Today in AFJ History

August 21, 2013  

1934: Pulling out of Haiti

Marines pose with a shark they caught while deployed to Haiti in 1925. It would be another nine years before the Corps would depart the Caribbean country. (Marine Corps)

Marines pose with a shark they caught while deployed to Haiti in 1925. It would be another nine years before the Corps would depart the Caribbean country. (Marine Corps)

From the archives: August 18, 1934

[Editor’s note: This departure, which marked the conclusion of an operation that began in 1915, ended the longest U.S. mission to Haiti, though it was neither the first nor the last.]

Marines Leave Haiti

Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson announced this week that all units of the First Brigade of Marines under the command of Brig. Gen. Louis McCarty Little, USMC, and officers and men formerly attached to the Garde de Haiti have been withdrawn from the Republic of Haiti and embarked on board the USS Argonne and USS Bridge for passage to Hampton Roads, Virginia.

They will arrive at Hampton Roads Aug. 20 and will be sent to Quantico, Va., the same day.

The following is a despatch received Aug. 15 by radio from General Little:

“Entire Marine Brigade and all stores withdrawn from Haiti at 9 a.m. today. Most friendly feeling shown by populace. Signed Louis McCarty Little.”

The USS Bridge has embarked 15 officers and 256 enlisted men and the Argonne 15 officers and 213 enlisted men. These are the last of the Marines to leave Haiti, the evacuation having started August 1 by order of the President.