| Posts: MSB Bn |
Author: Staff
Sergeant Clem Segura
NCOIC PPSU Ambassador Martin, Saigon, Vietnam 1975 |
Source: Fall of Saigon Marine
Association
http://www.fallofsaigon.org/clem.htm
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As delineated in paragraph F.2 of
the Memorandum of understanding between the Department of State and the
U.S. Marine Corps pertaining to the use of Marine Corps Personnel In
the Marine Security Guard Program, specially trained Marine' Security
Guards may be assigned to the personal protection of a U.S. Chief of
Diplomatic Mission Abroad. Such assignments will be subject to the
following conditions:
a. An actual threat to the Ambassador and the host government was
either unable or unwilling to provide an acceptable degree of
protection. b. Arrangements were made with the host government to
insure appropriate immunity or safeguards for the Marines performing
these protective duties outside the U.S. diplomatic premises. c.
The duties were performed under the guidance and supervision of a
professional Security Officer's). d Such duties were performed only on
an interim or temporary basis for the duration of the immediate
emergency or until alternate measures could be arranged. In accordance
with the Memorandum dated 27 December 1972, and previously superseded
Memorandums the Personal Protective Security Unit, U.S. Embassy, Saigon
was created in 1965 for the protection of Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge
and existed until the fall of Saigon, 30 April 1975. |
The activation of the Unit was the result of a White House Directive to
improve protective security of the U.S. Ambassador in Vietnam. The Unit
was activated and operated under the approval of the host
government. The Unit performed under the operational control of
the State Department's Regional Security Supervisor who was assisted by
a designated State Department Security Officer. The Officer - In -
Charge, Marine Security Guard Detachments Vietnam, retained
responsibility and
control for Marine Corps related matters. In the beginning, staffing
for the Personal Security Unit came from Company "E," Marine
Security Battalion, Saigon, Vietnam. These Marines were considered to
be among the "best of the best." When identified, the Marines were sent
to a local selection board. The board was composed of the Regional
Security Supervisor, Senior Marine Non - Commissioned
Officers from the Embassy and the Non - Commissioned Officer - In -
Charge of Personal Protective Security Unit. Once selected, the new
unit members were immersed in an eight (8) week Bodyguard training
program supervised by the unit's Non - Commissioned Officer - in -
Charge. The Unit had an internal training program that was thorough and
in depth. This encompassed supplemental training for new personnel and
a substantial training program for veteran members.
As the war escalated and the "Threat Condition" increased, the U.S.
State Department and the Marine Security Guard Command identified a
need to become involved in the selection and training of Marines
designated to serve as Diplomatic Bodyguards. After completion of
Marine Security Guard School, the graduates were well versed in the
following subjects: Embassy Defensive Tactics...Physical Security
Considerations...Destruction of Classified Material...etc. The
Marines were then trained by the Office of Security, Education, and
Training Staff located in Washington, D.C. The course lasted five
(5) weeks and comprehensively covered all aspects of the Personal
Protective Security mission. The Marines became knowledgeable in
matters of Diplomatic Protocol, Security Equipment, Weapons, and
Techniques. Some of the subjects covered were as follows: Counter
Terrorism and Protective Techniques... Crowd Control... Technical
Security Considerations ... Searches and Equipment ... Locksmith
Training ... Weapons Training ... Radios... Vehicles.. .Motorcades ...
Vehicle Defensive / Offensive Tactics... Ordnance Disposal ...
Embassies and Personnel Functions ... etc. Upon arrival in Saigon, the
Marine was provided with approximately eight (8) weeks of follow - on
training before becoming a fully qualified member of the unit.
The Personal Protective Security Unit, Saigon, Vietnam was composed of
eight (8) Marine Non - Commissioned Officers. The unit provided a
security operation modeled on the Secret Service Personal Security
template available to the President of the United States. The
actual Operational detail consisted of four (4) basic positions: 1) The
advance man, preceding the Motorcade by approximately 15 minutes, and
responsible for advising the Motorcade on the selection and security of
the route and the security situation at the destination, 2) The driver,
responsible for driving, daily maintenance, and security surveillance
of the Ambassador's vehicle, 3) The follow vehicle man, responsible for
the supervision of the Vietnamese Police in the Motorcade and the man
most directly responsible for defensive reaction in the event of
an emergency on the road, and, 4) The escort man, who rides in the
right front seat of the Ambassador's car, accompanies him into
buildings, ceremonies, etc., maintains liaison with the Ambassador' s
staff concerning scheduling etc., controls access to the Ambassador's
office while the Ambassador is at the Embassy, and is responsible for
the Ambassador's immediate personal safety in whatever situation might
develop. In support of these four basic positions, the detail is
reinforced with additional advance visits involving additional
protection requirements, and other situations requiring special
security considerations. Added to the basic operational duties
described above, members of the PPSU also had individually assigned
support and logistics duties. These duties included maintaining their
own quarters and messing facility, the armory, establishing liaison for
the acquisition of ammunition and other supplies, assuring rapid
repair and maintenance of the Ambassador's vehicles and for the
emergency and reaction equipment (examples include gas masks, oxygen
systems, fire extinguishers, first aid supplies, radios, weapons and
the bunker at the
Ambassador's residence). After completion of the follow - on training
period, each member of the PPSU was fully capable of functioning in all
of the four basic jobs, and all of the jobs were, in fact, rotated
among the members of the unit, each Marine changing functions each day.
The Ambassador's Personal Protective Unit supervised all aspects of
security including the monitoring of residence alarm systems,
controlled grounds access, monitored residence security patrols,
embassy access, motorcades, telephone switchboard and other secure
communications network. The 14 Vietnamese Special Police Officers
assigned to the unit were truly professional Police Officers and the
best the Government of South Vietnam had to offer. These dedicated
and loyal professionals considered it a true honor to serve and
protect the "Dean of the Diplomatic Corps", the American Ambassador to
the Republic of South Vietnam. The Saigon Personal Protective Security
Unit was acknowledged as the best Unit of it's type among Security
Details of visiting U.S. Dignitaries who were frequent visitors to the
U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Vietnam. |
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