US Marines - Haiti Observer Blog

Following the recent protest in Haiti, The US embassy in Haiti has contacted the State Department and requested additional security personnel.

We were informed that the request has been granted and as a result, approximately 13 Marines, as well as other security personnel are already heading to Haiti to reinforce the current staff of the US Marines Corps and State Department security personnel already in place there.

The United States Marines are one of the four branches of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting amphibious operations with the U.S Navy. On July 28, 1915, when Woodrow Wilson was the U.S President, the United States occupation of Haiti began with the landing of 330 Marines. This July intervention took place following the murder of Haitian dictator President Jean Vilbrun Guillaume. He was killed by some insurgents angered by his political executions of elite opposition. Historically, the first batch of the USS Montana disembarked on the Haitian soil more than one year earlier, on January 27, 1914. The U.S occupation in Haiti ended on August 1, 1934, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt reaffirmed an August 1933 disengagement agreement.

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We learned that the Special Coordinator for Haiti, Kenneth Merten , has been ordered by Secretary of State John Kerry to come to Haiti to assure that President Michel Martelly leave power on February 7th and the transitional is done smoothly. We also learned that following the display of force by former Haitian soldiers, a Marine batallon located in Camp Lejeune in North Carolina has been advised to be ready to go to Haiti in case there is a need for that

We are currently living in a very sensitive time and at any time things can change. Stay with us for any development

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Charlemagne Masséna Peralte was one of the greatest heroes of Haiti. Born in 1886, Peralte was a popular Haitian Nationalist leader who strictly opposed the invasion of Haiti in 1915 by United States. He led the guerrilla fighters called Cacos and presented a tremendous challenge to the invading US forces. Because of this retaliation, US had to severely upgrade its presence in Haiti.

Charlemagne Masséna Peralte was born in a city called Hinche. He was born to a family which had previously migrated from an area which currently falls within the borders of Dominican Republic. Peralte is respected both in Haiti and Dominican Republic. On his birth certificate, his name is registered as François Borgia Charlemagne Peralte.

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