2. Retired Lieutenant, Homicide Bureau, Miami-Dade Police Department after 32 years of service. Former Commanding Officer and Registerted Adult Leader with the PFC Bruce W. Carter (MoH) YOUNG MARINES OF MIAMI-DADE a youth development and education organization sponsored by the Marine Corps league. MOTO: Strenthening the lives of America's youth. Please see the Video clips from our training evolutions. Hosted on You tube search Young Marines of Miami Dade.
2. CARPE DIEM For my Brothers in arms who valiently gave their lives in support of our nations freedom and the freedoms of the world: The following lines from the Iliad, by Homer: Reminded me of our brotherhood:
3. But the Achaian men fell silently, breathing valour, stubbornly minded, each in his heart, to stand by the others. Never leave a buddy, dead or wounded; stick together; if not in the mission, be dedicated to each other otherwise, how could you get men to go and fight? Brothers in Arms These mist covered mountains Are a home now for me But my home is the lowlands And always will be Some day you'll return to Your valleys and your farms And you'll no longer burn To be brothers in arms Through these fields of destruction Baptisms of fire I've watched all your suffering As the battles raged higher And though they did hurt me so bad In the fear and alarm You did not desert me My brothers in arms There's so many different worlds So many different suns And we have just one world But we live in different ones Now the sun's gone to hell And the moon's riding high Let me bid you farewell Every man has to die But it's written in the starlight And every line on your palm We're fools to make war On our brothers in arms.
4. If a man were to know the end of this days business ere it come, but it suffices to know the day will end. Then the end be known. And if we meet again, why then we'll smile. And if not, be it then, this parting was well made." ~Julius Ceaser "He who which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart. Give him his money to speed his departure since we wish not to die in this mans company. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother. And those men afraid to go will think themselves lesser men as they hear of how we fought and died." ~William Shakespeare I Am America I am a warrior Where now do I wage war I am freedom Chained to the tower door I am the screams Of six thousand toppled souls I am America Where the candle of hope still glows I am strong But helpless where I stand I am the tears Where blood will stain the sand I am the Eagle Who still soars on mighty wing I am America Where the bells of liberty ring I am a shield Before the place the sheep can hide I am the lion Who weeps before the tide I am the bear Who in anger leaves the cave I am America Land of the free; Home of the brave.
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"THE RIFLE CREED" Before God I swear this Creed. This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. My rifle is human, even as I am human, because it is my life. Thus I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights, and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. My rifle and I will become part of each other. We will. Before God I swear this Creed. My rifle and myself are defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of life. So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace. So help me God. I'm not the baddest man on the planet, but I'll show you where I buried him.
Description Operation Uphold Democracy (19 September 1994 – 31 March 1995) was an intervention designed to remove the military regime installed by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The operation was effectively authorized by the 31 July 1994 United Nations Security Council Resolution 940.
The U.S.-led, multinational effort to create a safe and secure environment and support the return of exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to Haiti, was conducted from September 1994 through March 1996. In excess of 20,000 American service men and women from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, in conjunction with approximately 5,000 non-U.S. forces from 24 nations, served as part of the Multinational Force, and later, United Nations Mission in Haiti. Upon direction of President Bill Clinton, the operation was conducted by U.S. Atlantic Command, in Norfolk, Va.
President Aristide was elected in December 1990 as the first democratically-elected head of state in Haitian history. Seven months after taking office in February 1991, President Aristide was overthrown in a coup led by Lt. Gen. Raoul Cedras, the head of the Forces Armees d'Haiti (FAd'H). This eventually would be the impetus for renewed U.S. operational involvement in Haiti.
A United Nations international embargo began in late June 1993. In support of the international embargo, USACOM activated Joint Task Force 120 in mid-October to conduct maritime interdiction operations and increase pressure on the illegitimate government of Haiti. To provide humanitarian assistance to more than 21,000 Haitians escaping by sea from political strife, USACOM established a second JTF, JTF 160, on May 18, 1994. The mission of JTF 160 included migrant interdiction and processing, both at sea and at designated migrant camp sites ashore. The largest of these migrant camp sites was at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
On July 31 the UN Security Council passed a resolution authorizing the U.S. to use "all means necessary" to remove Haiti's military-backed government. As military forces began final preparations for an invasion, President Bill Clinton dispatched a negotiating team to Haiti to avert an invasion. The team was headed by former President Jimmy Carter, and included former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Gen. Colin Powell, and Senator Sam Nunn, D-Ga., former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
With U.S. invasion forces enroute to Haiti the evening of September 18, Lt. Gen. Cedras relayed his decision to relinquish control and ultimately leave Haiti through the Carter mission. The following morning U.S. forces began a peaceful entry into Haiti.
Over the next six months, significant accomplishments of the U.S.-led MultinationalForce (MNF) included: ensuring the peaceful restoration of President Aristide; helping standup a fragile Government in Haiti; fostering a safe and secure environment; initiating a weapons buy-back program; eliminating arms caches; restoration of electrical power and commercial communications; commencing police force training; overseeing the return of Haitian migrants from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and establishing conditions for democratic elections.
On March 31, 1995, the MNF transferred command to United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) forces. Under UNMIH, forces continued to maintain a secure and stable environment which facilitated free and fair democratic elections. In addition, civil engineering projects such as repairing schools, roads, bridges, water wells, and distribution systems were undertaken, and thousands of tons of donated materials and supplies were distributed.
On June 25, UNMIH forces provided support and security for Haiti's first round of national parliamentary free elections since the restoration of President Aristide to office.
The last Haitian migrant selected for repatriation from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was returned to Port-au-Prince October 16, 1995. Approximately 75,000 Haitians had been repatriated since the beginning of the maritime interdiction operation; more than 21,000 of which were processed through migrant facilities at Guantanamo Bay.
On December 17, Haiti conducted presidential elections, again with UNMIH forces providing support and security. Former Prime Minister Rene Preval won handily and was inaugurated February 7, 1996, as Haiti's second democratically elected president, succeeding President Aristide.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
September / 1994
To Month/Year
March / 1995
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Main Battle/Operation Objective "Operation Restore/Uphold Deocracy" Haiti
Description of Enemy Force Attaches and supporters of the Cedras Government
Description of Your Force Attached to 18th Airborne Corps Attached to 82nd Airborne Div Attached to 10th Mountain Division
"THE RIFLE CREED" Before God I swear this Creed. This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. My rifle is human, even as I am human, because it is my life. Thus I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights, and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. My rifle and I will become part of each other. We will. Before God I swear this Creed. My rifle and myself are defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of life. So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace. So help me God. I'm not the baddest man on the planet, but I'll show you where I buried him.
Police Travel
Civilian Lived
Military
Vacation
Maroon
