Vintage Cairo, King Farouk I was stationed at the American Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, from October 1951 to February 1954. During that time we witnessed riots, the overthrow of a government , and also found time to visit many of the historical sites in the "cradle of civilization". The day we arrived (three replacements - Sgt's. McQueen, Greer and Harwood) we were met at the airport by one of the Marines we were replacing. He immediately informed us that we would have to travel through Cairo to the Embassy by a round-about route as there was the distinct possibility we would meet rioters. We did wonder what kind of a greeting this was, but climbed in the jeep and headed out. Needless to say, we made it really without incident. The first few months were relatively quiet although we did not venture out alone. One thing in our favor was that the Egyptians really liked Americans at that time and we were known by our wide, rather loud, neckties. On 3 January 1952, I met my future wife on the steps of Shepherd’s Hotel, where the "east meets the west" and we enjoyed "SB's" (the specialty of the bar) on the terrace. Three weeks later, the Hotel was no more, it was burned beyond repair on "black Saturday" when the natives rioted in earnest. Fires started up all over Cairo seemingly at the same time. We were able to see into one of the main squares of the city from the roof of the USIA Building on the Embassy compound, and watched as places with signs in English were torched while police and firemen stood by and watched. We were soon sent to our assigned posts in preparation for defending the Embassy if it was a target. A few rioters reached the front gate but were turned away by SSgt. Albers who was rather an imposing figure armed with a tommy gun. By the way, some members of the embassy staff did not know we had weapons. By mid-afternoon things were no better, but we did not appear to be in any danger. I was called to the office of the NCOIC and I was told to take a message from our Ambassador to the Egyptian Ministry of the Interior., which I proceeded to do via an embassy staff car and driver. Later I was to learn that the message had words to the effect "stop the rioting or you will be visited by Marines from the Sixth Fleet". Soon after that trip, the Egyptian Army moved and things calmed down rather quickly. As a result, the reign of King Farouk ended and General Naguib led the country for about a year until Nassar came to power. The rest of my tour was uneventful for the most part, however, I did receive permission to get married and remain on embassy duty, we were the first to receive that permission from both the State Department and HQMC. My wife Nell was teaching school at a Presbyterian Missionary School in Assiut, Egypt , when we met. And we are still together and enjoying retirement. Ron Harwood, MSgt., USMC Retired |
