Description

As the Dominican Civil War of 1965 continued to escalate in ferocity, the United States of America became involved. Initially, the US diplomats planned an evacuation of about 3,500 US citizens, and early on 27 April, over 1,100 of expatriates were airlifted out of the country. However, when Leales troops marched on the capital, while rebels secured additional positions, executed a number of police officers, and a soldier of the US Marine Corps was killed by a rebel sniper, the US Ambassador declared the insurgents 'Communists' and demanded the US President Lyndon B Johnson to act immediately. Contrary to recommendations from his advisors, Johnson ordered a transformation of evacuation into an all-out military intervention: Operation Power Pack.

The first overt US military intervention in Latin America in more than 30 years was initiated early on 30 April 1965, and saw the involvement of 22,500 troops, two aircraft carriers and over 200 aircraft and helicopters.

Following weeks of often chaotic fighting, and two failed cease-fires, a truce was secured through mediation by the Organisation of American States (OAS). Replaced by 1,500 Inter American Peacekeeping Force (IAPF) troops organized by the OAS, the US forces began a gradual withdrawal in late May 1965, but the civil war formally ended only on 31 August with a ceasefire agreement.

Richly illustrated by authentic photography and custom-drawn colour profiles, Operation Power Pack is the first military history of the civil war, and the US- and OAS-interventions in the Dominican Republic of 1965.