▁France ▁and ▁was ▁committed ▁to ▁action ▁on ▁the ▁Mar itime ▁Al ps ▁at ▁Pe ira ▁C ava . ▁ ▁On ▁December ▁ 1 3 , ▁the ▁ 3 rd ▁Battalion ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁Cord ero ▁D áv ila , ▁then ▁a ▁Lieutenant ▁Colonel , ▁rel ieved ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Battalion ▁of ▁the ▁Japanese - American ▁ 4 4 2 nd ▁" N ise i " ▁Infantry ▁Regiment ▁which ▁was ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁fellow ▁Puerto ▁R ican ▁Col . ▁Vir g il ▁R . ▁Miller . ▁ ▁The ▁ 6 5 th ▁Infantry ▁faced ▁the ▁German ▁ 3 4 th ▁Infantry ▁Div isions ▁ 1 0 7 th ▁Infantry ▁Regiment ▁and ▁participated ▁in ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁small ▁unit ▁engag ements ▁at ▁Tur ine , ▁Esp inal - Ch en imer il ▁and ▁Le int ray . ▁ ▁Cord ero - D áv ila ▁served ▁with ▁the ▁regiment ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁for ▁over ▁three ▁and ▁a ▁half ▁years , ▁adv ancing ▁from ▁the ▁Regiment al ▁S - 4 ▁to ▁Battalion ▁Executive ▁Officer , ▁Battalion ▁Commander ▁of ▁the ▁regiment ' s ▁ 3 rd ▁Battalion , ▁and ▁Regiment al ▁Executive ▁Officer . ▁ ▁He ▁also ▁served ▁for ▁short ▁periods ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁as ▁the ▁Regiment al ▁Commander . ▁After ▁the ▁war ▁concluded , ▁Cord ero ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁reserve ▁for ▁six ▁months , ▁then ▁taking ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁Puerto ▁Rico ▁National ▁Guard ' s ▁ 2 9 6 th ▁Com bat ▁Group . ▁On ▁September ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 1