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

This is a list of Puerto Ricans Missing in Action in the Korean War. A total of 61,000 Puerto Ricans served in the military during the Korean War, most of them volunteers.[1] A total of 121 Puerto Rican soldiers were among the 8,200 people listed as Missing in Action. This total does not include people of Puerto Rican descent who were born in the mainland of the United States.[2]

Puerto Rico was officially ceded to the United States from Spain 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 U.S. Congress approved the Jones-Shafroth Act, which granted Puerto Ricans citizenship. As a result Puerto Ricans have participated in every major conflict involving the United States from World War I onward.[3]

Thousands of Puerto Ricans participated in these conflicts. Many lived and returned to their homeland, others were less fortunate and either died as a result of a hostile enemy action or have been listed as MIA (Missing In Action). Missing In Action (abbreviated MIA), is a term dating from 1946 referring 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 (The other one was the Vietnam War) which accounted for the most Puerto Ricans missing in action.

Contents

Korean War

According to "All POW-MIA Korean War Casualties", the total number of Puerto Rican casualties in the Korean War was 732; however, this total may vary slightly since some non-Puerto Ricans, such as Captain James W. Conner, were mistakenly included. Out of the 700 plus casualties suffered in the war, a total of 121 Puerto Rican men were listed as Missing in Action.[5]

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 difference in languages: the common foot soldier spoke only Spanish, while the commanding officers were mostly English-speaking Americans.[6] In September 1952, the 65th Infantry was holding on to a hill known as "Outpost Kelly" until the People's Volunteer Army (Chinese officials maintained from the first that the Chinese fighting in Korea were volunteers) 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 121.[7] Out of the 73 MIAs suffered by the regiment in the month of September, 50 of them occurred on the same day, September 18.[8]

During the Korean War, two Puerto Ricans who were members of the United States Marine Corps, where 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 PFC. Ramón Núñez-Juarez who was listed as MIA and was posthumously awarded the medal. PFC Ramón Núñez-Juarez's remains have never been recovered and a symbolic burial with full military honors was held on October 25, 1970. There is a headstone with his name inscribed above an empty grave in the Puerto Rico National Cemetery, located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. 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.[9][10]

Puerto Ricans Missing in Action

The following is a list with the names, ranks and the date in which 121 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 PFC. Ramón Núñez-Juarez, who served in the Marines.[5] Their names are inscribed in El Monumento de la Recordación (The Wall of Remembrance) located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[10]

Name Rank MIA Date
Acevedo, Isaac E4Corporal 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Alfaro Alfaro, Héctor E1Private 1952-09-24September 24, 1952
Álvarez, Hugo E4Corporal 1951-06-05June 5, 1951
Amaro García, Luis E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Andino Fonseca, Lopus E1Private 1952-09-24September 24, 1952
Berríos Santiago, Jorge E1Private 1952-09-24September 24, 1952
Bonilla Vega, Julio E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Burset Meléndez, José E1Private 1952-09-24 September 24, 1952
Caballero Moreno, A E3Private First Class 1954-04-01April, 1953
Calderón Osorio, Juan E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Calimano Texidor, A E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Caraballo, Benigno E1Private 1951-12-11December 11, 1951
Caramot Ortiz, Juan E1Private 1952-09-24September 24, 1952
Cartagena Colón, Miguel E1Private UnknownUnknown
Colón Aponte, Manuel E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Colón, Concepción E1Private 1952-07-31July 31, 1952
Colón Negrón, Luis E1Private 1952-09-24September 24, 1952
Concepción López, José E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Cordero Cajigas, Zenon E1Private 1952-09-24September 24, 1952
Cortés Ostolaza, Ángel E1Private 1952-09-24September 24, 1952
Cosme Báez, Francisco E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Cruz Beltrán, Jesús E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Cruz Carrero, José E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Cruz Espinoza, Roberto E1Private 1951-06-04June 4, 1951
Cruz Pérez, Nicolás E4Corporal 1953-06-10June 10, 1953
Cruz Ramos, Jesús E3Private First Class 1953-06-09June 9, 1953
Cruz Rosas, Pablo E3Private First Class 1952-11-25November 25, 1952
Cruz Sánchez, Ángel E3Private First Class 1952-09-10September 10, 1952
Dávila Rivera, Carlos E1Private 1952-09-14September 14, 1952
Delgado Ubiles, Wenceslao E1Private 1952-10-19October 19, 1952
Díaz Acevedo, Luis E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Díaz Algarín, Demetrio E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Díaz Colón, Fernando E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Díaz Coto, Rafael E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Droz Cartagena, Saúl E3Private First Class 1952-12-15December 15, 1952
Feliciano, Carlos D. E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Feliciano Nieves, Julio E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Feliciano Otero, Bienvenido E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Figueroa Barbosa, Luis E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Flores Navarro, Julio E1Private 1952-10-15October 15, 1952
García Clara, Ismael E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
García Rosado, Cándido E3Private First Class 1952-09-25September 25, 1952
González Bernard, Manuel E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
González Nazario, Israel E1Private 1952-07-17July 17, 1952
González Ortiz, Juan E. E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
González Renta, Porfirio E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
González Rosario, Ángel E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
González Saez, Israel E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
González, Santos E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Hernández Dones, Isidro E4Corporal 1952-09-21September 21, 1952
Hernández Rodríguez, Luis E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Hernández Torres, Benjamín E3Private First Class 1952-08-12August 12, 1952
Irizarry Gerena, O. E1Private 1951-12-16December 16, 1951
Jiménez Olivencia, A. E4Corporal 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Jiménez Tosado, Miguel E3Private First Class 1953-07-09July 9, 1953
Lacsamana, Maximian E4Corporal 1950-12-03December 3, 1950
Laugier, Jaime E4Corporal 1952-02-16February 16, 1952
López Cronoz, Luis E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Malaret Juarbe, Israel E7Sergeant First Class 1952-12-10December 10, 1952
Marquez De León, Ramón E3Private First Class 1952-10-27October 27, 1952
Martínez Hernández, Luis E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Martínez Landrón, Ramon E1Private 1952-09-21September 21, 1952
Martínez, Luis E1Private 1952-11-06November 6, 1952
Martínez Otero, Pedro E4Corporal 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Matos González, Francisco E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Meléndez Meléndez, Alberto E3Private First Class 1952-10-23October 23, 1952
Meléndez Negrón, Marcial E4Corporal 1952-09-24September 24, 1952
Méndez Hernández, Luis E4Corporal 1952-07-19July 19, 1952
Mercado Hernández, Salomé E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Miranda Cotto, Carlos E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Molina García, Roberto E3Private First Class 1952-09-21September 21, 1952
Molina Gerena, Maximino E4Corporal 1952-02-06February 6, 1952
Montañez Franco, Sixto E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Morales Reyes, Alfredo E4Corporal 1952-08-14August 14, 1952
Moreno Rosa, Nelson E4Corporal 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Murga Amador, Ramón E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Napoleón Escudero, José A. E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Negrón Martínez, Jorge E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Negrón Ortiz, José E4Corporal 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Nieves Larry, Arcadio E4Corporal 1952-09-24September 24, 1952
Núñez-Juarez, Ramón E3Private First Class 1952-09-08September 8, 1952
Pacheco, Bartolomé E1Private 1952-01-08January 8, 1952
Peña Andújar, Juan E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Pérez, Miguel E3Private First Class 1952-01-08January 8, 1952
Pérez Pérez, Pedro E3Private First Class 1952-08-12August 12, 1952
Pérez Rodríguez, Efraín E4Corporal 1952-07-20July 20, 1952
Pérez Villegas, Luis E1Private 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Pizarro Matos, Nicolás E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Pomales Pomales, Pedro E1Private 1952-09-21September 21, 1952
Quiñones, Pedro A. E4Corporal 1952-09-24September 24, 1952
Quirindongo, Marino E1Private 1951-12-16December 16, 1951
Reyes Rodríguez, Marcos E1Private 1952-10-27October 27, 1952
Reyes, William E1Private 1951-06-05June 5, 1951
Rivera Carrillo, Juan E3Private First Class 1952-10-28October 28, 1952
Rivera Claudio, Roberto E1Private 1952-10-01October, 1952
Rivera Cruz, Gilberto E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Rivera Galarza, Israel E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Rivera, Luis P. E3Private First Class 1952-09-26September 26, 1952
Rivera Rodríguez, Raul E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Rivera, Rubén E1Private 1952-09-24September 24, 1952
Rodríguez, Enrique E1Private 1953-07-08July 8, 1953
Rodríguez Lozada, Alberto E7Sergeant First Class 1951-06-04June 4, 1951
Rodríguez, Pedro A. E3Private First Class 1952-01-11January 11, 1952
Rojas Reyes, Juan E3Private First Class 1952-09-20September 20, 1952
Roque Peña, Ramón E3Private First Class 1952-10-16October 16, 1952
Rosado Bravo, José E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Rosario Meléndez, Francisco E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Salgado Torres, Ángel E1Private 1952-01-08January 8, 1952
Sanabria, Ángel S. E3Private First Class 1952-01-28January 28, 1952
Sánchez López, Rafael E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Santiago, Angel L. E1Private 1951-06-03June 3, 1951
Santiago Ortiz, José E3Private First Class 1952-10-14October 14, 1952
Santiago Rosario, Ramón E5Sergeant 1952-02-06February 6, 1952
Santos Rivero, Norberto E4Corporal 1951-06-04June 4, 1951
Santos Rosario, Nicolás E3Private First Class 1951-12-11December 11, 1951
Torres Cabán, José O2First Lieutenant 1950-09-29September 29, 1950
Torres Green, Jorge E1Private 1952-07-19July 19, 1952
Torres Rodríguez, Samuel E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Vázquez, Jorge L. E5Sergeant 1952-02-06February 6, 1952
Vélez Montes, Luis E3Private First Class 1952-09-18September 18, 1952
Vélez Santiago, Miguel E1Private 1951-12-23December 23, 1951
Zayas, Miguel A. E3Private First Class 1952-02-06February 6, 1952

See also

Puerto Rico portal
Military of the United States portal

References

  1. ^ Historic Review on the 65 Infantry Regiment, Retrieved June 29, 2011
  2. ^ "Korean War-Cold War". Advocacy & Intelligence Index For POWs-MIAs Archives. Archived from the original on 2007-06-24. http://web.archive.org/web/20070624032905/http://www.aiipowmia.com/koreacw/. Retrieved 2007-09-07. 
  3. ^ "Jones-Shafroth Act". The Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/jonesact.html. Retrieved 2007-09-07. 
  4. ^ "Definition of MIA". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/MIA. Retrieved 2007-09-07. 
  5. ^ a b "All POW-MIA Korean War Casualties: Puerto Rico". Advocacy & Intelligence Index For POWs-MIAs Archives. Archived from the original on 2007-06-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20070609215932/http://www.aiipowmia.com/koreacw/kwkia_puertorico.html. Retrieved 2007-09-07. 
  6. ^ "History of the 65th infantry regiment - Korean War". Valeros.com. http://www.valerosos.com/Honorpg1.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-07. 
  7. ^ "Outpost Kelly: A Tanker's Story", by Jack R. Siewert, Publisher: Fire Ant Books, ISBN 9780817353414
  8. ^ "The 65th Infantry Regiment on Kelly in September 1952". Mervino.com. http://mervino.com/window/IBB/map65th.html. Retrieved 2007-09-07. 
  9. ^ "Puerto Rico National Cemetery". Interment.net. http://www.interment.net/data/us/pr/nat/prnat_nelny.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-09. 
  10. ^ a b "Monumento de la Recordación". Rootsweb.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-18. http://web.archive.org/web/20070818170803/http://www.rootsweb.com/~prsanjua/mil-003.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-07.