Lorain Borinqueneers get tribute
By Richard Payerchin, The Morning Journal
Local veterans who earned their share of a Congressional Gold Medal got to see the award in a Lorain ceremony dedicated to their achievements.
Veterans, elected officials, family and friends gathered Sept. 19 to see the medal given to the Borinqueneers, the U.S. Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment made up of soldiers from Puerto Rico.
Those attending were in esteemed company. In one room of the Lorain Historical Society’s Carnegie Center were the nation’s highest civilian honor, on loan from the Smithsonian Institution, and three Army veterans whose service was more valuable than gold.
“I feel great, great, to have this honor, really,” said Borinqueneer Miquel Berlingeri, 88 of Lorain.
Berlingeri was joined by Borinqueneers Carlos Montes and Julio Santiago-Montanez of Lorain to receive bronze replicas of the medal. Another Ohio Borinqueneer, Francisco Colon of Fairview Park, was honored with the group, but was not able to attend the ceremony.
The 65th Infantry Regiment was the first segregated Hispanic military unit and the Army’s last segregated unit in combat.
Supporters agreed the national recognition, approved by Congress in 2014 and presented this year, was long overdue. But the local reception was no less enthusiastic because of the delay.
From its start when Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory to the end of the Korean War, more than 100,000 Boriqueneers served with “Honor Et Fidelitas,” their motto, Latin for “Honor and Fidelity.”
Less than 1,000 of them remain alive, said U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, who represents Lorain.
“This is a moving moment,” Kaptur said. “It’s a moving moment for those who we are paying tribute to today, because of your understanding of the words duty, honor and country.”
It is also moving because this is the 29th year of celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, Kaptur said.
“It teaches us that we are growing as a country, we are growing as a people and that those that we celebrate today have been so vital in helping that to occur,” she said.
Berlingeri spent 22 years in the Army, fighting in World War II, Korea and Vietnam; he also was stationed stateside and overseas in Paris.
The recognition is an honor because the 65th Infantry was composed of regular soldiers who fought hard, he said.
In the presentation, a short film about the Borinqueneers recounted the brutal fighting in the Korean War, including the valiant defense of the port of Hungnam aiding a fighting escape by Marines who were surrounded.
The event was a history lesson for most of the crowd, but Army duty for Berlingeri.
“I was there,” he said.
Montes, 83, recalled his family history with his uncle, brothers, sons, nephews and a sister all serving in the military.
“We always had somebody there,” he said. “I’d like to mention that because I feel some pride about that.”
Montes attended with son Jose and daughters Olga Foushee, Migdalia Helsley and Esther Montes-Rufo; and grandson Matthew Montes and granddaughter Nicole Helsley.
Montes and his late wife, Esther, also have four other children who live out of town and were not able to attend.
Montes’ four children who were present said their father did not talk much about his time in the Army. He generally does not like to be the center of attention, they said, but he was choked up with emotion when he saw veterans riding motorcycles to accompany the Borinqueneers through Lorain to the ceremony.
The award was an honor, they said. The siblings agreed Montes’ greatest accomplishment “has been being our dad,” Foushee said.
“It’s an honor to be here with him,” Jose Montes said. “Just to support him and what he’s done with his life.”
“We are who we are because of my dad’s beliefs,” Montes-Rufo said. “When he came here from Puerto Rico, and what he wanted for us, he believed in this country. He thought it was the greatest and he still thinks it’s great.”
“Our father always told us, there’s never a dream too big that you can’t achieve,” Helsley said.
Santiago-Montanez, 96, explained he spent three years and nine months in the Army, doing exercises each morning. Then he stepped out from behind the podium and started doing squats and toe touches, with the crowd erupting in another round of applause and cheers.
“I am very glad,” said Santiago-Montanez, who credited his belief in Jesus and wished all the crowd a long life.
“I am very glad to be here today, I’m very glad,” he said.
Additional speakers included Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer; state Rep. Dan Ramos, D-Lorain; state Sen. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville; and Lorain Historical Society Executive Director Barb Piscopo. Sen. Sherrod Brown sent a statement by video.
Antonio Barrios, a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, served as master of ceremonies. Barrios worked with a volunteer committee made up of Ray and Mary Santiago; Rick and Terri Soto; Lisette Gracia; Saul Rodriguez; Victor Leandry; Charlene Connors; Anabel Barron; Arnold Johnson; and Lorain police Chief Cel Rivera.
Sponsoring agencies included the Lorain Arts Council and Lorain Police Department.