Famous Firsts
This was the first permanent legation guard established by the Department, set up in this Chinese city in 1898.
What is Beijing?
This Secretary of State, who himself served as a Marine in the Pacific theater in World War II, said "The Marines and our diplomacy are tightly intertwined. Sometimes people have the mistaken idea that the strength represented by the Marines is an alternative to diplomacy. That's wrong."
Who is Secretary of State George P. Shultz?
This is the number of Marines in the very first MSG detachment sent to Seoul, South Korea in early 1949.
What is 20?
True or False: The collaboration between Marines and U.S. diplomats began only after both the USMC and the Department of State were formally established.
What is FALSE?
The collaboration actually predates the formal establishment of both institutions! The Continental Marines were already protecting American diplomats during the Revolutionary War before either organization officially existed.
During Commodore Perry's 1854 dinner in Yokohama, Marines performed a drill routine they had practiced on the East Lawn of this famous building back in Washington D.C.
What is the U.S. Capitol?
These were the two cities that received the very first Marine Security Guards when the MSG program launched on January 28, 1949.
What are Bangkok, Thailand and Tangier, Morocco?
After surviving a British encounter at sea, this Founding Father surprised the ship's captain by emerging from below deck with a musket, saying "I ought to do my share of fighting."
Who is John Adams?
Within two years of the MSG program's inception in 1948, approximately this many Marines served at embassies and consulates worldwide.
What is 675?
True or False: The Marine Security Guards in Seoul in 1949 wore their military uniforms and carried military identification.
What is FALSE?
The Marines wore civilian clothes, were addressed as "Mister," and their only distinguishing identification was a special green-colored passport.
When the embassy furnace was too slow to destroy classified documents during the 1950 evacuation of Seoul, resourceful Marines built this improvised solution.
What is a cage made of chain-link fencing and steel posts?
This Marine lieutenant was the first to plant the American flag on a foreign fortress during the famous assault on Derna in 1805.
Who is Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon?
After the Tet Offensive attack on the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, this Secretary of State told a graduating MSG class that "our Marines added another luminous chapter to the great history of the Corps."
Who is Secretary of State Dean Rusk?
This is the length in kilometers of the legendary overland march led by Consul William Eaton and Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon to assault Derna in 1805.
What is 950 kilometers?
True or False: The MSG detachment in Saigon was the smallest Marine Security Guard presence in the world during the Vietnam War.
What is FALSE?
It was actually the largest MSG presence in the world! The detachment grew from just six Marines in the early 1960s to 62 Marines by 1966.
During the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, Marines overcame heavy Chinese small-arms fire to destroy a Boxer stronghold, then used this bold tactic to force the Boxers to retreat and loosen their siege.
What is maneuvering around the main Chinese positions into their rear?
This Corporal became the first Marine Security Guard to die in defense of a U.S. embassy or consulate, killed by an enemy sniper during the Tet Offensive in 1968.
Who is Corporal James C. Marshall?
A Time magazine correspondent trapped in a burning vault at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said this about the Marines who rescued over 100 people from the fire.
What is "It was our Marine guards who saved us. Nobody else."?
This is the number of Medals of Honor earned by Marines during the Boxer Rebellion expedition and the 55-day siege in China.
What is 33?
True or False: The 14 Marine Security Guards stationed in Beirut in 1984 were all volunteers who specifically requested the dangerous assignment.
What is TRUE?
Despite constant mortar fire, bomb threats, and rocket-propelled grenades, duty in Beirut became a highly sought-after assignment. Every single one of the 14 MSGs had volunteered to be there.
During the 1979 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Marines used this non-lethal weapon to hold off rioters for over two hours before withdrawing into a vault with over 100 people.
What is tear gas?
This Master Sergeant holds the distinction of being the very last American to leave Vietnam, boarding the final helicopter out of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon in 1975.
Who is Master Sergeant Juan J. Valdez?
After watching two companies of Marines in dress blue coats and white trousers form a procession upon landing in Japan, this Commodore reflected with these famous words.
Who is Commodore Matthew Perry, and what is "I could not conceive of a more beautiful pageant"?
Today the MSG program has Marines stationed at over this many U.S. embassies and consulates in more than this many countries.
What is 182 embassies and consulates in more than 150 countries?
True or False: U.S. Marines have only ever helped secure U.S. embassies, never those of any other nation.
What is FALSE?
After the U.S. Embassy in Beirut was destroyed by a suicide bomber in 1983, the British Ambassador offered space in the British Embassy. A platoon of Marines protected diplomatic personnel there, making it the first time in history that U.S. Marines helped secure a British Embassy!
These two Marine Security Guards hold the somber distinction of being the last American servicemembers to lose their lives in Vietnam, killed by enemy artillery at Tan Son Nhut Airfield in 1975.
Who are Corporal Charles J. McMahon and Lance Corporal Darwin Judge?