Two Combat Soldiers, one a POW, both served in the same regiment, will be honored
Washington DC: 06/07/2021 – Belleview, FL – Borinqueneers Motorcycle Club Florida Chapter (BMC
FLA) a group of proud patriotic veterans and first responders who honor, respect, and support US service
members (living/deceased) from the 65th Infantry Regiment “Borinqueneers” along with Pastor Jaime
L. Fret (Vietnam Veteran), are collaborating to host a “Returned from Hell Patch” ceremony
presentation to Korean War veterans Borinqueneers; POW Raymond H. Medina and Miquel M. Lopez
(wounded in combat). This event will be conducted at The Church on the Hill. The Returned from Hell
patch, is a memento once made available to returning soldiers from the Korean War, no longer available
but, recreated and presented by the BMC FLA Members to the Borinqueneers, as a gesture of
appreciation and as an accurate description of their service and experiences endured.
Raymond H. Medina and 12 of his Borinqueneers comrades were captured on a reconnaissance patrol
near Wonson on the afternoon of Dec. 9, 1950. Outnumbered 100 to 1, the men fought as well as they
could with their weapons freezing and malfunctioning due to extreme cold weather. He spent 28 months
in a Chinese prison camp. Miquel M. Lopez while defending his command post was wounded in action.
Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony National Committee’s (BCGMCNC) Historical
Research Team, has covered POW Medina’s history since 2019 and recently interviewed the veteran,
thus confirming all accounts were accurate adding further provenance to this story. In April 1953, he
leaped into fame, as one of the first 2 GIs to cross the line from North Korea (Enclosed is a historical
Operation Little Switch post (April-May 1953), the exchange of sick and wounded prisoners during the
Korean War).
BMC FLA & Pastor Jaime L. Fret will like to inform and invite the veterans community and the public
to witness this heartwarming and historical presentation. A moment where the past and heroic deeds are
brought forth to be revere and honored, as part of BMC FLA mission to; pay tribute to the 65th Infantry
Regiment “Borinqueneers”.
Event Information:
Saturday – July 10, 2021 Time: 1 PM
Location: The Church on the Hill
Address: 10050 SE US Hwy 441 Belleview, FL 34420
Open to the Public; seating availability/priority for the Borinqueneer’s Family. All Media welcome.
Contact person(s):
Victor Colon MSG, USA, Infantry (Ret) (407) 495-7658 Email: vcolonrosa@outlook.com
Jaime L. Fret (Vietnam Veteran) (352) 653-7082 Email: fretjl@aol.com
