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MARINE DETACHMENT
La Paz Centro, Nicaragua
18 May 1927.
From: Second Lieut. C. J.
Chappell, U. S. Marine Corps,
To: Commanding Officer, Landing Forces,
Medical University, Leon, Nicaragua.
Via: Commanding Officer, Leon Detachment
Subject: Report in detail of engagement at La
Paz Centro.
1. At about 0055 16 May 1927,
shots were heard in the town of La Paz Centro.
Immediately "Call to arms" was sounded in the
camp and one platoon, under the Command of
Captain R. B. Buchanan, U.S. Marine Corps, and
Second Lieutenant C. J. Chappell, U. S. Marine
Corps, second in command, left camp to
investigate. Firing was in the general direction
of camp and it was necessary for the men to keep
low in order not to be hit.
2. A guard of eight men from
the Company Headquarters was left in camp under
First Sergeant Dennis W. Green. U.S. Marine
Corps.
3. Captain Buchanan entered
the town with his command in patrol formation.
One patrol consisting of one squad, under
Corporal Donald L. Truesdale, covered the
eastern area of town. Sergeant Glendell L.
Fitzgerald with the following men, Privates
Firstclass Herman Keith, Carl J. Klopp, Harvey
C. Thieling and Private Marvin A. Jackson,
covered the main street. A point consisting of
Corporal Gavins Strickland, Privates Firstclass
Claude W. Ash, William F. Simon, Jr., Privates
Charles W. Joullian, Roy Barrett, Wilson B.
Green and Severin Roche, preceded the remaining
two squads, covered the area of the streets
north of the main street. Captain Buchanan was
with Corporal Strickland at the head of the
point. I, Lieutenant Chappell, was with the
remaining two squads, following at least fifty
yards.
4. Captain Buchanan, on
hearing firing off to his left swung in this
direction in order to flank them. After
advancing for about a block and a half the point
was fired on and forced to take cover. The point
then moved forward about twenty-five yards,
joining Sergeant Fitzgeranld's patrol. I was
ordered to move the remaining two squads on line
and to the left of where the point was located.
Private Marvin A. Jackson in attempting to
secure a better position was fired upon by a
band of liberals located in a house and was
struck in the head and side, mortally wounded
and died at about 0420. Corporal Anthony J.
Rausch in attempting to join Sergeant
Fitzgerald's patrol, which had advanced to this
point on the main street and were engaged in
combat with a number of liberal forces located
in houses and behind buildings, was fired upon
and struck in the chest and arm. Private
Firstclass Joseph H. Downs in Moving forward
with Corporal Rausch was [ p. 2 ] fired on, the
bullet striking his rifle and causing part of
the butt plate from his rifle to be driven into
his side, this injury did not prove serious.
Captain Buchanan, attempting to take up a better
position, also across the street, where Sergeant
Fitzgerald's patrol was in position, was fired
upon from a window and fatally wounded, dying
shortly afterwards. Sergeant Fitzgerald had been
directing the fire of his men on this house when
the Captain was hit and in a short while
Privates Firstclas Keith, Thieling and Klopp
were able to enter and clear out the remaining
Liberals located there. As soon as this was done
Sergeant Fitzgerald and Corporal Strickland
carried the Captain into the house and the men
inside administered first aid treatment. During
the entire time a heavy fire had been coming
from three directions, located in various houses
and from a machine gun to the left of the
patrol. The remaining two squads moved up into
position on the left of where the point had
taken cover. Corporal Rausch, Privates
Firstclass Simon and Downs, Privates Roche and
Norman V. Jones, took a position where the point
was located with Sergeant Fitzgerald's patrol
and assisted in clearing out this area. The
remaining men in these two squads were located
on the left of the patrol and covered the houses
and area to their front, routing the remaining
liberals located there. Corporal Strickland,
Privates Colin H. Campbell, Wallace T. Anderson,
Joullin and Green, crossed the street and
entered the yard in rear of the house the
Captain was located in and cleared out the
liberals located there. Sergeant Charlie Ryerson
and I, on hearing that the Captain had been
wounded attempted to reach him but due to heavy
fire were unable to reach the house where he was
located. After about fifteen minutes, at which
time the fire had ceased enough to allow us to
advance without being hit, we reached the
Captain. Upon reaching the house we found that
Captain Buchanan had received first aid
treatment but was in a very critical condition
and practically unable to talk. We also learned
of our other casualties and accompanied by
Corporal Rausch, who had already been wounded,
made our way to the Postoffice, located about
one block from the scene of the fighting. I
informed Captain Woodward, by telephone, what
had taken place and requested medical aid as
soon as possible. Then returning to Captain
Buchanan's aid we found that he had died about
0230. Privates Firstclass Keith, Klopp and
Thieling were with the Captain at the time of
his death. Up to the time of his death the
Captain was continually offering words of
encouragement to his men and inquiring as to how
they were faring outside of the building.
5. Due to the fact that it was
very dark and not knowing the exact location of
the liberal forces we were forced to hold a
position deployed along the main street,
continuing a heavy barrage on the houses
occupied by the opposing forces until they
retreated from the city. [ p. 3 ] At about 0300
the liberals ceased firing and retreated from
the city. Due to the fact that the liberals were
leaving in small bands we did not attempt to
follow them but were re-organized and carried
our casualties to the Railroad Station for
medical aid, leaving a patrol of ten men in the
city until day light. At daybreak the town was
thoroughly patrolled, checking upon the dead,
wounded and any remaining armed forces.
6. Fourteen liberals, some of
who had red bands on their hat, are known to
have been killed in this engagement. It is
assumed, from reports received that morning from
the natives of this city, that a number killed
and wounded were carried away by the retreating
liberals. We took a small group of prisoners but
there [they] were released on being identified
as conservative soldiers by the Commandant.
7. In addition to Captain
Buchanan, killed in action, Private Marvin A.
Jackson was shot through the brain and side and
died at about 0420. Corporal Anthony J. Rausch
was wounded in the right side of his chest and
in the right arm and Private first class William
F. Simon, Jr., was wounded in the right hand,
the index finger being completely shot away.
8. Lieutenant D. O. Bowan,
(MC) U. S. Navy, and two Hospital corpsman
arrived on gasolina at 0420 to give medical aid
and after attending to the bodies of Captain
Buchanan and Private Jackson they returned to
Leon with the two wounded men, leaving La Paz
Centro at 0510. The bodies of Captain Buchanan
and Private Jackson were sent to Leon on the
noon train.
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RG127/113C/12
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