HISTORIC TIMELINE
We are exceptionally proud of our heritage as Marine Security Guards, our continued service to our Country, and to our Corps.
We are COMMITTED to, and will do everything in our power, to PRESERVE and PROTECT that heritage.
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TIMELINE CONTRIBUTION FORM
Foreign Service Act of 1946
August 13, 1946 The formal and permanent use of Marines as security guards began with the Foreign Service Act of 1946, which authorized the Secretary of Navy to,
Read more Modern Marine Security Guards Established
December 15, 1948 In 1947, a proposal was made that the Department of War furnish Marine Corps personnel for Foreign Service guard duty under the provisions of the
Read more Command Assumed – July 1950
July 17, 1950 On 17 July 1950, Command of the Marine Security Guards was assumed by 1st LT. Gene M Hoover. *Needs Way MORE Detail*
Read more Change of Command – August 1951
August 31, 1951 On 31 August 1951, Captain Louis J Sartor assumed Command from 1st LT Hoover.
Read more Change of Command – January 1953
January 31, 1953 On 31 January 1953, Warrant Officer E P Clarke assumed Command from CAPT Sartor.
Read more Change of Command – March 1953
March 7, 1953 On 7 March 1953, Major Frank P Tatum assumed Command from WO Clarke.
Read more Change of Command – April 1953
April 30, 1953 On 30 April 1953, LtCol John K Hogan assumed Command from Major Tatum.
Read more Change of Command – July 1956
July 1, 1956 On 1 July 1956, LtCol R E Roach assumed Command from LtCol Hogan.
Read more Change of Command – June 1960
June 8, 1960 On 8 June 1960, LtCol Eugene H Haffey assumed Command from LtCol Roach.
Read more Change of Command – August 1962
August 25, 1962 On 25 August 1962, LtCol Erobert C Carloc assumed Command from LtCol Haffey.
Read more Change of Command – April 1963
April 22, 1963 On 22 April 1963, LtCol Michael J Dunbar assumed Command from LtCol Carloc.
Read more Change of Command – July 1965
July 24, 1965 On 24 July 1965, LtCol Forrest J Hunt assumed Command from LtCol Dunbar.
Read more First Marine Security Guard Killed In Action – CPL Marshall
January 31, 1968 During the early morning hours on 31 January, 1968 the Tet Offensive that commenced in Saigon. The US Embassy was attacked by 19 Viet Cong and Corporal
Read more Change of Command – August 1968
August 16, 1968 On 16 August 1968, LtCol Nate L Adams II assumed Command from LtCol Hunt.
Read more Change of Command – September 1971
September 8, 1971 On 8 September 1971, LtCol Tom D Parsons assumed Command from LtCol Adams.
Read more Attack on the Embassy – Phnom Penh, Cambodia
September 26, 1971 On 26 September 1971, at U.S. Embassy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge guerrillas launched a rocket attack on embassy personnel during a softball game.
Read more Marine Security Guard Killed – SGT Turberville
September 26, 1971 Sergeant Charles W Turberville was killed in a Khmer Rouge guerrilla rocket and mortar attack; other Marine Security Guards were also wounded during the attack
Read more Change of Command – August 1973
August 23, 1973 On 23 August 1973, LtCol Frank R Koethe assumed Command from LtCol Parsons.
Read more Attack on Defense Attaché Office – Fall of Saigon
April 29, 1975 Fall of Saigon: While providing security for the Defense Attaché Office during an attack by the North Vietnamese at Tan Son Nhut Airport, Saigon, Corporal
Read more Marine Security Guard Killed in Action – CPL McMahon
April 29, 1975 On 29 April 1975, during the evacuation of personnel (Fall of Saigon) while providing security for the Defense Attaché Office, at Tan Son Nhut Airport,
Read more Marine Security Guard Killed in Action – LCPL Judge
April 29, 1975 On 29 April 1975, during the evacuation of personnel (Fall of Saigon) while providing security for the Defense Attaché Office, at Tan Son Nhut Airport,
Read more Embassy Evacuation – Saigon, South Vietnam
April 30, 1975 At 7:53 AM, 30 April 1975, the last helicopter took its wings off the roof of the embassy, carrying Major Kean and 10 Marine Security
Read more Change of Command – May 1976
May 8, 1976 On 8 May 1976, Col H.M. Koppenhaver assumed Command from LtCol Koethe.
Read more Fire in USIS Mission – Paris
March 1, 1978 On 1 March 1978, Sergeant Bobby Romero was standing duty on the 2nd shift (4:30pm – 11:30pm) at the USIS Mission located in a distant
Read more Marine Security Guard Killed – SGT Romero
March 1, 1978 While standing Post on 1 March 1978, at the USIS Mission located in a distant part of Paris, France, Sergeant Bobby Romero lost his life
Read more Change of Command – July 1979
July 23, 1979 On 23 July 1979, Col James L Cooper assumed Command from Col Koppenhaver.
Read more Attack on Embassy – Hostage Crisis – Tehran, Iran
November 4, 1979 On 4 November 1979, in the wake of a successful revolution by Islamic fundamentalists against the pro-American Shah of Iran, the United States became an
Read more Attack on Embassy – Siege – Islamabad, Pakistan
November 21, 1979 On 21 November 1979, an attack on the American Embassy in Islamabad started as a small group demonstration in front of the embassy, where protesters
Read more Marine Security Guard Killed in Action – Cpl Crowley
November 21, 1979 On 21 November 1979, at the Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, Corporal Steven Crowley was on the roof during the siege when he was mortally wounded
Read more Change of Command – July 1982
July 8, 1982 On 8 July 1982, Col David R Mabry assumed Command from Col Cooper.
Read more Attack on Embassy – Bombing – Beirut, Lebanon
April 18, 1983 Add Text
Read more Marine Security Guard Killed in Action – CPL McMaugh
April 18, 1983 On 18 April 1983, at the Embassy in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, Corporal Robert V. McMaugh was manning Post No. 1 in the main lobby of
Read more Attack on Embassy – Bombing – West Beirut, Lebanon
September 20, 1984 On September 20, 1984, just over a year after the 1983 US Embassy attack, after the United States had relocated embassy operations from West Beirut
Read more Change of Command – February 1985
February 8, 1985 On 8 February 1985, Col Walter E Boomer assumed Command from Col Mabry.
Read more Marine Assassination – San Salvador, El Salvador
June 19, 1985 On the evening of 19 June 1985, four U.S. Marine embassy guards (Staff Sergeant Dickson; Staff Sergeant Handwork; Sergeant Kwiatkowski & Sergeant Weber), two American
Read more Marine Security Guard Killed in Action – SSGT Dickson
June 19, 1985 On the evening of 19 June 1985, Staff Sergeant Bobby Joe Dickson while off-duty, was killed in the Zona Rosa restaurant area, with three other Marines,
Read more Marine Security Guard Killed in Action – SSGT Handwork
June 19, 1985 On the evening of 19 June 1985, Staff Sergeant Thomas Handwork while off-duty, was killed in the Zona Rosa restaurant area, with three other Marines,
Read more Marine Security Guard Killed in Action – SGT Kwiatkowski
June 19, 1985 On the evening of 19 June 1985, Sergeant Patrick Kwiatkowski while off-duty, was killed in the Zona Rosa restaurant area, with three other Marines, two
Read more Marine Security Guard Killed in Action – SGT Weber
June 19, 1985 On the evening of 19 June 1985, Sergeant Gregory Weber while off-duty, was killed in the Zona Rosa restaurant area, with three other Marines, two
Read more Change of Command – May 1986
May 22, 1986 On 22 May 1986, Col C.J. Del Grosso, assumed Command from Col Boomer.
Read more Change of Command – June 1988
June 30, 1988 On 30 June 1988, Col M.F. Shisler assumed Command from Col Del Grosso.
Read more Change of Command – June 1991
June 21, 1991 On 21 June 1991, Col T G Harkins assumed Command from Col Shisler.
Read more Change of Command – July 1993
July 12, 1993 On 12 July 1993, Col J R Benson assumed Command from Col Harkins.
Read more Change of Command – July 1995
July 19, 1995 On 19 July 1995, Col M T Goodman assumed Command from Col Benson.
Read more Marine Security Guard Ribbon established
July 15, 1997 The Marine Corps Security Guard Ribbon is a Marine Corps military award that was established by order of Secretary of the Navy John Howard Dalton
Read more Terrorist Attacks in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
August 7, 1997 On 7 August 1998, nearly simultaneous bombs blew up in front of the American embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Two hundred
Read more Change of Command – August 1997
August 9, 1997 On 9 August 1997, Col D S Burgess assumed Command from Col Goodman.
Read more Marine Security Guard Killed in Action – Sgt Aliganga
August 7, 1998 On 7 August 1998, at the embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, Sergeant Jesse (Nathan) Aliganga was killed during one of two suicide bomb attacks. He was the
Read more Change of Command – August 2001
August 17, 2001 On 17 August 2001, Col B S Hasty assumed Command form Col Burgess.
Read more Change of Command – August 2003
August 29, 2003 On 29 August 2003, Col W E Rizzio assumed Command from Col Hasty.
Read more Change of Command – August 2005
August 23, 2005 On 23 August 2005, Col D J Head assumed Command from Col Rizzio.
Read more Change of Command – May 2009
May 16, 2009 On 16 May 2009*, Col Fairfield assumed Command from Col <Name Unavailable>. *Accurate date of the COC needs to be verified by any means available*
Read more Change of Command – July 2011
July 16, 2011 On 16 July 2011*, Col M D Robinson assumed Command from Col Fairfield. *Accurate date of the COC needs to be verified by any
Read more Change of Command – July 2013
July 15, 2013 On 15 July 2013*, Col F E Wendling assumed Command from Col Robinson. *Accurate date of the COC needs to be verified by any means
Read more Change of Command – July 2017
July 14, 2017 On 14 July 2017*, Col M C Taylor assumed Command from Col Wendling. *Accurate date of the COC needs to be verified by any means
Read more MCESG HQ Marshall Memorial Ceremony
February 9, 2018 On 9 February 2018, at MCESG Headquarters a memorial ceremony for Corporal James C. Marshall Marine Security Guard Detachment Saigon – 1968 marking the 50th
Read more Change of Command – June 2019
June 14, 2019 On 14 June 2019*, Col K A Parrella assumed Command from Col Taylor. *Accurate date of the COC needs to be verified by any means
Read more 
Foreign Service Act of 1946
August 13, 1946The formal and permanent use of Marines as security guards began with the Foreign Service Act of 1946, which authorized the Secretary of Navy to,
Read moreModern Marine Security Guards Established
December 15, 1948In 1947, a proposal was made that the Department of War furnish Marine Corps personnel for Foreign Service guard duty under the provisions of the
Read moreCommand Assumed – July 1950
July 17, 1950On 17 July 1950, Command of the Marine Security Guards was assumed by 1st LT. Gene M Hoover. *Needs Way MORE Detail*
Read moreChange of Command – August 1951
August 31, 1951On 31 August 1951, Captain Louis J Sartor assumed Command from 1st LT Hoover.
Read moreChange of Command – January 1953
January 31, 1953On 31 January 1953, Warrant Officer E P Clarke assumed Command from CAPT Sartor.
Read moreChange of Command – March 1953
March 7, 1953On 7 March 1953, Major Frank P Tatum assumed Command from WO Clarke.
Read moreChange of Command – April 1953
April 30, 1953On 30 April 1953, LtCol John K Hogan assumed Command from Major Tatum.
Read moreChange of Command – July 1956
July 1, 1956On 1 July 1956, LtCol R E Roach assumed Command from LtCol Hogan.
Read moreChange of Command – June 1960
June 8, 1960On 8 June 1960, LtCol Eugene H Haffey assumed Command from LtCol Roach.
Read moreChange of Command – August 1962
August 25, 1962On 25 August 1962, LtCol Erobert C Carloc assumed Command from LtCol Haffey.
Read moreChange of Command – April 1963
April 22, 1963On 22 April 1963, LtCol Michael J Dunbar assumed Command from LtCol Carloc.
Read moreChange of Command – July 1965
July 24, 1965On 24 July 1965, LtCol Forrest J Hunt assumed Command from LtCol Dunbar.
Read moreFirst Marine Security Guard Killed In Action – CPL Marshall
January 31, 1968During the early morning hours on 31 January, 1968 the Tet Offensive that commenced in Saigon. The US Embassy was attacked by 19 Viet Cong and Corporal
Read moreChange of Command – August 1968
August 16, 1968On 16 August 1968, LtCol Nate L Adams II assumed Command from LtCol Hunt.
Read moreChange of Command – September 1971
September 8, 1971On 8 September 1971, LtCol Tom D Parsons assumed Command from LtCol Adams.
Read moreAttack on the Embassy – Phnom Penh, Cambodia
September 26, 1971On 26 September 1971, at U.S. Embassy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge guerrillas launched a rocket attack on embassy personnel during a softball game.
Read moreMarine Security Guard Killed – SGT Turberville
September 26, 1971Sergeant Charles W Turberville was killed in a Khmer Rouge guerrilla rocket and mortar attack; other Marine Security Guards were also wounded during the attack
Read moreChange of Command – August 1973
August 23, 1973On 23 August 1973, LtCol Frank R Koethe assumed Command from LtCol Parsons.
Read moreAttack on Defense Attaché Office – Fall of Saigon
April 29, 1975Fall of Saigon: While providing security for the Defense Attaché Office during an attack by the North Vietnamese at Tan Son Nhut Airport, Saigon, Corporal
Read moreMarine Security Guard Killed in Action – CPL McMahon
April 29, 1975On 29 April 1975, during the evacuation of personnel (Fall of Saigon) while providing security for the Defense Attaché Office, at Tan Son Nhut Airport,
Read moreMarine Security Guard Killed in Action – LCPL Judge
April 29, 1975On 29 April 1975, during the evacuation of personnel (Fall of Saigon) while providing security for the Defense Attaché Office, at Tan Son Nhut Airport,
Read moreEmbassy Evacuation – Saigon, South Vietnam
April 30, 1975At 7:53 AM, 30 April 1975, the last helicopter took its wings off the roof of the embassy, carrying Major Kean and 10 Marine Security
Read moreChange of Command – May 1976
May 8, 1976On 8 May 1976, Col H.M. Koppenhaver assumed Command from LtCol Koethe.
Read moreFire in USIS Mission – Paris
March 1, 1978On 1 March 1978, Sergeant Bobby Romero was standing duty on the 2nd shift (4:30pm – 11:30pm) at the USIS Mission located in a distant
Read moreMarine Security Guard Killed – SGT Romero
March 1, 1978While standing Post on 1 March 1978, at the USIS Mission located in a distant part of Paris, France, Sergeant Bobby Romero lost his life
Read moreChange of Command – July 1979
July 23, 1979On 23 July 1979, Col James L Cooper assumed Command from Col Koppenhaver.
Read moreAttack on Embassy – Hostage Crisis – Tehran, Iran
November 4, 1979On 4 November 1979, in the wake of a successful revolution by Islamic fundamentalists against the pro-American Shah of Iran, the United States became an
Read moreAttack on Embassy – Siege – Islamabad, Pakistan
November 21, 1979On 21 November 1979, an attack on the American Embassy in Islamabad started as a small group demonstration in front of the embassy, where protesters
Read moreMarine Security Guard Killed in Action – Cpl Crowley
November 21, 1979On 21 November 1979, at the Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, Corporal Steven Crowley was on the roof during the siege when he was mortally wounded
Read moreChange of Command – July 1982
July 8, 1982On 8 July 1982, Col David R Mabry assumed Command from Col Cooper.
Read moreAttack on Embassy – Bombing – Beirut, Lebanon
April 18, 1983Add Text
Read moreMarine Security Guard Killed in Action – CPL McMaugh
April 18, 1983On 18 April 1983, at the Embassy in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, Corporal Robert V. McMaugh was manning Post No. 1 in the main lobby of
Read moreAttack on Embassy – Bombing – West Beirut, Lebanon
September 20, 1984On September 20, 1984, just over a year after the 1983 US Embassy attack, after the United States had relocated embassy operations from West Beirut
Read moreChange of Command – February 1985
February 8, 1985On 8 February 1985, Col Walter E Boomer assumed Command from Col Mabry.
Read moreMarine Assassination – San Salvador, El Salvador
June 19, 1985On the evening of 19 June 1985, four U.S. Marine embassy guards (Staff Sergeant Dickson; Staff Sergeant Handwork; Sergeant Kwiatkowski & Sergeant Weber), two American
Read moreMarine Security Guard Killed in Action – SSGT Dickson
June 19, 1985On the evening of 19 June 1985, Staff Sergeant Bobby Joe Dickson while off-duty, was killed in the Zona Rosa restaurant area, with three other Marines,
Read moreMarine Security Guard Killed in Action – SSGT Handwork
June 19, 1985On the evening of 19 June 1985, Staff Sergeant Thomas Handwork while off-duty, was killed in the Zona Rosa restaurant area, with three other Marines,
Read moreMarine Security Guard Killed in Action – SGT Kwiatkowski
June 19, 1985On the evening of 19 June 1985, Sergeant Patrick Kwiatkowski while off-duty, was killed in the Zona Rosa restaurant area, with three other Marines, two
Read moreMarine Security Guard Killed in Action – SGT Weber
June 19, 1985On the evening of 19 June 1985, Sergeant Gregory Weber while off-duty, was killed in the Zona Rosa restaurant area, with three other Marines, two
Read moreChange of Command – May 1986
May 22, 1986On 22 May 1986, Col C.J. Del Grosso, assumed Command from Col Boomer.
Read moreChange of Command – June 1988
June 30, 1988On 30 June 1988, Col M.F. Shisler assumed Command from Col Del Grosso.
Read moreChange of Command – June 1991
June 21, 1991On 21 June 1991, Col T G Harkins assumed Command from Col Shisler.
Read moreChange of Command – July 1993
July 12, 1993On 12 July 1993, Col J R Benson assumed Command from Col Harkins.
Read moreChange of Command – July 1995
July 19, 1995On 19 July 1995, Col M T Goodman assumed Command from Col Benson.
Read moreMarine Security Guard Ribbon established
July 15, 1997The Marine Corps Security Guard Ribbon is a Marine Corps military award that was established by order of Secretary of the Navy John Howard Dalton
Read moreTerrorist Attacks in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
August 7, 1997On 7 August 1998, nearly simultaneous bombs blew up in front of the American embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Two hundred
Read moreChange of Command – August 1997
August 9, 1997On 9 August 1997, Col D S Burgess assumed Command from Col Goodman.
Read moreMarine Security Guard Killed in Action – Sgt Aliganga
August 7, 1998On 7 August 1998, at the embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, Sergeant Jesse (Nathan) Aliganga was killed during one of two suicide bomb attacks. He was the
Read moreChange of Command – August 2001
August 17, 2001On 17 August 2001, Col B S Hasty assumed Command form Col Burgess.
Read moreChange of Command – August 2003
August 29, 2003On 29 August 2003, Col W E Rizzio assumed Command from Col Hasty.
Read moreChange of Command – August 2005
August 23, 2005On 23 August 2005, Col D J Head assumed Command from Col Rizzio.
Read moreChange of Command – May 2009
May 16, 2009On 16 May 2009*, Col Fairfield assumed Command from Col <Name Unavailable>. *Accurate date of the COC needs to be verified by any means available*
Read moreChange of Command – July 2011
July 16, 2011On 16 July 2011*, Col M D Robinson assumed Command from Col Fairfield. *Accurate date of the COC needs to be verified by any
Read moreChange of Command – July 2013
July 15, 2013On 15 July 2013*, Col F E Wendling assumed Command from Col Robinson. *Accurate date of the COC needs to be verified by any means
Read moreChange of Command – July 2017
July 14, 2017On 14 July 2017*, Col M C Taylor assumed Command from Col Wendling. *Accurate date of the COC needs to be verified by any means
Read moreMCESG HQ Marshall Memorial Ceremony
February 9, 2018On 9 February 2018, at MCESG Headquarters a memorial ceremony for Corporal James C. Marshall Marine Security Guard Detachment Saigon – 1968 marking the 50th
Read moreChange of Command – June 2019
June 14, 2019On 14 June 2019*, Col K A Parrella assumed Command from Col Taylor. *Accurate date of the COC needs to be verified by any means
Read more
