{"id":38324,"date":"2016-04-26T11:06:36","date_gmt":"2016-04-26T11:06:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=38324"},"modified":"2016-04-26T11:06:36","modified_gmt":"2016-04-26T11:06:36","slug":"five-virgin-islands-veterans-awarded-congressional-gold-medal-for-korean-war-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=38324","title":{"rendered":"Five Virgin Islands Veterans Awarded Congressional Gold Medal For Korean War Service"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. CROIX — Five Virgin Islands veterans —\u00a0Jerome Ferdinand, Jerome Jackson, Aubrey Nelthropp, Carl Thomas, and Leroy Woodrup – who served with the 65th Army Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers (bohr-ehn-kin-EERS’) in the Korean War, were awarded with the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor at Government House here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

“It’s my distinct honor to be here in the Virgin Islands to recognize the service of so many Virgin Islands natives,” said U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald, who presented the awards. Mr. McDonald spoke highly of the work that the 65th Army Infantry Regiment did in Korean War, including when they prevented the advance of a Chinese unit. He said the group, “frankly, faced a situation of segregation in their own country; yet fought for the freedom of the country that didn’t yet recognize the equality that they should have been treated with.”<\/p>\n

The Borinqueneers\u00a0fought in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The soldiers have earned numerous military awards, including a Medal of Honor, about 250 Silver Stars and more than 2,700 Purple Hearts. The unit was first formed as Puerto Rican, and was redesignated as the 65th Infantry Regiment in 1920.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Mr. Ferdinand said receiving the honor was a great feeling, and that his days with the 65th Regiment were times he would never forget.<\/p>\n

“I feel great. After 1951, going to Korea and serving there with the Puerto Ricans, I am very proud today. It was not easy, but I made it.\u00a0I didn’t prepare my mind for any awards or anything. I’m glad for today and think it’s well deserving because it was not easy in Korea,” he said. Mr. Ferdinand, who served as an interpreter during the most difficult days of the 65th Regiment, said, “those were days that I will never forget.”<\/p>\n

Mr. Jackson echoed Mr. Ferdinand’s sentiment both of receiving the honor and being part of the unforgiving war. He also wondered whether they would have received the distinct honor for their peculiar service during the Korean War.\u00a0“I thought they forgot us,” Mr. Jackson said. “We endured and suffered a lot. You hear about the Iraq war, but I thought they forget us.”<\/p>\n