184. The Borinqueneers: Puerto Rico's Men of the 65th Regiment

 

In this episode, we celebrate and commemorate National Borinqueneers Day coming up on April 13th. It recognizes the bravery, service, and sacrifice of the 65th Infantry Regiment,  a United States Army unit that consisted mostly of soldiers from Puerto Rico and the only segregated Latino unit in the United States Army.

 

But the honor and fidelity of the men of the 65th came into question in 1952 during the Korean War when 91 regiment members were arrested and tried for desertion and disobeying orders. How could this happen to such a distinguished and decorated unit of the Army?

 

Executive Producer Mary Donohue's guest for this episode is accomplished Connecticut author of young adult literature, Talia Aikens-Nunez. In her book, Men of the 65th, The Borinqueneers of the Korean War, she guides us through the history of the 65th from its beginning in 1899.

 

This book is a great read for a young adult reader or anyone that has a member of their family that served in the regiment. There is a beautiful monument to the Borinqueneers in New Britain at the intersection of Beaver and Farmington Streets-well worth a visit. And we have an article that was published in Connecticut Exploredmagazine on the monument that is free to read on our website-link below.                

 

Read more about the Borinqueneers Memorial here: https://www.ctexplored.org/site-lines-monument-to-connecticuts-borinqueneers/

 

Talia Aikens-Nunez is available for book talks and signings. She can be reached on her website at https://www.kidslitbytalia.com/

 

Can you use your power of giving to make a $250 dollar donation? We would love to send you our brand-new Grating the Nutmeg t-shirt as a thank you!  Donor and t-shirt recipient Jack Soos writes "I love how this podcast uncovers amazing stories and historical insights right in our backyard! Thank you so much and keep up the good work!"

 

You can help us continue to produce the podcast by donating directly to Grating the Nutmeg on the Connecticut Explored website here: 

https://ctexplored.networkforgood.com/projects/179036-support-ct-history-podcast-grating-the-nutmeg

 

Executive producer Mary Donohue is an award-winning author, historic preservationist and architectural historian. She may be reached at marydonohue@comcast.net

 

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This episode of Grating the Nutmeg was produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O'Sullivan at https://www.highwattagemedia.com/

 

 

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Join us in two weeks for our next episode of Grating the Nutmeg, the podcast of Connecticut history.