U.S. Marines Land in Dominican Republic

Apr. 28, 1965 - United States Marines landed in the revolt-torn Dominican Republic today to protect and evacuate American citizens, President Johnson announced tonight.

United States officials said 45 Marines were landed by helicopter at a polo field three miles west of the downtown area of Santo Domingo, the capital, where American refugees were gathering.

These officials said one platoon of Marines had gone to the U.S. Embassy. During the day, the residence of Ambassador W. Tapley Bennett Jr. came under machine-gun fire, the officials added.

No American civilians or Marines were known to have been killed or injured, according to these sources.

In addition to Americans, the Marines were under instructions to protect and evacuate other nationals who might want to leave the Dominican Republic.

Officials in Washington said the Marines would stay in the Dominican Republic “as long as necessary.” They stressed that the Marines were not to take sides in the struggle between Dominican political and military factions.

Although these sources said that some Communist leaders had been clearly identified as among the rebel forces, they avoided suggesting that the Communists had captured the rebellion. It appeared, they said, that the superiority of weapons lay with non-Communist forces attempting to crush the rebellion in any case.

Johnson made his announcement at 8:51 p.m. after a 45-minute meeting with Democratic and Republican Congressional leaders. The decision to land the Marines was made much earlier — between 5 and 6 p.m.

Johnson, his face grave as he faced television cameras in the White House theater, said he had been informed “by military authorities in the Dominican Republic that American lives are in danger” and that local authorities “are no longer able to guarantee their safety.”

Johnson said he was repeating an “urgent appeal again tonight” that there be a cease-fire.

Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s