The 65th Infantry Regiment, one of the largest and best-trained units in the U.S. Eighth Army, arrived in Korea on 23 September 1950 and quickly entered combat, taking a strongly defended North Korean hilltop position on September 28. From late September through October, its Puerto Rican soldiers blocked escape routes north of isolated North Korean units, conducted anti-guerrilla operations, and inflicted more than 1,500 casualties while suffering 221 themselves, earning praise from General Douglas MacArthur for their ability and courage. Attached to X Corps at the end of October, the regiment reached Wonsan on 5 November and became the lead element of the 3rd Infantry Division. It played a critical role in covering the withdrawal of the 1st Marine Division near the Changjin Reservoir, defended part of the Hungnam beachhead, and elements of its 2nd Battalion were among the last to leave when the evacuation was completed on 24 December 1950. In January 1951, the regiment took part in Operation Thunderbolt and Operation Exploitation, advancing to a point south of Seoul and then seizing three hills held by the Chinese 149th Division after a three-day assault that culminated in a bayonet charge on 2 February, prompting further praise from MacArthur. In February and March it participated in Operations Killer and Ripper, destroying an entire North Korean regiment that had attacked the 3rd Infantry Division from the rear, and in April it led the division's attack in Operation Dauntless, defeating elements of the Chinese 26th Army. During the Chinese Spring Offensive, it defended tenaciously against the vanguard of two Communist divisions and withdrew in an organized fashion when ordered. From May into July 1951, the regiment helped seize and hold the Ch'orwon Valley and was instrumental in stopping Communist counterattacks in the Ch'orwon-P'yonggang-Kumhwa area. By the time it left Korea, it had fought in nine major campaigns and earned a Presidential Union Citation, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and two Republic of Korea Citations, while its soldiers received 12 Distinguished Service Crosses, nearly 200 Silver Stars, almost 600 Bronze Stars, and more than 1,000 Purple Hearts. The performance of Puerto Rican soldiers in the U.S. Army in Korea helped convince the Army to fully integrate Puerto Ricans into its ranks. Altogether, about 61,000 Puerto Ricans served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War; 743 were killed and 2,318 wounded.
