Dublin, Ireland

COUNTRY INFORMATION

Diplomatic Relations
Established: 1924
Ligaction Established: 1927

MEGA SHIPS STORE
Detachment Photos: DUBLIN Photo Album
Detachment Alpha Roster: DUBLIN Detachment
FACEBOOK: MCESG MSGDuty Group
FACEBOOK: MEGA Group
msg-history.com: DUBLIN
Together-We-Served: DUBLIN

Visits by the President to IRELAND
SECSTATE Visits to IRELAND
US Ambassadors to IRELAND
Natural Disasters in IRELAND
Terrorism in IRELAND

U.S. Embassy: IRELAND
Britannica: IRELAND
Google: IRELAND
CIA World Factbook: IRELAND
Wikipedia:IRELAND
DOS History: IRELAND
Travel: IRELAND
Travel Advisory: IRELAND
Time: IRELAND
Weather: IRELAND
Phrase Book: IRISH

DETACHMENT HISTORY

2023
April 23 President Biden / SECSTATE Blinken Met with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and President Michael D. Higgins.

2012
December 6-7 SECSTATE Clinton Attended the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting, and met with President Michael Higgins and Prime Minister Enda Kenny

2011
May 23 President Obama Met with President McAleese and Prime Minister Kenny. Visited ancestral home.

2009 Detachment Commander: Chris Piazza,
Watchstanders:

October 11 : SECSTATE Clinton Met with Prime Minister Cowen.

2008 Detachment Commander: Chris Piazza
Watchstanders: Noel Bertrand, Andrew Kim, Joel Powell, Robert Spahn,

2006
President Bush Met with U.S. Marines who were en route to Iraq.

2004
June 25-26 President Bush Attended U.S.-EU Summit meeting and met with Prime Minister Ahern.

2002 Detachment Commander: GySgt. Cornelia Green,
Watchstanders: Jerry K. Noble

2001 Detachment Commander: GySgt. Cornelia Green,
Watchstanders:

2000 Detachment Commander: GySgt. Cornelia Green,
Watchstanders: Vic Vanderkooi,

December 12 President Clinton Met with Prime Minister Ahern and delivered several public addresses.

1999 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Robert E. Reichner, Vic Vanderkooi,

1998 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Robert E. Reichner,

September 3-5 President Clinton Met with Prime Minister Ahern; delivered several public addresses; played golf.

1995
June 1-2: President Clinton Met with President Robinson and Prime Minister Bruton.

1989 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Glenn A. Ferreri, Richard McLaughlin, Ron E. Sherman,

1988 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Greg Boudah, Glenn A. Ferreri, Richard McLaughlin, Sean Purcell, Ron E. Sherman,

1987 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Greg Boudah, Richard McLaughlin, Sean Purcell, Ron E. Sherman,

1986 Detachment Commander: GySgt. Mitch Arnone / Sgt. Thomas M. Hobbs,
Watchstanders: James Murphy, John Whitcomb,

1985 NCOIC: SSgt. Jerry Jones / GySgt. Mitch Arnone A/: Sgt. Jeff Ritter / Sgt. Thoms M. Hobbs
Watchstanders: Gerald A. Jones, James Murphy, John Whitcomb,

1984 NCOIC: SSgt. Jerry Jones A/: Sgt. Jeff Ritter
Watchstanders: Sgt. Thomas M. Hobbs, Gerald A. Jones, James Murphy,

June 1 - 4: President Reagan / SECSTATE Schultz Met with President Hillery and Prime Minister FitzGerald; visited ancestral home; addressed Parliament.

1983 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Tom Cleary, Daniel L. Clinkscales, Gerald A. Jones, Guy Lennon, Jim Smyth, Eugene Williams, Jr.,

1982 NCOIC: GySgt. Thomas M. Ward,
Watchstanders: Tom Cleary, Daniel L. Clinkscales, Guy Lennon, Jim Smyth, Eugene Williams, Jr.,

1981 NCOIC: GySgt. Thomas M. Ward
Watchstanders: Daniel L. Clinkscales, Sgt. Michael Laurent, Sgt. Stephen T. Lyons,

(Comments from Steve Lyons)
May 12-13, the Marine Security Guard Detachment Dublin, Ireland is assigned a special security detail inside the embassy due to 2,000 demonstrators outside the US Embassy.

On June 15, The US Embassy Dublin, Ireland is presented a US flag flow aboard the Space Shuttle “Columbia” by, US Naval Officer and Astronaut, John Young. Astronaut Young took the time to speak to the Marine Embassy Guards present at the embassy.

On July 18, all Marine Security Guards assigned to the US Embassy, Dublin, Ireland, are in full combat gear inside the embassy. The US Embassy is surrounded by 200 Irish Garda/Police Officers in riot gear prepared for a demonstration of 10,000 people in support of the hunger strike by IRA prisoners inside the Maze Prison, Northern Ireland. The demonstrators are armed with homemade weapons as they march by the US Embassy toward their intended destination, the British Embassy. Some isolated rocks and debris are thrown at the US Embassy as the demonstrators pass by. The demonstrators arrive at the British Embassy and fight with Garda/Irish police. Two hundred people go to the hospital for treatment of injuries received in the confrontation with the Garda/Police.
Sgt. Lyons and MSG/Sgt. Michael Laurent drive a large truck aboard a ferry in Dublin, Ireland, and cross the Irish Sea, to U.S. Naval Base, Holy Lock, Scotland/Great Britain, to pick-up supplies for the Marine Bar. Previously, Sgt. Laurent had been a hostage while an MSG at the US Embassy/ Iran-1979 (1st hostage takeover in February 1979).

1981 Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Thomas Hayward, stops by to meet with the Marines assigned to the US Embassy Dublin, Ireland.

1980 NCOIC: GySgt. Thomas M. Ward
Watchstanders: Sgt. MIchael Laurent, Sgt. Stephen T. Lyons,

(Comments from Steve Lyons)
On October 28, the US Naval Ship, USS Harlan County, makes a liberty stop in Dublin, Ireland. The Marines assigned to the USS Harlan County are invited to the Marine House/Bar located at 29 Clyde Road, Dublin, Ireland. The Marine Security Guard Detachment, Dublin, Ireland shows great hospitality and a good time to the Marines.

October, seven Irish Republican Army prisoners in Northern Ireland begin a hunger-strike to protest the ending of special category status. The IRA prisoners viewed themselves as 'prisoners of war' and not ordinary criminals. A second hunger strike began, on March 1, 1981, Bobby Sands, then leader of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the Maze Prison, refused food and began a new hunger strike. The strike lasted until 3 October 1981, and 10 Republican prisoners starve themselves to death in support of their protest. The strike led to a heightening of political tensions in the region. It also paved the way for the emergence of Sinn Féin (SF) as a major political force in Northern Ireland. In addition to the 10 Republican prisoners who had died inside the Maze Prison there was an upsurge in violence outside the prison with 62 people dying in Northern Ireland.

In April United States President, Ronald Reagan, said the United States will not intervene in the situation in Northern Ireland, but he was deeply concerned at events there. The U.S. Marines guarding the US Embassy in Dublin, Ireland are prohibited from traveling to Northern Ireland so not to be misidentified as British Marines.

On the night of the United States Presidential Election, November 4, 1980, a large celebration takes place at the US Embassy in Dublin. The MSG Detachment are working n both uniform and civilian clothing. The embassy becomes overcrowded and many of the guests are intoxicated and become unruly. The unruly guests are physically escorted out of the embassy by the Marines and into the custody of the Garda/Police, who are waiting outside the embassy.

1979 NCOIC: GySgt. Brad Ricketts A/: SSgt. Gene Frantz
Watchstanders: Sgt. Michael Laurent, Sgt. Matt Pisani,

1978 NCOIC: GySgt. Brad Ricketts A/: SSgt. Gene Frantz
Watchstanders: Sgt. Dan Bresnahan, Sgt. John Kappert, Sgt. Tom Kercherski, Sgt. Matt Pisani, Sgt. John Sheppard

1977 NCOIC: GySgt. Brad Ricketts A/: Sgt. Patrick E. Cameron
Watchstanders: Sgt. Dan Bresnahan, Sgt. Mike Daniels, Sgt. Christopher Deperno, Sgt. Gene Frantz, Sgt. John Kappert, Sgt. Tom Kercherski, Sgt. Mike McCotter, Sgt. Shane K. O’Brien, Sgt. John Sheppard

1976 NCOIC:Tom Grubaugh / GySgt. Brad Ricketts A/: Sgt. Patrick E. Cameron
Watchstanders: Sgt. Mike Daniels, Sgt. Christopher Deperno, Sgt. Mike McCotter, Sgt. Shane K. O’Brien,

1975 NCOIC: Tom Grubaugh
Watchstanders: Sgt. Mike Daniels,

1974 NCOIC: Tom Grubaugh
Watchstanders:

1973 NCOIC: Tom Grubaugh
Watchstanders:

1972 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Howard Wilson, James F. Juern,

1971 NCOIC:
Watchstanders:Howard Wilson, James F. Juern,

1970 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Howard Wilson,

October 3-5: President Nixon / SECSTATE Rogers State visit; met with Prime Minister Lynch.

1969 NCOIC: R. G. Hoffman,
Watchstanders: R. J. McCurry, J. W. Phipps, P. G. Reigleman,

1966 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Cpl. Stuber,

1965 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Rodney Beal, Wesley D. McBride,

1964 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Bill, Beeson, Wesley D. McBride, Don E. Mosley, Ed Schierle, Wayne Swigert,

December 16 - SECSTATE Rusk Stopped while returning to U.S.

From Don E. Mosley - Dublin was wholly different. The weather still sucks, but the Irish folk were very nice and welcoming to us Marines. We wore green blazers w/EGA embroidered on the pocket when on liberty .. lot's of singing, drinking and enjoying the warm hearts of our Irish hosts. Our little 4 man det was incremental in the personal security of JFK during his visit to Ireland, and we all got a personal "attaboy" from the CinC. Nice post, great people, and all was well until the President was shot ...Irish population was devastated, but it all turned "dark brown" for us when it was reported that the "shooter" was a Marine. No more green blazers downtown ..86'd in most of the bars ...we Marines were PNG because a Marine had shot "Jackie".

1963 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Bill, Beeson, Frank S. Callahan, Wesley D. McBride, Don E. Mosley, Ed Schierle, Wayne Swigert,
June 26-29 : President Kennedy Addressed Parliament and visited ancestral home

1962 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Bill, Beeson, Don E. Mosley, Ed Schierle, Wayne Swigert,

1958 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Gail Brock,

1957 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Gail Brock, Charles J. Weins,

1956 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Gail Brock, Charles J. Weins,

1955 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Charles J. Weins,

1953 NCOIC: TSgt Luther H. Bunch
Watchstanders:

1951 NCOIC: TSgt Luther H. Bunch
Watchstanders: Cpl. Jay A. Lindsey, TSgt William T. Schumacher, Cpl. Robert S. Sisler, SSgt Harold F. Wood,

1950 NCOIC: TSgt Luther H. Bunch
Watchstanders: Cpl. Jay A. Lindsey, TSgt William T. Schumacher, Cpl. Robert S. Sisler, SSgt Harold F. Wood,

1949 Company Commander: CO. at Henderson Hall was 1stLt Gene Hoover followed by Captain Sartor*.
NCOIC: TSgt Luther H. Bunch
Watchstanders: Cpl. Jay A. Lindsey, TSgt William T. Schumacher, Cpl. Robert S. Sisler, SSgt Harold F. Wood,

Notes from Jay A. Lindsey - Submitted 10/15/2009 :February 1949 first MSGs arrive at the US Embassy. The first detachment was posted in Dublin thorough most of 1951. There was no Marine House during this early deployment. TSgts. Bunch and Schumacher shared at two-bedroom apartment. SSgt. Wood and Corporal Sisler were from the same home state and shared a two-bedroom apartment until 1950. Corporal Sisler and Lindsey then shared a location after SSgt. Wood and Corporal Sisler "split the blanket." SSgt. Wood resided alone after this point in time.
* Captain Sartor promoted to LtCol (now deceased) and wrote several articles for Leatherneck Magazine.

Ambassador's Residence
The Deerfield Residence

U.S. Embassy

MCESG Region 4 (MSGBn Company D) (HQMC F Company)
(Volunteer Detachment Archivist Needed)
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