Ver todos los registros para 2009-06-20
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The 1st Annual 65th Puerto Rican Infantry Regiment
We are looking for a strong and nice showing of support from our community and hope you can make it….
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Please join
Congressman Jim McGovern
Timothy P. Murray, Lt. Governor Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Kenneth McClintock, Lt. Governor of Puerto Rico
Major General Joseph C. Carter – (Invited)
Veterans Inc.,
Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment Commemoration Committee
@
The 1st Annual 65th Puerto Rican Infantry Regiment
Commemoration Ceremony
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Noon – 2:00 PM (Rain or Shine)
Korean War Memorial of Central Massachusetts
(Rotary, Major Taylor Blvd. & Foster Street) in Worcester, MA
Background
Fighting in some of the toughest battles of the Korean War, the 65th earned two U.S. Presidential Unit Citations, two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations, two U.S. Meritorious Unit Commendations and the Greek Gold Medal of Bravery. Four of its soldiers were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest award for valor. Col. Harry Micheli, now the senior Army instructor at the Antilles Military Academy in Puerto Rico, reported to the 65th as a new second lieutenant in the fall of 1951. I remember that the 65th was reorganizing after a year of heavy combat, he said. Many of the old-time regulars had left as casualties. They were replaced by Puerto Rico Guardsmen, non-Hispanic Guardsmen from various states and South Korean replacements. We trained until we were a cohesive unit, he added, and then we reentered combat. In 1992, the 65th was honored in a National Guard heritage painting. The scene depicts the regiment conducting a bayonet charge against a Chinese division in February 1951.
Despite its gallantry in Korea, the 65th was inactivated in 1956. The Army no longer needed an infantry garrison in Puerto Rico, nor did it want any units composed of a single ethnic group. It seemed like the 65th was gone forever. However, Brig. Gen. Juan Coderro, Puerto Rico's Adjutant General, persuaded the Department of the Army to transfer the 65th Infantry from the Regular Army to the Puerto Rico Army National Guard. This was the only infantry unit ever transferred from the active component Army to the Army Guard. Gen. Coderro had personal and historic reasons for this request. He had commanded the 296th Infantry when it was mobilized in 1950 and was one of the commanders of the 65th in Korea, making him, perhaps, the only Guardmember to command a regular regiment in Korea.
On Feb. 15, 1959, the 65th Infantry uncased its colors and took its place as a regiment of the Puerto Rico Army National Guard. Since then, the 65th Infantry, part of the 92nd Infantry Brigade, has trained extensively in the Caribbean, Central and South America. The 65th has also played a key role in state missions. Throughout its nearly 100 years of service, the 65th Infantry has always lived up to its motto of Honor and Fidelity.”
For more information please contact gladys.rodriguez1@gmail.com
or call 1-800-343-0939 Ext. -154 or 1-508-770-0154
Free & open to the public – Rain or Shine
Korean War Memorial of Central Massachusetts
Directions
The Korean War Memorial of Central Massachusetts is located in Worcester, MA, on Foster Street (formerly Worcester Center Blvd.), between Bridge Street and the North Portal (underpass from Union Station). The Memorial is opposite Worcester Common Outlet parking garage, near Union Station.
From Logan Airport/Boston:
When you exit the airport, follow the signs to the MASS PIKE I-90.
Go West toward Worcester/Springfield.
Keep going until you get to the Worcester Exit (Exit 10).
Take I-290 toward Worcester.
Get off at Exit 16 – “MLK Blvd. – Downtown Worcester.”
Turn left at the light at the bottom of the ramp.
*Go under the overpass and pass Pub 99 on your Right.
** At second light, take a left onto Major Taylor Boulevard.
DCU Center should now be on your right.
Continue on Major Taylor Boulevard.
At light, take a left onto Foster Street
Worcester Common Outlet Parking Garage will be on your right.
Continue one block and the Korean War Memorial will be on your left, directly in front of Union Station. Parking available in the Notre Dame Church parking lot, the Worcester Common Outlet Garage or the Federal Plaza Parking Garage.
From Connecticut:
Take I-84 East/to I-90 (Mass Pike) East,
Take Exit #10/to I- 290 East,
Take Exit 16 – “MLK Blvd. – “Downtown Worcester”
Turn left at the light at the bottom of the ramp *(see above).
From New Hampshire:
Take I-93 South to 3 Everett Turnpike to I-495 South to I-290 West (toward Worcester)
Take Exit #16 – “MLK Blvd. – Downtown Worcester.”
Go right at the light at the bottom of the ramp **(see above).
From Rhode Island:
Take Route 146 to I-290 East.
Take Exit #16 – “MLK Blvd. – Downtown Worcester.”
Go right at the light at the light at the bottom of the ramp *(see above).
From Vermont:
Take I-91 South to I-190 East to I-290 West to Exit #16 – “MLK Blvd. – Downtown Worcester.”
Turn right at the light at the bottom of the ramp **(see above).
Gladys Rodriguez-Parker
Director of Community and Intergovernmental Relations
Office of Congressman James P. McGovern (3rd D-MA)
34 Mechanic Street (1st Floor)
Worcester, MA 01608
508/831-7356
fax 508/754-0982
Publicado: 2009-05-28
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