Operation Hawkeye

On 17 September 1989, Hurricane Hugo, one of the most destructive weather systems ever recorded by the National Weather Service, struck the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. The hurricane destroyed nearly all of the life support systems for a population of over 50,000; including the fresh water supply, the island?s electrical generation capability, and the fuel supply. Food was limited to that in stores and warehouses, and much of that was either damaged or destroyed. Telephone lines were down, and over ninety percent of all buildings destroyed or damaged. Every hospital and medical clinic was either severely damaged or completely destroyed. Every structure of wood or metal, including the homes of the island?s poor, was destroyed. Fuel spills created hazardous environmental conditions.

The ensuing chaos and total breakdown of law and order resulted in widespread looting and general lawlessness throughout the island. The police department was incomplete disarray. Additionally, from 200 to 600 prisoners had escaped from the island?s only territorial prison. On 20 September 1989, the governor requested federal help.

President George Bush ordered federal forces to St. Croix to suppress the violence, protect property, and restore law and order. Elements of the Army, Navy and the Coast Guard, along with a contingent from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) formed Joint Task Force (JTF) 40 for Operation Hawkeye.

The Army element of JTF-40 was a Military Police brigade with medical, engineer and other support personnel. Immediately upon arrival in St. Croix, the 503d deployed three-man teams into the island?s two major cities. Looting and other disturbances ceased immediately. Within 24 hours, the MPs were enforcing a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Law and order had been restored. Military police patrolled the island for two months. They provided security for key installations, worked with the FBI and the U.S. Marshals to apprehend all escaped prisoners and to intercept air-dropped bundles of cocaine valued at over $50 million; and carried out extensive training for the Virgin Island National Guard conducted and joint patrols with the St. Croix Police Department.