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'Borinqueneers' Depicts Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry The 65th Infantry Regiment was the Army's only all-Hispanic unit. Their story is explained in the PBS documentary The Borinqueneers. The film's producer, Noemi Figueroa Soulet, and Raoul Reyes Cantaneira, a member of the regiment who fought in Korea, spoke with Scott Simon.

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'Borinqueneers' Depicts Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry

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'Borinqueneers' Depicts Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry

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Since it was created in 1899, the 65th Infantry Regiment has been a source of pride in Puerto Rico. For decades it was the Army's only all-Hispanic unit. Its soldiers were renowned for their skill, camaraderie and patriotism; many gave their lives in defense of the United States, particularly in Korea.

The Korean War turned out to be both its most glorious achievement, and its darkest episode. The regiment was exposed to some of the fiercest battles of the war — and many of its troops were court-martialed after a hopeless campaign to take a hill.

The story of the 65th Infantry Regiment is the subject of a new PBS documentary The Borinqueneers.

The film's producer, Noemi Figueroa Soulet, and Raoul Reyes Cantaneira, a member of the 65th Infantry Regiment who fought in Korea, speak with Scott Simon.