History
A historical look at Guantanamo Bay and the Northeast Gate
Christopher Columbus discovered Guantanamo Bay on the Apr. 30, 1494. The captain and his crew stepped ashore to claim the land for Spain and it is thought that they spent the night on what is known as Fisherman's Point. He had originally come in search of gold and fresh water; but finding none, he left the very next day to continue his explorations.
During the time period from 1494 to 1898, Cuba remained a Spanish possession. The Guantanamo Bay region, however, remained undeveloped because of a shortage of fresh water. The bay acted as a base for pirate operations and as a haven for ships seeking shelter from tropical storms.
In 1741, a flotilla of British ships were placed at Guantanamo Bay during the war with Spain. Legend has it that Hospital Cay received its name during this period because seamen with fever were treated at a hospital set up on the Cay. The British also used the Cay again in 1854 as a hospital site. The name has remained the same to this day - Hospital Cay.
On Feb. 15, 1898, an explosion aboard the battleship USS Maine caused the vessel to sink in Havana Harbor. This led Congress to declare war on Spain Apr. 19, 1898 thus starting the Spanish-American War.
In conjunction with the Spanish-American War, the Cuban people, dissatisfied with Spanish rule, began a revolt. The Cuban insurgents were most active around Guantanamo Bay. Despite the strong discontent, the Spanish remained in control of Guantanamo City, the Port of Caimanera, as well as the railroad connecting the two and several large sugar mills in the area.
The first successful U.S. attack against Guantanamo Bay occurred on June 6, 1898 with the arrival of the cruiser USS Marblehead, captained by Cmdr. B.H. McCalla. He was sent here to reconnoiter the bay as a possible naval base for the war effort. The Marblehead outgunned the Spanish defenders on what is now called McCalla Hill and forced the Spanish gunboat Sandoral to retreat back up the bay to Caimanera. At this time the communication cables from Guantanamo City to Santiago were also cut, isolating the city from the rest of Cuba. After successfully hindering the Cuban's communications, the Marblehead returned to the U.S. fleet that was blockading the Spanish at Santiago.
On June 10, 1898, a battalion of U.S. Marines, commanded by Lt. Col. Robert Huntington, disembarked from the transportation ship USS Panther. They landed at Fisherman's Point in order to secure the surrounding area for what would be soon known as the United States Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay.
On June 14, 1898, the Marines launched an attack on the Spanish stronghold at Cuzco Wells, the only freshwater supply in the area. It was during this engagement that the unselfish and heroic actions of Sgt. John H. Quick and Pvt. John Fitzgerald earned them The Congressional Medal of Honor when they signaled the USS Dolphin to shift their bombardment from hitting the Marines to hitting the Spanish. By winning this decisive battle, the Marines secured the area for subsequent naval operations. The establishment of a U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay and the rout of the defending Spanish troops by combined U.S. and Cuban forces played a large role in the victory over the Spanish.
On Aug. 12, 1898, the war ended with the signing of a peace protocol and an armistice. The lease was negotiated and implemented by an act of Congress that was approved March 2, 1901. and an appendix to the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba promulgated on May 20, 1902. Both agreements established Guantanamo Bay as a U.S. Naval Base.
The total size of the base was established as 45 square miles of land and water. Other terms of the agreement were:
- The U.S. would exercise complete jurisdiction and control over the area, the U.S. also recognized the ultimate
sovereignty of Cuba over the leased area. This was interpreted to mean that if the lease was terminated, then the area would revert to Cuban control.
- The area must only be used as a coaling and Naval Station.
- That vessels engaged in Cuban trade shall have free passage through the bay.
In 1903, the new Republic of Cuba leased the Naval Reservation to the U.S. with a supplementary agreement further stating:
- The U.S. would pay Cuba the annual sum of $2,000 in gold.
- Boundaries of the base will be clearly marked by a fence.
- Private commercial enterprise is prohibited aboard the base.
- Cuban fugitives from justice seeking refuge on the base would be returned on demad of the Cuban government.
- U.S. military personnel who committed crimes aboard the base seeking refuge in Cuba would be returned to the base.
- Furthermore, it was decided that Guantanamo Bay would be a duty-free port; however, goods would not be transported into Cuban territory.
- The U.S. also agreed, except in the case of war, to allow vessels to traverse the bay.
In 1934, all provisions regarding the Guantanamo Bay area, to include the original agreement of 1901 and the supplementary agreements of 1903, were confirmed by treaty. The treaty was, in effect, perpetual because it could only be voided by our abandoning the area or by mutual agreement between the two countries.
In 1939, the water shortages (Cuzco Wells had dried up) were alleviated by the installation of a new pipeline drawing fresh water from the Yateras River, about 6 miles Northeast of the base, creating a new water supply for Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. In the years 1940 through 1945, there was a tremendous expansion of the base due to World War II. With fresh water readily available, the Naval Station was able to become a valuable asset in the resupplying and refueling of the U.S. fleet.
Satisfactory relations continued with Cuba until June 27, 1958 when Cuban rebel forces, led by Raul Castro, kidnapped 29 Sailors and Marines returning from liberty in Cuba. These men were not released until July 18, 1958. On Jan. 1, 1959, Cuban territory was declared off-limits to all U.S. servicemen and civilians. Fidel Castro overthrew the Batista Government in 1959 and he openly declared his adherence to Marxism on July 19, 1959. Tension began to grow between the U.S. and Cuba and on Jan. 4, 1961, the U.S. formally ceased relations with the country's new leader. This break in relations, however, did not affect the 1934 treaty. Relations with the Castro regime in Cuba continued to deteriorate and on April 17, 1961 the infamous Bay of Pigs operation was conducted. During that operation, there was no unusual activity at Guantanamo as the action was several hundred miles away. There were, however, numerous rumors of evacuation throughout the base and extra security precautions were taken including increased surveillance and readiness on the part of the Marines whose responsibility was to protect the base and its residents.
Unrest prevailed and countless numbers of Cubans sought refuge on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in hopes of gaining the freedom associated with the United States. During the Fall of 1961, in order to discourage those who desired to flee communism in Cuba, Fidel Castro had his militia plant miles of cactus along the Northeast section of the fenceline. This became known as the "Cactus Curtain."
In October 1962, shocking news was received throughout the world that Russian nuclear missiles were discovered in Cuba only 90 miles from the U.S. mainland. That same month, U.S. Marines from both the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions started to land at Guantanamo to reinforce the Marines already stationed here. On Oct. 22, 1962 all dependents on the base were evacuated. On Dec. 7 of the same year, all dependents were allowed to return to the base as tensions from the Cuban Missile Crisis eased. The Marine reinforcements departed on Dec. 11, 1962. Since then, Naval Station Guantanamo bay continues to be a major confrontation point with the Cuban Government.
On Feb. 6, 1964, the Cuban Government ordered the water supply to the base turned off in retaliation for the arrest of 36 Cubans found illegally fishing in Florida waters. The fisherman were tried, found guilty, fined and returned to Cuba. On Feb. 17, 1964, Rear. Adm. John D. Buckeley, Commander of the U.S. Naval Base, ordered the water line from the Yateras River cut in front of members of the media and a section removed to disprove the Cuban Government allegation that the U.S. was stealing water. A 38-inch, 300-pound section of the 14-inch pipe and a 20-inch section of the 10-inch pipe were cut and lifted from the ground proving that the pipe was dry and then they sealed the opening permanently.
During this new water crisis, President Lyndon B. Johnson decreed that Guantanamo Bay would become as self-sufficient as possible. This included the dismissal of some Cuban employees and the building of a desalinization plant to independently meet the water supply needs of the base.
Throughout the 1964 water crisis and construction of the desalinization plant, several interesting events occurred along the fenceline bordering Cuba. During the months before the crisis, Cuban guards harrassed Marine sentries by throwing rocks from the Communist side of the fence pelting the tin roof of the Marine Barracks with rocks all night long to keep them awake. It was at this time that a large fence behind the barracks was erected to help stop the annoying rock throwing. The Cuban soldiers also made obscene gestures, threw coat hangers and participated in other annoying tactics. The harrassment became more frequent after the Cuban allegation of water theft was disproved. Though the Cuban soldiers attempted to provoke the U.S. Marines, their professionalism and vigilance along the 17.4-mile fenceline caused the Cubans to eventually lose interest in these tactics.
Upon the construction of additional height of the fence inhibiting the rock-throwing pastime, the Cubans took up the practice of shining a large spotlight at night from the roof of the search house towards the front of the Marine Barracks. Rather than discouraging the spotlight of the hillside and barracks, Adm. Buckeley decided to capitalize on the situation by having a tent erected on the site, then ordered the Seabees to construct a large Marine emblem (Eagle, Globe and Anchor) on the hillside. Once the emblem was complete, the Marines waited for Cubans to shine their spotlight and then removed the tent. The Cubans saw that they were lighting up the Marine Corps emblem and secured the spotlight for good. Today, the emblem is lit by U.S. Marines all night, every night of the year.
Prior to the deterioration of our relations with Cuba, vehicles were permitted to enter and depart the base at the Northeast Gate. In mid-1958, the flow of traffic was stopped and Cuban workers coming onto the base were required to walk through the Northeast Gate checkpoint. This requirement is still in effect today.
Cuban soldiers required the workers to change into work clothes and then allowed them to come down the enclosed sidewalk to the Northeast gate. A building on the other side of the fenceline on Cuban territory opposite our gatehouse was erected in November 1960 as a bank in order to exchange money for the base workers. The building was, however, never used as a bank. Instead, it became a guard or search house for the Cuban army.
The search house is in full view of the Marine sentry and the daily harrassment of the commuters by Cuban soldiers was continuously observed. The harrassment of the commuters was photographed and published by U.S. newsmen and caused understandable embarrassment to the Cuban Government. In order to preclude any further observation, the guardhouse was moved to its present location over the hill behind the Northeast Gate and a walkway was constructed connecting the two locations. As of the Summer of 2001, there were still 12 commuters who passed through the Northeast gate to work onboard the Naval Station. At approximately 6:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, these 12 Cuban citizens enter through the gate to work on the base. Most of the commuters come from Caimanera and Guantanamo City. It is necessary for those who live in Guantanamo City to rise at 4:00 a.m. and proceed to Caimanera by bus. From Caimanera, they take a ferry to Bogueron and again proceed by bus to the Cuban "search house." After that, they walk over the ridge to the Northeast Gate where a Marine checks them in. They then board another bus that is positioned at the gate for them and they proceed to their work area on the base. At approximately 4:30 p.m., the process is reversed as they leave the base to go back to their homes in Communist Cuba. Also, the Northeast Gate is the only point through which Cuban asylum seekers aboard the Naval Base are repatriated to Cuba whenever needed.
In the late 60's, the Ground Defense Force for Guantanamo Bay was extensive. In addition to the 400-man Marine Barracks, there were the 850 Marines of 2nd Battalion/8th Marines, 200-man Combat Engineer Company, three provisional rifle companies of Navy personnel, two squadrons of fighter/attack aircraft, two batteries of artillery, a platoon of tanks, and the Minefield Maintenance (MFM) section which was responsible for maintaining the 61,000 mines surrounding the base defensive positions.
Throughout the 60's to the early 90's, Guantanamo Bay was a beehive of defensive activities. The on-site units trained extensively on the air, ground and naval gunfire ranges here. The Quarterly Defensive Exercise (DEFEX) involved the entire base. At least once a year, Fleet Marine Force Battalions conducted amphibious/airborne Reinforcement Exercises (REINEX).
In 1973, the 2nd Battalion/8th Marines were replaced by a Special Mission Force of 450 Marines that was staffed by Fleet Marine Force units who deplyed to Guantanamo for six months at a time. That unit deployment program continued until 1977, at which time Marine Barracks became the Marine Barracks/Ground Defense Force for Guantanamo Bay. It was also about this time that the 200-man engineering unit was replaced with a detachment from 8th Engineer Battalion for three months each year.
In 1983, immediately following the U.S. invasion of Grenada (a military and political ally of Cuba), the Cuban army moved their fenceline back to its current location opposite ours. Prior to that, their fenceline was located only 80 to 150 meters away from ours. It was also at this time that the Cubans laid the minefields that remain between our fences to this day.
During 1993, in response to the decreased threat of defensive action by the Cubans following the removal of aid from the Soviets, the Marine Barracks made its first reduction since its establishment in 1906. Its platoon of five M-60 tanks was disbanded and returned to 2nd Tank Battalion in Camp LeJeune. That same year, the last squadron of attack aircraft, VC-10, was disestablished along with the Provisional Rifle Companies. The following year, Presidential Decision Directive #48 ordered the removal of all the mines emplaced at Guantanamo. This process was completed in April of 2000 when the last minefield was "verified clear" by the Marine MFM section.
For the past several years, the base's focus has been to support the Migrant camps of Cuban and Haitian refugees transported to the base by the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1994, these camps swelled to over 54,000 migrants, not including the personnel of the Joint Task Force that were brought in to run the camps. The massive influx of people caused camps to spring up on virtually every piece of land large enough to support one. Also, the demand that the additional personnel placed on the water, sewer, and power capabilities of the base caused all of the dependents to be evacuated to the U.S. mainland.
By 1997, as the number of migrants interned on Guantanamo decreased, dependents were allowed to return. When they got back, they found a different base. Much of the structure had been realigned elsewhere in Naval Region Southeast and the base population moved quickly down to its current level of about 3,000.
Today, Marines are still here at Guantanamo Bay, but they perform base security missions now and are not for a conventional infantry defense. In September 2000, the Marine Barracks Ground Defense/Security Force was redesignated as Marine Corps Security Force Company. It decreased its permanent personnel from 405 Marines to its current level of 16, and 100 Marines from 1st and 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST) Companies. The FAST Companies are attached to Guantanamo for 120-day rotations to perform the fenceline security mission, along with other related security and contingency missions.
For the past six years, the Commanding Officer of the Naval Station meets monthly with the Commanding General of the Guantanamo Bay Division of the Frontier Brigade at the Northeast Gate. The meetings alternate sides are are conducted in the old Marine Barracks or in the Cuban's search house on the Cuban side of the gate.
On June 17, 2001, the Commanding Officer's of the Naval Station, Naval Hospital, Marine Corps Security Force Company, and five other personnel passed through the Northeast Gate to visit the hospital in Guantanamo City. They were the first Americans in 42 years to pass through the Northeast gate and visit Communist Cuba. The very next day, General Solar, Frontier Brigade Commander, and eight other Cubans visited the Naval Hospital at Naval Station Guantanamo. These visits were the result of an agreement that each side would assist each other in the case of a natural disaster, fire, etc.
These historic visits were to show each side what hospital capabilities are available in case there is a need for one of the two countries to assist the other with medical care. It is also an example of the positive working relationship the two military forces have developed in recent years. This positive relationship does not necessarily coincide wit hthe two government's relationship but some day that may also change and once again the Northeast Gate will be open for Cubans and Americans to use as it was 42 years ago.
A Historical Look at JTF-Guantanamo
Joint Task Force Guantanamo conducts safe and humane care and custody of detained enemy combatants. It conducts interrogation operations to collect strategic intelligence in support of the Global War on Terror. It supports law enforcement and war crimes investigations. JTF Guantanamo is committed to the safety and security of American servicemembers and civilians working inside the wire.
In early 2002, the United States Southern Command established Joint Task Forces 160 and 170 to operate a detention and interrogation facility at the United States Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In November of that same year, Task Forces 160 and 170 merged and was re-designated as Joint Task Force Guantanamo.
Guantanamo’s first detention facility, Camp X-Ray, was a facility leftover from migrant operations at Guantanamo in the mid 1990s. It was used from January to April, 2002. Detainees are now housed in Camp Delta, which consists of Camps numbered 1 through 6 in the order in which they were built. Camps One through Four are expeditionary in nature while Five and Six are modeled after existing hardened facilities in Michigan and Indiana.
Guantanamo detainees are largely members of al-Qaida and the Taliban who are terrorist trainers, financiers, bomb makers, bodyguards, recruiters, facilitators and would-be suicide bombers. Intelligence gained through interrogations includes terrorist organizational structure, geographical presence, pursuit of weapons and systems, recruitment methods, skills, training and financial activity.
Detainees receive robust medical care, complete with an on-site hospital and access to the nearby Naval Hospital. Meals, clothing, worship opportunity, mail books and physical recreation are provided. The International Committee of the Red Cross regularly visits detainees and provides communications with governments worldwide on the status of their detainees.
It is the right of any nation to detain enemy combatants under international law during a time of war. Detention keeps combatants from returning to the battlefield in addition to providing a source of valuable intelligence. Detention at Guantanamo is consistent with Article III of the Geneva Conventions and follows the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005. Some detainees may be charged with war crimes under the Military Commissions Act of 2006. 
Service members and civilians from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are the JTF’s primary manpower source. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Combined Interagency Task Force, Office of Military Commissions, Joint Intelligence Group, Department of Homeland Security and the Office for the Administrative Review of the Detention of Enemy Combatants round out interagency efforts at Guantanamo.