Photo USNA1-4.1.   Juan Torres, Guardia Nacional No. 588, March 1928.

Caption reads:  "Juan Torres #588 GN March 7, 1928."

Photo USNA1-4.2.   Training Guardias Nacionales.

Locale not indicated; probably around Jinotega.

Photo USNA1-4.3.   Guardia baseball team.

No caption. Probably in the Pacific Coast region.

Photo USNA1-4.4.   Guardia inspection.

No caption.  Probably Jinotega area.

Photo USNA1-4.5.   Guardia Nacional, Rivas, 1928.

Guardia Nacional, Rivas, March 1, 1928.  Officers in cropping identified (left to right) as follows:  Lt. Schneeman, Jefe Político [Armijo?], Capt. Forsythe, and Lt. Somarriba.

Photo USNA1-4.6.   Telpaneca mutineers in Honduras, 1929.

Caption:  "Telpaneca mutineers under arrest in Honduras from Col. Faiquhaison [?] thru Brigade."  For documents relating to the "second" Telpaneca mutiny of October 21, 1929, see Top 100, p. 55.

Photo USNA1-4.7.   Matagalpa prison entrance.

Caption:  "Entrance to prison, Matagalpa."  Sign reads:  "Penitenciaría Departamental de Matagalpa."

Photo USNA1-4.8.   Guardia Nacional drill, 1928.

Caption:  "Physical drill under arms, Matagalpa."  Stamped "SECRET".

Photo Cluster USNA1-4.9.   General Alejandro Plata.

No caption beyond what's written on the photos.  Gen. Alejandro Plata was a key player in the counterinsurgency campaign against the Sandinistas, as a Voluntario general in 1928-29, as a Honduran border official, and in other capacities. 

Photo USNA1-4.10.   Children at doorway.

No caption.

Photo USNA1-4.11.   Lt. Orville Pennington with head of Silvino Herrera, August 1930.   

One of the most famous photographs from the war, used in Sandinista propaganda sheets across the hemisphere to propagate the "Black Legend" of Marine atrocities.  Caption reads "Cabeza del jefe bandolero Silvino Herrera - muerto por la guardia en agosto de 1930 - Matagalpa."  The photo album page to which the photo was attached reads:  "Writing on photo when turned over to G.N.," and "Given to me in Jinotega. J.C.S.", referring to Guardia Colonel Julian C. Smith.  The photograph is accompanied by a memorandum by C. B. Matthews, Jefe Director of the Guardia Nacional, dated 4 June 1932, which explains the context of Herrera's killing.  According to Matthews, Herrera was killed and decapitated by a landowner named Transito Ubeda, who guided the patrol led by Pennington, and whose wife had been raped by Herrera.  The memo goes on to absolve Pennington of any responsibility or disciplinary action, saying that he let his photograph be taken with the head in hand as a result of "boyish indiscretion" and that he was a "kind-hearted average American boy."  According to Matthews, the photo was taken by the late Lieutenant White, G.N., and originally had a small boy standing next to Pennington, whose image was whitewashed out of the photo.  This corresponds with the peculiar blank space on the photo's right side (Pennington's left arm appears to be tucked behind his back or missing altogether).  Matthews went on to say that Pennington was well-liked by the natives in the area, spoke fluent Spanish, and was married to a Nicaraguan woman, with whom he had one child then residing in the United States.  Thumbnail of the Matthews memorandum is here:  .  It is noteworthy that there is no evidence that Silvino Herrera (the decapitated man) was affiliated with the Sandinistas, making it likely that he was indeed a bandit and criminal.

Photo USNA1-4.12.   Captured Sandinista weapons.

Photo album page reads:  "Writing on the back of this photograph:  Arms captured by Guillen from Herrera, Meza, and Mendoza, 24 June 1930."