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THE
NAMES OF CURRENT DETACHMENT MEMBERS ARE NOT TO BE DISPLAYED WITHOUT THE
AUTHORIZATION OF THE DETACHMENT COMMANDER |
| 2015 |
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| Ambassador:
Arnold A. Chacón |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
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| 2014 |
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| Ambassador:
Arnold A. Chacón |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
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| 2013 |
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| Ambassador:
Arnold A. Chacón |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
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| 2012 |
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| Ambassador:
Arnold A. Chacón |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
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| 2011 |
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| Ambassador:
Stephan G. McFarland / Arnold A. Chacón |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
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| 2010 |
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| Ambassador:
Stephan G. McFarland |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
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| 2009 |
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| Ambassador: Stephan
G. McFarland |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
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| 2008 |
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| Ambassador: Stephan
G. McFarland |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
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| 2007 |
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| Ambassador: James
M. Derham |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
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| 2006 |
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| Ambassador: James
M. Derham |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Paul
Edwards |
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| 2005 |
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| Ambassador:
John Randle Hamilton / James M. Derham |
Company Commander:
Detachment
Commander:
Watchstanders:
Paul
Edwards |
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| 2004 |
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| Ambassador:
John Randle Hamilton |
Company Commander:
Detachment
Commander:
Watchstanders: Abril,Freddy,
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2003
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| Ambassador:
John Randle Hamilton |
Company Commander:
Detachment
Commander:
Watchstanders:
Abril,Freddy, |
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2002
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| Ambassador:
Prudence
Bushnell |
Company Commander:
Detachment
Commander:
Watchstanders:
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2001
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| Ambassador:
Prudence
Bushnell |
Company Commander:
Detachment
Commander:
Watchstanders:
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2000
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| Ambassador:
Prudence
Bushnell |
Company Commander:
Detachment
Commander:
Watchstanders:
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1999
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1998
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| Ambassador: Donald
Planty |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
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1997
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| Ambassador: Donald
Planty |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
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1996
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1995
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| Ambassador: Marilyn
McAfee |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Nick
French |
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1994
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| Ambassador: Marilyn
McAfee |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
Nick
French |
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1993
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| Ambassador: Marilyn
McAfee |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Chris
J. Robinson, |
On May 25,
President Serrano
suspended the constitution and dissolved the Congress and the Supreme
Court. Within days Pres. Serrano was ousted by a cooperative of
military, business and political leaders, following which the Congress
elected a former human rights ombudsman, Ramiro de Leon Carpio, as his
successor.
On July
3, the President's
cousin, Jorge Carpio
Nicolle, was assassinated in an attempt to destabilize the new
government while the new human rights ombudsman, Jorge Garcia Laguardia
himself received death threats after questioning the police
investigation.
On Aug.
26, Pres. de Leon in
an attempt to rid the
government of corruption through contsitutuional reforms requested the
resignation of the Congress along with top Supreme Court justices.
A
planned referendum to settle the issue planned for Nov. 28,
was
canceled by the
Supreme Court, although it was later agreed to hold the
reform referendum in Jan.
1994.
Also some 2,500 mostly
displaced Maya refugees as a result the country's 32-year civil war
returned to Guatemala from Mexico.
Christian Democrats and
the National Center Union withdrew their coalition support leaving the
government without a ruling majority. |
|
1992
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| Ambassador: Thomas
F. Stroock |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
Chris J. Robinson, |
In
early
1992 Edmond Mulet
Lessieur of the National
Centrist Union was elected as President of the Congress and while nine
justices were elected to the Supreme Court to serve six year terms.
During 1992 there was an insurgence from Human Rights Groups after they
released their figures on abuses for 1991
while in Aug.
the UN
released a report that condemned Guatemala for the continuation of
human rights violations.
Also during 1992 the government held talks
with the URNG and although some accords were reached the guerrillas
continued their military action.
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1991
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| Ambassador: Thomas
F. Stroock |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Richard
M. Charron, |
In Jan.
Jorge Serrano
Elias was elected as the new civilian President while continuing
violence escalated with right-wing, military backed, death squads and
the guerrilla group of the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity
(URNG) both increasing their activities.
In Aug.
the National
Police homicide division chief, Jose Miguel Merida Escobar, was
murdered for helping to uncover and exposed high-level military
officers in several murders.
Also during the year severe droughts
seriously affected electricity production with rationing introduced on Sept. 1,
. |
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1990
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| Ambassador: Thomas
F. Stroock |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
Richard M. Charron, |
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1989
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| Ambassador:
James
H. Michel Thomas
F. Stroock |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Ronald
D. Sutliff, |
| May
unsuccessful military coups were attempted. |
|
1988
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| Ambassador: James
H. Michel |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander: GySgt. Singleton,
Watchstanders: Ronald
D. Sutliff, Christopher Martin Washington, |
In
May
and Dec. unsuccessful
military coups were attempted.
May 1989
unsuccessful military coups were attempted. |
|
1987
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| Ambassador:
Alberto
Martinez Piedra James
H. Michel |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander: GySgt. Singleton,
Watchstanders: John
Burke, Sgt. Scott Myers, Ronald D. Sutliff, Christopher Martin
Washington, |
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1986
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| Ambassador:
Alberto
Martinez Piedra |
Company Commander:
Detachment Commander: GySgt. Singleton,
Watchstanders:
John
Burke, Cpl. Scott Myers, Christopher Martin Washington, |
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1985
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| Ambassador:
Alberto
Martinez Piedra |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
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| In Nov.
Vinicio Cerezo became President
and the first
civilian leader in 16 years. A new constitution was established and
political parties legalized. |
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1984
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| Ambassador:Frederic
L. Chapin / Alberto
Martinez Piedra |
Company Commander:
NCOIC: GySgt.
George Dumais
Watchstanders: Sgt
Mike Kuzmac, Cpl. Ken Fernandez, Sgt Bob Rota, Sgt Mark
Davis, Sgt Jerry Torres, Sgt Mike Green, Sgt Bobby
Dickson, Sgt David Coker, Cpl John Welch |
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1983
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| Ambassador: Frederic
L. Chapin |
Company Commander:
NCOIC: GySgt
George Dumais
Watchstanders: Sgt
Mike Kuzmac, Cpl. Kenneth Albert Fernandez, Sgt Bob Rota,
Sgt Mark
Davis, Sgt Jerry Torres, Sgt Mike Green, Sgt Bobby
Dickson, Sgt David Coker, Cpl John
Welch, Jeffrey L.
Caudill, |
| In
Aug.
1983 military leaders led
by Brig.Gen
Oscar Mejia Victores overthrew Montt and organized fresh elections for
1985. |
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1982
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| Ambassador: Frederic
L. Chapin |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
Jeffrey L. Caudill, Sgt. Luis R. Lavarreda
|
| April.
Gen. Angel Anibal Guevara was
elected President, but before
he could take office a group of military leaders led by Gen. Efrain
Rioos Montt took control of the government and established a three
member military Junta. The Junta suspended the constitution, abolished
the Congress and banned all political parties. Following which Montt
removed the other Junta members from power and declared himself
Guatemala's only leader. |
|
1981
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| Ambassador: Frederic
L. Chapin |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: David
M. Hale, Sgt. Luis R. Lavarreda
|
From
1821
to 1983
Guatemala claimed ownership of Belize, however,
Great Britain ruled
Belize and granted it independence in 1981 which Guatemala
opposed |
|
1980
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| Ambassador: Frank
V. Ortiz |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
David M. Hale, James "JC" Preese, David Rodriguez, |
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1979
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1978
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| Ambassador:Davis
E. Boster |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Bastan,
Mark J., |
| In
1978 guerrilla activity became widespread and the four presidential
elections between 1970 and 1982 were all won by military officers. |
|
1977
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| Ambassador: Davis
E. Boster |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Bastan,
Mark J., Sgt
Ruben Gutierrez Jr., |
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1976
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| Ambassador:Francis
E. Meloy, Jr. Davis
E. Boster |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Sgt
Ruben Gutierrez Jr., Sgt Dave
Nolen, Mark J. Bastan, |
| A
major
earthquake struck Guatemala causing an estimated 23,000 deaths
and around $700 million worth of property damage. |
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1975
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| Ambassador: Francis
E. Meloy, Jr. |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
Thomas Joseph Beringer, Rollie Monroe Van
Cleave, Daniel
Stafford Wakefield, |
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1974
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| Ambassador: Francis
E. Meloy, Jr. |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:Thomas
Joseph Beringer, John G.
Clampett, Rollie Monroe
Van Cleave, Daniel Stafford Wakefield, |
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1973
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1972
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| Ambassador: William
G. Bowdler |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
Warren Ashey, Thomas
Joseph Beringer, John G. Clampett, Calvin Edwards, David Jester,
Ronald Johnson, Sgt Robertson, Carl Schotts, Fred Tittle, Richard
Tollison, Robert Way, |
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1971
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1970
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1969
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| Ambassador: Nathaniel
Davis |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
Howard C. Duff, Armin Webster, |
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1968
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1967
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1966
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| Ambassador: John
Gordon Mein |
Company Commander:
NCOIC: GySgt Barksdale
Watchstanders:
Sgt
Beavers, |
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1965
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1964
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| Ambassador: John
O.
Bell |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
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1963
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| Ambassador: John
O.
Bell |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Kwando
M. Kinshasa, |
| Military
seized
power again and a sixth constitution went into effect in 1966. |
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1962
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| Ambassador: John
O.
Bell |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Kwando
M. Kinshasa, Cpl Parker |
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1961
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| Ambassador:
John
J. Muccio John
O.
Bell |
Company Commander:
NCOIC: GySgt Shurring
Watchstanders: Sgts.
Roger Darymple, Larry Hansen, Ed May, Riveria, W.E. King, Kwando M.
Kinshasa, |
From
Former MSG Kwando
M. Kinshasa:
Fellow Marines: This is a very brief note to say that back in 1961 to
1963 I was a young Sgt. E-5 with the MSG in Guatemala. At that time the
Embassy was located in downtown Guatemala City off of 6th Ave. I
understand it is now located near the airport on Reforma Ave. That's
good becaue the old buidling was a security nightmare and gave us a lot
of concerns and interesting moments. I remember that on my first day in
Guatemala, arriving on a flight from Panama where college students were
attempting to attack the Panama Canal and anything that looked
American, the Guatemala Air Force was revolting against the government,
the Airport was taken over by the Guatemalan Army and as I got off the
plane the only words in spanish I knew as I tried to get to the U.S.
Embassy iwas; "Yo soy Infanteria Marina Americano, which was, "I am
American Marine Infantry." It was then that I quickly realizing that
these words brought an immediate respect and caution from Guatemalans.
I remember Ambassador Bell very well and the folks on the "4th floor"
and of course our detachment Gunny Sgt. Shurring and his family. In
fact my wife and I visited him a few years ago in California and
learned that he became a Mustang, and retired after Nam as a
Captain. Over the years I have often thought about my close
buddies who I served with at that time, some of whom are now on the
wall, and how our experiences and service as U. S. Marines was
something that has stayed with me to this very moment. Friends such
Sgts. Roger Darymple, Larry Hansen, Ed May, Riveria, and I shared life
molding experiences that not only helped to protect our country, but
further deepen our understanding of who we were as young men and what
it meant to be a U.S. Marine. I can still picture the Marine House on
8th and 2nd Ave with its traditional Spanish architecture and the three
Marine Corps Balls that were celebrated there. I can also remember
watching a number of military actions by the Guatemalan Army and Air
Force and the influence we Marines had on maintaining a strong presence
in protecting American interest and lives. In any case, hopefully next
year I can revisit Guatemala to see how or if things have changed in
the last forty of so years. I could go on with this very personal
feeling, but will stop right here. Yes, I am a proud member of the MSG
Association and the Montford Point Marine Association and as much as
possible try to keep up with all of the new changes in the Corps. That
will become easier when by grandson joins the Corps in 2006.
God Bless the Corps |
|
1960
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1959
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1958
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1957
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1956
|
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| Ambassador:
Edward
J. Sparks |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:Harold
F. Allie, Arlon Lyle Hintz, |
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1955
|
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1954
|
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| Ambassador:
John
E. Peurifoy Norman
Armour |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
Harold F. Allie, Arlon Lyle Hintz, |
The
US
government, which had begun to fear
communist influences in the Arbenz administration, June supported
a coup which
replaced
him with Col. Castillo Armas and resulted in
the country's
fifth constitution in 1956. |
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1953
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1952
|
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| Ambassador: Rudolf
E. Schoenfeld |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
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| Guatemala
embarked on a
controversial land reform program
which saw the nationalization of 387,000 acres owned by the American
United Fruit Company. |
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1951
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1950
|
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| Ambassador: Richard
C. Patterson, Jr. |
Company Commander:
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
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| In
1950
Col. Jacobo Arbenz Guzman
was elected
President and in |
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1949
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| 1948 |
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