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Fort Riviere, Grenada

In Haiti at 5:50 p.m. on July 28 of 1915, the marines of two companies and three sailors landed in Haiti, which was a great political upheaval. Thus what would become a long involvement between Haiti and the U.S. Marines began. The involvement in which, off and on has continued to the present day. As the occupation of this small Caribbean country began, so too did the events which would bring US Marine Captain Smedley Butler his second Medal of Honor. Grenada's Fort Riviere is a mountain fort to the south of Grand Riviere du Nord.

Police, customs, schools and hospitals were all placed under the purview of the Marines and Naval personnel assigned to the occupation. The Marines and sailors under Admiral Caperton rapidly reestablished an interim government.

The Marines customaried a law enforcing constabulary, officered by Marine NCO's who were granted Haitian commissions as officers and leaders of native troops. This group, called the Gendarmerie d'Haiti, was tasked with enforcing all laws of the country and provided a quasi military force. They were backed by the Krag-Jorgensen rifles of the 1st Marine Brigade with 88 Officers and 1941 men garrisoning ten towns.

But this action which was taken by the marines did not settle a group of rebels called the Cacos. On the northern end of the country, war faring continued in the villages and jungled mountains. (It was during this same period that Gunnery Sergeant Daniel J. Daly, the other Marine to hold two Navy issue Medals of Honor, won his second award of this highest American decoration.)

In the night on November 17, 1915, Butler, leading a strong force of Marines and sailors surrounded the last stronghold of the Cacos. Fort Riviere, on a mountain to the south of Grand Riviere du Nord. At 07:30 a.m., Butler gave a signal on a whistle and all the Marines attacked. The surprise was total and the Cacos were taken in confusion. Crawling through a tunnel. Butler and his men were involved in bloody hand to hand fighting. In 15 minutes, more than 50 Cacos were killed.