| 29 May 2008 | 0800 - Jack McGarry I can't believe I've gone 2 years without updating this Blog. Will put some thought into it moving forward....lots to catch up on. - The Archives Team has grown tremendously. - The France, Vietnam, India, Laos, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Israel, Greece, German, Haiti, Cameroon, Panama, Canada,Ivory Coast, Detachment Pages are all staffed with Page Masters. - We have a Reasearch Advisor helping keep the PageMasters current with MSG Contact and Post Info. 1000 - Jack McGarry MEGA Members also receive a monthly newsletter, with articles related to MSGs, and MSG History. |
| 30 May 2006 | 0800 - Jack McGarry Well the reunion is over and an incredible success. Juan and Zelda really stepped up to the plate along with a supporting cast that should equally be commended. Coming away, the archives team has been re-motivated and many changes are underway on the archives site. A "Wives-Page" has been added to track the many contributions of MEGA wives, allowing them a forum as well to share their memories. Individual "Guest books" is now being attached to detachment pages as well as other archives pages that warrent them. This will allow detachments to communicate with each other through the guest book. If email contact is needed, these MSGs will need to contact history@embassymarine.org Detachment & MEGA merchandise is now being sold through the detachment pages (and main archives page). A uniquie logo has been created using the new "Marine Corps Embassy Security Command" Header. Proceeds from the sales of these items will go to the MEGA General Fund. And finally, a new design style is being implemented on all Archives pages. I believe the design looks sharper, and will appreciate any comments on improving it further. |
| 03 MAR 2006 | 0800 - Jack McGarry Added some new toys to the main page including the Google Search Bar. Also added a button at the bottom of the main page which tracks visitors to the site, and displays their location on a Google Earth Map... This, "toy" I thought was REALLY Cool. - I'm also attempted to update the support pages...bringing them up to date from 2004 and 2005. - I'm doing some active search for detachment contact information and will begin added that info to the detachment pages. Contact info will be maintained by the Historical Committe, and won't be given out to non-Detachment / non-MEGA members. requests for this info will be routed to the contacts. |
| 16 DEC 2005 | 0800 - Jack McGary We've recently introduced new "tools" for pages, and will begin rolling them out as we create or edit new pages. The Stat Counter will allow us to see how much activity the site is getting. Hopefully it will motivate former/current MSGs to send along more content. I'm creating a Yohoo Group for each detachment. This will allow you all to begin detachment specific communications. It's also a new method for me to scoop out any interesting subject content for the Archives. All you need to do is sign up for Yahoo (free), and begin sending along messages. Please let me know if there is anything we can do to help get you signed up. jackmcgarry@yahoo.com (Historical Archives Team) |
| 14 DEC 2005 | 0800 - Jack McGarry Well, it's been way to long since this log has been updated. (over a year!!!). Our reunion in April seemed to be a great success. It's always such a kick seeing Marines and sharing stories of our experiences in our personal, professional and especially (from my point of view); their memories of their time on post with the Marine Security Guard Battalion. The archives continue to grow, but not nearly as much as we'd like. I guess this is a double edged sword...my professional priorities are constantly tugging at me, and at times I have no bandwidth to massage the content we push up to the Archives, or to research through the net, looking for tidbits of historical data for display. Joel Hakesley has joined the team and is collecting tons of data for the MSG Det Page for Paris http://www.msg-history.com/detachments/france/france_paris.html. The page is really coming together well, and Joel is reaching out to quite a few former Paris Marines. We are starting Yahoo Groups for some of the Detachment Pages...and for the Main MSG-History Page. Please sign up and let us know how you're doing...shout out to the guys you're trying to hook up with or simply share you thoughts. In future projects we're hoping to obtain data on security teams assigned to special MSG Duty. We're also hoping to reach out to current and former Women Marines to gain an understanding of their own unique view of the duty, and any memories they would like to share of the history they have experienced. Semper Fi, Happy Holiday's and Happy New |
| APR
6 2004 |
0800
-
Jack McGarry It has been a while since my last entry. Evidence of the rest of my life moving toward the fast lane. We've been catching up on a portion of the site which should require a lot more attention, and I've felt sorry for not having the time to devote toward it... MEGA Taps. With the recent passing of Sgt Rodrigues, and MSgt Bertini, and some timely communications from family members of other deceased former MSGs, (Col Hershey & Capt Miller), we've started updating both the TAPS Page, and the Profile Page for deceased MSGs. We've created an "In Memoriam" Page which we'll use for any MSG who has passed. With the current staffing level in the Historical Committee, it presents a major obsticle to keep focused on the complete list of current entries in the TAPS Page, to ensure that all are given an individual page in which we can highlight any information we can about their contributions to our Corps, and within the life they lead. Contact from family and friends for the few we've set up has proven very positive. I believe there is sincere appreciate for any memorial we can provide their loved ones. If we can recruit volunteers, I am hoping to dedicate someone to maintaining this effort. Otherwise, we'll be simply reactive to incidents or emails which alert us to our fallen brothers. In those cases, I'll attempt to ensure that we quickly provide an "In Memoriam Page", and link from the TAPS page. |
| Mar 12, 2004 |
We've
just learned of the passing of Sgt Carlos "Jesse" Rodrigues, who was
recently transferred home from the Vienna detachment and succumbing to
a tough battle with cancer. The news of Sgt Rodrigues death
hits hard for anyone who has been touched by this gentle and courageous
Marine. Carlos allowed my wife and I to enter his life at a time when he was desperately trying to protect those he loved from the dispair and depression that was part of his battle with cancer. Carlos was sincerely a beautiful human being, devoted to his family the Corps, and his friends many of whom were the Marines he was stationed with in Honduras and Austria. We talked about our pride in mutual accomplishments as MSGs. He was particularly proud of being part of the Detachment of the Year in Tegucigulpa, and spoke highly of all the Marines he served with there and especially of the leadership of his NCOIC. He was grateful for what MEGA was able to do for him and his family during these last few months. He was a proud father, and was able to spend a few months of quality time with his son Jesse. He was also engaged to a woman from Tegucigulpa, however they chose to break off the engagement because of his illness and recognizing his passing would jeopardize her employment there... I know she must be overwhelmed with this news as well. The small part I was able to play seems insignificant knowing that many of the Marines he loved so much were also praying for him and all trying in their own way to help keep his spirit up through to the end. I know we all share the prayer that God bless Carlos and embrace him with the eternal love and happiness he deserves... and I'm equally sure that Carlos' would want me to pass on this message from him..."God bless the Corps" Jack McGarry Historical Committee MEGA |
| Mar 06, 2004 | Hello, I am a Marine Staff Sergeant still active that was an MSG From July 98 till Dec 00. Just had the question of why one of the most horrible moments in MSG History, the bombings in Kenya and Tanzania are not listed on here? Thanks for any info SSgt Scott Tranchant Note from HISTCOMM: The original links to the content for Sgt Aliganga and the bombings in Tanzania & Kenya disappeared during constant edits of the main Page. I'd like to thank SSgt Tranchant for pointing out the oversight and ask every MSG to help ensure that we stay on our toes, please send a note on any historically significant omission or error you come across within these archives. |
| Mar
06, 2004 |
0800 3 weeks now between Post #1 Log Entries... the guilt is setting in. I'm receiving notes from several former MSGs, and need to get them up on site. I've had an interesting exchange with Colonel Hershey's daughter Joan who has sent along some great pics of her dad, circa his tour as RMO in Bonn. It's given me a boost in terms of ideas on what we can do with our profiles. I'll have Col Hershey's profile updated shortly. ... Also have just received a newsletter from "Sgt Grit"... in it he's displaying several emails from Marines who describe their memories of their tours. I've been struggling on how to track all the information being relayed from former MSG's in emails. To date, I've tried to edit the historical information from them, but to do that has caused a backlog of emails awaiting that editing. I believe this Post #1 log will be a good place to drop them so that you all can share on those memories, while I go through the motions of transferring the information in them to the pages where they will ultamately live. ... I've just sent my own reunion application in, and am trying to work out the details of getting my butt to Biloxi along with my wife Ro. I'm looking forward to relaxing with you all, and hope you don't mind my constant picking at your brains for details we can log here in msg-history. Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |
| Email
Mar 4, 2004 |
There needs to be
two names added to the Combat Action Ribbon list: - Sgt Ralph Fresquez - Cpl David Hale Semper Fi! David Hale SSgt USMC Disabled (Note from HISTCOMM: Research in progress) |
| Email Mar 3 2004 |
MARINE
SECURITY GUARDS PARIS FRANCE To up-date my response to your E-mail here is a listing of the names of Marines assigned to Paris, I have viewed all the photos I have and submit only those names I could remember associated with a face in the photos. NCOIC MGYSGT (CAPTAIN USMC(ret) C.C. Bartolomeo w/Oria Oct1971 to September 1974. A/NCOIC GYSGT Larry W. Cannon w/ wife Rita replaced by A/NCOIC SSGT Johnnie Helms W/wife Nelda SSgt Ray Grundy Sgt Dave Kellogg SSgt Robert Vaughn Sgt Joe Ball SSgt Larry Sullivan Sgt Dennis O’Leary SSgt Robert A. Trout Sgt Fred Waltz SSgt Sam Williams Sgt Chuck Simmons SSgt Douglas Cawman Cpl Robert Dennis SSgt Pappy Links Cpl Henry Dzielak SSgt Harry Zuckermann Cpl Fred Clark Sgt John Olive Cpl Jim Crennell Sgt Joe Peters Cpl Tim Carden Sgt ------ Nelson Cpl Rick Steele Sgt ------ McDonald Cpl Jerry Shedfer Sgt Robert Hall Cpl Rick Gillette Sgt Bob Dungan Cpl ------- Lauray ?? Sgt Frank Adair Cpl Fred Martz Sgt Dennis L. Gaston Cpl Jerry Shelfer ?? Sgt Steve Lawson Cpl Al Edge Sgt Dave Gardner Sgt Rick Beard Sgt Gene Peterson Sgt Allen Bishop Sgt Mike Worthy Sgt Dan Pardaen Sgt Carl Cooley Most Marines were promoted from LCpl to Sgt during their assignment in Paris. This Embassy Had four (4) Ambassadors assigned at all times: Ambassador Watson Ambassador to France. In 1973 Replaced by Ambassador Irwin Ambassador Peters as UN observer Ambassador Louise Gore UNESCO and Ambassador Porter assigned for Peace talks NVN/SVN Extra Duties: Every Nov 11 provided a Color Guard and Honor Guard for Ambassador to France, laying of wreath at the Arc de Triumph. Every May 30th provided Color Guard, Honor Guard and Firing Detail at Bellow Woods. Every November 10th Marine Corps Birthday all Marines participated in a ceremony Color Guard, Honor Guard, and escorts/talkers. High ranking dignitaries from France and Embassy invited to birthday ball. In 1973 the 6th Fleet Band played . (In 1973 All wine served at the MC ball came from the USA, flown into Germany and Embassy vehicles with proper paperwork signed by Foreign Office passed thru Border Post. Every year in October All Marines not on post participated in the Association des Marcheurs Du VAL DE MARNE, a 45km Military hike with full field packs (obtained from the Army in Germany) each pack must weigh 22 kilos. The American and USMC flags lead the way. In 1973 the detachment was last to leave on the spaced out route and Finished FIRST. The last Kilometer was marched in Dress Blues, High ranking Military General Offices from many European Nations were on the reviewing stand as the Marines passed in review to the tune of the Marines Hymn. Leatherneck Magazine features the Detachment two times 1st in September 1973 edition pages 42 – 47. Duty stations of the Corps. The second Leatherneck featured the Detachment in the Nov 1974 edition when the Commandant of the Marine Corps General Robert E. Cushman was the honored guest at the memorial day ceremony at Bellow Woods. A companion articles “ A man and a half “ featured a WW1 Marine whom I’ll never forget GySgt Don V. Paradis, a Plank owner, member of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment fought from one end of France into Germany without being wounded. He earned 2 silver stars and a French Croix de Guerre. Both of these articles were written by Tom Bartlett from Leatherneck. In 1972 The detachment had the pleasure of interning a WW I Marine Pvt. Howard A. Heil from PA, his remains were unearthed when a French farmer was illegally diverting water onto his farm. Article of clothing and dog tag ID’ed him, the Army graves registration in Frankfurt, Germany transported the remains to St Mihiel American Military Cemetery on January 21, 1972. Members of this detachment were to be the Honor Guard, Firing Squad and Pall Bearers. An Army Chaplain from Germany failed to show and Corporal C. Simmons filled in . Pvt. Heil’s name was engraved on the Wall as Missing in Action. This Marine is now at rest with his companions. The Stars and Stripes Europe did a feature story of the burial, however I don’t have a copy. A letter of Appreciation was sent to the detachment by Major General A>J> Adams Secretary of the AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION on 9 February 1972 Stars and Stripes also did another Article on the Paris Detachment in their Sunday January 28, 1973 edition (center fold pages) titled THE MARINE CORPS DIPLOMATS. Twenty Marines of the detachment also performed in a color guard/honor guard for the rekindling of the Eternal Flame at the Arc de Triumph for the 50th Anniversary of the Association of American Volunteers on February 27, 1974. Four Marines of 6 teams showed the American and Marine Corps Flags at all the Towns and Villages on the Western coast of France as the celebrated their anniversary of relief from German occupation. Every Spring the Detachment fielded a fast-pitch softball team to play in the International League. As rewards for being an outstanding Marine he would carry a Diplomatic Pouch to the various Consulates in France. When the Marine Corps League visited Paris, a new detachment was formed entitled Paris France Detachment # 1. Thank you for this opportunity to talk about our Marine Detachment. C.C. Bartolomeo NCOIC MGYSGT (CAPTAIN USMC(ret) |
| Email
Mar 2 2004 |
Sofia
Bulgaria Leo C. Mertens, Sergeant, served 1976 to 1977 George Bottorff, Sergeant, served 1976 to 1977 Laverne Jones, Sargent, served 1976 to 1977 DCM Mr. Feldman became acting CM in 1977 and held volley ball games to the ambassadors residence on the weekends to keep up morale. We had to order food once a quarter from the U.S Air Force base in Greece. The trip I was in charge of was interesting because it was a two day trip with a Bulgarian driver. He spoke no English and I spoke little Bulgarian at the time. When we arrived at the Air base tp pick up the order they gave us a whole side of beef uncut. I protested and they said take it or leave it. I took it and delivered it to DCM Feldman since he had ordered the most steaks and roasts. He did not want it as he had no way to cut it up. An Air Force member of the mission ended up with it as he had some tools to deal with the meat. It thawed in his bath tub while he worked on it. We all got a laugh in the end. Leo Mertens |
| Feb
12, 2004 |
0800 Took a few days to come up for air... Cleaned up some pages, and stole an idea from the Main MEGA Page... Going through the Historical Items Folder, where we keep all the digital copies of items we've found on various sites or donations from MSG's, I'm now regularly grabbing photos for display on the MEGA Historical Archives Page. I realized that a lot of the changes on the site are happening down below the main page, and may be out of site from regular visitors who may be checking back for new stuff. The images being displayed are not showing the Text very well... I need to come up with a better way of showing the details of each image. We're starting to receive more and more info from former and current MSG's...Thank God! As I hear from each Marine, I'm getting a chance to go back to each detachment and update the pages with more historical content...(see http://www.msg-history.com/detachments/ethiopia/ethiopia_addisababa.html) or (http://www.msg-history.com/detachments/saudiarabia/saudiarabia_riyahd.html) now that the site is fairly mature, the historical research is proving fairly interesting. I'd love to begin receiving word from MSG's who lived through this stuff! We received a bunch of pictures from Bucharest / 1956. Marines who'd lived through the Soviet Invasion...having their Marine House shot up...that must have made for some unusual Post #1 Log entries. I'm looking forward to the Reunion, and the potential of some serious historical input! I'm hoping my pencil will hold up while I try and figure out how to collect it all. Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |
| Jan 18, 2004 |
1600 Reseaching a photo found on the MSG-History Project, have been emailing the Mom of an MSG out on Post hoping to get the names of the Marines in the pictures. Our policy here is that we won't display any information on active MSGs and always keep embassy security as our highest priority. I am aware that our brother-msg sites are equally as committed. Should anyone see a page which is presenting inappropriate information please send us a note. So much flys by us that something may slip and we'll be thankful that other eyes are helping the editing process. "Mom" has severl pages focused on family support of Marines and MSGs, and was happy to see other MSG related sites helping support our Marines in the field. She spoke about another "MSG-Mom" who's daughter had just completed MSG training and was heading out on post. She'd noted that her WM was filled with all the anxiety we all had heading out for the first time. But a unique angle is the WM heading there... under the spot light a bit more, especially if the post had not be "enlightened" previously. Her WM will want to hit the ground running, and show that she's standing tall with the rest of the detachment. She's concious of not "screwing up", and wanting to fit in... (from Jack McGarry: "God, I can remember it like it was yesterday!"). Her WM is heading out to a Hardship Post, so I believe the tight DOS community will actually help out...or at least I hope it's the way it was a few decades ago. Non-hardship posts tend to not have the tight-knit social life of everyone leaning on each other to get through it. If I remember correctly, it'll take a few weeks to settle in before the excitement kicks in that you've actually become part of such an important resposibility. The leadership of the Det Commander plays such a big role here. If he's got it, the post experience is awesome...You San Sal guys and Saigon guys will atest to that I'm sure! I can't imagine what issues new WM might bring to day-to-day operations. But a good team will see to it that she simply fits in, and is taken care of the same way we all "take care of our own". Hang in there Marine... You'll look back on this as one of your life's most incredible experiences, and an acomplishment you'll be proud of for ever. |
| Jan 15,
2004 |
1200 Sent an email out to the logged San Salvador Marines and have been communicating with several and updating the San Sal page with their contributions. Fred Goodell from the 1955 detachment has sent along notes and photos from the early days and Al Kelleher has sent along a bunch of pictures from the 80's both sets are being incorporated into the pages. Continuing to mine other data from the Net. We're organizing them differently from the way other MSG sites are displaying them, hoping that having the data shown in muliple locations will make finding it easier. I've struggled with trying to link to the data at other sites, but am worried that if those sites go down we loose the data. By pulling it into MEGA and documenting it we have the option of storing or store and display as needed. Added Class Photos to the main archives page time line. We'll also be adding them to the MSG Battalion Page as time permits. We recently received a 2003 Ball Picture from the Warsaw Detachment. We've stored the picture, and are trying to get some names to go with the Marines displayed. We have a policy in which we do not want to display any current inforation concerning the detachments...(to keep the bad guys from tracking the good guys). We're sincerely hoping that the site will attract more attention from MSG Battalion and active detachments. I'd like to work directly with any Marine on Post to dress up the detachment pages with any current news... please email us when you have a chance! (history@embassymarine.org) Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |
| Jan
9, 2004 |
0800 After playing email tag with Chuck O'Connell for a while I've finally got the Mogadishu Detachment Page up and dusted off the LaPaz Page with names from his detachment. He mentioned an incident where Sgt Glenn Nelson received an award for attempting to save a child who'd become trapped in a sewer drain in Somalia. Doing up the Mogadishu page and reseaching the historical background gave me a view of the era and environment in which Sgt Nelson "answered the call" in 1986. Somalia we may think that all American's were considered the enemy.during the events of the early 90's, however I believe there is a group of Somalians who worked beside Sgt Nelson, trying to save that childs life, who came away with a completely different impression of the US Marine Corps. I personally know what it's like to realize you need to take charge of a situation, and although you fail to keep the victum alive, you've done the best you could. It's possibly our training as Marines, but I think more it's the type of individual the Corps selects to send out on post. I'm proud to know we all would have reacted similarly ... Semper Fi! Also received word from Bill Diaz, a San Salvador Marine, that I needed to highlight the loss of the MSGs who were assasinated in 1985. Honoring MSG's who've lost their lives while out on post will always be our highest priority... We've provided historical notes concerning the incident but still need to write up Profile Pages on the Marines. I'm hoping that as the site grows, the collegues of these Marines will write in, sending along personal accounts of the incidents, but more importantly describing the kind of Marines and human beings these MSGs were. If you have a Photo available or documentation on Awards please send along copies or ask us to scan them and return the originals. Please bear with us while we get the profiles up and links in place. But also, please keep pointing to areas where we need to beef up the content... it's a daunting task but one we are enjoying. Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |
| Jan 6, 2004 | 0800 Researching new method for reviewing all the photos, and documents stored in our Historical Items folder. We've identified the method, thanks to the help of Teddie Tapawan who works on Fred Samarelli's Technology Team. Before we paste it live though we want to make sure we are displaying only displayable content... some discussion is needed. Doing searches around the net for books with Embassy Marine references, and found a book called "Jarhead : A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles" by Anthony Swofford (former Marine). He mentions that his uncle was an MSG in Denmark in 1967 and he died of food poisening. I've placed a note in the Copenhagen page asking for anyone with details to send them along. I'm periodically looking in on an MSG from the Vienna Detachment who has been transferred home to combat a bout with cancer and have a sense of what an impact something like this has on a detachment. Carlos talks about how much he misses the detachment and I'm sure he left quite an impact on the team back there as well. I also found a book with a reference to a 1967 detachment who spent off-duty hours taking pot shots at innocent locals with a bb-gun from the roof of their marine house. The book documents the world-wide travels and drivel of a few pot-heads who described meeting the MSGs and the Marine House as a "Party House" I suppose we should consider the source... Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |
| Jan 5, 2004 | 0800 Still piecing together how to handle the Vietnam Pages. Interesting stuff still keeps creeping to the surface. Searching on "bodyguards" filtered out an Asia-Times article on US Ambassador's personal bodyguard, a vietnamese agent by the name of Nguyen Phuoc Hoang Nobel. He was one of the locals we left behind....tortured and re-educated by the North Vietnamese. It's a sad ending and I'm sure a lot of the Viet Vets have memories of a lot of locals stuck in the same horror story. Got some profile update info from Charles May...one of the original association board members. He's lent a hand in so many areas as the organization grew and deserves much more than what we can provide here. I'm embarrassed to say I'd displayed his link as a blank page till now. I hope you'll all understand that it means a lot to me to be able to honorably display your contributions to both MEGA and MSG. Please forgive me if I've passed you by, or you discover errors in the pages you're reviewing. Let us know and we'll see to it they are updated as soon as we can. Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |
| Jan 2, 2004 | 0800 Received a "Care Package" from Ed Parauka (MEGA #857) who served in the MSG Detachment in Budapest during the revolution which was quelled violently by Russin troops in 1956. HISTCOM now has several photos that Ed took during those events, including pictures of the Marine House which was shot up by panicing Russion soldiers mistaking Marines as the enemy (go figure!). We'll have the pics along with an article written by Jerry Bolick (another Budapest MSG), describing the scenes in the "Magyar News." Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |
| Jan 1, 2004 | 0800 Happy New Year all! The Site has almost 1000 "hits" since our launch on November 10th 2003. Our activities are still primarily site development oriented, bringing detachment pages up so that visiting MSGs can get a sense of how the site will look. We hope that the many detachment related links will be useful for new MSG's going out on post, MSG's on post, and former MSG's with memories which will be stimulated by the historical content. Dave Wajta served in both Kabul and Jarusalem. He joined the HISTCOM team in October and is helping with new page setup and maitenance, while providing site development providing a more interesting experience for visitors. I'm sincerely appreciative of Dave's contributions, assistance and friendship. The site has grown into a "five headed monstor" spreading out in so many directions and having Dave to bounce ideas off of and to help squash problems is an incredible relief. We both hope that others will see the potential the site offers and sign on up to help out. I served in Brasilia (75) and Panama (77). As one of the original "Big Bob" disciples, in 1999, along with Ed Vesgersian, Bill Stanson, Charles May and others we responded to an email from Bob who was looking to coordinate the 1st Marine Embassy Guard Association reuinion down in Quantico. Recognizing that I might be able to offer my technical expertise in digital imaging and computer software I began piecing together the 1st MEGA archives. This original site never made it to "launch", due to some severe military related medical problems which dragged me down. Rejoining MEGA this past year I found the archives still in mothballs, and signed up with the newly formed Historical Committee. Researching the net for existing MSG related historical sites I found a few detachment specific sites (Moscow, Kabul, Tokyo, Jarusalem), a site which provides a full suite of information related to MSG History (Dave Tedrow's MSG History Project), and a site dedicated to the years surrounding the end of the Vietnam War, (Fall-of-Saigon). All these sites provide inspiration and content with which we are able to collect, or link through, to assist our own vision of the MSG heritage. Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |
| December 30, 2003 | 0800 We're doing some interesting research on the Personal Protective Security Unit (PPSU) detachments. I've been in touch with Colin Brousard, Kevin Maloney, Ken Crouse and have been "pinged" by "Baghdad Steve"... Colonel Hasty, on the ground in Iraq. These marines are affiliated with the Fall of Saigon Marine Assocation (www.fallofsaigon.org ) We will attempt to accumulate and display enough information to do the detachments the honor they've earned. Because of the unique nature of the deployment of PPSU detachments, ( within hostile environments ), there should be some interesting background on the Marines, the people they've protected and the AO they've survived in. One thing that has impressed me with the Fall of Saigon guys is their loyalty to one another. Reviewing their site, it becomes obvious that they continue to "take care of their own". I won't pretend to understand what affect it must have on Marines who've lost comrades during battle, but I've assisted families who grieve over lost loved ones. I know that the Judge and McMahon families are helped in their grieving with pride that their sons were part of a unit whose men are there for them continuously through the years. "Big Bob's" vision of MEGA being a brotherhood of Marines, (joined together with a common history), was I'm sure cast with a similar allegiance in mind. If we do anything postive as an association, I hope we can join with the Fall of Saigon Marines in assuring that our Marines and Marine families in need always know we'll continue to take care of our own....forever. Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |
| December 23, 2003 | 0800 Received word from Ed Vasgerdsian that Colonel Hershey, Gilbert R. had passed away. Col Hershey was the OIC of the European Region in 1958. He also touched many other Marines as the 3rd Bn Co at Parris Island from 63-68. His father, Army Lt General Lewis B. Hershey was well known as the director of the Selective Service during World War II. We've added Col Hershey's Profile to the MSG Who's Who Page, and hope that Marines who knew the Colonel might send along a note sharing memories. Also heard from Bill Allen who provided two important bits of historical data needing further research. Bill is a former Hamberg detachment MSG. The detachment was put on full alert in 1972 because of the Baader Meinhof Gang bombing US Military establishments. These personal notes add to the historical data being displayed within our time-lines, giving them an MSG perspective. Reading them brings back my own memories of supporting the Panama Canal Zone talks, as well assisting with the security of The Carter and Kissenger visits to Brazil and Panama. I sincerely wish I'd had the insight then to photograph more of what went on around me. Bill also pointed out that one of our Regional Marine Officers was a Medal of Honor recipient.. Then 1st Lt. Wesley Fox earned the medal while serving as a Company Commandong officer , in the northern A Shau Valley, Republic of Vietnam. Captain Fox was the RMO of Company A / 1972-74 and retired as a Colonel . Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |
| December 17, 2003 | 0800 Larry Bell has been in touch with me almost from the inception of the Archives. Larry provides a background of the Republic of the Congo from the perspective of a Marine Security Guard as well as from his subsequent assignments with the CIA. In his book "Dead horses in the Sun", and his website "MercenaryCongo.com" Larry documents the historical events which our MSG's lived through during the 1960's. Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |
| December 16, 2003 | 0800 Received email from a former Baghdad Marine, Fred Simpson who served in Baghdad and Tehran back in late 1959, 60/61. Nine days after his arrival, Saddam Hussein attempted to assasinate Abdul Kareem Kassam. Fred was recently able to reconnect with some of his detachment in a November 10, 2002 reunion. Its amazing to think that as young Marines, the events we witness on post give us a unique insight to the future. In 1977, I was invited by an embassy secretary (whose family was "well connected"), to a barbeque with the Panamanian Commander of the Canal Zone Forces. At the time, rubbing elbows with the infamous Colonel Noriega didn't affect me all that much... years later, I wondered how big the file I'd created with the CIA. Fred's experience with gathering his detachment together after so many years is fairly common within MEGA. I've had some luck with a technique probably worth sharing. I've been able to round up two friends from my Panama detachement by doing a search through YAHOO People Search. Both Dave Nolen and Dave Watkins were farely common names, so the returned address list was fairly extensive, but I was able to copy them into a Microsoft Word document, and create address labels from them. I purchased 500 blank post cards, and labels for both a brief note and the addresses. In the note, I introduced myself., and the reason for my search and asked that if they knew or were related to Dave Nolen to please let him know I was searching for him.. I included my email/ telephone number, mailed the postcards (250 cards @ .20 cents postage ...about $50). After a week in both searches I'd located them. This techniquie will obviously be less expensive for less common names, and a bit more costly for the "Smiths" and "Jones". Jack McGarry - Historical Committee |