RAISING THE U.S. FLAG OVER PUERTO RICO

Typical Marine Detachment cerca 1900

The Marine Detachment from theUSS Dixie conducted a landing at Ponce, Puerto Rico subsequently capturing Ponce and La Playa when both towns surrendered. Their raising of the U.S. flag was the first time the flag had been flown over the island, and it has flown over Puerto Rico ever since.

27 July in Marine Corps History

THIS DAY IN MARINE CORPS HISTORY: 27 July

"The First Recruits" by Col Charles Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Significant Marine events on this date included a meeting in Martinique, raising the flag over Puerto Rico, island-hopping battles in the Pacific, plus a look at the Corps' 1st Commandant.

THIS DAY IN MARINE CORPS HISTORY: 27July

PHIBLEX ON VIEQUES ISLAND

Major Kevin McClernon, USMC meeting with his unit leaders and staff and the base camp is established in the background.

Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, July 1996. Commanded the Landing Force during the annual UNITAS Exercise. Here I'm meeting with some of the headquarters staff and unit leaders as the base camp is being established in the background. Besides U.S. Marines, the landing force included Brazilian, Colombian, Dutch, Peruvian and Venezuelan Marines. Additionally the staff was augmented by Marines from Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay and a South African paratrooper.

This was one of the last amphibious landings conducted on Vieques as the Department of the Navy ceased operations on the island in 2001. The island had been used by the Navy and Marine Corps since 1941 to practice and perfect amphibious warfare techniques.

U.S. Marine Corps Facts & History articles