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4 area vets posthumously receive Congressional Gold Medals
By SHAIYLA B. HAKEEM
YOUNGSTOWN
Four Mahoning Valley veterans were posthumously honored Saturday night with the Congressional Gold Medal for service rendered more than 60 years ago.
The medals, approved by Congress and signed by the president, were awarded at the 13th annual Hispanic Veterans Appreciation Dinner, sponsored by the Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana at OCCHA’s social hall on Shirley Road.
The recipients were the late U.S. Army Cpl. Andres Romero-Castillo, the late Pvt. Candido Torres-Morales, the late Pfc. Rodolfo Rivera and the late Pfc. Porfirio Gonzalez-Rentas. All four served with the Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment, a Puerto Rican regiment known as the “Borinqueneers.”
The regiment, which fought in several conflicts including World War I, World War II and most notably, the Korean War, was nationally presented with a medal April 13, 2016, in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Presenting the medals Saturday night to the soldiers’ families was Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., assistant adjutant general to the Ohio National Guard. He said it was an incredible honor to participate in the awards ceremony, not just because of the Congressional Gold Medal, but the regiment that was being honored.
“I believe our excellence should be inspired by our heritage,” he said. “Anytime we can recognize an organization’s history and heritage, we should embrace that ... it’s our responsibility to perpetuate that tradition because our excellence as armed forces grows from that.”
Ninety-year-old Carmen Rivera of Youngstown was elated to receive the medal on behalf of her late husband. They were married for 50 years until his death in 1995.
“He was a great man and treated me well,” she said.
Rivera’s grandson, Monty Lopez Jr., described his grandfather as a quiet man whose presence demanded respect. He said he was grateful and surprised about the recognition.
“My sister called me and told me about the presentation and I was like, ‘What!’” said Rivera. “I went online and did some research about the medal, and I’m just amazed my grandfather is receiving this honor.”
According to the Congressional Award Foundation, the Congressional Gold Medal is considered to be “The nation’s highest civilian award and the most distinguished award” to be given by U.S. Congress. It was first authorized in 1776 and awarded to our nation’s first president, Gen. George Washington. It is used to acknowledge achievements in areas including medicine, humanitarian efforts, public service, space exploration and entertainment. It can be awarded to individuals as well as groups of individuals.
Vietnam veteran Henry Guzman of Columbus started the process to award the medal to the regiment, which he said took about two years to accomplish.
“I got on the phone, and I lobbied senators and representatives, Republicans and Democrats, and encouraged them to sign on,” he said. “I felt the Borinqueneers deserved that recognition.”
Guzman received the medal on behalf of his late uncle, Gonzalez-Rentas, whose remains were never recovered. Though only four veterans were honored Saturday, there may be more in the Mahoning Valley. All members of the regiment are entitled to receive the medal.
“There could be others we don’t know about,” said Guzman, “But we were able to find four in our area.”
OCCHA was founded in 1972 as a nonprofit organization with a goal to enhance the quality of life for Hispanic and various multicultural communities. The organization accomplishes that through community services such as job search assistance, senior outreach services, health programs and English classes, to name a few.
The first Veterans Appreciation Dinner took place Nov. 19, 2005, organized by Marine Corps veteran Shorty Navarro of Youngstown. He wanted to publicly honor Hispanic veterans in Youngstown and its surrounding areas.
“We are all about helping each other and helping the community,” said Navarro, “I am very happy to see what this has grown to be.”