Carlos Betances Ramírez


Colonel Carlos Betances Ramírez, was the only Puerto Rican to command a battalion in the Korean War.

Early years

Betances was born in the "Barrio" Las Delicias, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. His father died when he was young. He and his six other siblings were raised by his mother, grandfather and uncles. His mother worked as a seamstress to support the family. Though Betances stated that he was proud of being a Jibaro, Puerto Rico was going through a difficult economic 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 to 1935 again from 1938 to 1942. After serving a total of 8 years in the National Guard, he enlisted in the regular United States Army on November 11, 1942. He reached his final enlisted rank of platoon sergeant on July 13, 1943. After attending the Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was commissioned a second lieutenant on July 14, 1943. During World War II, he served as platoon leader in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 295 Infantry Regiment, which was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. In 1945, he was promoted to 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 the 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 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 Battle of Jackson Heights.
Colonel Betances served as battalion commander from July to October 1952. He was the only Puerto Rican officer to command an infantry battalion in the Korean War.
From 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 fought. He was buried with full military honors at section K, site 3030, Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Bronze Star citation

Military awards and decorations

Among Betances Ramírez's decorations were the following:

Bronze Star Medal
Purple HeartAmerican Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service starKorean Service MedalUnited Nations Korea Medal
Army Presidential Unit CitationMeritorious Unit CommendationRepublic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation


Badges, taps and patches:
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.