BAGHDAD, IRAQ

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COUNTRY INFORMATION

Recognized: 1930
Relations established: 1931
Legation/embassy established: 1931
June 1967: Iraq severed diplomatic relations with the U.S.
during the 1967 Arab-Israeli Six-Day War.
1984: Relations were reestablished
1972: A U.S. Interests Section was established in the Belgian Embassy
1991: The U.S. and Iraq mutually severed relations following the Invasion of Kuwait. 2004: Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iraq were reestablished and the U.S. Embassy was reopened

Presidential visits to Iraq
List of Travels SECSTATE to Iraq
List of US Ambassadors to Iraq
List of Natural Disasters to Iraq
List of Terror Incidents in Iraq

Contact MSG History: Baghdad
Map US Embassy: Baghdad
Photo Album: Baghdad

Together-We-Served: Baghdad
U.S. Embassy: Iraq
Britannica: Iraq
Google: Iraq
CIA World Factbook: Iraq
Wikipedia: Iraq
DOS History: Iraq
Travel: Iraq
Time: Iraq
Weather: Iraq
Phrase Book: Kurdish
Phrase Book: Arabic
Aljazeera: Iraq
Google News: Iraq

MSG Listing

Allen, Michael "Rooster" 1986-????
Ashbrook, ?, SSgt., 1990 - 1990 DetCmdr
Barton, ?, Sgt., 1990 - 1990
Bolt, ?, Sgt., 1990 - 1990
Buckley, Cory 1986-????
Cole Joseph, 1986-????
Carneiro, Sidney, Sgt., 1990 - 1991
Gardner, Ken 1958 - 61
Herring, Jefferson 1966 - 69
Hudson, David K. Sgt (1990)
Hutchinson, J.D. Sgt (?)
Kiedth, Joseph 1986-????
Martinez, Jose Sgt (?)
McAlpin, Gary 1957 - 60
Nichols, "Nick" 1986-????
Parham, ?, Cpl., 1990 - 1990
Pippen, Cedric 2005 - 2005
Sabat, Peter 1958 - 61
Simpson, John "Fred" 1957 - 61 (Tehran 61)
Skinner, ?, Sgt., 1990 - 1990
Smith, J.B. SSgt (1990)
Stolarz, Steve 1985-1988
Thompson, Steve 1963 - 64 (Tel Aviv 65, Leopoldville 66)
Ward,Sgt (1991)
White, Jerry 1987 - 88 (Bucharest 86 Televiv 89 - Dar es Salaam) *

Together We Served Listing

Tony Albert 2005-08 Cairo, Baghdad, Bogota
James Alvarez, 2010-13 Rome, Guatemala City, Baghdad
Joshua Benavente 2007-10 T'bilisi, Baghdad, Buenos Aires
Chester M. Biggs Jr. 1955-57 *Chester M. Biggs Jr. 1955-57 *Deceased
Russell Bintz 2005-07 Harare, Frankfurt, Baghdad
Tony Bogden 2003-06 Beijing, Colombo, Baghdad, Colombo
Al Braswell 1985-88 Baghdad, Ottawa
Joe Cole 1984-85 Stuttgart, Baghdad
Len Custer 1962-64 Baghdad, Tehran
Gregory Dague, 2003-05 Hanoi, Lima, Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Levi J. Deniston 2003-06 Hong Kong, Guatemala City, Baghdad, Bangkok (LinkedIn)
Scott Dieckhoff 2002-04 Managua, Ankara / 2006-07 {Detachment Commander) Baghdad
Paul Edwards 2005-08 Guatemala City, Baghdad, Oslo
Christopher M. Emert 2007-10 Colombo, Yerevan, Baghdad
Raymond Eyster 1961-65 Baghdad, Tehran
Nathan Faraday 2005-08 Moscow, Baghdad, Port of Spain
Joseph W. Flowers , 2010-11 Baghdad, Rome
Jason Fortunato 2006-09 (Detachment Commander) Baghdad, Capetown, New Delhi
Robert Gruenert 1967-69 Baghdad, Islamabad
Ryan Hayes 2003-05 Singapore, Dar Es Salaam, Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Higgins, Aaron M., Sgt
Victor Hurd, 2005-06 Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Henry Jones, 1988-91 Helsinki, Baghdad, Tel Aviv
Nathaniel L. Jordan, 2009-12 Baghdad, Madrid, Lima (LinkedIn)
Andrew Kamp 2005-08 Amman, Vienna, Baghdad
D. C. Kirschner 1990-93 Vienna, Dhaka, Shanghai / 2000-03 (Detachment Commander) Port au Prince, Islamabad
2008-09 (Detachment Commander) Baghdad
Charles Klahn, 2010-13 (Detachment Commander) Baghdad, Damascus, Brasilia (LinkedIn)
Brian LeBlanc, 2005-09 Kigali, Baghdad, Bridgetown (LinkedIn) (AASA) (Facebook)
Vivian V. Lewis 2012-15 Bahrain, Moscow, Baghdad
Christopher Lewis 2006-07 Santiago, Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Joshua MacGillivray 2002-04 Karachi, Moscow, Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Daniel Mercer 2004-07 Pretoria Baghdad, Ljubana
Troy Powers, 2008-11 (Detachment Commander) Damascus, Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Lance Prager, 1987-89 Baghdad, Casablanca, Nicosia (LinkedIn)
Tyler Richards 2006-07 San Jose Costa Rica, Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Richard Rodriguez, R. 2004-07 Yerevan, Baghdad
Scheerer, Joseph P.. (Joe), Cpl
Steven Stolarz 1985-88 Helsinki, Baghdad, Geneva
Samuel Subramani 2008-11 (Detachment Commander) Beijing, Baghdad, Singapore (LinkedIn)
Christopher Thacker 2006-07 Nassau, Baghdad
Jerry White 1986-88 Bucharest, Baghdad, Tel Aviv
Christopher Williams N. 2007-09 Brussels, Baghdad, Kuwait
Denae Zamaripa 2008-09 Baghdad

DETACHMENT HISTORY

2025
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2025
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Watchstanders:

2025
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2025
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2025
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2025
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2019
REGION 2 - DETACHMENT OF THE YEAR
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2018
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2017
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2016
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2015
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2014
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Vivian V. Lewis 2012-15 Bahrain, Moscow, Baghdad

2013
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: James Alvarez, 2010-13 Rome, Guatemala City, Baghdad

2012
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: James Alvarez, 2010-13 Rome, Guatemala City, Baghdad

2011
Detachment Commander:
Klahn, Charles, GySgt 2010-13 Baghdad, Damascus, Brasilia
Troy Powers, 2008-11 Damascus, Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Watchstanders: James Alvarez, 2010-13 Rome, Guatemala City, Baghdad

2010
Detachment Commander:
Klahn, Charles, GySgt 2010-13 2010-13 Baghdad, Damascus, Brasilia
Troy Powers, 2008-11 (Detachment Commander) Damascus, Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Samuel Subramani 2008-11 Beijing, Baghdad, Singapore
Watchstanders:
James Alvarez, 2010-13 Rome, Guatemala City, Baghdad,
Joshua Benavente 2007-10 T'bilisi, Baghdad, Buenos Aires
Joseph W. Flowers , 2010-11 Baghdad, Rome

2009
Detachment Commander:
D. C. Kirschner 1990-93 Vienna, Dhaka, Shanghai / 2000-03 (Detachment Commander) Port au Prince, Islamabad
2008-09 (Detachment Commander) Baghdad
Samuel Subramani 2008-11 Beijing, Baghdad, Singapore
Watchstanders:
Joshua Benavente 2007-10 T'bilisi, Baghdad, Buenos Aires
Denae Zamaripa 2008-09 Baghdad
Nathaniel L. Jordan, 2009-12 Baghdad, Madrid, Lima (LinkedIn)

2008
Detachment Commander:
D. C. Kirschner 1990-93 Vienna, Dhaka, Shanghai / 2000-03 (Detachment Commander) Port au Prince, Islamabad
2008-09 (Detachment Commander) Baghdad
Watchstanders:
Tony Albert 2005-08 Cairo, Baghdad, Bogota ,
Joshua Benavente 2007-10 T'bilisi, Baghdad, Buenos Aires
Denae Zamaripa 2008-09 Baghdad
Andrew Kamp 2005-08 Amman, Vienna, Baghdad

2007
Detachment Commander:
Scott Dieckhoff 2006-07
Richard Rodriguez, R. 2004-07 Yerevan, Baghdad
Watchstanders: Tony Albert 2005-08 Cairo, Baghdad, Bogota ,
Joshua Benavente 2007-10 T'bilisi, Baghdad, Buenos Aires
Paul Edwards 2005-08 Guatemala City, Baghdad, Oslo
Christopher Thacker 2006-07 Nassau, Baghdad
Tyler Richards 2006-07 San Jose Costa Rica, Baghdad
Lance Prager, 1987-89 Baghdad, Casablanca, Nicosia (LinkedIn)
Christopher Lewis 2006-07 Santiago, Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Brian LeBlanc, 2005-09 Kigali, Baghdad, Bridgetown (LinkedIn) (AASA)

2006
Detachment Commander:
Jason Fortunato 2006-09 (Detachment Commander) Baghdad, Capetown, New Delhi
Richard Rodriguez, R. 2004-07 Yerevan, Baghdad
Watchstanders:
Tony Albert 2005-08 Cairo, Baghdad, Bogota,
Paul Edwards 2005-08 Guatemala City, Baghdad, Oslo
Levi J. Deniston 2003-06 Hong Kong, Guatemala City, Baghdad, Bangkok (LinkedIn)
Christopher Thacker 2006-07 Nassau, Baghdad
Daniel Mercer 2004-07 Pretoria Baghdad, Ljubana
Brian LeBlanc, 2005-09 Kigali, Baghdad, Bridgetown (LinkedIn) (AASA)
Victor Hurd, 2005-06 Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Nathan Faraday 2005-08 Moscow, Baghdad, Port of Spain (LinkedIn)

2005
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
Tony Albert 2005-08 Cairo, Baghdad, Bogota
Gregory Dague, 2003-05 Hanoi, Lima, Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Daniel Mercer 2004-07 Pretoria Baghdad, Ljubana
Victor Hurd, 2005-06 Baghdad (LinkedIn)
Ryan Hayes 2003-05 Singapore, Dar Es Salaam, Baghdad

Joshua Benavente 2007-10 T'bilisi, Baghdad, Buenos Aires
MSG Cedric Pippen wounded in roadside bombing

2004
Detachment Commander:
Assistant Detachment Commander: Joshua MacGillivray 2002-04 Karachi, Moscow, Baghdad
Watchstanders:

2003
Detachment Commander:
Assistant Detachment Commander: Joshua MacGillivray 2002-04 Karachi, Moscow, Baghdad
Watchstanders:
US War with Iraq
December: Hussein was finally captured by U.S. forces
Suddam Husain Captured in Tekrit (Dec 15)

2002
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
October:, President Hussein won a referendum on a seven-year extension of his presidency, receiving 100% of the vote according to Iraqi officials.
- U.S. Congress approved the use of force against Iraq,

1994
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
October Iraq massed troops on the Kuwaiti border; the United States and other coalition members increased their forces in the area, and Iraq withdrew the troops.

1991
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Sgt Ward (Sgt Hutchinson and Sgt. Martinez were possibly in this detachment - no date references)Sgt. Ward, Sgt. Hutchinson, and Sgt Martinez were idenditied in GySgt. Leo Daugherty's book "The Marine Corps and State Department"

1990
Detachment Commander: SSgt.Ashbrook / SSgt J.B. Smith
Watchstanders: Sgt Barton, Sgt. Bolt, Sgt.Carneiro, Sgt David K. Hudson,Cpl. Parham, Sgt.Skinner,
Detachment Deactivated: US breaks relations with Iraq,
Amb Glaspie interview with Suddam Hussein
Aug. 2, 1990: 120,000 Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait, and Hussein declared its annexation (see Persian Gulf War ).
- Foreigners in Iraq and Kuwait were held hostage but released after a few months.

1989
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Henry Jones, 1988-91 Helsinki, Baghdad, Tel Aviv

1988
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Steve Stolarz, Al Braswell 1985-88 Baghdad, Ottawa
Jerry White 1986-88 Bucharest, Baghdad, Tel Aviv
Iran-Iraq cease-fire under the auspices of the United Nations led to the war's end.

1987
Detachment Commander: A/: Michael "Rooster" Allen
Watchstanders: Jerry White 1986-88 Bucharest, Baghdad, Tel Aviv
Steven Stolarz 1985-88 Helsinki, Baghdad, Geneva

1986
Detachment Commander: A/: Michael "Rooster" Allen
Watchstanders: Cory Buckley, Joseph Cole, Joseph Kiedeth, "Nick" Nichols, Steve Stolarz,
Al Braswell 1985-88 Baghdad, Ottawa, Jerry White 1986-88 Bucharest, Baghdad, Tel Aviv
Steven Stolarz 1985-88 Helsinki, Baghdad, Geneva

1985
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
Steve Stolarz,
Joe Cole 1984-85 Stuttgart, Baghdad
Al Braswell 1985-88 Baghdad, Ottawa

1984
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Joe Cole 1984-85 Stuttgart, Baghdad

1980
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:

War between Iran and Iraq, primarily over the Shatt al Arab waterway, erupted full-scale in 1980
(see Iran-Iraq War ).
- The eight-year war became a series of mutual attacks and stalemates, as both countries' oil production fell drastically, the death toll rose, and great mutual destruction was inflicted.
- Poison gas was reportedly used by both sides, and by Iraq on Kurdish villages as the Kurdish rebellion continued.
Eventually, a cease-fire under the auspices of the United Nations led to the war's end in 1988. Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990.

1973
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:

The Communist party in Iraq was also legalized
-Another coup was foiled; the internal security chief was blamed, and he and 35 others were executed.
- Iraq took an active part in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War; it also participated in the oil boycott against nations supporting Israel.

1968
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
Robert Gruenert 1967-69 Baghdad, Islamabad

Gen. Abd al-Rahman Aref, overthrown by a bloodless coup in 1968. Maj. Gen. Ahmad Hasan al- Bakr of the Ba'ath party became president and began a purge of opponents.

1967
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
Robert Gruenert 1967-69 Baghdad, Islamabad

1966
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
President and two cabinet members died in a helicopter crash. Aref's brother, Gen. Abd al-Rahman Aref, assumed office

1964
NCOIC:
Watchstanders

1963
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Len Custer 1962-64 Baghdad, Tehran, Raymond Eyster 1961-65 Baghdad, Tehran

February: Col. Abd al-Salam Aref led a coup that overthrew the Kassem regime. The new regime was dominated by members of the Iraqi Ba'ath party , a socialist group whose overall goal was Arab unity.

November: Ba'ath party members in the governing council were expelled by an army coup engineered by President Aref.

1962
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Len Custer 1962-64 Baghdad, Tehran, Raymond Eyster 1961-65 Baghdad, Tehran

1961
NCOIC: GySgt Lonzo M. Barnett
Watchstanders: Sgt Dennis Chapman, Sgt Bill Beck, Fred Simpson, Ken Gardner, Peter Sabat
Raymond Eyster 1961-65 Baghdad, Tehran

1960
NCOIC: GySgt Lonzo M. Barnett
Watchstanders: Sgt Dennis Chapman, Sgt Bill Beck, Fred Simpson, Ken Gardner, Peter Sabat

1959
NCOIC: GySgt Lonzo M. Barnett
Watchstanders: Sgt Dennis Chapman, Sgt Bill Beck, Fred Simpson, Ken Gardner, Peter Sabat

Fred Simpson: "Nine days after my arrival Saddam Hussein attempted to kill the " immortal leader of the Iraqi Republic Abdul Kareem Kssam, Who had over thrown the Government and killed the King Fisal, which was the first cousin of King Hussin of Jordan."
- Iraq's activity in the Baghdad Pact ceased, and the country formally withdrew .
- Diplomatic relations were restored with the USSR, but Iraq pursued a policy of nonalignment in the cold war.
- Relations with neighbors became antagonistic when Iraq claimed sovereignty over Kuwait and over Iranian territory along the Shatt al Arab.

1958
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Peter Sabat, Ken Gardner, Gary McAlpin 1957

July 14: Coup led by Gen. Abd al-Karim Kassem
- seized control of Baghdad and proclaimed a republic, with Islam declared the national religion.
- King Faisal, Crown Prince Abd al-Ilah, and Nuri al-Said were killed,

- In Feb. following announcement of the merger of Syria and Egypt into the United Arab Republic, Iraq and Jordan announced the federation of their countries into the Arab Union.

1957
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Fred Simpson, Gary McAlpin 1957: Fred Simpson, Gary McAlpin 1957
Chester M. Biggs Jr. 1955-57 *Deceased

1956
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Chester M. Biggs Jr. 1955-57 *Deceased

1955
NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Chester M. Biggs Jr. 1955-57 *Deceased

1949
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
Iraq, with other members of the Arab League , participated in 1948 in the unsuccessful war against Israel.

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