IV
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 159
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the heroism of the brave and
gallant Puerto Ricans in the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United
States Army who fought in the Korean conflict should be commemorated.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 29, 1996
Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ (for herself, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mrs. KENNELLY, Mr. KEN-
NEDY of Massachusetts, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. ROYBAL-
ALLARD, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, and Mr. UNDERWOOD) submitted the fol-
lowing concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on National Security,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the heroism of
the brave and gallant Puerto Ricans in the 65th Infantry
Regiment of the United States Army who fought in
the Korean conflict should be commemorated.
Whereas the Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regi-
ment of the United States Army unselfishly fought, bled,
and died for the rights and privileges of all citizens of the
United States and the Republic of Korea;
Whereas 125 soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment were
awarded the Silver Cross and 4 received the Distin-
•HCON 159 IH
guished Service Cross for their heroism during the Ko-
rean conflict;
Whereas the 65th Infantry Regiment went to the rescue of
the 1st Division of the United States Marine Corps in
Hagaru-ri when that division was surrounded by forces of
the People’s Republic of China, provided a safe corridor
through which the Marines escaped, and formed a protec-
tive rear guard during the retreat to Hungnam;
Whereas, after bitter fighting and with the forces of the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China on their heels, the 65th Infantry
Regiment was the last regiment to leave the beachhead
in the Christmas eve evacuation of Hungnam on Decem-
ber 24, 1950;
Whereas one night, while the 65th Infantry Regiment was en-
camped near the command post of the 3d Infantry Divi-
sion of the United States Army during a rest and recre-
ation leave away from the front lines, the command post
of the 3d Infantry Division was attacked by over 1,000
North Korean soldiers who had infiltrated through the
front lines without being detected and the 65th Infantry
Regiment rallied, attacked, and subsequently destroyed
the North Korean force, thereby saving the commanding
officer and staff of the 3d Infantry Division from death
or capture; and
Whereas the soldiers of the 65th Infantry Division were
showered with many accolades for their heroism in battle,
the most famous and important of which came in the
form of a letter from the commander of the United Na-
tions forces in Korea, General of the Army Douglas Mac-
Arthur: Now, therefore, be it
•HCON 159 IH
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of
Veterans Affairs should plan a special event jointly
hosted by them to commemorate the heroism of the
brave and gallant Puerto Ricans in the 65th Infan-
try Regiment of the United States Army who fought
in the Korean conflict and rescued the 1st Marine
Division at Hugaru-ri and the 3d Army Infantry Di-
vision; and
(2) the American Battle Monuments Commis-
sion should provide a plaque of suitable design and
with appropriate inscriptions at the Korean War
Veterans Memorial to commemorate the 65th Infan-
try Regiment.
Æ