One person from Henderson County died in military action in the Dominican Republic.
In April 1965, President Johnson sent more than 22,000 U.S. troops to the Dominican Republic during a civil war in that nation.
The Dominican Civil War took place between April 24 and Sept. 3 of 1965. On April 25, 1965, Johnson put the 82nd Airborne and U.S. Marines on full-alert and sent a fleet of 41 vessels to blockade the island.
U.S. diplomats in Santo Domingo began preparations to evacuate 3,500 U.S. citizens living in the city.
On April 27th, about 1,000 American civilians were evacuated. Some U.S. Marines had arrived by this date. These civilians were quickly airlifted to navy ships offshore. At the Hotel Embajador rebel groups lined up Americans and fired rounds over their heads and fired randomly into the hotel’s windows. The U.S., El Salvadoran and Ecuadorian Embassies were fired upon by snipers.
President Johnson ordered Marines into Santo Domingo on April 28. Armed civilians attacked the Villa Consuelo police station, executing all the police officers who survived the initial skirmish. One U.S. Marine battalion landed in Haina, later moving to Hotel Embajador, where Marines provided assistance in the upcoming airlifts. During the night, 684 civilians were airlifted to USS Boxer. One U.S. Marine was killed by a rebel sniper during the operation.
On April 29, the American ambassador reported that the situation had reached life-threatening proportions for U.S. citizens and that the rebels received foreign support. Johnson authorized the transformation of evacuation operations into a large-scale military intervention. Johnson declared that he took action to forestall the establishment of a “communist dictatorship” in the Dominican Republic.
On April 30, the 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division landed at an air base. Members of the 82nd Airborne secured a position on the San Isidoro highway and other soldiers remained at the air base, sending out patrols around the air base. A force of 1,700 Marines of the 6th Marine Expeditionary Unit occupied a nine-mile area containing a number of foreign embassies. This area was proclaimed an International Security Zone by the Organization of American States. Two Marines were killed in action and eight wounded securing this area.
Beginning May 2, the 82nd Airborne expanded out of Santo Domingo into the countryside. By May 10, there were 22,500 American troops in the Dominican Republic.
In the next few weeks there were two cease fires and treaties, neither of which prevented small firefights and sniper fire.
It was on May 12, 1965, that Marine Pfc Joe Herbert Webb of Henderson County was killed by sniper fire.
On May 26, U.S. forces began a gradual withdrawal. By June 6, U.S. forces were down to 12,000 and no Marines remained on the island.
On June 14, there was a rebel offensive. At first, U.S. troops did not return fire but soon were fully engaged in the action. U.S. forces pushed south and captured 56 square city blocks in house-to-house fighting. The U.S. had lost five killed in action and 36 wounded.
A total of 47 U.S soldiers and Marines died during this action in the Dominican Republic.
Marine Pfc Joe Herbert Webb (1947-1965) – killed by sniper fire May 12, 1965, during military action in the Dominican Republic. Joe H. Webb was born Aug. 3, 1947, in Transylvania County, a son of Herbert Otis Webb (1920-1985) and Virginia Ruth Webb (1923-). The family lived in the Clear Creek community of Henderson County. He and his father’s grave sites are at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery.