Carlos Betances Ramírez

Early years

Betances was born in the "Barrio" Las Delicias, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. His father died when he was young and as a result, he and his six other siblings were raised by his mother, grandfather and uncles. His mother worked as a seamstress, to support the family. Betances always stated that he was proud of being a "Jibaro" (a poor Puerto Rican farmer) however, Puerto Rico was going through a difficult economy crisis and Betances, like so many other farmers, had to seek employment elsewhere.

Military career

In 1928, at the age of 18, Betances joined the Puerto Rican National Guard. He served from 1928–1935 and returned again in 1938. He had served in the National Guard for a total of 8 years before joining the regular United States Army on November 11, 1942. Betances served as an enlisted man until July 13, 1943 when he was promoted to the rank of Platoon Sergeant.

Betances attended the Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia and on July 14, 1943 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. During World War II, he served as Platoon Leader in Company I, 3rd Bat., 295 Infantry Regiment, which was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. In 1945, he was promoted to the rank of Captain.

Korean War

Until the Korean War, the Army was racially segregated. The 295th, 296th, and 65th Infantry Regiments were all formations consisting mostly of Puerto Rican enlisted men with Continental American officers. In 1946, Betances was assigned as Company Commander, Training Company, 65th Infantry Regiment. He took an Infantry Officers Advanced Course at Fort Benning and also in the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

In June 1952, Betances arrived in Korea as a Lieutenant Colonel. In July 1952, he volunteered to take command of the 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, whose previous Commander had recently had his leg blown off in action. Taking command of a unit while it is in combat, is considered to be an extremely difficult thing to do. In the letters that he wrote to his family, Betances indicated how he went for long periods of time without sleep or rest, while commanding his soldiers and trying to prevent the Chinese from destroying his men and breaking through his lines. This was an extremely stressful time requiring intelligence and leadership of the approximately 850 men in his Battalion.

At one point, Betances and his Regimental Commander, Colonel Juan César Cordero Dávila visited his men in the front lines, despite the dangers involved; this act was very important to his men as it helped to lift their moral and spirits. On October 28, 1952, Betances led his men in the victorious "Battle of Jackson Heights".

Colonel Betances served as Battalion Commander from July to October 1952. He was the only Puerto Rican officer to have commanded an Infantry Battalion in the Korean War.

Between November 1952 to September 1953, Betances served as the Operations and Training Officer and Military Advisor to General Min Ki Sik, who commanded the 21st Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Korea and was instrumental in organizing and training four Infantry Divisions for the Republic of Korea.

Later years

Betances retired in 1962. He never lost his love for the Army and his favorite regiment, The 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the "Borinqueneers". He had a large military library at his home and loved to keep in touch with his friends. On October 24, 2001, while in the hospital, Betances received the Bronze Star, he had earned 49 years before.

Colonel Carlos Betances Ramírez died of heart and liver failure on October 28, 2001, exactly forty-nine years, to the day, after the Battle of Jackson Heights, in which he participated. He was buried with full military honors at section K, site 3030, Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Bronze Star citation

For exceptionally meritorious achievement while assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry, 3rd. Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea in September 1952 during military operations against an armed enemy of the United States. When enemy mortar fire hit a large grader being driven by a soldier. Colonel Betances ordered his jeep stopped and under intense enemy fire, without regard to his safety, personally removed the driver and helped him to safety. Colonel Betance's actions reflect distinct credit upon himself, the 65th Infantry, and the United States Army. Permanent order 206-1 25 July 2001

Military awards and decorations

Among Betances Ramírez's decorations were the following:

Badges:

Foreign decoration

The Bravery Gold Medal of Greece was given by the Government of Greece to the 65th Infantry Regiment and to the members of the regiment who fought in the Korean War.

Congressional Gold Medal

On June 10, 2014, President Barack Obama, signed the legislation known as "The Borinqueneers CGM Bill" at an official ceremony. The Bill honors the 65th Infantry Regiment with the Congressional Gold Medal.