Nuñez, Talia Aikens. Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War. Lerner / Zest, 05/2023. 136pp. Non-Fiction. PLB $37.32. 978-1-7284-4962-3. Paper $17.99. 978-1-7284-7914-9. GRADES 6 – 12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
The Borinqueneers were the U.S. Army’s first (and last) segregated Latino regiment. Formed in 1898 they defended the homeland, patrolled the Panama Canal, fought in WWII, and became legendary during the Korean War. The text focuses on the Korean conflict, bringing to life that forgotten war and the 65th’s critical role in it. Central to the story is how the regiment moved from one of the most distinguished to being part of the war’s largest mass court martial. Efforts to reverse that dishonor, culminating in 2014, bring the story into the present. The text is dotted with sidebars that provide military and cultural context. Quotes, archival photos, maps, and charts break up the text. While transitions are sometimes abrupt, and the prose occasionally dry, the remarkable stories of the soldiers shine through. The author’s deep research provides context for the battles, acts of valor, and racist treatment by some in command. Suitable for reports, back matter includes a time line, a glossary, source notes, a selected biography, further reading, and an index. Review based on an Advance Reader Copy.
Melissa McAvoy, Retired