<P> The first United States occupation of the Dominican Republic lasted from 1916 to 1924 . It was one of the many interventions in Latin America undertaken by the military forces of the United States . On May 13, 1916, Rear Admiral William B. Caperton forced the Dominican Republic's Secretary of War Desiderio Arias, who had seized power from Juan Isidro Jimenes Pereyra, to leave Santo Domingo by threatening the city with naval bombardment . </P> <P> From the start of the intervention until the US Marines withdrew in 1924, they were in almost continuous actions on both the squad and platoon levels, fighting numerous small - unit actions with elusive guerilla forces . Despite the ability of the Marines to bring a large amount of firepower to bear against the guerillas from both the ground and the air, the occupation troops had their share of problems as well . Sometimes the enemy would successfully ambush a lone Marine patrol, killing all or most of its members, and would scatter before reinforcements arrived on the scene . </P> <P> The Panama Canal Zone was an unorganized US territory located within the Republic of Panama . It was established under the Hay--Bunau - Varilla Treaty in 1903 and disestablished in 1979 under the Torrijos--Carter Treaties . Panama gained full control over the Panama Canal in 1999 . </P> <P> A referendum on transferring ownership from Denmark to the United States was held on 9 January 1868 on the islands of Sankt Jan and Sankt Thomas, two of three main islands in the Danish West Indies . Of the votes cast, 98% were in favor of the transfer, but it never materialized . A second referendum was held in all three islands on 17 August 1916, once again with overwhelming support for the transfer . </P>

What borders did the united states gain when it acquired this territory