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HEADQUARTERS
SECOND BRIGADE MARINE CORPS
MANAGUA, NICARAGUA
27 December 1927
B - 2 REPORT
. . . (F) MILITARY OPERATIONS: . . .
On December 17th, Corporal Martin with a mounted
patrol of nine enlisted Marines and a native
guide cleared SOMOTO, for a period of three
days, for the purpose of patrolling the area to
the northwest. At 1230, on December 18th,
Corporal Martin, accompanied by two members of
his patrol reported at SOMOTO with the word that
his patrol had been attacked near MACUELIZE
[Macuelizo], which is nine miles west of OCOTAL,
by a force of approximately two hundred (200)
well armed men, some of whom were wearing the
uniform of the Honduranian troops. In the early
part of the engagement the patrol forced the
enemy back to the village of MACUELIZE. But,
with their ammunition running low and under
heavy fire Martin's men were forced to retreat
unde down the RIO COCO; this move broke up the
patrol and Corporal Martin, reporting in at
SOMOTO stated that the six other men of his
patrol had left for SOMOTO before him. Later in
the afternoon the native guide reported in at
SOMOTO stating that the six other Marines,
uninjured, were near the town of PARAISITE,
about fourteen miles northeast of SOMOTO, and
were requesting assistance. A mounted patrol
with Corporal Lukeshides in charge immediately
left to re-enforce them. Captain Peard also sent
heavy re-enforcements direct to MACUELIZO, with
Lieut. Wells, G.N., in charge. (Upon the
completion of their missions both of these
patrols reported the patrolled area as quiet) at
1730, December 18th, five men of Corporal
Martin's patrol reported in at OCOTAL without
hats and mounts and stated that Private Callaway
had been killed in action.
At 1425, December 18th, Observation Squadron
sent there planes to reconnoiter this area; upon
the completion of their mission they reported
that the area appeared quiet. No bandit activity
or groups were seen. The people around the farms
showed no fear of the planes even when they came
down low. The town of MACUELIZO is the only part
of the area which could be called abnormal, as
it appears nearly deserted, but, as it is the
first time a patrol has been made in that
direction it is not possible to say that this
condition is only the ordinary or not. . . .
B-2 Report, 27 Dec 1927, Managua, pp. 3-4,
NA127/43A/3
Ancillary Documents:
Statements of USMC Corporal Frederick F. Martin
and Privates Gerald D. Kent, Wallace L.
Jacobson, Edward J. Carter, Leo L. Lussier,
George O. Smith, Leonard H. Taylor regarding the
death of Private Calloway, Macuelizo, December
18, 1927. All statements carry the heading
"Marine Detachment, Somoto, Nic., 9 February
1928."
STATEMENT OF CORPORAL FREDERIC F. MARTIN,
U.S.M.C.
relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto,
December 18, 1927.
On December 17, 1927 I left Somoto with a patrol
of nine men and one Native Guide for a four day
patrol. The first night out we camped at a ranch
in San Luis and on the following morning
proceeded to Macullizo where we were fired on by
a large force of bandits well armed and
organized. After fighting them for about an hour
and finding our rifle grenades defective we
decided to withdraw. Privates Smith, Taylor and
myself stayed behind to cover the retreat of the
remainder of the patrol where we intended
joining them on the Somoto trail. When we
thought they were outside the town we mounted
and started for the place we thought they were
waiting for us but could not find them. In the
rear of us the bandits had both sides of the
road covered and were trying to head us off.
They sniped us for about eight miles on our way
to Somoto. Private Calloway distinguished
himself during the first attack and Private
Carter did excellent work also.
/ s / Frederick F. Martin
Corporal, U.S.M.C.
STATEMENT OF PRIVATE GERALD D. KENT, U.S.M.C.
relative to attack on a patrol from Somoto, Nic.
December 18, 1927.
I was a member of a patrol with eight other
marines, Corporal Martin in charge, that left
Somoto for a town called Macullizo on December
17, 1928. The first night out we stopped at a
place by the name of San Luis at a ranch house. The next day we left at about 6:00 A.M. for
Macullizo and on arriving at the town we were
fired upon and took cover and fought for about
forty five minutes. During this attack Corporal
Martin and two other men became separated from
the squad and were not missed until we were out
of the town. Thinking that they were still in
the town, we returned and fought our way back in
the town but could not find the missing men.
Private Calloway then took charge and we started
for Somoto. When we were about two miles from
San Luis we were again fired upon by a large
force of bandits that had us surrounded in a
pass between the hills. Private Calloway was
shot at this place and he called Private Carter
and told him to take charge of the squad and get
out if possible. Private Carter then took charge
and insisted that we remain with Private
Calloway until he died which we did. Private
Carter then took charge and led us up the side
of a mountain under a heavy fire in the
direction of Ocotal. After reaching the top of
the hill Private Carter conducted the squad into
Ocotal and reported to the Commanding Officer at
that place. At all times during the firing,
Private Carter was cool and used good judgment.
/ s / Gerald D. Kent,
Private, U.S.M.C.
STATEMENT OF PRIVATE WALLACE L. JACOBSON,
U.S.M.C.
relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto,
Nic. December 18, 1927.
Our patrol of nine men left Somoto at 2:00 A.M.
on December 17, 1927 for a four day patrol. We
arrived at Macullizo at about six O clock A.M.
December 18th and were attacked. We fought at
this place for about an hour and withdrew from
the town. We had not moved more than a quarter
of a mile from the town when we noticed that
Corporal Martin, Private Taylor and Private
Smith were missing. Private Calloway then said
lets go back in the town for them. We got back
into the town but could not find the remainder
of our force and withdrew again due to the heavy
fire we were under. We then started for Somoto
and had gone about seven miles when we were
again fired upon by a large force that had us
well ambushed at a place we could not take
cover. Private Calloway was killed here and
before he died he urged Private Carter to take
the rest of us out the best way he could. Private Carter refused to leave until he had
died and then led us up the side of a mountain
in the direction of Ocotal. We followed Carters
instructions at all times.
/ s / Wallace L. Jacobson
Private, U.S.M.C.
STATEMENT OF PRIVATE EDWARD J. CARTER, U.S.M.C.
relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto
December 18, 1927.
I left Somoto with a patrol December 17, 1927
for a four days patrol in the direction of
Macullizo. We arrived at Macullizo on the
morning of the 18th and was fired upon by a
large number of bandits. We fought here for
about an hour and as the fire was very heavy and
the bandits closing in on us from all sides we
withdrew from the town. Just after we got out of
the town, we missed Corporal Martin, Private
Taylor and Private Smith. Private Calloway then
took charge and we decided to go back into the
town for the missing men. We fought our way back
into the town but could not locate the men and
had to withdraw again. We then started for
Somoto and after we had gone in that direction
for about six miles we were again hit by a large
force of bandits who had us ambushed from all
sides. At this point Private Calloway was shot
several times and killed. Before he died he
urged that we all make a get away but I was
determined not to leave him until he was dead. I
placed him in an upright position by a tree and
remained with him until he was dead. I then took
his rifle bolt and threw it away and led the men
over the hill in the direction of Ocotal to
which place we arrived that night about six O
clock and reported to the Commanding Officer.
/ s / Edward J. Carter
Private U.S.M.C.
STATEMENT OF PRIVATE LEO L. LUSSIER, U.S.M.C.
relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto
December 18, 1927.
I was a member of a patrol that left Somoto,
Nic. December 17, 1927 to be gone about four
days. We had nine men with Corporal Martin in
charge. We stopped the first night out at a
ranch house in San Luis and left the next
morning at about six O clock for Macuillizo. Arriving at Macullizo we were fired upon by a
large force of bandits who were located on all
sides of the town in the hills. We returned the
fire and fought them for about an hour but as
they kept closing in on us we decided to
withdraw from the town. During this action,
Corporal Martin and two other men became
separated from the squad. Private Carter told us
then that we all stood a better chance by
sticking together and we all agreed to return to
the town and find Corporal Martin and the other
two men. Private Calloway being in charge at
this time. We fought our way back into the town
but as the fire was too heavy to remain there
and, failing to find Corporal Martin and the
other men, we withdrew in the direction of
Somoto. On our way to Somoto we were again
attacked by a large force of bandits who had us
ambushed in a pass between the mountains. At
this point Private Calloway was shot. We fought
here for about thirty minutes. Although Calloway
did not die instantly he told us to seek our own
safety. Carter then took charge and placed
Calloway beside a tree and remained with him
until he died making the remark that we would
not leave him there alive. He then led us up the
mountain side in the direction of Ocotal and we
made our escape to that place. It is my belief
that if Private Carter had not taken charge of
the situation when he did none of us would have
gotten away. He was cool and used good judgment
at all times.
/ s / Leo L. Lussier,
Private, U.S.M.C.
STATEMENT OF PRIVATE GEORGE O. SMITH, U.S.M.C.
relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto
December 18, 1927.
I was a member of a patrol that left Somoto
December 17, 1927 for a four day patrol with
Corporal Martin in charge. On the following day,
early in the morning, we arrived at Macullizo
and were fired upon by a large force of bandits. We fought them for about an hour but as our
rifle grenades failed to go off and they were
closing in on us from all sides we had to quit
the town. We thought we would all come together
on the Somoto trail but after we got out of the
town we found that only Corporal Martin, myself,
and Private Taylor was present. Thinking they
had gone on to Somoto we proceeded to that place
and found that they had not returned.
/ s / George O. Smith
Private, U.S.M.C.
STATEMENT OF PRIVATE LEONARD H. TAYLOR, U.S.M.C.
relative to an attack on a patrol from Somoto
December 18, 1927.
I was a member of the patrol that left Somoto
December 17, 1927, Corporal Martin in charge for
a four day patrol. On the second day out we
arrived at Macullizo early in the morning and on
entering the town we were fired on by bandits. We fought them for quite a while killing and
wounding several but as they kept closing in on
us we had to leave the town. I n leaving the
town, Corporal Martin, myself and Private Smith
became separated from the other members of the
patrol and could not find them on the Somoto
trail where we expected to meet them. We
returned to Somoto and found that the remaining
six had not returned.
/ s / Leonard H. Taylor
Private, U.S.M.C.
127/204/3
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