Battle of Achuapa

Battle of Achuapa
Part of United States occupation of Nicaragua, Banana Wars
DateDecember 31, 1930
Locationnear Achuapa, Nicaragua
Result Sandinista victory
Belligerents
 United States Sandinistas
Commanders and leaders
Arthur M. Palrang[1] † Miguel Angel Ortez
Strength
10 Marines unknown
Casualties and losses
Eight killed, two wounded[2]:353 Estimated 11 killed and four wounded[3]

The Battle of Achuapa, or the Achuapa massacre,[4] took place on December 31, 1930 during the American occupation of Nicaragua of 1926-1933.[2]:353 The engagement took place when a ten-man unit of American Marines led by Sergeant Arthur M. Palrang were ambushed by Sandinista rebels led by Miguel Angel Ortez after leaving Ocotal to repair the telephone line with San Fernando. Eight Marines were killed in the firefight (including Palrang[5]), with the two survivors being wounded. It was the largest loss of American life in a single battle during the occupation of Nicaragua. The battle resulted in the Sandinistas capturing "two Browning automatic rifles, one Thompson submachine gun, three Springfield rifles, and eight fully equipped mules."[6] The battle lasted two and a half hours.[7]

In the United States, the incident reignited controversy over the military occupation of Nicaragua. On January 2, 1931, Senator William E. Borah, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for a withdrawal of American military personnel from Nicaragua.[8]

American casualties[9]

Killed-in-action:

Wounded:

References

  1. ↑ Beede, Benjamin R. (May 1, 1994). The War of 1898 and U.S. Interventions, 1898-1934: An Encyclopedia. New York City: Routledge. p. 3.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Musicant, I, The Banana Wars, 1990, New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., ISBN 0025882104
  3. ↑ Beede, Benjamin R. (May 1, 1994). The War of 1898 and U.S. Interventions, 1898-1934: An Encyclopedia. New York City: Routledge. p. 3.
  4. ↑ "The Wyoming Tragedy". Leatherneck. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Marine Corps Casualties". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927-1934. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  6. ↑ Macaulay, Neill (February 1998). The Sandino Affair. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. p. 183.
  7. ↑ Beede, Benjamin R. (May 1, 1994). The War of 1898 and U.S. Interventions, 1898-1934: An Encyclopedia. New York City: Routledge. p. 3.
  8. ↑ Macaulay, Neill (February 1998). The Sandino Affair. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. pp. 183–184.
  9. ↑ "Marine Corps Casualties". The Sandino Rebellion, 1927-1934. Retrieved 9 April 2014.