On July 27 1915, Vilbrun Guillaume Sam the President of Haiti ordered 167 political prisoners killed. A mob then formed near the French Legation where Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was hiding. The mob broke in and mutilated his body in the street. The city of Port au Prince was in anarchy following the overthrow of the government of President Vilbrun Guillaume Sam. Rear Admiral William B. Caperton landed 340 sailors and Marines from the USS Washington. Also at Cap Haïtien more troops were landed from the USS Nashville, and USS Eagle. The landing parties from these two ships prevented the capture of Cap Haïtien. Soon after the Second Marine Regiment, First Brigade Headquarters and the First Marine Regiment arrived later in the month.

The Caco War

The Caco were a bandit organization in Haiti that , would fight for the highest bidder. When Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was assassinated a Caco army hired by Rosalvo Bobo was on the outskirts of the city. But the Marines landed by Caperton quickly forced the Cacos out of Port au Prince. A Campaign was then carried out by the First Marine Brigade to knock out the Cacos in the north and center of Haiti. The last major event of the campaign was the capture of the Caco strong hold at Fort Rivière, by Marines under the command of Major Smedley Butler. In this fight Sergeant Ross Iams, Private Samuel Gross, and Major Smedley Butler all received the Medal of Honor.