Do you know how many extraterritorial and major domestic deployments the US has been in?
This list does not include the American Indian battles, the slave revolts, the range wars, boundary disputes or riots.
Portions of this list are from the Congressional Research
Service report RL30172.[1]
1775-1800
1775-1783 - American Revolutionary War
1786-1787 - Shays' Rebellion
1794 - Whiskey Rebellion
1798-1800 - Quasi-War, an undeclared naval war with France.
This contest included land actions, such as that in the Dominican Republic city
of Puerto Plata, where U.S. Marines captured a French privateer under the guns
of the forts. Congress authorized military action through a series of
statutes.[RL30172]
1799-1800 - Fries's Rebellion, a Pennsylvania protest
against war taxes.
1800-1809
1801-1805 - First Barbary War - USS George Washington and
USS Philadelphia affairs result in actions against the Barbary pirates
responsible. In the Eaton expedition, a few Marines landed with United States
Agent William Eaton to raise a force against Tripoli in an effort to free the
crew of the Philadelphia. Tripoli declared war; the United States did not,
although Congress authorized military action by statute.[RL30172]
1806 -- Spanish Mexico - A platoon under Captain Zebulon
Pike invaded Spanish territory at the headwaters of the Rio Grande on orders
from General James Wilkinson. He was made prisoner without resistance at a fort
he constructed in present-day Colorado, taken to Mexico, and later released
after seizure of his papers.[RL30172]
Further information: Zebulon Pike#Southwest expedition
1806-10 -- Gulf of Mexico. American gunboats operated from
New Orleans against Spanish and French privateers off the Mississippi Delta,
chiefly under Captain John Shaw and Master Commandant David Porter.[RL30172]
1810-1819
1810 West Florida (Spanish territory). Governor William
C.C. Claiborne of Louisiana, on orders of President James Madison, occupied
with troops territory in dispute east of the Mississippi as far as the Pearl
River, later the eastern boundary of Louisiana. He was authorized to seize as
far east as the Perdido River.[RL30172]
1812 Amelia Island and other parts of east Florida, then
under Spain. Temporary possession was authorized by President James Madison and
by Congress, to prevent occupation by any other power; but possession was
obtained by General George Mathews in so irregular a manner that his measures were
disavowed by the President.[RL30172]
1812-15 War of 1812. On June 18, 1812, the United States
declared war against the United Kingdom. Among the issues leading to the war
were British impressment of American sailors into the Royal Navy, interception
of neutral ships and blockades of the United States during British hostilities
with France. [RL30172]
1813 West Florida (Spanish territory). On authority given
by Congress, General Wilkinson seized Mobile Bay in April with 600 soldiers. A
small Spanish garrison gave way. Thus U.S. troops advanced into disputed
territory to the Perdido River, as projected in 1810. No fighting.[RL30172]
1813-14 Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia). U.S. forces
built a fort on the island of Nuku Hiva to protect three prize ships which had
been captured from the British.[RL30172]
1814 Spanish Florida. General Andrew Jackson took
Pensacola and drove out the British forces.[RL30172]
1814-25 Caribbean. Engagements between pirates and
American ships or squadrons took place repeatedly especially ashore and
offshore about Cuba, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, and Yucatan. Three thousand
pirate attacks on merchantmen were reported between 1815 and 1823. In 1822,
Commodore James Biddle employed a squadron of two frigates, four sloops of war,
two brigs, four schooners, and two gunboats in the West Indies.[RL30172]
1815 Algiers. The Second Barbary War was declared against
the United States by the Dey of Algiers of the Barbary states, an act not
reciprocated by the United States. Congress did authorize a military expedition
by statute. A large fleet under Captain Stephen Decatur attacked Algiers and
obtained indemnities.[RL30172]
1815 Tripoli. After securing an agreement from Algiers,
Captain Decatur demonstrated with his squadron at Tunis and Tripoli, where he
secured indemnities for offenses during the War of 1812.[RL30172]
1816 Spanish Florida. United States forces destroyed Negro
Fort, which harbored fugitive slaves making raids into United States
territory.[RL30172]
1816-18 Spanish Florida - First Seminole War. The Seminole
Indians, whose area was a haven for escaped slaves and border ruffians, were
attacked by troops under General Jackson and General Edmond P. Gaines and
pursued into northern Florida. Spanish posts were attacked and occupied,
British citizens executed. In 1819 the Floridas were ceded to the United
States.[RL30172]
1817 Amelia Island (Spanish territory off Florida). Under
orders of President James Monroe, United States forces landed and expelled a
group of smugglers, adventurers, and freebooters.[RL30172]
1818 Oregon. The USS Ontario dispatched from Washington,
which made a landing at the mouth of the Columbia River to assert US claims.
Britain had conceded sovereignty but Russia and Spain asserted claims to the
area.[RL30172] Subsequently, American and British claims to the Oregon Country
were resolved with the Oregon Treaty of 1846.[RL30172]
1820-1829
1820-23 -- Africa. Naval units raided the slave traffic
pursuant to the 1819 act of Congress. [RL30172][Slave Traffic]
1822 -- Cuba. United States naval forces suppressing piracy
landed on the northwest coast of Cuba and burned a pirate station.[RL30172]
1823 -- Cuba. Brief landings in pursuit of pirates occurred
April 8 near Escondido; April 16 near Cayo Blanco; July 11 at Siquapa Bay; July
21 at Cape Cruz; and October 23 at Camrioca.[RL30172]
1824 -- Cuba. In October the USS Porpoise landed bluejackets
near Matanzas in pursuit of pirates. This was during the cruise authorized in
1822.[RL30172]
1824 -- Puerto Rico (Spanish territory). Commodore David
Porter with a landing party attacked the town of Fajardo which had sheltered
pirates and insulted American naval officers. He landed with 200 men in
November and forced an apology. Commodore Porter was later court-martialed for
overstepping his powers.[RL30172]
1825 -- Cuba. In March cooperating American and British
forces landed at Sagua La Grande to capture pirates.[RL30172]
1827 -- Greece. In October and November landing parties
hunted pirates on the Mediterranean islands of Argenteire, Myconos, and
Andros.[RL30172]we didn't win
1830-1839
1831-32 Falkland Islands. Captain Silas Duncan of the USS
Lexington investigated the capture of three American sailing vessels and sought
to protect American interests.[RL30172]
1832 Attack on Quallah Battoo, Sumatra, Indonesia -
February 6-9. U.S. forces under Commodore John Downes aboard the frigate USS
Potomac landed and stormed a fort to punish natives of the town of Quallah
Battoo for plundering the American cargo ship Friendship.[RL30172]
1833 Argentina. - October 31 to November 15. A force was
sent ashore at Buenos Aires to protect the interests of the United States and
other countries during an insurrection.[RL30172]
1835-36 Peru. - December 10, 1835, to January 24, 1836,
and August 31 to December 7, 1836. Marines protected American interests in
Callao and Lima during an attempted revolution.[RL30172]
1836 Mexico. General James Gaines occupied Nacogdoches,
Texas, disputed territory, from July to December during the Texas Revolution,
under orders to cross the "imaginary boundary line" if an Indian
outbreak threatened.[RL30172]
1838 The Caroline affair on Navy Island, Canada. After the
failure of the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837 favoring Canadian democracy and
independence from the British Empire; William Lyon Mackenzie and his rebels
fled to Navy Island where they declared the Republic of Canada. American sympathizers
sent supplies on the SS Caroline, which was intercepted by the British and set
ablaze, after killing one American. It was falsely reported that dozens of
Americans were killed as they were trapped on board, and American forces
retaliated by burning a British steamer while it was in U.S. waters.
1838-39 Sumatra (Indonesia). - December 24, 1838, to
January 4, 1839. A naval force landed to punish natives of the towns of Quallah
Battoo and Muckie (Mukki) for depredations on American shipping.[RL30172]
1840-1849
1840 Fiji Islands. - July. Naval forces landed to punish
natives for attacking American exploring and surveying parties.[RL30172]
1841 McKean Island (Drummond Island/Taputenea), Gilbert
Islands (Kingsmill Group), Pacific Ocean. A naval party landed to avenge the
murder of a seaman by the natives.[RL30172]
1841 Samoa. - February 24. A naval party landed and burned
towns after the murder of an American seaman on Upolu.[RL30172]
1842 Mexico. Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones, in command
of a squadron long cruising off California, occupied Monterey, California, on
October 19, believing war had come. He discovered peace, withdrew, and saluted.
A similar incident occurred a week later at San Diego.[RL30172]
1843 China. Sailors and marines from the St. Louis were
landed after a clash between Americans and Chinese at the trading post in
Canton.[RL30172]
1843 Africa. November 29 to December 16. Four United
States vessels demonstrated and landed various parties (one of 200 marines and
sailors) to discourage piracy and the slave trade along the Ivory Coast, and to
punish attacks by the natives on American seamen and shipping.[RL30172]
1844 Mexico. President Tyler deployed U.S. forces to
protect Texas against Mexico, pending Senate approval of a treaty of
annexation. (Later rejected.) He defended his action against a Senate
resolution of inquiry.[RL30172]
1846-48 Mexican-American War On May 13,1846, the United
States recognized the existence of a state of war with Mexico. After the
annexation of Texas in 1845, the United States and Mexico failed to resolve a
boundary dispute and President Polk said that it was necessary to deploy forces
in Mexico to meet a threatened invasion.[RL30172]
1849 Smyrna (Izmir, Turkey). In July a naval force gained release
of an American seized by Austrian officials.[RL30172]
1850-1859
1851 Turkey. After a massacre of foreigners (including
Americans) at Jaffa in January, a demonstration by the Mediterranean Squadron
was ordered along the Turkish (Levant) coast.[RL30172]
1851 Johanns Island (east of Africa). - August. Forces
from the U.S. sloop-of-war Dale exacted redress for the unlawful imprisonment
of the captain of an American whaling brig.[RL30172]
1852-53 Argentina. February 3 to 12, 1852; September 17,
1852 to April 1853. Marines were landed and maintained in Buenos Aires to
protect American interests during a revolution.[RL30172]
1853 -- Nicaragua. March 11 to 13. US forces landed to
protect American lives and interests during political disturbances[RL30172]
1853-54 Japan. Commodore Matthew Perry and his expedition
made a display of force leading to the "opening of Japan."[RL30172]
1853-54 Ryūkyū and Bonin Islands (Japan).
Commodore Matthew Perry on three visits before going to Japan and while waiting
for a reply from Japan made a naval demonstration, landing marines twice, and
secured a coaling concession from the ruler of Naha on Okinawa; he also
demonstrated in the Bonin Islands with the purpose of securing facilities for
commerce.[RL30172]
1854 China. April 4 to June 15 to 17. American and English
ships landed forces to protect American interests in and near Shanghai during
Chinese civil strife.[RL30172]
1854 Nicaragua. July 9 to 15. Naval forces bombarded and
burned San Juan del Norte (Greytown) to avenge an insult to the American
Minister to Nicaragua.[RL30172]
1855 China. May 19 to 21. U.S. forces protected American
interests in Shanghai and, from August 3 to 5 fought pirates near Hong
Kong.[RL30172]
1855 Fiji Islands. September 12 to November 4. An American
naval force landed to seek reparations for attacks on American residents and
seamen.[RL30172]
1855 Uruguay. November 25 to 29. United States and
European naval forces landed to protect American interests during an attempted
revolution in Montevideo.[RL30172]
1856 Panama, Republic of New Grenada. September 19 to 22.
U.S. forces landed to protect American interests during an
insurrection.[RL30172]
1856 China. October 22 to December 6. U.S. forces landed
to protect American interests at Canton during hostilities between the British
and the Chinese, and to avenge an assault upon an unarmed boat displaying the
United States flag.[RL30172]
1857-58 Utah War. The Utah War was a dispute between
Mormon settlers in Utah Territory and the United States federal government. The
Mormons and Washington each sought control over the government of the
territory, with the national government victorious. The confrontation between
the Mormon militia and the U.S. Army involved some destruction of property, but
no actual battles between the contending military forces.
1857 Nicaragua. April to May, November to December. In May
Commander Charles H. Davis of the United States Navy, with some marines,
received the surrender of William Walker, self-proclaimed president of
Nicaragua, who was losing control of the country to forces financed by his
former business partner, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and protected his men from the
retaliation of native allies who had been fighting Walker. In November and
December of the same year United States vessels USS Saratoga, USS Wabash, and
Fulton opposed another attempt of William Walker on Nicaragua. Commodore Hiram
Paulding's act of landing marines and compelling the removal of Walker to the
United States, was tacitly disavowed by Secretary of State Lewis Cass, and
Paulding was forced into retirement.[RL30172]
1858 Uruguay. January 2 to 27. Forces from two United
States warships landed to protect American property during a revolution in
Montevideo.[RL30172]
1858 Fiji Islands. October 6 to 16. A marine expedition
with the USS Vandalia enacted revenge on natives for the murder of two American
citizens at Waya.[RL30172] [] [Vandalia 2]
1858-59 Turkey. The Secretary of State requested a display
of naval force along the Levant after a massacre of Americans at Jaffa and
mistreatment elsewhere "to remind the authorities (of Turkey) of the power
of the United States."[RL30172]
1859 Paraguay. Congress authorized a naval squadron to
seek redress for an attack on a naval vessel in the Parana River during 1855.
Apologies were made after a large display of force.[RL30172]
1859 Mexico. Two hundred United States soldiers crossed
the Rio Grande in pursuit of the Mexican nationalist Juan Cortina.[RL30172]
[1859 Mexico]
1859 China. July 31 to August 2. A naval force landed to
protect American interests in Shanghai.[RL30172]
1860-1869
1860 -- Angola, Portuguese West Africa. - March 1. American
residents at Kissembo called upon American and British ships to protect lives
and property during problems with natives.[RL30172]
1860 -- Colombia, Bay of Panama. - September 27 to October
8. Naval forces landed to protect American interests during a
revolution.[RL30172]
1861-65 -- American Civil War A major war between the United
States (the Union) and eleven Southern states which declared that they had a
right to secession and formed the Confederate States of America.
1863 -- Japan. - July 16. Naval battle of Shimonoseki. The
USS Wyoming retaliated against a firing on the American vessel Pembroke at
Shimonoseki.[RL30172]
1864 -- Japan. - July 14 to August 3. Naval forces protected
the United States Minister to Japan when he visited Yedo to negotiate
concerning some American claims against Japan, and to make his negotiations
easier by impressing the Japanese with American power.[RL30172]
1864 -- Japan. - September 4 to 14. Naval forces of the
United States, Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands compelled Japan and
the Prince of Nagato in particular to permit the Straits of Shimonoseki to be
used by foreign shipping in accordance with treaties already signed.[RL30172]
1865 -- Panama. - March 9 and 10. US forces protected the
lives and property of American residents during a revolution.[RL30172]
1865-1876 Southern United States -- Reconstruction following
the American Civil War. The South is divided into five Union occupation
districts under the Reconstruction Act.
1866 -- Mexico. To protect American residents, General
Sedgwick and 100 men in November obtained surrender of Matamoros, on the border
State of Tamaulipas. After three days he was ordered by US Government to
withdraw. His act was repudiated by the President.[RL30172]
1866 -- China. From June 20 to July 7, US forces punished an
assault on the American consul at Newchwang.[RL30172]
1867 -- Nicaragua. Marines occupied Managua and Leon.1865-77
1867 -- Formosa (island of Taiwan) - June 13. A naval force
landed and burned a number of huts to punish the murder of the crew of a
wrecked American vessel.1865-77
1868 -- Japan (Osaka, Hiolo, Nagasaki, Yokohama, and
Negata). - February 4 to 8, April 4 to May 12, June 12 and 13. US forces were
landed to protect American interests during the civil war in Japan.[RL30172]
1868 -- Uruguay. - February 7 and 8, 19 to 26. US forces
protected foreign residents and the customhouse during an insurrection at
Montevideo.[RL30172]
1868 -- Colombia. - April. US forces protected passengers
and treasure in transit at Aspinwall during the absence of local police or
troops on the occasion of the death of the President of Colombia.[RL30172]
1870-1879
1870 -- Mexico. - June 17 and 18. US forces destroyed the
pirate ship Forward, which had been run aground about 40 miles up the Rio
Tecapan.[RL30172]
1870 -- Hawaiian Islands. - September 21. US forces placed
the American flag at half-mast upon the death of Queen Kalama, when the
American consul at Honolulu would not assume responsibility for so
doing.[RL30172]
1871 -- Korea. Shinmiyangyo. - June 10 to 12. A US naval
force attacked and captured five forts to punish natives for depredations on
Americans, particularly for murdering the crew of the General Sherman and
burning the schooner, and for later firing on other American small boats taking
soundings up the Salee River.[RL30172]
1873 -- Colombia (Bay of Panama). - May 7 to 22, September
23 to October 9. U.S. forces protected American interests during hostilities
between local groups over control of the government of the State of
Panama.[RL30172]
1873-96 -- Mexico. United States troops crossed the Mexican
border repeatedly in pursuit of cattle and other thieves and other
brigands.[RL30172]
1874 -- Hawaiian Islands. - February 12 to 20. Detachments
from American vessels were landed to preserve order and protect American lives
and interests during the coronation of a new king.[RL30172]
1876 -- Mexico. - May 18. An American force was landed to
police the town of Matamoros, Tamaulipas State, temporarily while it was
without other government.[RL30172]
1880-1889
1882 -- Egypt. - July 14 to 18. American forces landed to
protect American interests during warfare between British and Egyptians and
looting of the city of Alexandria by Arabs.[RL30172]
1885 -- Panama (Colon). - January 18 and 19. US forces were
used to guard the valuables in transit over the Panama Railroad, and the safes
and vaults of the company during revolutionary activity. In March, April, and
May in the cities of Colon and Panama, the forces helped reestablish freedom of
transit during revolutionary activity.[RL30172]
1888 -- Korea. - June. A naval force was sent ashore to
protect American residents in Seoul during unsettled political conditions, when
an outbreak of the populace was expected.[RL30172]
1888 -- Haiti. - December 20. A display of force persuaded
the Haitian Government to give up an American steamer which had been seized on
the charge of breach of blockade.[RL30172]
1888-89 -- Samoa. - November 14, 1888, to March 20, 1889. US
forces were landed to protect American citizens and the consulate during a
native civil war.[RL30172]
1889 -- Hawaiian Islands. - July 30 and 31. US forces
protected American interests at Honolulu during a revolution.[RL30172]
1890-1899
1890 -- Argentina. A naval party landed to protect US
consulate and legation in Buenos Aires.[RL30172]
1890 -- South Dakota. December 29. Soldiers of the US Army
7th Cavalry killed 178 Sioux Amerindians following an incident over a
disarmament-inspection at a Lakota Sioux encampment near Wounded Knee Creek. 89
other Amerinds were injured, 150 were reported missing; Army casualties were 25
killed, 39 wounded.[citation needed]
1891 -- Haiti. US forces sought to protect American lives
and property on Navassa Island.[RL30172]
1891 -- Bering Strait. - July 2 to October 5. Naval forces
sought to stop seal poaching.[RL30172]
1891 -- Chile. - August 28 to 30. US forces protected the
American consulate and the women and children who had taken refuge in it during
a revolution in Valparaiso.[RL30172]
1893 -- overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, January 16 to
April 1. Marines landed in Hawaii, ostensibly to protect American lives and
property, but many believed actually to promote a provisional government under
Sanford B. Dole. This action was disavowed by the United States.[RL30172]
1894 -- Brazil. - January. A display of naval force sought
to protect American commerce and shipping at Rio de Janeiro during a Brazilian
civil war.[RL30172]
1894 -- Nicaragua. - July 6 to August 7. US forces sought to
protect American interests at Bluefields following a revolution.[RL30172]
1894-95 -- China. Marines were stationed at Tientsin and
penetrated to Peking for protection purposes during the First Sino-Japanese
War.[RL30172]
1894-95 -- China. A naval vessel was beached and used as a
fort at Newchwang for protection of American nationals.[RL30172]
1894-96 -- Korea. - July 24, 1894 to April 3, 1896. A guard
of marines was sent to protect the American legation and American lives and
interests at Seoul during and following the Sino-Japanese War.[RL30172]
1895 -- Colombia. - March 8 to 9. US forces protected
American interests during an attack on the town of Bocas del Toro by a bandit
chieftain.[RL30172]
1895-96 -- Venezuela. - Settlement of boundary
dispute.[citation needed]
1896 -- Nicaragua. - May 2 to 4. US forces protected
American interests in Corinto during political unrest.[RL30172]
1898 -- Nicaragua. - February 7 and 8. US forces protected
American lives and property at San Juan del Sur.[RL30172]
1898 -- Spanish-American War On April 25, 1898, the United
States declared war with Spain. The war followed a Cuban insurrection, the
Cuban War of Independence against Spanish rule and the sinking of the USS Maine
in the harbor at Havana.[RL30172]
1898-99 -- Samoa. Second Samoan Civil War a conflict that
reached a head in 1898 when Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States
were locked in dispute over who should have control over the Samoan island
chain.
1898-99 -- China. - November 5, 1898 to March 15, 1899. US
forces provided a guard for the legation at Peking and the consulate at
Tientsin during contest between the Dowager Empress and her son.[RL30172]
1899 -- Nicaragua. American and British naval forces were
landed to protect national interests at San Juan del Norte, February 22 to
March 5, and at Bluefields a few weeks later in connection with the
insurrection of Gen. Juan P. Reyes.[RL30172]
1899-1913 -- Philippine Islands. Philippine-American War US
forces protected American interests following the war with Spain, defeating
rebellious Filipinos seeking immediate national independence.[RL30172] The U.S.
government declared the "insurgency" officially over in 1902, when
the Filipino leadership generally accepted American rule. Skirmishes between
government troops and armed groups lasted until 1913, and some historians
consider these unofficial extensions of the war.[2]
1900-1909
1900 China. May 24 to September 28. Boxer Rebellion
American troops participated in operations to protect foreign lives during the
Boxer rising, particularly at Peking. For many years after this experience a
permanent legation guard was maintained in Peking, and was strengthened at
times as trouble threatened.[RL30172]
1901 Colombia (State of Panama). November 20 to December
4. Panamanian Revolution US forces protected American property on the Isthmus
and kept transit lines open during serious revolutionary disturbances.[RL30172]
1902 Colombia. - April 16 to 23. US forces protected
American lives and property at Bocas del Toro during a civil war.[RL30172]
1902 Colombia (State of Panama). September 17 to November
18. The United States placed armed guards on all trains crossing the Isthmus to
keep the railroad line open, and stationed ships on both sides of Panama to
prevent the landing of Colombian troops.[RL30172]
1903 Honduras. March 23 to 30 or 31. US forces protected
the American consulate and the steamship wharf at Puerto Cortes during a period
of revolutionary activity.[RL30172]
1903 Dominican Republic. March 30 to April 21. A
detachment of marines was landed to protect American interests in the city of
Santo Domingo during a revolutionary outbreak.[RL30172]
1903 Syria. September 7 to 12. US forces protected the
American consulate in Beirut when a local Moslem uprising was feared.[RL30172]
1903-04 Abyssinia (Ethiopia). Twenty-five marines were
sent to Abyssinia to protect the US Consul General while he negotiated a
treaty.[RL30172]
1903-14 Panama. US forces sought to protect American
interests and lives during and following the revolution for independence from
Colombia over construction of the Isthmian Canal. With brief intermissions,
United States Marines were stationed on the Isthmus from November 4, 1903, to
January 21, 1914 to guard American interests.[RL30172]
1904 Dominican Republic. January 2 to February 11.
American and British naval forces established an area in which no fighting
would be allowed and protected American interests in Puerto Plata and Sosua and
Santo Domingo City during revolutionary fighting.[RL30172]
1904 Tangier, Morocco. "We want either Perdicaris
alive or Raisuli dead." A squadron demonstrated to force release of a
kidnapped American. Marines were landed to protect the consul general.[RL30172]
1904 Panama. November 17 to 24. U.S forces protected
American lives and property at Ancon at the time of a threatened
insurrection.[RL30172]
1904-05 -- Korea. - January 5, 1904, to November 11, 1905. A
guard of Marines was sent to protect the American legation in Seoul during the
Russo-Japanese War.[RL30172]
1906-09 -- Cuba. - September 1906 to January 23, 1909. US
forces sought to protect interests and re-establish a government after
revolutionary activity.[RL30172]
1907 -- Honduras. - March 18 to June 8. To protect American
interests during a war between Honduras and Nicaragua, troops were stationed in
Trujillo, Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Pedro Sula, Laguna and Choloma.[RL30172]
1910 -- Nicaragua. - May 19 to September 4, 1910. Occupation
of Nicaragua US forces protected American interests at Bluefields.[RL30172]
1910-1919
1911 -- Honduras. - January 26. American naval detachments
were landed to protect American lives and interests during a civil war in
Honduras.[RL30172]
1911 -- China. As the Tongmenghui-led Xinhai Revolution
approached, in October an ensign and 10 men tried to enter Wuchang to rescue
missionaries but retired on being warned away, and a small landing force
guarded American private property and consulate at Hankow. Marines were
deployed in November to guard the cable stations at Shanghai; landing forces
were sent for protection in Nanking, Chinkiang, Taku and elsewhere.[RL30172]
1912 -- Honduras. A small force landed to prevent seizure by
the government of an American-owned railroad at Puerto Cortes. The forces were
withdrawn after the United States disapproved the action.[RL30172]
1912 -- Panama. Troops, on request of both political
parties, supervised elections outside the Panama Canal Zone.[RL30172]
1912 -- Cuba, June 5 to August 5. U.S. forces protected
American interests in the province of Oriente and in Havana.[RL30172]
1912 -- China. - August 24 to 26, on Kentucky Island, and
August 26 to 30 at Camp Nicholson. US forces protected Americans and American interests
during the Xinhai Revolution.[RL30172]
1912 -- Turkey. - November 18 to December 3. U.S. forces
guarded the American legation at Constantinople during the First Balkan
War[RL30172]
1912-25 -- Nicaragua. - August to November 1912. U.S. forces
protected American interests during an attempted revolution. A small force,
serving as a legation guard and seeking to promote peace and stability,
remained until August 5, 1925.[RL30172]
1912-41 -- China. The disorders which began with the
overthrow of the dynasty during Kuomintang rebellion in 1912, which were
redirected by the invasion of China by Japan, led to demonstrations and landing
parties for the protection of US interests in China continuously and at many
points from 1912 on to 1941. The guard at Peking and along the route to the sea
was maintained until 1941. In 1927, the United States had 5,670 troops ashore
in China and 44 naval vessels in its waters. In 1933 the United States had
3,027 armed men ashore. The protective action was generally based on treaties
with China concluded from 1858 to 1901.[RL30172]
1913 -- Mexico. - September 5 to 7. A few marines landed at
Ciaris Estero to aid in evacuating American citizens and others from the Yaqui
Valley, made dangerous for foreigners by civil strife.[RL30172]
1914 -- Haiti. - January 29 to February 9, February 20 to
21, October 19. Intermittently US naval forces protected American nationals in
a time of rioting and revolution.[RL30172] The specific order from the
Secretary of the Navy to the invasion commander, Admiral William Deville Bundy,
was to "protect American and foreign" interests.[citation needed]
1914 -- Dominican Republic. - June and July. During a
revolutionary movement, United States naval forces by gunfire stopped the
bombardment of Puerto Plata, and by threat of force maintained Santo Domingo
City as a neutral zone.[RL30172]
1914-17 -- Mexico. Tampico Affair led to Occupation of
Veracruz, Mexico. Undeclared Mexican--American hostilities followed the Tampico
affair and Villa's raids . Also Pancho Villa Expedition) -- an abortive
military operation conducted by the United States Army against the military
forces of Francisco "Pancho" Villa from 1916 to 1917 and included
capture of Vera Cruz. On March 19, 1915 on orders from President Woodrow Wilson,
and with tacit consent by Venustiano Carranza General John J. Pershing led an
invasion force of 10,000 men into Mexico to capture Villa.[RL30172]
1915-34 -- Haiti. - July 28, 1915, to August 15, 1934.
United States occupation of Haiti 1915-1934 US forces maintained order during a
period of chronic political instability.[RL30172] During the initial entrance
into Haiti, the specific order from the Secretary of the Navy to the invasion
commander, Admiral William Deville Bundy, was to "protect American and foreign"
interests.[citation needed]
1916 -- China. American forces landed to quell a riot taking
place on American property in Nanking.[RL30172]
1916-24 -- Dominican Republic. - May 1916 to September 1924.
Occupation of the Dominican Republic American naval forces maintained order
during a period of chronic and threatened insurrection.[RL30172]
1917 -- China. American troops were landed at Chungking to
protect American lives during a political crisis.[RL30172]
1917-18 -- World War I. On April 6, 1917, the United States
declared war with Germany and on December 7, 1917, with Austria-Hungary.
Entrance of the United States into the war was precipitated by Germany's
submarine warfare against neutral shipping.[RL30172]
1917-22 -- Cuba. US forces protected American interests
during insurrection and subsequent unsettled conditions. Most of the United
States armed forces left Cuba by August 1919, but two companies remained at
Camaguey until February 1922.[RL30172]
1918-19 -- Mexico. After withdrawal of the Pershing expedition,
US troops entered Mexico in pursuit of bandits at least three times in 1918 and
six times in 1919. In August 1918 American and Mexican troops fought at
Nogales, due to a crime committed by three drunk American soldiers.[RL30172]
1918-20 -- Panama. US forces were used for police duty
according to treaty stipulations, at Chiriqui, during election disturbances and
subsequent unrest.[RL30172]
1918-20 -- Soviet Union. Marines were landed at and near
Vladivostok in June and July to protect the American consulate and other points
in the fighting between the Bolshevik troops and the Czech Army which had
traversed Siberia from the western front. A joint proclamation of emergency
government and neutrality was issued by the American, Japanese, British, French,
and Czech commanders in July. In August 7,000 men were landed in Vladivostok
and remained until January 1920, as part of an allied occupation force. In
September 1918, 5,000 American troops joined the allied intervention force at
Archangel and remained until June 1919. These operations were in response to
the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and were partly supported by Czarist or
Kerensky elements. [RL30172] For details, see the American Expeditionary Force
Siberia and the American Expeditionary Force North Russia.
1919 -- Dalmatia (Croatia). US forces were landed at Trau at
the request of Italian authorities to police order between the Italians and
Serbs.[RL30172]
1919 -- Turkey. Marines from the USS Arizona were landed to
guard the US Consulate during the Greek occupation of Constantinople.[RL30172]
1919 -- Honduras. - September 8 to 12. A landing force was
sent ashore to maintain order in a neutral zone during an attempted
revolution.[RL30172]
1920-1929
1920 -- China. - March 14. A landing force was sent ashore
for a few hours to protect lives during a disturbance at Kiukiang.[RL30172]
1920 -- Guatemala. - April 9 to 27. US forces protected the
American Legation and other American interests, such as the cable station,
during a period of fighting between Unionists and the Government of
Guatemala.[RL30172]
1920-22 -- Russia (Siberia). - February 16, 1920, to
November 19, 1922. A Marine guard was sent to protect the United States radio
station and property on Russian Island, Bay of Vladivostok.[RL30172]
1921 -- Panama - Costa Rica. American naval squadrons
demonstrated in April on both sides of the Isthmus to prevent war between the
two countries over a boundary dispute.[RL30172]
1922 -- Turkey. - September and October. A landing force was
sent ashore with consent of both Greek and Turkish authorities, to protect
American lives and property when the Turkish nationalists entered İzmir
(Smyrna.[RL30172]
1922-23 -- China. Between April 1922 and November 1923,
Marines were landed five times to protect Americans during periods of
unrest.[RL30172]
1924 -- Honduras. - February 28 to March 31, September 10 to
15. U.S. forces protected American lives and interests during election
hostilities.[RL30172]
1924 -- China. - September. Marines were landed to protect
Americans and other foreigners in Shanghai during Chinese factional
hostilities.[RL30172]
1925 -- China. - January 15 to August 29. Fighting of
Chinese factions accompanied by riots and demonstrations in Shanghai brought
the landing of American forces to protect lives and property in the
International Settlement.[RL30172]
1925 -- Honduras. - April 19 to 21. U.S. forces protected
foreigners at La Ceiba during a political upheaval.[RL30172]
1925 -- Panama. - October 12 to 23. Strikes and rent riots
led to the landing of about 600 American troops to keep order and protect
American interests. [RL30172]
1926-33 -- Nicaragua. - May 7 to June 5, 1926; August 27,
1926, to January 3, 1933. The coup d'etat of General Chamorro aroused
revolutionary activities leading to the landing of American marines to protect
the interests of the United States. United States forces came and went
intermittently until January 3, 1933.[RL30172]
1926 -- China. - August and September. The Nationalist
attack on Hankow brought the landing of American naval forces to protect
American citizens. A small guard was maintained at the consulate general even
after September 16, when the rest of the forces were withdrawn. Likewise, when
Nationalist forces captured Kiukiang, naval forces were landed for the
protection of foreigners November 4 to 6.[RL30172]
1927 -- China. - February. Fighting at Shanghai caused
American naval forces and marines to be increased. In March a naval guard was
stationed at American consulate at Nanking after Nationalist forces captured
the city. American and British destroyers later used shell fire to protect
Americans and other foreigners. Subsequently additional forces of marines and
naval forces were stationed in the vicinity of Shanghai and Tientsin.[RL30172]
1930-1939
1932 -- China. American forces were landed to protect
American interests during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai.[RL30172]
1933 -- Cuba. During a revolution against President Gerardo
Machado naval forces demonstrated but no landing was made.[RL30172]
1934 -- China. Marines landed at Foochow to protect the
American Consulate.[RL30172]
1940-1945
1940 -- Newfoundland, Bermuda, St. Lucia, - Bahamas,
Jamaica, Antigua, Trinidad, and British Guiana. Troops were sent to guard air
and naval bases obtained by negotiation with Great Britain. These were
sometimes called lend-lease bases.[RL30172]
1941 -- Greenland. Greenland was taken under protection of
the United States in April.[RL30172]
1941 -- Netherlands (Dutch Guiana). In November the
President ordered American troops to occupy Dutch Guiana, but by agreement with
the Netherlands government in exile, Brazil cooperated to protect aluminum ore
supply from the bauxite mines in Suriname.[RL30172]
1941 -- Iceland. Iceland was taken under the protection of
the United States, with consent of its government, for strategic
reasons.[RL30172]
1941 -- Germany. Sometime in the spring the President
ordered the Navy to patrol ship lanes to Europe. By July US warships were
convoying and by September were attacking German submarines. In November, the
Neutrality Act was partly repealed to protect US military aid to
Britain.[RL30172]
1941-45 -- World War II. On December 8, 1941, the United
States declared war with Japan in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The
bombing was retaliation for the US embargo of scrap metal and gasoline exports
to Japan and the embargo on Japanese access to the Panama Canal.[not in
citation given][citation needed] This in turn was a retaliation to the Japanese
invasion of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War.[not in citation
given][citation needed] On December 11 1941, Hitler and Mussolini, the
respective dictators of Germany and Italy, declared war on the United States.
The United States responded on the same day by declaring war on Germany and
Italy. On June 5, 1942, the United states declared war with Bulgaria, Hungary
and Romania. The US declared war against Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania in
response to the declarations of war by those nations against the United
States.[RL30172]
1945 -- China. In October 50,000 US Marines were sent to
North China to assist Chinese Nationalist authorities in disarming and
repatriating the Japanese in China and in controlling ports, railroads, and
airfields. This was in addition to approximately 60,000 US forces remaining in
China at the end of World War II.[RL30172]
1945-1949
1945-49 Occupation of part of Germany.
1945-55 Occupation of part of Austria.
1945-46 Occupation of part of Italy.[citation needed]
1945-52 Occupation of Japan.
1945-46 Temporary reoccupation of the Philippines in
preparation for independence.[citation needed]
1945-49 Occupation of South Korea and defeat of a leftist
insurgency.[citation needed]
1946 -- Trieste (Italy). President Truman ordered the
increase of US troops along the zonal occupation line and the reinforcement of
air forces in northern Italy after Yugoslav forces shot down an unarmed US Army
transport plane flying over Venezia Giulia..[citation needed] Earlier US naval
units had been sent to the scene.[RL30172] Later the Free Territory of Trieste,
Zone A.
1945-47 US Marines garrisoned in Mainland China to oversee
the removal of Soviet and Japanese forces after World War II.[citation needed]
1948 -- Palestine. A marine consular guard was sent to
Jerusalem to protect the US Consul General.[RL30172]
1948 -- Berlin. Berlin Airlift After the Soviet Union
established a land blockade of the US, British, and French sectors of Berlin on
June 24, 1948, the United States and its allies airlifted supplies to Berlin
until after the blockade was lifted in May 1949.[RL30172]
1948-49 -- China. Marines were dispatched to Nanking to
protect the American Embassy when the city fell to Communist troops, and to
Shanghai to aid in the protection and evacuation of Americans.[RL30172]
1950-1959
1950-53 -- Korean Conflict. The United States responded to
North Korean invasion of South Korea by going to its assistance, pursuant to
United Nations Security Council resolutions. US forces deployed in Korea
exceeded 300,000 during the last year of the conflict. Over 36,600 US military
were killed in action.[RL30172]
1950-55 -- Formosa (Taiwan). In June 1950 at the beginning
of the Korean War, President Truman ordered the US Seventh Fleet to prevent
Chinese Communist attacks upon Formosa and Chinese Nationalist operations
against mainland China.[RL30172]
1954-55 -- China. Naval units evacuated US civilians and
military personnel from the Tachen Islands.[RL30172]
1955-64 -- Vietnam. First military advisors sent to Vietnam
on 12 Feb 1955. By 1964, US troop levels had grown to 21,000. On 7 August 1964.
On 7 August 1964, US Congress approved Gulf of Tonkin resolution affirming
"All necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of
the United States. . .to prevent further aggression. . . (and) assist any
member or protocol state of the Southeast Asian Collective Defense Treaty
(SEATO) requesting assistance. . ."[Vietnam timeline]
1956 -- Egypt. A marine battalion evacuated US nationals and
other persons from Alexandria during the Suez crisis.[RL30172]
1958 -- Lebanon. Lebanon crisis of 1958 Marines were landed in Lebanon at the invitation of President Camille Chamoun to help protect against threatened insurrection supported from the outside. The President's action was supported by a Congressional resolution passed in 1957 that authorized such actions in that area of the world.[RL30172]
1960-1969
1959-60 -- The Caribbean. Second Marine Ground Task Force
was deployed to protect US nationals following the Cuban revolution.[RL30172]
1962 -- Thailand. The Third Marine Expeditionary Unit landed
on May 17, 1962 to support that country during the threat of Communist pressure
from outside; by July 30, the 5,000 marines had been withdrawn.[RL30172]
1962 -- Cuba. Cuban Missile Crisis On October 22, President
Kennedy instituted a "quarantine" on the shipment of offensive
missiles to Cuba from the Soviet Union. He also warned Soviet Union that the
launching of any missile from Cuba against nations in the Western Hemisphere
would bring about US nuclear retaliation on the Soviet Union. A negotiated
settlement was achieved in a few days.[RL30172]
1962-75 -- Laos. From October 1962 until 1975, the United
States played an important role in military support of anti-Communist forces in
Laos.[RL30172]
1964 -- Congo (Zaire). The United States sent four transport
planes to provide airlift for Congolese troops during a rebellion and to
transport Belgian paratroopers to rescue foreigners.[RL30172]
1959-75 -- Vietnam War. US military advisers had been in
South Vietnam for a decade, and their numbers had been increased as the
military position of the Saigon government became weaker. After citing what he
termed were attacks on US destroyers in the Tonkin Gulf, President Johnson
asked in August 1964 for a resolution expressing US determination to support
freedom and protect peace in Southeast Asia. Congress responded with the Tonkin
Gulf Resolution, expressing support for "all necessary measures" the
President might take to repel armed attacks against US forces and prevent
further aggression. Following this resolution, and following a Communist attack
on a US installation in central Vietnam, the United States escalated its
participation in the war to a peak of 543,000 military personnel by April
1969.[RL30172]
1965 -- Dominican Republic. Invasion of Dominican Republic
The United States intervened to protect lives and property during a Dominican
revolt and sent 20,000 US troops as fears grew that the revolutionary forces
were coming increasingly under Communist control.[RL30172]
1967 -- Congo (Zaire). The United States sent three military
transport aircraft with crews to provide the Congo central government with
logistical support during a revolt.[RL30172]
1968 -- Laos & Cambodia. U.S. starts secret bombing
campaign against targets along the Ho Chi Minh trail in the sovereign nations
of Cambodia and Laos. The bombings last at least two years. (See Operation
Commando Hunt)
1970-1979
1970 -- Cambodia. US troops were ordered into Cambodia to
clean out Communist sanctuaries from which Viet Cong and North Vietnamese
attacked US and South Vietnamese forces in Vietnam. The object of this attack,
which lasted from April 30 to June 30, was to ensure the continuing safe
withdrawal of American forces from South Vietnam and to assist the program of
Vietnamization.[RL30172]
1973 -- Operation Nickel Grass, a strategic airlift
operation conducted by the United States to deliver weapons and supplies to
Israel during the Yom Kippur War.
1974 -- Evacuation from Cyprus. United States naval forces
evacuated US civilians during hostilities between Turkish and Greek Cypriot
forces.[RL30172]
1975 -- Evacuation from Vietnam. On April 3, 1975, President
Ford reported US naval vessels, helicopters, and Marines had been sent to
assist in evacuation of refugees and US nationals from Vietnam.[RL30172]
1975 -- Evacuation from Cambodia. On April 12, 1975,
President Ford reported that he had ordered US military forces to proceed with
the planned evacuation of US citizens from Cambodia.[RL30172]
1975 -- South Vietnam. On April 30 1975, President Ford
reported that a force of 70 evacuation helicopters and 865 Marines had
evacuated about 1,400 US citizens and 5,500 third country nationals and South
Vietnamese from landing zones near the US Embassy in Saigon and the Tan Son
Nhut Airfield.[RL30172]
1975 -- Cambodia. Mayagόez Incident. On May 15, 1975,
President Ford reported he had ordered military forces to retake the SS
Mayaguez, a merchant vessel which was seized from Cambodian naval patrol boats
in international waters and forced to proceed to a nearby island.[RL30172]
1976 -- Lebanon. On July 22 and 23, 1974, helicopters from
five US naval vessels evacuated approximately 250 Americans and Europeans from
Lebanon during fighting between Lebanese factions after an overland convoy
evacuation had been blocked by hostilities.[RL30172]
1976 -- Korea. Additional forces were sent to Korea after
two American soldiers were killed by North Korean soldiers in the demilitarized
zone between North and South Korea while cutting down a tree.[RL30172]
1978 -- Zaire (Congo). From May 19 through June 1978, the
United States utilized military transport aircraft to provide logistical
support to Belgian and French rescue operations in Zaire.[RL30172]
1980-1990
1980 -- Iran. Operation Eagle Claw On April 26, 1980,
President Carter reported the use of six US transport planes and eight
helicopters in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue American hostages being held
in Iran.[RL30172]
1981 -- El Salvador. After a guerrilla offensive against the
government of El Salvador, additional US military advisers were sent to El
Salvador, bringing the total to approximately 55, to assist in training
government forces in counterinsurgency.[RL30172]
1981 --Libya. First Gulf of Sidra Incident On August 19,
1981, US planes based on the carrier USS Nimitz shot down two Libyan jets over
the Gulf of Sidra after one of the Libyan jets had fired a heat-seeking
missile. The United States periodically held freedom of navigation exercises in
the Gulf of Sidra, claimed by Libya as territorial waters but considered
international waters by the United States.[RL30172]
1982 -- Sinai. On March 19, 1982, President Reagan reported
the deployment of military personnel and equipment to participate in the
Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai. Participation had been
authorized by the Multinational Force and Observers Resolution, Public Law
97-132.[RL30172]
1982 -- Lebanon. Multinational Force in Lebanon On August
21, 1982, President Reagan reported the dispatch of 80 marines to serve in the
multinational force to assist in the withdrawal of members of the Palestine
Liberation force from Beirut. The Marines left September 20, 1982.[RL30172]
1982-1983 -- Lebanon. On September 29, 1982, President
Reagan reported the deployment of 1200 marines to serve in a temporary
multinational force to facilitate the restoration of Lebanese government
sovereignty. On Sept. 29, 1983, Congress passed the Multinational Force in
Lebanon Resolution (P.L. 98-119) authorizing the continued participation for
eighteen months.[RL30172]
1983 -- Egypt. After a Libyan plane bombed a city in Sudan
on March 18, 1983, and Sudan and Egypt appealed for assistance, the United
States dispatched an AWACS electronic surveillance plane to Egypt.[RL30172]
1983 -- Grenada. Citing the increased threat of Soviet and
Cuban influence and noting the development of an international airport
following a bloodless Grenada coup d'etat and alignment with the Soviets and
Cuba, the U.S. launches Operation Urgent Fury to invade the sovereign island
nation of Grenada.[RL30172]
1983-89 -- Honduras. In July 1983 the United States
undertook a series of exercises in Honduras that some believed might lead to
conflict with Nicaragua. On March 25, 1986, unarmed US military helicopters and
crewmen ferried Honduran troops to the Nicaraguan border to repel Nicaraguan
troops.[RL30172]
1983 -- Chad. On August 8, 1983, President Reagan reported
the deployment of two AWACS electronic surveillance planes and eight F-15
fighter planes and ground logistical support forces to assist Chad against
Libyan and rebel forces.[RL30172]
1984 -- Persian Gulf. On June 5, 1984, Saudi Arabian jet
fighter planes, aided by intelligence from a US AWACS electronic surveillance
aircraft and fueled by a U.S. KC-10 tanker, shot down two Iranian fighter planes
over an area of the Persian Gulf proclaimed as a protected zone for
shipping.[RL30172]
1985 -- Italy. On October 10, 1985, US Navy pilots
intercepted an Egyptian airliner and forced it to land in Sicily. The airliner
was carrying the hijackers of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro who had
killed an American citizen during the hijacking.[RL30172]
1986 -- Libya. Action in the Gulf of Sidra (1986) On March
26, 1986, President Reagan reported on March 24 and 25, US forces, while
engaged in freedom of navigation exercises around the Gulf of Sidra, had been
attacked by Libyan missiles and the United States had responded with
missiles.[RL30172]
1986 -- Libya. Operation El Dorado Canyon On April 16, 1986,
President Reagan reported that U.S. air and naval forces had conducted bombing
strikes on terrorist facilities and military installations in the Libyan
capitol of Tripoli, claiming that Libyan leader Col. Muammar al-Gaddafi was
responsible for a bomb attack at a German disco that killed two U.S.
soldiers.[RL30172]
1986 -- Bolivia. U.S. Army personnel and aircraft assisted
Bolivia in anti-drug operations.[RL30172]
1987-88 -- Persian Gulf. After the Iran-Iraq War resulted in
several military incidents in the Persian Gulf, the United States increased US
joint military forces operations in the Persian Gulf and adopted a policy of
reflagging and escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Gulf, called Operation
Earnest Will. President Reagan reported that US ships had been fired upon or
struck mines or taken other military action on September 21 (Iran Ajr), October
8, and October 19, 1987 and April 18 (Operation Praying Mantis), July 3, and
July 14, 1988. The United States gradually reduced its forces after a
cease-fire between Iran and Iraq on August 20, 1988.[RL30172] It was the
largest naval convoy operation since World War II.[3]
1987-88 -- Operation Earnest Will was the U.S. military
protection of Kuwaiti oil tankers from Iraqi and Iranian attacks in 1987 and
1988 during the Tanker War phase of the Iran-Iraq War. It was the largest naval
convoy operation since World War II.
1987-88 -- Operation Prime Chance was a United States
Special Operations Command operation intended to protect U.S. -flagged oil
tankers from Iranian attack during the Iran-Iraq War. The operation took place
roughly at the same time as Operation Earnest Will.
1988 -- Operation Praying Mantis was the April 18, 1988
action waged by U.S. naval forces in retaliation for the Iranian mining of the
Persian Gulf and the subsequent damage to an American warship.
1988 -- Operation Golden Pheasant was an emergency
deployment of U.S. troops to Honduras in 1988, as a result of threatening
actions by the forces of the (then socialist) Nicaraguans.
1988 -- USS Vincennes shoot down of Iran Air Flight 655
1988 -- Panama. In mid-March and April 1988, during a period
of instability in Panama and as the United States increased pressure on
Panamanian head of state General Manuel Noriega to resign, the United States
sent 1,000 troops to Panama, to "further safeguard the canal, US lives,
property and interests in the area." The forces supplemented 10,000 US
military personnel already in the Panama Canal Zone.[RL30172]
1989 -- Libya. Second Gulf of Sidra Incident On January 4,
1989, two US Navy F-14 aircraft based on the USS John F. Kennedy shot down two
Libyan jet fighters over the Mediterranean Sea about 70 miles north of Libya.
The US pilots said the Libyan planes had demonstrated hostile
intentions.[RL30172]
1989 -- Panama. On May 11, 1989, in response to General
Noriega's disregard of the results of the Panamanian election, President Bush
ordered a brigade-sized force of approximately 1,900 troops to augment the
estimated 11,000 U.S. forces already in the area.[RL30172]
1989 -- Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru. Andean Initiative in
War on Drugs. On September 15, 1989, President Bush announced that military and
law enforcement assistance would be sent to help the Andean nations of
Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru combat illicit drug producers and traffickers. By
mid-September there were 50-100 US military advisers in Colombia in connection
with transport and training in the use of military equipment, plus seven
Special Forces teams of 2-12 persons to train troops in the three countries.[RL30172]
1989 -- Philippines. On December 2, 1989, President Bush
reported that on December 1 US fighter planes from Clark Air Base in the
Philippines had assisted the Aquino government to repel a coup attempt. In
addition, 100 marines were sent from the US Navy base at Subic Bay to protect
the US Embassy in Manila.[RL30172]
1989-90 -- Panama. Operation Just Cause On December 21,
1989, President Bush reported that he had ordered US military forces to Panama
to protect the lives of American citizens and bring General Noriega to justice.
By February 13, 1990, all the invasion forces had been withdrawn.[RL30172]
Around 200 Panamanian civilians were reported killed. The Panamanian head of
state, General Manuel Noriega, is captured and brought to the U.S.
1990 -- Liberia. On August 6, 1990, President Bush reported
that a reinforced rifle company had been sent to provide additional security to
the US Embassy in Monrovia, and that helicopter teams had evacuated US citizens
from Liberia.[RL30172]
1990 -- Saudi Arabia. On August 9, 1990, President Bush
reported that he had ordered the forward deployment of substantial elements of
the US armed forces into the Persian Gulf region to help defend Saudi Arabia
after the August 2 invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. On November 16, 1990, he
reported the continued buildup of the forces to ensure an adequate offensive
military option.[RL30172]
1991-1999
1991 -- Iraq. Persian Gulf War On January 16 America
attacked Iraqi forces and military targets in Iraq and Kuwait, in conjunction with
a coalition of allies and UN Security Council resolutions. Combat operations
ended on February 28, 1991.[RL30172] (See Operation Desert Shield and Operation
Desert Storm)
1991 -- Iraq. On May 17, 1991, President Bush stated that
the Iraqi repression of the Kurdish people had necessitated a limited
introduction of US forces into northern Iraq for emergency relief
purposes.[RL30172]
1991 -- Zaire. On September 25-27, 1991, after widespread
looting and rioting broke out in Kinshasa, US Air Force C-141s transported 100
Belgian troops and equipment into Kinshasa. US planes also carried 300 French
troops into the Central African Republic and hauled evacuated American
citizens.[RL30172]
1991-96 -- Operation Provide Comfort. Delivery of
humanitarian relief and military protection for Kurds fleeing their homes in
northern Iraq, by a small Allied ground force based in Turkey.
1992 -- Sierra Leone. On May 3, 1992, US military planes
evacuated Americans from Sierra Leone, where military leaders had overthrown
the government.[RL30172]
1992-1996 -- Operation Provide Promise was a humanitarian
relief operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars, from July
2, 1992, to January 9, 1996, which made it the longest running humanitarian
airlift in history.[4]
1992 -- Kuwait. On August 3, 1992, the United States began a
series of military exercises in Kuwait, following Iraqi refusal to recognize a
new border drawn up by the United Nations and refusal to cooperate with UN
inspection teams.[RL30172]
1992-2003 -- Iraq. Iraqi No-Fly Zones The U.S. together with
the United Kingdom declares and enforces "no fly zones" over the
majority of sovereign Iraqi airspace, prohibiting Iraqi flights in zones in
southern Iraq and northern Iraq, and conducting aerial reconnaissance and
bombings. (See also Operation Southern Watch) [RL30172] 1992-95 -- Somalia.
"Operation Restore Hope" Somali Civil War On December 10, 1992,
President Bush reported that he had deployed US armed forces to Somalia in
response to a humanitarian crisis and a UN Security Council Resolution. The
operation came to an end on May 4, 1993. US forces continued to participate in
the successor United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II). (See also Battle
of Mogadishu)[RL30172]
1993-Present -- Bosnia-Herzegovina.
1993 -- Macedonia. On July 9, 1993, President Clinton
reported the deployment of 350 US soldiers to the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia to participate in the UN Protection Force to help maintain stability
in the area of former Yugoslavia.[RL30172]
1993-95 -- Haiti. Operation Uphold Democracy US ships had
begun embargo against Haiti. Up to 20,000 US military troops were later
deployed to Haiti.[RL30172]
1994 -- Macedonia. On April 19, 1994, President Clinton
reported that the US contingent in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
had been increased by a reinforced company of 200 personnel.[RL30172]
1995 -- Bosnia. NATO bombing of Bosnian Serbs.[RL30172] (See
Operation Deliberate Force)
1996 -- Liberia. On April 11, 1996, President Clinton
reported that on April 9, 1996 due to the "deterioration of the security
situation and the resulting threat to American citizens" in Liberia he had
ordered US military forces to evacuate from that country "private US
citizens and certain third-country nationals who had taken refuge in the US
Embassy compound...."[RL30172]
1996 -- Central African Republic. On May 23, 1996, President
Clinton reported the deployment of US military personnel to Bangui, Central
African Republic, to conduct the evacuation from that country of "private
US citizens and certain U.S. Government employees," and to provide
"enhanced security for the American Embassy in Bangui."[RL30172]
1997 -- Albania. On March 13, 1997, US military forces were
used to evacuate certain U.S. Government employees and private US citizens from
Tirana, Albania. (See also Operation Silver Wake)[RL30172]
1997 -- Congo and Gabon. On March 27, 1997, President
Clinton reported on March 25, 1997, a standby evacuation force of US military
personnel had been deployed to Congo and Gabon to provide enhanced security and
to be available for any necessary evacuation operation.[RL30172]
1997 -- Sierra Leone. On May 29 and May 30, 1997, US
military personnel were deployed to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to prepare for and
undertake the evacuation of certain US government employees and private US
citizens.[RL30172]
1997 -- Cambodia. On July 11, 1997, In an effort to ensure
the security of American citizens in Cambodia during a period of domestic
conflict there, a Task Force of about 550 US military personnel were deployed
at Utapao Air Base in Thailand for possible evacuations. [RL30172]
1998 -- Iraq. US-led bombing campaign against Iraq.[RL30172]
(See Operation Desert Fox)
1998 -- Guinea-Bissau. On June 10, 1998, in response to an
army mutiny in Guinea-Bissau endangering the US Embassy, President Clinton
deployed a standby evacuation force of US military personnel to Dakar, Senegal,
to evacuate from the city of Bissau.[RL30172]
1998 - 1999 Kenya and Tanzania. US military personnel were
deployed to Nairobi, Kenya, to coordinate the medical and disaster assistance
related to the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. [RL30172]
1998 -- Afghanistan and Sudan. Operation Infinite Reach On
August 20th, air strikes were used against two suspected terrorist training
camps in Afghanistan and a suspected chemical factory in Sudan.[RL30172]
1998 -- Liberia. On September 27, 1998 America deployed a
stand-by response and evacuation force of 30 US military personnel to increase
the security force at the US Embassy in Monrovia.[RL30172]
1999 - 2001 East Timor. East Timor Independence Limited number
of US military forces deployed with UN to restore peace to East Timor.[RL30172]
1999 -- NATO's bombing of Serbia in the Kosovo
Conflict.[RL30172] (See Operation Allied Force)
2000- present
2000 -- Sierra Leone. On May 12, 2000 a US Navy patrol craft
deployed to Sierra Leone to support evacuation operations from that country if
needed.[RL30172]
2000 -- Yemen. On October 12, 2000, after the USS Cole
attack in the port of Aden, Yemen, military personnel were deployed to
Aden.[RL30172]
2000 -- East Timor. On February 25, 2000, a small number of
U.S. military personnel were deployed to support of the United Nations
Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). [RL30172]
2001 -- Afghanistan. US invasion of Afghanistan. The War on
Terrorism begins with Operation Enduring Freedom. On October 7, 2001, US Armed
Forces "began combat action in Afghanistan against Al Qaida terrorists and
their Taliban supporters."[RL30172]
2002 -- Yemen. On November 3, 2002, an American MQ-1
Predator fired a Hellfire missile at a car in Yemen killing Qaed Senyan
al-Harthi, an al-Qaeda leader thought to be responsible for the USS Cole
bombing.[RL30172]
2002 -- Philippines. January 2002 U.S. "combat-equipped
and combat support forces" have been deployed to the Philippines to train
with, assist and advise the Philippines' Armed Forces in enhancing their
"counterterrorist capabilities."[RL30172]
2002 -- Cote d'Ivoire. On September 25, 2002, in response to
a rebellion in Cote d'Ivoire, US military personnel went into Cote d'Ivoire to
assist in the evacuation of American citizens from Bouake.[5] [RL30172]
2003 -- 2003 invasion of Iraq Second Persian Gulf War. March
20, 2003. The United States leads a coalition that includes Britain, Australia
and Spain to invade Iraq with the stated goal of eliminating Iraqi weapons of
mass destruction.[RL30172]
2003 -- Liberia. Second Liberian Civil War On June 9, 2003,
President Bush reported that on June 8 he had sent about 35 combat-equipped US
military personnel into Monrovia, Liberia, to help secure the US Embassy in
Nouakchott, Mauritania, and to aid in any necessary evacuation from either
Liberia or Mauritania.[RL30172]
2003 -- Georgia and Djibouti "US combat equipped and
support forces" had been deployed to Georgia and Djibouti to help in
enhancing their "counterterrorist capabilities."[6]
2004 -- 2004 Haοti rebellion occurs. The US sent first sent
55 combat equipped military personnel to augment the US Embassy security forces
there and to protect American citizens and property in light. Later 200 additional
US combat-equipped, military personnel were sent to prepare the way for a UN
Multinational Interim Force.[RL30172]
2004 -- War on Terrorism: US anti-terror related activities
were underway in Georgia, Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, and Eritrea.[7]
2006 -- Pakistan. 17 people including known Al Qaeda bomb
maker and chemical weapons expert Midhat Mursi, were killed in an American MQ-1
Predator airstrike on Damadola (Pakistan), near the Afghan border.[8][9]
2006 -- Lebanon. US Marine Detachment, the 24th Marine
Expeditionary Unit[citation needed], begins evacuation of US citizens willing
to the leave the country in the face of a likely ground invasion by Israel and
continued fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli military.[10][11]
2007 -- Somalia. Battle of Ras Kamboni. On January 8, 2007,
while the conflict between the Islamic Courts Union and the Transitional
Federal Government continues, an AC-130 gunship conducts an aerial strike on a
suspected Al-Qaeda operative, along with other Islamist fighters, on Badmadow
Island near Ras Kamboni in southern Somalia.[citation needed]
2008 -- South Ossetia, Georgia. Helped Georgia humanitarian
aid[12], helped to transport Georgian forces from Iraq during the conflict. In
the past, the US has provided training and weapons to Georgia.