Whereas, in 1898, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States and, the following year, Congress authorized raising a military unit of volunteer soldiers on the island, which was organized as the Puerto Rico Regiment of Volunteer Infantry ; Whereas, in 1908, Congress incorporated the regiment as part of the regular United States Army as the Puerto Rico Regiment of Infantry ; Whereas, in 1917, after the United States entry into World War I, the Puerto Rico Regiment of Infantry was sent to Panama to defend the Panama Canal Zone; Whereas, in 1920, Congress redesignated the unit as the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army; Whereas during World War II, the 65th Infantry Regiment served in North Africa and Europe, including combat operations in France and Germany for which members of the unit received commendations for valiant service, including 1 Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars, and 90 Purple Hearts; Whereas, in 1950, the 65th Infantry Regiment deployed to South Korea, and during the voyage the soldiers nicknamed the unit the Borinqueneers , a reference to the native Taíno Tribe’s name for the island of Puerto Rico; Whereas during the Korean war, the 65th Infantry Regiment (hereinafter, the Borinqueneers ) engaged in substantial combat operations on the Korean Peninsula, and the unit played a central role in several important offensives and counter-offensives that earned it well-deserved admiration and commendation