican Regiment. Thank You.

MY OLDER BROTHER WAS IN THE CORREA WAR, BUT HE WASNT IN THE 65TH INFANTRY REGIMENT. HE VOLUNTEER IN UNITED STATES, I BROUGHT THE DVD FOR HIM. I WONDERED HOW MANY PUERTORRICANS FOUGHT IN CORREA, BUT WERE ENLISTED IN USA? HE SAY THAT WAS THERE IN THE WAR BUT NOT IN THE FRONT LINES. THEY HAD OTHER DUTIES AROUND CORREA, BUT MEET MANY MEN FROM THE 65TH, AND HE IS VERY PROUD OF THEN. HE LOVES THE DOCUMENTARY AND LEARNED ABOUT MANY THINGS HE DIDNT KNOW. HE DOESNT TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT THE WAR, BUT HE LIKE TO SAY HELLO TO ALL PUERTORICANS IN THE MILITARY. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THEN, AND ALWAYS SERVED PROUD AND WITH HONOR. MANY PUERTORRICANS ALSO SERVED IN WW11 FROM UNITED STATES, BUT WE KNOW LITTLE ABOUT IT. I WISH THEY WERE MENTION IN THE FUTURE, I REMEMBERED 2 TEACHERS FROM SCHOOL, THAT WERE FIGHTING IN WW11, BUT NOTHING IS MENTION. I AM TRYING TO TALK TO MY BROTHERS THAT WERE IN VIETNAN AND CORREA TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WARS BUT I KNOW IS VERY HARD FOR THEN TO TALK ABOUT THE WAR. I LIKE TO WRITE HERE WHAT EVER INFORMATION I CAN GET FROM THEN, SO THE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND OTHER COUNTRIES, CAN LEARN ABOUT CONTRIBUTIONS OF PUERTORRICANS IN THE MILITARY FOR UNITED STATES AND PUERTO RICO. WE OWED THIS MEN THE FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY IN OUR COUNTRIES. MY FAMILY IS VERY PROUD OF OUR SERVICE IN THE MILITARY. WE THANKS GOD THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE NOEMI, HECTOR ELIZONDO, DAVID ORTIZ,RAQUEL ORTIZ, MIGUEL PICKER, PATRICIA GARCIA, EL POZO PRODUCTIONS IN GENERAL, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HELP TO DO THIS GREAT DUCUMENTARY.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND PUERTO RICO,
ERNESTO J. MARRERO

Thank you so much for all your years of hard research and labor on this documentary in behalf of the 65th. It is now our responsibility for the next generations to be informed and proud of their heritage. God Bless.

I was fortunate to see your documentary on Saturday at Rice University in Houston and was very moved and informed by it. I had not heard about the “Borinqueneers” before then. But now, what I do know I will share with my fellow Boricua’s and others. I had an uncle who fought in the Korean war and I am going to ask my mother if he was part of the brave men with the distinguished lable of “Borinqueneer”. Thanks again for your very much appreciated “labor of love”.