Where did the Marines first land during the Spanish American War?

The first landing of the Marines during the Spanish American War took place at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This location is significant because it served as a strategic point for the U.S. military during the war. The Marines landed there on June 6, 1898, as part of an operation to capture the island and support the overall campaign against Spanish forces in Cuba. Guantanamo Bay’s geographical features and proximity to other key locations made it an ideal staging area for operations aimed at securing the territory.

Havana, while being a prominent city and the capital of Cuba, was not the site of the initial Marine landings. The main action around Santiago was crucial later in the campaign but occurred after Guantanamo Bay. The landing at Manila, in the Philippines, was a separate theater of conflict that occurred later in the war, reflecting the broader scope of U.S. military engagement during this period. Hence, Guantanamo Bay represents the correct historical context as the starting point for Marine operations in the Spanish American War.