List of Puerto Ricans missing in action in the Korean War

Puerto Ricans Missing in Action in the Korean War


Location of the island of Puerto Rico (green)


POW/MIA flag

The United States Department of Defense has estimated that approximately 61,000 Puerto Ricans served in the military during the Korean War, most of them volunteers.[1] A total of 122 Puerto Rican soldiers were among the 8,200 people listed as missing in action (MIA). This total does not include people of Puerto Rican descent who were born in the mainland of the United States.[2]

Spain officially ceded Puerto Rico to the United States under the terms of the 1898 Treaty of Paris which concluded the Spanish–American War. It is a United States territory and upon the outbreak of World War I, the Congress enacted the Jones–Shafroth Act, which gave Puerto Ricans American citizenship with certain limitations (for example, Puerto Ricans are not allowed to vote in presidential elections).[3]

Thousands of Puerto Ricans participated in these conflicts.[1] Many lived and returned to their homeland, others either died or have been listed as missing in action.[1] The term "MIA" dates from 1946 and refers to a member of the armed services who is reported missing following a combat mission and whose status as to injury, capture, or death is unknown. The missing combatant must not have been otherwise accounted for as either killed in action or a prisoner of war.[4] The Korean War was one of two major conflicts which accounted for the most Puerto Ricans missing in action, the other being the Vietnam War.[5]

Korean War

1992 painting depicting the Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment's bayonet charge against a Chinese division during the Korean War.
PFC Ramón Núñez-Juárez

According to the online archive "All POW-MIA Korean War Casualties," the total number of Puerto Rican casualties in the Korean War was 732. Out of the more than 700 casualties suffered in the war, a total of 122 Puerto Rican men were listed as Missing in Action.[6]

It was during the Korean War that Puerto Ricans suffered the most casualties as members of an all-Hispanic volunteer unit: the 65th Infantry Regiment. One of the problems the unit faced was the language difference; the common foot soldier spoke only Spanish, while the commanding officers were mostly English-speaking.[7] In September 1952, the 65th Infantry was holding onto a hill known as "Outpost Kelly" until the People's Volunteer Army which had joined the North Koreans, overran the position. This became known as the Battle for Outpost Kelly. Twice, the 65th Regiment was overwhelmed by Chinese artillery and driven off. The Battle of Outpost Kelly accounted for 73 of the men missing in action from the total of 122.[8] Out of the 73 MIAs suffered by the regiment in the month of September, 50 of them occurred on the same day: September 18.[9]

During the Korean War, two Puerto Ricans who were members of the United States Marine Corps were awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest medal after the Medal of Honor that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy. One of the recipients was Ramón Núñez-Juárez, who was listed as MIA and was posthumously awarded the medal. Núñez-Juárez's remains have never been recovered and a symbolic burial with full military honors was held on October 25, 1970.[10] There is a headstone with his name inscribed above an empty grave in the Puerto Rico National Cemetery, located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.[11] His name is inscribed in El Monumento de la Recordación, a monument dedicated to the Puerto Ricans who have fallen in combat, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[12][13]

Puerto Ricans Missing in Action

The following is a list with the names, ranks and the date in which 122 Puerto Ricans were listed as missing in action in the Korean War. All of these men served within the ranks of the United States Army with the sole exception of Ramón Núñez-Juárez, who served in the Marines.[6]

Name Rank MIA date
Acevedo, IsaacIsaac Acevedo Corporal September 18, 1952
Alfaro Alfaro, HectorHéctor Alfaro Alfaro Private September 24, 1952
Alvarez, HugoHugo Álvarez Corporal June 5, 1951
Amaro Garcia, LuisLuis Amaro García Private First Class September 18, 1952
Andino Fonseca, LopusLopus Andino Fonseca Private September 24, 1952
Berrios Santiago, JorgeJorge Berríos Santiago Private September 24, 1952
Bonilla Vega, JulioJulio Bonilla Vega Private September 18, 1952
Burset Melendez, JoseJosé Burset Meléndez Private September 24, 1952
Caballero Moreno, AA Caballero Moreno Private First ClassApril, 1953
Calderon Osorio, JuanJuan Calderón Osorio Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Calimano Texidor, AA Calimano Texidor PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Caraballo, BenignoBenigno Caraballo PrivateDecember 11, 1951
Caramot Ortiz, JuanJuan Caramot Ortiz PrivateSeptember 24, 1952
Cartagena Colon, MiguelMiguel Cartagena Colón PrivateUnknown
Colón Aponte, ManuelManuel Colon Aponte Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Colon, ConcepcionConcepción Colón PrivateJuly 31, 1952
Colon Negron, LuisLuis Colón Negrón PrivateSeptember 24, 1952
Concepcion Lopez, JoseJosé Concepción López Private First Class September 18, 1952
Connor, James W.James W. Connor Captain December 1, 1950
Cordero Cajigas, ZenonZenon Cordero Cajigas PrivateSeptember 24, 1952
Cortes Ostolaza, AngelÁngel Cortés Ostolaza PrivateSeptember 24, 1952
Cosme Baez, FranciscoFrancisco Cosme Báez Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Cruz Beltran, JesusJesús Cruz Beltrán Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Cruz Carrero, JoseJosé Cruz Carrero Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Cruz Espinoza, RobertoRoberto Cruz Espinoza PrivateJune 4, 1951
Cruz Perez, NicolasNicolás Cruz Pérez CorporalJune 10, 1953
Cruz Ramos, JesusJesús Cruz Ramos Private First ClassJune 9, 1953
Cruz Rosas, PabloPablo Cruz Rosas Private First ClassNovember 25, 1952
Cruz Sanchez, AngelÁngel Cruz Sánchez Private First ClassSeptember 10, 1952
Davila Rivera, CarlosCarlos Dávila Rivera PrivateSeptember 14, 1952
Delgado Ubiles, WenceslaoWenceslao Delgado Ubiles PrivateOctober 19, 1952
Diaz Acevedo, LuisLuis Díaz Acevedo PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Diaz Algarin, DemetrioDemetrio Díaz Algarín PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Diaz Colon, FernandoFernando Díaz Colón PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Diaz Coto, RafaelRafael Díaz Coto PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Droz Cartagena, SaulSaúl Droz Cartagena Private First ClassDecember 15, 1952
Feliciano, Carlos D.Carlos D. Feliciano PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Feliciano Nieves, JulioJulio Feliciano Nieves PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Feliciano Otero, BienvenidoBienvenido Feliciano Otero PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Figueroa Barbosa, LuisLuis Figueroa Barbosa PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Flores Navarro, JulioJulio Flores Navarro PrivateOctober 15, 1952
Garcia Clara, IsmaelIsmael García Clara PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Garcia Rosado, CandidoCándido García Rosado Private First ClassSeptember 25, 1952
Gonzalez Bernard, ManuelManuel González Bernard PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Gonzalez Nazario, IsraelIsrael González Nazario PrivateJuly 17, 1952
Gonzalez Ortiz, Juan E.Juan E. González Ortiz PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Gonzalez Renta, PorfirioPorfirio González Renta PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Gonzalez Rosario, AngelÁngel González Rosario PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Gonzalez Saez, IsraelIsrael González Saez PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Gonzalez, SantosSantos González PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Hernandez Dones, IsidroIsidro Hernández Dones CorporalSeptember 21, 1952
Hernandez Rodriguez, LuisLuis Hernández Rodríguez PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Hernandez Torres, BenjaminBenjamín Hernández Torres Private First ClassAugust 12, 1952
Irizarry Gerena, O.O. Irizarry Gerena PrivateDecember 16, 1951
Jimenez Olivencia, A.A. Jiménez Olivencia CorporalSeptember 18, 1952
Jimenez Tosado, MiguelMiguel Jiménez Tosado Private First ClassJuly 9, 1953
Lacsamana, MaximianMaximian Lacsamana CorporalDecember 3, 1950
Laugier, JaimeJaime Laugier CorporalFebruary 16, 1952
Lopez Cronoz, LuisLuis López Cronoz PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Malaret Juarbe, IsraelIsrael Malaret Juarbe Sergeant First ClassDecember 10, 1952
Marquez De Leon, RamonRamón Marquez De León Private First ClassOctober 27, 1952
Martinez Hernandez, LuisLuis Martínez Hernández PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Martinez Landron, RamonRamon Martínez Landrón PrivateSeptember 21, 1952
Martinez, LuisLuis Martínez PrivateNovember 6, 1952
Martinez Otero, PedroPedro Martínez Otero CorporalSeptember 18, 1952
Matos Gonzalez, FranciscoFrancisco Matos González Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Melendez Melendez, AlbertoAlberto Meléndez Meléndez Private First ClassOctober 23, 1952
Melendez Negron, MarcialMarcial Meléndez Negrón CorporalSeptember 24, 1952
Mendez Hernandez, LuisLuis Méndez Hernández CorporalJuly 19, 1952
Mercado Hernandez, SalomeSalomé Mercado Hernández Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Miranda Cotto, CarlosCarlos Miranda Cotto Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Molina Garcia, RobertoRoberto Molina García Private First ClassSeptember 21, 1952
Molina Gerena, MaximinoMaximino Molina Gerena CorporalFebruary 6, 1952
Montanez Franco, SixtoSixto Montañez Franco Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Morales Reyes, AlfredoAlfredo Morales Reyes CorporalAugust 14, 1952
Moreno Rosa, NelsonNelson Moreno Rosa CorporalSeptember 18, 1952
Murga Amador, RamonRamón Murga Amador Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Napoleon Escudero, Jose A.José A. Napoleón Escudero PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Negron Martinez, JorgeJorge Negrón Martínez Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Negron Ortiz, JoseJosé Negrón Ortiz CorporalSeptember 18, 1952
Nieves Larry, ArcadioArcadio Nieves Larry CorporalSeptember 24, 1952
Nunez-Juarez, RamónRamón Núñez-Juárez Private First ClassSeptember 8, 1952
Pacheco, BartolomeBartolomé Pacheco PrivateJanuary 8, 1952
Pena Andujar, JuanJuan Peña Andújar Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Perez, MiguelMiguel Pérez Private First ClassJanuary 8, 1952
Perez Perez, PedroPedro Pérez Pérez Private First ClassAugust 12, 1952
Perez Rodriguez, EfrainEfraín Pérez Rodríguez CorporalJuly 20, 1952
Perez Villegas, LuisLuis Pérez Villegas PrivateSeptember 18, 1952
Pizarro Matos, NicolasNicolás Pizarro Matos Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Pomales Pomales, PedroPedro Pomales Pomales PrivateSeptember 21, 1952
Quinones Velez, Pedro AngelPedro Angel Quiñones Velez CorporalSeptember 24, 1952
Quirindongo, MarinoMarino Quirindongo PrivateDecember 16, 1951
Reyes Rodriguez, MarcosMarcos Reyes Rodríguez PrivateOctober 27, 1952
Reyes, WilliamWilliam Reyes PrivateJune 5, 1951
Rivera Carrillo, JuanJuan Rivera Carrillo Private First ClassOctober 28, 1952
Rivera Claudio, RobertoRoberto Rivera Claudio PrivateOctober, 1952
Rivera Cruz, GilbertoGilberto Rivera Cruz Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Rivera Galarza, IsraelIsrael Rivera Galarza Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Rivera, Luis P.Luis P. Rivera Private First ClassSeptember 26, 1952
Rivera Rodriguez, RaulRaul Rivera Rodríguez Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Rivera, RubenRubén Rivera PrivateSeptember 24, 1952
Rodriguez, EnriqueEnrique Rodríguez PrivateJuly 8, 1953
Rodriguez Lozada, AlbertoAlberto Rodríguez Lozada Sergeant First ClassJune 4, 1951
Rodriguez, Pedro A.Pedro A. Rodríguez Private First ClassJanuary 11, 1952
Rojas Reyes, JuanJuan Rojas Reyes Private First ClassSeptember 20, 1952
Roque Pena, RamonRamón Roque Peña Private First ClassOctober 16, 1952
Rosado Bravo, JoseJosé Rosado Bravo Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Rosario Melendez, FranciscoFrancisco Rosario Meléndez Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Salgado Torres, AngelÁngel Salgado Torres PrivateJanuary 8, 1952
Sanabria, Angel S.Ángel S. Sanabria Private First ClassJanuary 28, 1952
Sanchez Lopez, RafaelRafael Sánchez López Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Santiago, Angel L.Angel L. Santiago PrivateJune 3, 1951
Santiago Ortiz, JoseJosé Santiago Ortiz Private First ClassOctober 14, 1952
Santiago Rosario, RamonRamón Santiago Rosario SergeantFebruary 6, 1952
Santos Rivero, NorbertoNorberto Santos Rivero CorporalJune 4, 1951
Santos Rosario, NicolasNicolás Santos Rosario Private First ClassDecember 11, 1951
Torres Caban, JoseJosé Torres Cabán First LieutenantSeptember 29, 1950
Torres Green, JorgeJorge Torres Green PrivateJuly 19, 1952
Torres Rodriguez, SamuelSamuel Torres Rodríguez Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Vazquez, Jorge L.Jorge L. Vázquez SergeantFebruary 6, 1952
Velez Montes, LuisLuis Vélez Montes Private First ClassSeptember 18, 1952
Velez Santiago, MiguelMiguel Vélez Santiago PrivateDecember 23, 1951
Zayas, Miguel A.Miguel A. Zayas Private First ClassFebruary 6, 1952

Their names are inscribed in El Monumento de la Recordación (The Wall of Remembrance) located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[13]

El Monumento de la Recordación

Further reading

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Historic Review on the 65 Infantry Regiment" (PDF). Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  2. "Korean War-Cold War". Advocacy & Intelligence Index For POWs-MIAs Archives. Archived from the original on 2007-06-24. Retrieved 2007-09-07. line feed character in |publisher= at position 34 (help)
  3. "Jones-Shafroth Act". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  4. "Definition of MIA". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  5. CNN
  6. 1 2 "All POW-MIA Korean War Casualties: Puerto Rico". Advocacy & Intelligence Index For POWs-MIAs Archives. Archived from the original on 2007-06-09. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  7. "History of the 65th infantry regiment - Korean War". Valeros.com. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  8. "Outpost Kelly: A Tanker's Story", by Jack R. Siewert, Publisher: Fire Ant Books, ISBN 978-0-8173-5341-4
  9. "The 65th Infantry Regiment on Kelly in September 1952". Mervino.com. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  10. THE OUTPOST WAR: US Marines in Korea Vol. 1 1952, By Lee Ballenger, Published 2000 Brassey's, Page 107, ISBN 1-57488-373-9
  11. Image of Núñez-Juárez's headstone
  12. "Puerto Rico National Cemetery". Interment.net. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
  13. 1 2 "Monumento de la Recordación". Rootsweb.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-18. Retrieved 2007-09-07.

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