thedrifter
08-26-07, 03:10 PM
Counterinsurgency work earned Marines top medal
By Keith A. Milks - Special to the Times
Posted : September 03, 2007
Two Marines earned the Medal of Honor after executing a daring plan that eliminated a leader of the Haitian insurgency in the early 1900s.
Charlemagne Peralte led the Cacos, a loose-knit organization of bandit groups that caused problems for the Haitian government and its American benefactors during the Second Haitian Campaign (1919-1920).
In late 1919, Marines serving with the Haitian police hatched a plan to decapitate the insurgency by killing or capturing Peralte. Sgt. Herman Hanneken, a former theology student and cowboy, used double agents to entice the Cacos into attacking a secretly reinforced government fort at Grande Riviere du Nord.
The Cacos took the bait in late October 1919 and moved 1,000 troops to Fort Capois, from which they would launch their assault on Grande Riviere du Nord on Oct. 31. Meanwhile, Hanneken learned that Peralte would await news of the assault in a nearby village.
While Marines and Haitian troops under Maj. James Meade defended Grande Riviere du Nord, Hanneken, 26, and Cpl. William Button, 23, disguised themselves in native garb and staked out the village of Mazare.
One of Hanneken’s double agents, Jean-Baptiste Conze, reported that Peralte was staying in a hilltop encampment between Fort Capois and Grande Riviere du Nord.
Hanneken thrust two .45-caliber revolvers into the waistband of his civilian trousers, blackened his face with soot, and took Button and 20 Haitian soldiers into the hills to hunt Peralte.
Francois led the column for three hours through dense jungle toward Peralte’s camp.
Just after 2 a.m., the patrol reached Peralte’s encampment. Deep in the jungle, surrounded by his troops, Peralte was confident enough to casually stand around a fire chatting with his followers.
Hanneken quickly ordered his men to establish a cordon while he and Button approached Peralte.
Peralte tried to run, but Hanneken fired two shots into the Haitian’s chest while Button began raking the camp with his Browning automatic rifle.
Within seconds, Peralte and several Cacos were dead while the rest fled into the jungle. Peralte’s body was put on display to prove to the populace he was dead, and the Marines and government troops marched on Fort Capois, which the Cacos abandoned after a short fight.
For their actions that night, Button and Hanneken, both St. Louis natives, were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Hanneken later earned the Navy Cross for killing another Caco leader, Osiris Joseph. “Hard Head” Hanneken was commissioned in 1920, rose to the rank of brigadier general, and served with distinction during World War II. He retired in 1948, having accumulated another Navy Cross and the Silver and Bronze Star medals. He died in 1986 at age 89.
Button, promoted to sergeant, contracted malaria and died in Haiti in April 1921. He was 25.
The writer is a master sergeant. He can be reached at kambtp@aol.com.
Ellie
By Keith A. Milks - Special to the Times
Posted : September 03, 2007
Two Marines earned the Medal of Honor after executing a daring plan that eliminated a leader of the Haitian insurgency in the early 1900s.
Charlemagne Peralte led the Cacos, a loose-knit organization of bandit groups that caused problems for the Haitian government and its American benefactors during the Second Haitian Campaign (1919-1920).
In late 1919, Marines serving with the Haitian police hatched a plan to decapitate the insurgency by killing or capturing Peralte. Sgt. Herman Hanneken, a former theology student and cowboy, used double agents to entice the Cacos into attacking a secretly reinforced government fort at Grande Riviere du Nord.
The Cacos took the bait in late October 1919 and moved 1,000 troops to Fort Capois, from which they would launch their assault on Grande Riviere du Nord on Oct. 31. Meanwhile, Hanneken learned that Peralte would await news of the assault in a nearby village.
While Marines and Haitian troops under Maj. James Meade defended Grande Riviere du Nord, Hanneken, 26, and Cpl. William Button, 23, disguised themselves in native garb and staked out the village of Mazare.
One of Hanneken’s double agents, Jean-Baptiste Conze, reported that Peralte was staying in a hilltop encampment between Fort Capois and Grande Riviere du Nord.
Hanneken thrust two .45-caliber revolvers into the waistband of his civilian trousers, blackened his face with soot, and took Button and 20 Haitian soldiers into the hills to hunt Peralte.
Francois led the column for three hours through dense jungle toward Peralte’s camp.
Just after 2 a.m., the patrol reached Peralte’s encampment. Deep in the jungle, surrounded by his troops, Peralte was confident enough to casually stand around a fire chatting with his followers.
Hanneken quickly ordered his men to establish a cordon while he and Button approached Peralte.
Peralte tried to run, but Hanneken fired two shots into the Haitian’s chest while Button began raking the camp with his Browning automatic rifle.
Within seconds, Peralte and several Cacos were dead while the rest fled into the jungle. Peralte’s body was put on display to prove to the populace he was dead, and the Marines and government troops marched on Fort Capois, which the Cacos abandoned after a short fight.
For their actions that night, Button and Hanneken, both St. Louis natives, were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Hanneken later earned the Navy Cross for killing another Caco leader, Osiris Joseph. “Hard Head” Hanneken was commissioned in 1920, rose to the rank of brigadier general, and served with distinction during World War II. He retired in 1948, having accumulated another Navy Cross and the Silver and Bronze Star medals. He died in 1986 at age 89.
Button, promoted to sergeant, contracted malaria and died in Haiti in April 1921. He was 25.
The writer is a master sergeant. He can be reached at kambtp@aol.com.
Ellie