Following World War II, intelligence activities worldwide led to an increased need of around the clock protection of U.S. Diplomatic Missions by reliable American Personnel. This need produced the origins of the modern MSG Program - beginning with the Foreign Service Act of 1946, which stated that the secretary of Navy is authorized, upon the request of the Secretary of State, to assign enlisted Marines to serve as custodians under the supervision of the senior diplomatic officer at an embassy, legation, or consulate. As a result, the first Marine Security Guards departed for Tangier and Bangkok on 28 January 1949.
More than sixty-one years later, Marine Security Guards stand watch at over 140 Diplomatic Posts worldwide, bringing a full sense of value to the phrase: "In Every Clime and Place".
I am so dismally behind on my blog that it is pointless to even try and come up with a good excuse. So because I know there are some people who enjoy reading up on what we've been up to I will now backtrack to November 5th and say a few words about the wonderful Marine Corps Ball Scott and I had the privilege of attending.
We decided to stay the night at the ritzy Meridian Hotel where the Ball was being held, so we went early and enjoyed spending some time together, sans enfants! We took our time making ourselves beautiful and headed out to a fun evening with our friends and the wonderful Marines currently stationed in Dakar. As an added bonus, Scott received recognition for being the oldest Marine at Post this year. :)
We ate, we drank, we danced, and we made lots of 'duck-lip faces'. It was a truly wonderful evening and I promise never, ever, ever, to drink that many gin and tonics again in my life. Thank you.
