Charlemagne Peralte - When the Haitian hero dies, the American vilain gets a medal

Charlemagne Peralte Statue - Hinche Haiti

Did You Know?

The American government issued 2 medals of honor for the death of Charlmegne Peralte.

While we Haitians sit around sometimes talking about what a great man Charlemagne Peralte was and how brave he was, There are two Americans that I know of who spent all their lives bragging about how they killed the sucker

When the Haitian hero dies, the American vilain gets a medal.

I hear many Haitians talk about Mr Charlemagne Peralte, I hear many Haitians compare him to Dessalines. The man was a hero, he believed that Haiti belongs to Haitians and he fought for what he believed.

He believed that the Americans had no business in Haiti. He was against the fact that the Americans were capturing young Haitian men against their will (slavery) and forcing them to work and build roads...

When I was growing up in Hinche, Haiti, I used to wonder why his statue was in the middle of the "Place Publique". I used to wonder what I would have to do to live forever like him...

How nice could an American soldier be to a Haitian black man from the 1920's when most of these soldiers came from the segregated south.

"If anyone doubts that "caco" hunting is the sport of American Marines in Haiti, let him learn the facts about the death of Charlemagne" --- James Weldon Johnson (NAACP)

Have you ever wondered what happened to the two US Soldiers who killed him?

Here is the shocking News! Little Charlemagne Peralte made them famous...

HERMAN HENRY HANNEKEN
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps. Place and date: Near Grande Riviere, Republic of Haiti, 31 October-1 November 1919. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Born: 23 June 1893, St. Louis, Mo. G.O. No.: 536, 10 June 1920. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross with 1 gold star, Silver Star, Legion of Merit.

Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in actual conflict with the enemy near Grande Riviere, Republic of Haiti, on the night of 31 October-1 November 1919, resulting in the death of Charlemagne Peralte, the supreme bandit chief in the Republic of Haiti, and the killing, capture, and dispersal of about 1,200 of his outlaw followers.

SIDE NOTE: In order to better explain to the american people what was going on, the Haitian Revolutionaries known as the "Cacos" were code named "Bandits"

2d Lt. Hanneken not only distinguished himself by his excellent judgment and leadership but also unhesitatingly exposed himself to great personal danger when the slightest error would have forfeited not only his life but the lives of the detachments of gendarmerie under his command. The successful termination of his mission will undoubtedly prove of untold value to the Republic of Haiti.

WILLIAM ROBERT BUTTON
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Born: 3 December 1895, St. Louis, Mo. G.O. No.: 536, 10 June 1920.

Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in actual conflict with the enemy near Grande Riviere, Republic of Haiti, on the night of 31 October_l November 1919, resulting in the death of Charlemagne Peralte, the supreme bandit chief in the Republic of Haiti, and the killing, capture and dispersal of about 1,200 of his outlaw followers.

Cpl. William R. Button not only distinguished himself by his excellent judgment and leadership but also unhesitatingly exposed himself to great personal danger when the slightest error would have forfeited not only his life but the lives of the detachments of Gendarmerie under his command. The successful termination of his mission will undoubtedly prove of untold value to the Republic of Haiti.

POP QUIZ >> How did they know who Charlemagne Peralte was? They had no pictures of him and no knowledge of his whereabouts!

Article by: Woodring Saint Preux

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