A 93-year-old Borinqueneer living in Connecticut has died. Ramon Ojeda passed away over the weekend according to the Hispanic-American Veterans of Connecticut, Inc.
Mr. Ojeda was a Private First Class in the U.S. Army and served in World War 2 and Korea where he received a Bronze Star.
The Borinqueeneers were the last segregated Hispanic unit in the Army. Members of the 65th Infantry Regiment called themselves the Borinqueneers. They were an all Puerto Rican unit that served in WWI and WWII. They became known for the battles they fought in the Korean War including success in pushing back the Chinese and the support they gave U.S Marines after the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
There's a movement to award the Borinqueneers a Congressional Gold Medal. A bill to do just that has enough support in the U.S House but has not yet reached enough votes in the Senate.
Supporters say the time is running out for the veterans, as many are in their late 80s and early 90s.
The medal has been bestowed on other segregated units in the U.S military including the Tuskegee Airmen and the Montford Point Marines.
Mr. Ojeda will be buried with full military honors in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.