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Pass It On

To every Marine you know . . .

 

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HEY MARINE,

If something of interest is going on in your life, such as a wedding, a new baby, the birth of a grandchild, a wedding anniversary, going on a trip, or revisiting your old MSG post; or anything that would be of interest to our other members ~ share it with your MEGA family. Send information to the Webmaster for posting here. Remember, MEGA belongs to YOU, as does this website, so share your life with those who knew you when you were standing tall for Country and Corps. Photographs are always welcome!

 

Whether you were on post at Tangier in '49; Kabul in '53; Cairo in '64; Paris in '75; Oslo in '86; Karachi in '97; Bangkok last year, or if you are on post tonight at an American diplomatic mission anywhere in the world ~ you may perhaps be surprised to know that your MSG brothers (and now sisters) who served with you want to know how the rest of your life is going. That camaraderie will never die.

Our common bond is our service to the Corps with the distinct knowledge that for a relatively brief moment during our youth; we were highly privileged to be selected and served with honor as Marine Security Guards at American embassies and consulates; as well as on other special security operations worldwide. While we're all exceptionally proud of our service to our County and our love of the Corps is obvious, the uniqueness of MSG duty where so very few can serve, is of special value to us all. Those memorable years will live on in our hearts throughout our lives.

 

While Marines are temporary, the Corps is forever ~ as is our MSG brotherhood. So, report in and share what's going on in your life with the Marines you spent an important part of your youth with while serving our great nation on the best duty in the United States Marine Corps.

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10 October 2011

Submitted for Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Carleo

 

Gunny Carleo is manu-scripting - "In Every Clime and Place - The United States Marine Corps Embassy Security Guards".  He is looking for contributors to the book.  If interested, click the links below for the book's website and/or contacting the Gunny.


The Book's Website                            Contact The Gunny  


Stewart Grant - MEGA Webmaster

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01 April 2010

Submitted by Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Carleo

 

Gunny Carleo has created a web video that honors our Fallen MSG Brothers and a second web video that highlights one of our detachments.  Please take the time to view these videos by clicking on the links below. 

Fallen MSG Brothers                            Singapore 10 Year Reunion   


Stewart Grant - MEGA Webmaster

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November 15, 2009

This is submitted by Don Cavanaugh:

 

The Elite Guardians

You’re found standing “In every clime and place,”
In parts of the world in differing states.
To a world moving at a changing pace,
We are safe knowing you are at the gates.

Not long that you passed through depot portals,
Proclaiming your place among the finest.
This here passage leads to the immortal,
Where all are in service to the Highest.

You’re privileged to serve at the State’s request,
Standing to face many of the world’s threats.
Watch standing for our nations very best,
Well known for their illustrious effects.

Your legacy is long, since our founding,
You adapt, Sea, Horse, Embassy Marines.
A Mission can claim “Our Marines,” proudly,
Ambassador’s claim “My Marines,” sharply.

Many Secretaries of State you’ve served,
With a quality to which they’d attest.
Should you return they’ll faithfully reserve,
For you a place at home for final rest.

While at sea John Adams stood by your side,
In a skirmish no better place to be.
Set the exemplar that others abide,
It’s the only way we stand to be free.

Reagan noted a Beatitude spoke,
Quoting “peacemakers” and “children of God.”
Elite Guardians at the beacon of hope,
Volunteers for whatever rears, on guard.

No one can ever create such a hate,
That can ever attempt to seal your fate.
You are always in the hands of the Great,
Because you’re always known to keep the faith.

-Donald James Cavanaugh

 Arrived at Quantico 7/80, some MSG’s were wearing t-shirts w/Elite Guardian(s) on them. I also noted in Mr. Leo Daugherty III’s book, The Marine Corps and the State Department, a citation from Washington Post, 2/’79, “Semper Fi: The Guardian Elite: Tehran on Their Minds at Marine Security Guard School.”


Felt this was a fitting name and title to add a little gravitas for the past, present and future. I also had some influence from the Prayer of St. Francis, Franciscans and MSG’s have something in common they both go where most wouldn’t. I think Top said MSG’s are special. I won’t argue with that. History proves it. Semper Fi.

 

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November 15, 2009

Submitted by: Jerry Loftus, US Foreign Service Officer- 1978-2002

 

Hello Lance,

You may remember that in the past I wrote a couple of blog posts on Marine
Security Guards at US Embassies. Well, here's another one:

 

http://avuncularamerican.typepad.com/blog/2009/10/the-marine-corps-school-of-body-language.html

 

Thought you might want to Pass It On.

Thanks and best regards from Brussels.

 

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April 1, 2009

Submitted by: Charles May

 

For those who are interested, the book "The Marine Corps and the State Department", by Leo Daugherty III, has finally been published and is being mailed out to those who had it on back order.

Just got my copy and it really covers the history of the MSG (from 1798 to 2007). Many photos of Marines and some of you may even be included. John Konicki is shown giving a lecture to MSG students on page 347. There is several pages of information about the Beirut Bombing in there also. Book is 395 pages long and is a 7" x 10" Soft Cover. There are many photos and diagrams.

It can be obtained at McFarland & Company Inc.- Publishers.
Box 611, 960 Hwy 88 West
Jefferson, NC 28640
800-253-2187

They do take credit cards as well as checks, and have been most responsive to inquiries while the book was on back order. The cost is $49.95, plus postage.

  

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March 14, 2009

Submitted by:  Jerry Loftus

 

Hello Lance,

 

A few months ago you helped me "Pass On" my search for Jim Conricode, who may
or may not have been related to my late half-brother. I really appreciate
your help.

 

As you know, I am a blogger, and my blog is read by a number of people who
know and appreciate US Marines, especially those who guard Embassies. So I
thought you'd enjoy this anecdote, which links to your Association and which
mentions the crucial assistance of an MSG:

 

http://avuncularamerican.typepad.com/blog/2009/03/diplomat-saves-damsel-in-distress-a-career-footnote.html

 

Please feel free to share with your members.

 

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February 3, 2009

Submitted by Gerald J. Loftus, 70 Avenue Vanderaey, Box 14, Tel/Fax: +32-2-372-2256, 1180 Brussels, BELGIUM

Here is a request I received from a retired FSO:

 

In the process of looking for a Marine friend from long ago, I came across the
Marine Embassy Guard Association. Let me introduce myself: Gerald (Jerry)
Loftus, I am a retired US Foreign Service Officer, living in Brussels,
Belgium. Over the years, I knew many MSGs, and served several times as Post
Security Officer before RSOs became so numerous.

 

One of those places was the American Consulate in Alexandria, Egypt, from
1983-1985. During much of that time, the NCOIC (before they started to be
called Det Cmdrs) was Sergeant Jim Conricode. I may have the spelling of his
last name wrong. It could be Conrecote, Conrecode, or some other variation.

We lost track of each other - those were the days before the internet and
Google! - but a family story makes me want to get back in touch. About 10
years ago, my half-brother, John J. Conricode, found the family of his natural
father, who happened to be my father. It was vaguely related to a wartime
romance during WW II.

 

Both my father and my half-brother have since died (my brother only days ago),
but at the funeral next week I will meet his relatives from Ireland on the
Conricode side. I'd like to see if I'm in some way related to my former
colleague Jim. Wouldn't that be a coincidence?

 

What I would like to do is to track down Jim Conricode, the Marine (he's
probably long-retired, as he'd be in his fifties now). A few years ago, I was
in Quantico and asked one of the officers if there was a way to search for
him, but he reminded me of The Privacy Act, and Google has led nowhere.

So I am trying MEGA. I realize that even if Jim is a member, you probably
can't share his email. So I'll ask simply that you pass this on him.

 

Thanks very much - in advance - for your help.


 

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September 28, 2008

Submitted: Joe Mitchell, MEGA Director

 

I am not sure which of you are members of the web site called TWS, but I know that some of you are...

Anyway they have added a new section call "Military Organization" which shows the Logo of which ever organizations you select. They have now added MEGA.

 

So, when you get a chance, pull up the site and update your page to show that you are a member of MEGA (free advertisement for MEGA).

 

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September 14, 2008

Submitted by: James Durney, 52 Morell Drive, Naas , Co. Kildare, Ireland

 

Here is a request I have received from across the pond:

 

I am working on a book about Irish-born servicemen in the Vietnam war and was trying to locate former Captain Robert J. O'Brien, Marshfield, Mass., who was on duty in Saigon during Tet 1968 and took part in the battle for the US Embassy. Hoping you can help,

 

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There is a new feature for MEGA members.  Click on the link a post on the MEGA Frappr map.

MEGA - Group Map by Frappr Maps

Cold War Recognition Certificate

 

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Below is Buzz Perez presenting a bank check to a Marine who got run over on his motorcycle by a hit & run driver. Buzz is donating the money from the Marine Corps League, as he is the current Commandant of the Central Tex Detachment in Austin, TX.

 

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PER MARADMIN 12/04, MSGs who have served in Korea may be eligible to receive the KOREAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

(Retroactive to 28 July 1954) ~ Click Here

Additional Information

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The following is not MSG related but is still near and dear to the hearts of many of us:


This is something that is easy to do and will help the marines on the ground. They need to know that the US Citizens back them and that they are doing a heroic job.
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US Marine Colonel Simcock, the commander of USMC Regimental Combat Team (RCT) 6 in Iraq, is asking for 6,000 positive emails to his Marines. That's one email for each Marine in his RCT command. COL Simcock is concerned about the effect of the negative barrage that those Marines are getting through the electronic media. So far, they've only mustered 2,000 emails. That's a crying shame compared to the amount of crap I get daily in email. This is a legitimate request. It's not one of the "little Johnny wants to break the world's record in Christmas cards" situations.


It takes only 30 seconds of your time. Here's the email address:

 

RCT-6lettersfromh@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

 

If you're reading this email, then you can probably click on the address, type a few words, and then hit "send" to be all done. It doesn't have to be the Gettysburg Address. Something as simple as "Hello, Marine. We thank you for what you're doing. You are in a noble task. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Best wishes & get home soon" is more than sufficient.

 

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An excerpt from an interview with the Colonel:
 

GRIM: Is there anything that you and your Marines need that we could send you?
 

COL. SIMCOCK: (Chuckles.) I'll tell you what, the one thing that all Marines want to know about -- and that includes me and everyone within Regimental Combat Team 6 -- we want to know that the American public are behind us. We believe that the actions that we're taking over here are very, very important to America. We're fighting a group of people that, if they could, would take away the freedoms that America enjoys.
 

If anyone -- you know, just sit down, jot us -- throw us an e- mail, write us a letter, let us know that the American public are behind us.

 

Because we watch the news just like everyone else. It's broadcast over here in our chow halls and the weight rooms, and we watch that stuff, and we're a little bit concerned sometimes that America really doesn't know what's going on over here, and we get sometimes concerns that the American public isn't behind us and doesn't see the importance of what's going on. So that's something I think that all Marines, soldiers and sailors would like to hear from back home, that in fact, yes, they think what we're doing over here is important and they are in fact behind us.
 

DO IT NOW!!!
 

IT JUST TAKES A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME .. THAT'S NOT MUCH TO ASK FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR US!

 .... AND, PLEASE PASS THIS EMAIL ALONG TO YOUR FRIENDS! ... SHOW OUR MARINES WE CARE!

  

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