Efrain's Corner

Saturday, July 11, 2009

On Blog Brag

You can only imagine my surprise when Jo Ann Hernandez contacted me with a request to be a part of her Blog Brag. Blog Brag is a Bronzeword Latino Authors project which highlights a Latino blogger every Saturday. Initially, I was skeptical but after some thought I began to think "how impressive".

Jo Ann Hernandez is the author of White Bread Competition and The Throwaway Piece, both of which have won several awards. Her about me page at Bronzeword Latino Authors speaks volumes in itself. That is exactly what impressed and motivated me to continue on. I look forward to working with her in the near future.

Now, with her show of support, there is no turning back, forward is the only direction to go, looking back only to reflect and learn from the past. You can share my Latino joy by stopping in on Blog Brag. Mil gracias to Jo Ann and to you, the reader, que los disfruten.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Gilberto Concepción de Gracia

Gilberto Concepción de Gracia, born in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico on July 9, 1909, was a lawyer, journalist and politician. Gilberto earned a Master's degree in Law and Public Administration from the University of Puerto Rico and later a Doctorate in Law from George Washington University.
Early in his career he set up firm in San Juan where he became known as a constitutionalist. In 1936 he set off for New York and Washington D.C. to represent Pedro Albizu Campos and other Puerto Rican Nationalists. He remained in New York and became involved in politics and in the cause for Puerto Rican independence. The Independence of Puerto Rico became his goal.
In 1946, the Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independista Puertorriqueño, PIP) was created and Gilberto became its first president. He eventually went on to become speaker for his party in the Puerto Rico Senate. In 1964 he represented his party as candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico. Gilberto also opposed the political status, Associated Free State (Estado Libre Asociado, ELA) or Commonwealth claiming it was only a way to hide and continue the colonial relationship with the U.S.
Gilberto continued in his efforts by taking Puerto Rico's case to the United Nations, protesting sterilization practices in the U.S. of Puerto Ricans and representing Puerto Rico and the PIP in various conferences and commissions in Indonesia, Cuba and Venezuela. He died on March 15, 1968.

Instituto Gilberto Concepción de Gracia.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Borinqueneers

They Served valiantly during WWI. They served valiantly during WWII. They served valiantly during the Korean War. Who are they? The Borinqueneers.

On July 1, 1899, The Porto Rico Regiment of Infantry, United States Army, was formed. The regiment was made up of 1,969 Puerto Ricans. They were sent to the Panama Canal Zone during WWI. It wasn't until after WWI, when the Regiment had returned home to Puerto Rico and by the reoganization Act of June 4, 1920, that they were renamed the 65th Infantry Regiment. In 1919, after a request from Major General Luis R Esteves(1) and legislative approval, the Puerto Rican National Guard was formed.

During WWII, the 65th was called upon again. Initially heading to the Panama Canal Zone then off to Africa, Italy, France and Germany. The 65th participated in many battles during the war. In all, a total of 23 were killed in action.

In 1950, the 65th was once again called upon and so they set off to Korea. It was during this time that the 65th Infantry soldiers began to call themselves the Borinqueneers. In Korea, the Borinqueneers were faced with many hardships and suffered many casualties; throughout this they remained determined even supporting a mission that allowed encircled Marines to return to their ships safely. They participated in many battles and operations each time fighting valiantly.

Unfortunately, mass court martials would come to many Borinqueneers. Due to language barriers, humiliation and exhaustion, many Borinqueneers refused to fight. They were even ordered to stop calling themselves the Borinqueneers. All this after the hispanic commander of the unit was relieved and replaced with a non-hispanic commander. The largest court martial of the Korean War, ninety six court martials and ninety one found guilty and sentenced to hard labor. All those involved were quickly granted clemency and pardons but never formally exonerated.

In all, the Borinqueneers are credited with participating in nine campaigns. Numerous medals were awarded to the men for their valor during these campaigns. 61,000 Puerto Ricans served during the Korean War, 756 lost their lives. More than half of those who lost their lives were from the 65th Infantry Regiment, " Borinqueneers".

In 1956, the Borinqueneers were transferred to the Puerto Rican National Guard.