Armchair General small spacer
Armchair General magazine mastheadGo to Weider History GroupSubscribe to Armchair General MagazineLearn about latest issue of Armchair General

May 2009 Mailbag

Gerald D. Swick | March 11, 2009  | 7 comments  | Print  | E-mail

Puerto Rican Hero 
It is a pleasure to learn about the world’s military history through the Armchair General magazine. I look forward to every single issue to expand my knowledge. In truth, my only complaint is I wish it was a monthly read instead of bi-monthly. But I guess all in due time.

Subscribe Today

Col. Carlos Betances Ramirez. Official U.S. Army Photo.
Col. Carlos Betances Ramirez. Official U.S. Army Photo.
I’m writing to you for the chance to honor my personal history as a Puerto Rican soldier. I have a wonderful topic for an upcoming issue in the Battlefield Leader section: Colonel Carlos B. Ramirez. Born a poor Spanish farmer, Colonel Ramirez is the only Puerto Rican to command a battalion in the Korean War. On October 28, 1952, he led his men in the victorious battle of Jackson Heights. In the Chorwon Valley of North Korea the Chinese had won the contest for control of the high ground forward of the Eighth Army’s main defensive line. It was here that Colonel Ramirez gathered his men in an unparalleled assault that regained the upper hand. For his actions, this brave commander was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation and the Greek Gold Medal of Bravery.

On October 28, 2001, exactly forty-nine years to the day after the battle of Jackson Heights, Colonel Carlos Betances Ramirez died of heart and liver failure. He was ninety-one. It is my deepest prayer that your fine magazine will honor this hero one way or the other. Some excellent sources for the colonel are The Coldest Winter by David Halberstam and two internet sites. The first site deals with the history of the all–Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment. The second deals with the history of the 65th in the Korean War. I trust you will find both sites eye-opening and their stories compelling. In searching, you will find what Col. Ramirez had to do in order to get his men in fighting spirits after being driven off by Chinese artillery twice. At one time, they were completely surrounded on Hill 391 after the Chinese had penetrated their position. I wish you the best in reading about this brave warrior and the regiment, of which Gen. Douglas MacArthur said, "The Puerto Ricans on the battlefields of Korea are writing a brilliant record of achievement and I am proud indeed to have them in this command. I wish that we might have many more like them."

 Sincerely,
 Joshua V. Zayas, AZ 

Dear Mr. Zayas,
Thanks very much for your email to
Armchair General magazine, and thanks for being a regular reader. We’re very pleased that you are enjoying Armchair General and glad to hear you look forward to every issue. Thanks also for your information about Col. Ramirez. He is certainly a real hero to all of us.

Best Wishes,
–Jerry Morelock
Editor in Chief,
Armchair General magazine

MacArthur vs. Bonus Marchers, Part 1 – Right On Target
I liked your article on MacArthur and the Bonus March [Hard Choices, March 2009]. I think you should have stressed that after the Senate refused to pass the bill, the mood of the marchers was so ugly that President Hoover did not go to Capitol Hill for the adjournment of Congress because the Secret Service could not guarantee his safety.

Many people disliked the idea that the Vets were entitled to special treatment. The Democrat Party’s 1932 platform rejected the idea of special treatment for Vets, and FDR vetoed bonus bills for the Vets.

Pages: 1 2 3

Tags: , ,

  1. 7 Comments to “May 2009 Mailbag”

  2. Did the Japanese in WW II ever have any invasion plans for Australia. Especially,before or just after Pearl Harbor. Thanks

    By Dave Dougherty on Mar 20, 2009 at 4:08 pm

  3. Dear Armchair: Very good read! May 2009 page 64

    Assuming the role of “IKE”, supreme commander of the allied
    forces in western Europe, I would go with the course of action 2.
    pincers. Gaining west Germany to the Oder, Berlin & Czechoslovakia before the Red Army moves over the Oder river! Monty can stay at Antwerp & there by reduce heavy losses to his army.

    Best regards

    warren

    By warren olson on Apr 3, 2009 at 12:33 am

  4. I just recieved the May 2009 issue of ACG and as usual I am really enjoying the articles. I have one question and a comment.

    On page 19 you show a picture of Stonewall Jackson being cheered by members of the Stonewall Brigade and the caption says its from the summer of 1862. I noticed the picture shows the regiment carrying the Confederate battle flag. When did this flag come into general use? I always thought it was not approved until Spring of 1863 but I often see artwork showing this flag in 1862.

    I also wanted to comment on the article about peter the Great. It was a great article but my understanding the battle of Poltava would have been enhanced by a map of the battle.
    Thanks for a great magazine. keep up the good work!

    By Doug Ault on Apr 13, 2009 at 3:52 pm

  5. I just received my July, 2009 copy yesterday. Great cover shot of Audie Murphy. Can anybody answer one question though? Why does Audie Murphys’ Bronze Star Medal have a Silver Star Medal pendant? The Bronze Star does not have the wreath surrounding the center star, and both medals plainly have them!

    By Dean Lindeman on May 13, 2009 at 11:36 pm

  6. The May Issue “You Command” Marines at Tarawa 1943. I read on 62 last paragraph beginning with “Thank you…..etc…it states
    “Winners will be announced in the September 2009 issue, but those eager toread the historical outcome and analysis can log on to armchairgeneral.com/cdg after April 25, 2009″….. This i did
    but nothing was posted (or nothing that I could find on the site), so
    I waited a few days and tried again without success. Also tried a
    couple other times and again today – but still no link/access. Has
    a solution been posted ? and if so what am I missing on locating the
    access to it ?? Please advise.
    Like other comments I’ve seen FOUR MONTHS FOR THE SOLUTIONS IS FRUSTRATING….ie…May issue I received March
    16th and with the solution published in the September issue
    estimated delivery date of mid July is too long. This is not a new
    concern, it has always been this way. Thanks.

    By ROBERT MOREAU on May 20, 2009 at 12:24 pm

  7. My son and I are regular readers here in Australia of your informative magazine and in our most recent May 2009 issue I have to concur how important it was to insist that the Zulus be included in any assessment of ‘History’s Greatest Warriors’.
    I have spent some time ‘crawling all over’ the great Zulu battlefields of Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift and Kambula in Kwazulu and their brilliant battle tactics made them invincible against other African tribes for over 60 years. It was only firepower that enabled British greed to bring about about their downfall at Ulundi in 1879.
    You may like to look in depth at another African leader who successfully battled the Boers and the British, including Cecil Rhodes, for many years. Mzilikazi broke away from the Zulus in Shaka’s time and developed his own tribe, the Matabele, into a great fighting force using similar battle tactics to the Zulus. Based further north in Rhodesia he ‘incorporated’ many tribes into his own and the Matabele earned a fierce reputation over many years among the black and white populations alike.
    If you have not done an article on Mzilikazi to date, I believe it would be opportune.
    Peter J. Stephenson
    Sydney, NSW, Australia

    By Peter Stephenson on May 24, 2009 at 11:49 pm

  8. I respectfully take exception to your solution to CDG 32, Marines at Tarawa. In the excellent book “Utmost Savagery”by COL. J. Alexander USMC (Ret), He cites many examples of what Maj. Ryan did and did not do during the first 2 days at Tarawa. On Page 153 he shows how Maj Ryan informed Col Shoup that by evening he was “pulling back and consolidating his thin lines”. He was critically low an ammo, lacked key infantry wpns. i.e. flamethrowers and demo, and his troops were disorganized all the way down to squad level. Page 182 further shows that his initial attack south down Green Beach did not begin until 1120 HRS. He finally had a plan, and a competent F.O. who could direct Naval gunfire. I place my confidence in Maj Ryan, an ultimate awardee of the Navy Cross for his actions. Thank you.

    By 1SG (RET) J. PASQUALE on Jul 24, 2009 at 6:29 pm

Post a Comment

Please note that Armchair General Staff cannot respond to requests for research of any type. Please visit our research forum to post research questions. If you have a question about our magazine, please use the contact us form.

Related Articles



Armchair General Spacer

SPONSORED SITES




Armchair General Spacer

OPINION POLL

Q: Of the three options presented in ACG's What Next in Afghanistan? article, which offers the greatest hope for success?

View Results

See previous polls

STAY CONNECTED WITH US

RSS Feed
 
Daily Armchair General Update
 
 

Armchair General on Twitter Armchair General on Myspace Armchair General on Facebook

What is Armchair General?

Armchair General (ACG) and ACG online feature a unique, interactive editorial approach that invites the reader to decide the course of action in challenging historical scenarios, to step into the shoes of a battlefield commander. Leading historians and contributors lend integrity and credibility to this fresh presentation of historical and contemporary events.

Armchair General is the INTERACTIVE history magazine where YOU COMMAND and decide the course of action!

Armchair General's Feedburner Link Get our RSS!
Weider History Group Newsletter Newsletter Signup

What We Write About

Our Other Magazines

Weider History Network:  HistoryNet | Armchair General | Great History | Achtung Panzer!

Copyright © 2004-2008 Armchair General L.L.C., All rights reserved.