Today in Marine Corps History

10 June 1898: The First Marine Battalion, commanded by Lt Col Robert W. Huntington, landed on the eastern side of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The next day, Lt Herbert L. Draper hoisted the American flag on a flag on pole at Camp McCalla where It flew during the next eleven days. Lt Col Huntington on later sent the flag an accompanying letter to Colonel Commandant Charles Heywood noting that "when bullets were flying, ... the sight of the flag upon the midnight sky has thrilled our Hearts."