MWSA Review

Noemí Figueroa Soulet’s award-winning coffee table book, The Borinqueneers, is a compilation of several hundred photographs assimilated over 23 years from public and private collections with veterans and families contributing. The 12 x 9, 200-page format contains a glossary of abbreviations, photo index, quote index, notes, and bibliography. Most noteworthy is that all text and captions are in both English and Spanish. This feature adds value as a language instruction book for either language. However, the extra space required for both reduces the capacity for more photos or enlargements on sometimes crowded pages.

The Borinqueneers is a pictorial history of the U.S. Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment, composed primarily of Puerto Ricans, “becoming the only Hispanic segregated unit in Army history.” The presentation is chronological, beginning with the “Porto Rico Battalion of Volunteer Infantry,” established to defend the island country following the Spanish-American War. The U.S. Army deactivated the regiment in 1959 after it fought in three wars.

Much of the book is composed of black and white photos, but a portion of the chapter on the Korean War contains some quality color photographs depicting vivid accounts of battlefield conditions. Followers of military history, specifically of the U.S. Army, might find the rare accounts of The Borinqueneers a valued addition to their library.

Review by Tom Beard (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

An inspiring collection of more than 700 rare photographs which traces the glorious history of the 65th Infantry Regiment, the only Hispanic-segregated unit in U.S. Army history, comprised primarily of Puerto Ricans. This bilingual edition illustrates the regiment's more than 120 years of service, from its origins in 1899 through its service during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The historical content and veteran quotes in both English and Spanish provide an in-depth perspective about the service of one of the country's last segregated military units. Recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal, the unit's trajectory comes to life as they train and fight in Puerto Rico, Panama, Europe and Korea. The book provides a rich visual legacy of the regiment's valiant service to our country.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Artistic—Pictorial/Coffee Table

Number of Pages: 200

Word Count: 36,878