Serious efforts have been made to gather information about other Solant Amity cruises we know existed. To date, the information about II, III and IV retrieved from the internet is limited. So we have had to go to other sources.
Perhaps the biggest surprise came when we discovered that a crisis response by "L" Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and Helicopter Unit HMR(L)-264 to the Congo region in July of 1960 preceded all Solant Amity Task Force Operations.
It was only thereafter that Uncle Sam conjured the polite "good will"moniker for Solant Amity Cruises, the principle responsibility of which was to function as a United Nation's oversight "peacekeeping" force in the Congo region.

From the text USMC - A Complete History, available through the Marine Corps Association [ http://mca-marines.org ] and published in 2002, we first learned of the earlier Naval/Marine expeditionary force to the Congo (Zaire) region of Africa. In searching the internet for more information, we found a site that posts U.S. Navy Crises Responses and learned that on or about 1Jul60:

"The former Belgian Congo (now Zaire) became independent on 30 June 1960. Elements of the [Congolese] army quickly revolted, and widespread civil disorder resulted. CVS Wasp with a Marine company aboard, was dispatched to assist in the evacuation of Western nationals. During the remainder of the year, the USN supported U.N. forces in the Congo by providing sealift for U.N. force contingents."

Our first source, the USMC - A Complete History on page 538, provided a bit more elaboration about the U.S. Naval and Marine Corps resources stating that on 9Jul60:

"Following Congo's declaration of independence from Belgium on 30Jun60 and the secession of the province ov Katanga, the U.N. authorizes a peacekeeping force for the African nation. Company L of 3/2 [that is "L" Company, 3rd Battion, 2nd Marines out of Camp Lejeuene, NC] and a detachment of HMR(l)-261 on board the Wasp (CVS-18) deploy there."

Well, as life and our own up-close resources tells us, things in print aren't always and in all ways correct. Charlie La Marr, then a USMC Gunnery Sergeant, wrote to the editor of Solant Amity.Com to make the following points, while we were planning to put the Crisis Responses on the website:

"Did you know that as a prelude to the Solant Amity cruise, the USS Wasp (CVS-18) went to the Congo on July 9,1960 with six helos - H-34's - from 264? I was maintenance chief then also, with L Co 3/2. We were on a Caribbean cruise on the USS Boxer off Gitmo [Guantanamo Bay, Cuba].
The Wasp took off their fighters, and put us aboard. We went to the Congo. Returned to the states and formed Solant Amity 1."

Pointing out there was a conflict in the identity of the helo unit [ 261 ] in the published text versus Charlie's suggestion it was HMR-264, we asked for a clarification:

"I knew of the...effort from a text I have been reading but the details were vague. Clearly, having been there, you would know far more than anything I’ve been reading about. What struck me was the fact that there had been units of the same kind of make-up [ a reinforced company of grunts and the HMR unit, sent there around the time of the Congo (Zaire’s) gaining independence. We may have, in fact, come close to being the relief at sea for yourselves and, by that time, given a task force title of Solant Amity I.

The source says that HMR(L) was 261 and not 264 on board the Wasp. Is there a conflict? Was it 261 or 264?"

Then, according to his personal log of events, former G/Sgt Charlie La Marr responded with even more enlightening material:

"If your source is the Camo bound USMC - A Complete History which gives 261, it is wrong. I was there. I was in 264.
"On 7/9/60, I flew on HUS-1 (H-34) Bureau # 147183 with MSgt Harvey Bearden as pilot, to the Wasp.
"On 7/31, I flew with Capt. Shinkle conducting carrier landings.
"On 8/1, MSgt Bearden and I flew over to Dakar, French W. Africa and return.
"On 8/9, Capt. Cumpston and I off loaded at MCAS New River, NC from the Wasp.
"All HMR 264.
"On 11/30, with Lt. Plasterer as pilot, we went aboard the Hermitage.
"Also checking my log I see where I made several landing on the Graham Co. on 12/2 and 12/6 off Viegues.

[Some months later in our communications Charlie added, "This cruise went down 42-years ago. What is all the sudden interest?.... The concept of a "People to People program" is a bunch of crap.
It was a cover.
We were there to photograph and map portions of the west coast of Africa for future Marine amphibious landings. The Congo war brought it on; [Which explains why] we on the USS Wasp were on the original Marine deployment to Africa prior to any of the Solant Amity Cruises.]

"I hope that clears things up," he concluded.

Yes, it has Charlie. Better than I could have hoped for. Thanks.

From that same text mentioned earlier, USMC - A Complete History, and other sources we also confirmed that there were a total of four Solant Amity Cruises:

• Solant Amity I - 30Nov60, Company G of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment aboard the Graham County LST-1176 and HMR(L)-264 aboard the Hermitage LSD-34, sailed from North Carolina under Marine Corps command of Major H. Richard Kerth, Jr. to conduct Operation Solant Amity, a "goodwill" tour of the African continent, returning to CONUS [Continental United States] on 15May61.
  
  On 9Jul60, following the Congo's declaration of independence from Belgium on June 30th and the secession of the province of Katanga, the UN authorized a "peacekeeping" force for the newly emerging African nation. Company L of 3/2 and a detachment of HMR(L)-261 on board Wasp (CVS-18) was deployed. It would appear that subsequently deployed units...AKA Solant Amity task forces...had more purpose in mind than goodwill.
  
  On 20Jan61, elements of the Solant Amity I task force assisted in famine relief work at Matadi, unloading supplies from the Hermitage [LSD-34]. Then on 1Feb, helicopters from HMR(L)-264 evacuated United Nation's [Guinean] troops from Matadi to the Hermitage and the ship drops them off in Conakry, Guinea, a week later. [ Those of you on the Hermitage may have been wondering whatever happened to Gunny La Marr or Lt. Ross Plasterer? Well, mouse click HERE to find out but be sure to come back. ]
  
  It was while this was occurring that G/2/6 was split into platoons and distributed aboard other ships, including the destroyers Gearing DD-710 [ billeted the 3rd Platoon] and Vogelesang DD-862 [ billeted the 1st Platoon] and USS Nespelen AOG - 55 [ billeted the 2nd Platoon,] so that the Graham County LST-1176 [ which continued to billet the Weapons Platoon, only on the well deck amongst the Amtracs] could also be used for the evacuation of the Guinean troops to Conakry. It was during the "distribution" of rifle platoons that the 3rd Platoon became involved in the pursuit of the pirated Santa Maria.
  

• Solant Amity II - 18Apr61, Company F of 2/2 and a detachment from HMR(L)-262 sailed from North Carolina for the second Solant Amity task force to North African ports. The 500 Marines participating returned to North Carolina on 8Sep61, after traveling 30,191 miles and visiting 17 African countries.
  
  

  Task Group 88.2 - SoLant Amity II sailed under the command of Task Group Commander Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey. Ships Included: USS SPIEGEL GROVE LSD 32 USS YORK COUNTY LST 1175 USS JONAS INGRAM DD 938 USS NEW DD 818 USS CHEWAUCAN AOG 50 Information obtained at http://www.kevinflatley.com/cruises.htm

  18Apr61 30 Apr61 19-24May61 31May - 5 Jun61 7-12Jun61 15-18Jun61 23-24Jun61 26-29Jun61 4-7Jul61 12-13Jul61 19-29Jul61 ??-??Aug61 7-12Aug61 14-19Aug61 1-2Sep61 8Sep61

  - Underway for Solant Amity II. - 5 May: Bathurst, Gambia. - Durban, South Africa. - Diego Suarez, Malagasy Republic (Madagascar). - Port Victoria, Mahe, Seychelle Islands. - St. Denis, Reunion Island. - Zanzibar, Tanzania. - Mombasa, Kenya. - Aden, Yemen. - Mombasa, Kenya. - Cape Town, South Africa. - Recife, Brazil. - Lome, Togo. - Libreville, Gabon. - Trinidad, BWI. - Arrive and disembark Port Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, VA.

  
  
• Solant Amity III - 18Sep61, Company F of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment departed North Carolina to conduct another of our nation's "goodwill" tours in Africa, as part of the Solant Amity III task force. However, according to the link below provided for the USS Meridith DD-890...and subsequently substantiated by crew members of the USS Forrest Sherman DD-931 and the USS Donner LSD-20. They have explained that as early as 1Jul61:
  
  

  ",...after refresher training, [the USS Meredith DD-890] got underway for a good will tour of various ports in the Caribbean and along the west coast of Africa from Freetown, Sierra Leone, to Capetown, Republic of South Africa. While en route she collected oceanographic data which included piscatoral and avian surveys as well as hydrologic information."

One can only surmise what it was that promoted all that interest in the oceanographic and hydrologic data of the west African coastal areas, the kind of information essential to successful amphibious landings for example. Inferred from our research: the Task Group for Solant Amity III was initiated around the 14th to 18th of September 1961 until approximately 18Dec61. However, on 30Dec03, former Corporal Viktor von Mertens [USMC 8/5/60-8/4/64], who served first in Echo-2-6 and later transferred to "Fox" for Solant III, contacted us. He is presently accumulating all the documentation, including the official cruise book, he has at home in Phelan, California. When received we will update these Solant III entries to more accurately reflect the new findings. [ Click on the photo to see other members of his platoon at the time. ] Viktor can be reached at viktorvonm@hughes.net or by calling 760-868-2555.

If there is anyone else out there in cyber-world with still more information than provided, we would appreciate hearing from you. Credit for that information will be provided.

AFTER THE COMPLETION OF SOLANT AMITY III, IN 1962,
NO UNITS WERE SIMILARLY DEPLOYED UNTIL FEBRUARY 1963.

• Solant Amity IV - 13Feb63, fifty-three (53) Marines from Camp Lejeune their unit identity undetermined, deployed on board the Spiegel Grove LSD-32 for a 14 week "goodwill" tour of duty of their own off the coast of western Africa, dubbed by the Navy as Solant Amity IV.

Having broken free of Belgian colonial rule but not yet from Belgian political influence during the early 1960s, the Congo found itself enmeshed in turmoil and intrigue that continues to this day. You may recall that its Prime Minister, Patrice Lamumbo, was brutalized and eventully assassinated during the period when forces of Solant Amity I were plying their "trade" as part of the UN activity in the region. A great deal has been written about this period and of our own CIA's involvement in Lumumba's death. Here's a summary of his rise to power and horrific downfall: 23Jun60: Became first prime minister of Congo (Zaire). 30Jun60: Independence of the Republic of Congo (Zaire). 31Jul60: Secession of Katanga declared. 14Sep60:Colonel Mobutu neutralizes political institutions and their leaders. 10Oct60:Lumumba is put in guarded residence under ANC and United Nations protection. 27Nov60: Lumumba leaves his residence on Leopoldville (Kinshasa) to reach Stanleyville.  1Dec60: Lumumba arrested by ANC Mobutu soldiers and taken to Leopoldville (Kinshasa).  3Dec60: Lumumba transferred to Camp Hardy in Thysville.  17Jan61: Lumumba transferred to Elizabethville, Katanga.  17Jan61: Death by assassination with two of his comrades; Mpolo and Okito.  If interested in learning more about those tumultuous times, a search of the Internet will furnish you with enough to fill a fair sized library. For an abbreviated version, however, we direct you to read Heart of Darkness the Tragedy of the Congo, 1960-67.

Return to Home page, meet the 3rd Platoon or view the Biographies of those contacted thusfar from the 3rd Platoon, 1st, 2nd and Weapons . See Solant Amity Cruise or Santa Maria incident related photos. To see 1960s service and cruise related Anecdotes...both literal and photographic, a tribute to Marines on the Hermitage or USMC Discipline Problems in the 1970s.
Or, perhaps you would just like to see some recent [ 6Apr02 ] photos of the Corps' Parris Island Training Center our Links & Things page or the great Comments made by vistors to the website. You may remember some of them.