Puerto Rico's Fighting 65th U.S. Infantry: From San Juan to Chorwan [Illustrated] [Paperback]

W.W. Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 17, 2001

During World War II, the all Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment had been broken up with its three battalions relegated to backwater assignments where combat was unlikely. Still smarting fromm this slight, the 65th regained a measure of respect when it soundly defeated the veteran 3rd Infantry Division during postwar maneuvers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The late W. W. Harris commanded the 65th Infantry Regiment from 1949 to 1951 including its first year of combat in Korea.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Presidio Press (August 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891417532
• ISBN-13: 978-0891417538
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,960,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, April 1, 2002

By 

Luke Wayne "Waz" (Jacksonville) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puerto Rico's Fighting 65th U.S. Infantry: From San Juan to Chorwan (Paperback)

As a descendant of one of the heroes of 65th Infantry, I was intrigued on how one of their former Commanding Officers would portray them. General Harris (then Colonel) did not wish to command this outfit and he resented his appointment, then unfairly known as a laid back, disorganized, backwater posting. He tells us how these men changed his outlook from day one of assuming command. These brave men, although barely two platoons strong when he assumed command, held off the best Division that the U.S. Army had to offer on training maneuvers, and the best the North Koreans and the Chinese had during the Korean War. When asked point blank if the puertorricans would fight when the time came, Colonel Harris' answer was just as direct: "My puertorricans will fight anyone, anywhere." They did not dissapoint their CO, becoming the most decorated Batallion of the Korean War. One can only wonder why this Batallion was rarely ever used during World War II.

The book has a few historical errors, all of them regarding Puerto Rico and its culture, and the narrative is sometimes repetitive. That is why I did not rate it as a 5 star book. But overall, it is an excellent military history narrative on one of the most decorated fighting units in the U.S. Army and the only Batallion to be transferred from the U.S. Army onto a National Guard when the time came to deactivate it. These men, along with every other war time hero, deserve our eternal thanks and our admiration for sacrificing their youth in order to preserve Freedom and Democracy.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Boricuas, August 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Puerto Rico's fighting 65th U.S. Infantry: From San Juan to Chorwan (Hardcover)

This book exemplifies the spirit of the Puerto Rican soldier. Always willing to give their biggest effort in order to get the job done. It showed the valor and courage of this men. Is a book that every Puerto Rican serving in the Armed Forces should read and feel proud of the men before them.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fighting 65th, September 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Puerto Rico's fighting 65th U.S. Infantry: From San Juan to Chorwan (Hardcover)

This is a great book about an outstanding unit. As a "Boricua" i am proud of the deeds of the 65th, they demonstrated what they were made off and never let us down.
On another note the 65th was not a battalion but a Regiment composed of serveral battalions(just a correction to a previous review).