Frank Medina

Frank Medina is a former U.S. Army captain who organized and managed the successful nationwide campaign to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. Army's 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor that can be awarded by the United States. As of 2014, only six other military units have received this award: The Tuskegee Airmen, the Navajo Code Talkers, the Native American Code Talkers, the Nisei Japanese soldiers, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), and the Montford Point Marines. Until 2014, when the Borinqueneers received it, the only Latino in U.S. history to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal was Roberto Clemente.

Early life and education Medina was born in 1979 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. His family moved to the United States during his childhood, and he grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

In 2002, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Management in West Point, with a minor in Electrical Engineering.

In June 2012, Medina graduated from the University of Florida with a Master of Science degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering, with a minor in Information Systems. He holds the Project Management Professional certification along with several IT/Telecommunication certifications.

The Borinqueneers were awarded battle participation credits for the following nine campaigns: UN Defense-1950, UN Offense-1950, CCF Intervention-1950, First UN Counterattack Offensive-1951, UN and CCF Spring Offensive-1951, UN Summer-Fall Offensive-1951, 2nd Korean Winter 1951–52, Korean Summer-Fall-1952 and 3rd Korean Winter-1952-53. They are also credited with the last battalion-sized bayonet assault in U.S. Army history.

During the Korean War, the Borinqueneers were awarded one Medal of Honor to Master Sargeant Juan E Negrón, nine Distinguished Service Crosses, 258 Silver Stars, 628 Bronze Stars, and 2,771 Purple Hearts. Seven hundred fifty Borinqueneers died in the Korean War.

Congressional Gold Medal initiative Medina's decision to bring recognition to the Borinqueneers occurred when he attended a service academy minority alumni reunion, where he met a man named Raul Reyes Castañeira. A Borinqueneer and Korean War vet, Castañeira was the youngest of four brothers who served in Korea with the regiment. During the event, Castañeira pointed to a Montford Point Marine and said, "that Marine has a Montford Point gold medal. How can we get one?" At that moment, Medina decided to take action. In Washington, DC, the staff of Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi worked tirelessly, advocating and coordinating with both houses of congress, until a bill on behalf of the Borinqueeners was sponsored by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Congressman Bill Posey (R-Fla.).

In March 2015, Medina was recognized for his organization and leadership of the national Congressional Gold Medal campaign initiative. His advocacy continues with support for the renaming of East Main Street after the Borinqueneers, in the town of Bridgeport, Ct.

A national legacy The 65th Infantry Regiment was deactivated in 1956.

Medina holds the Project Management Professional certification along with several IT and Telecommunication certifications. He currently lives in Orlando, Florida, where he works with the Department of the Navy as a systems engineer for training and simulation technologies for U.S. Navy Aircraft.