Lisbon, Portugal

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COUNTRY INFORMATION

Diplomatic Relations:
1791: Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and the American Legation in Portugal
19 May - Diplomatic relations and the American Legation in Lisbon were established
U.S. Minister to Portugal Col. David Humphreys presented his credentials.

1810 - 1821: U.S. Legation moves to Rio de Janeiro
During the Napoleonic Wars, the King of Portugal fled to Brazil.
The U.S. legation followed and was located there

U.S. Legation Returns to Lisbon, 1822.

1822 the U.S. legation returned to Lisbon, along with the King of Portugal,
22 May: Henry Dearborn, Sr. was appointed U.S. Envoy to Portugal on May 7, 1822,

1944 - Elevation of American Legation to Embassy Status
20 June: The U.S. legation in Lisbon became an embassy. R. Henry Norweb presented his new credentials to Lisbon after he was promoted from Minister to Ambassador.

Presidentual visits to PORTUGAL
List of Travels SECSTATE to PORTUGAL
List of US Ambasssadors to PORTUGAL
List of Natural Disasters to PORTUGAL
List of Terror Incidents in PORTUGAL

U.S. Embassy: PORTUGAL
Britannica: PORTUGAL
Google: PORTUGAL
CIA World Factbook: PORTUGAL
Wikipedia: PORTUGAL
DOS History: PORTUGAL
Travel: PORTUGAL
Time: PORTUGAL
Weather: PORTUGAL
Phrase Book: PORTUGUESE
AlJazeera: PORTUGAL
Exchange Rate: US Dollar - Euro
Google News: PORTUGAL

DETACHMENT HISTORY

2007 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Joe Califa, Hector Orellana,

2006 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Alan Ardelean, Hector Orellana,

2005 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Alan Ardelean, Scott M. Feran

2004 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Meshach Barkley, Scott M. Feran,

2003 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Meshach Barkley, Scott M. Feran, Jakendrik R. Stewart, Martin Stress,

2002 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Jakendrik R. Stewart, Martin Stress,

2001 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Bruce M. Mathis, Jacobo D. Rivera, Jakendrik R. Stewart, Martin Stress,

2000 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Nicholas Alan Lemich, Bruce M. Mathis, Jacobo D. Rivera,

1999 Detachment Commander: GySgt. James Faber A/: Sgt. Brian Allinger
Watchstanders: Sgt. Justin Cassidy, Sgt. Ryan Faught, Sgt. Joseph Fortin, Nicholas Alan Lemich, Sgt. David Pendleton, Sgt. Ernie Reyes, Jacobo D. Rivera, Eduardo A. Sanchez,

1998 Detachment Commander: GySgt. James Faber A/: Sgt. Brian Allinger
Watchstanders: Sgt. Anthony Brooks, Sgt. Justin Cassidy, Sgt. Ryan Faught, Sgt. Joseph Fortin, Sgt. David Pendleton, Eduardo A. Sanchez,

1997 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Sgt. Anthony Brooks,

1996 Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders: Steven Brissette,

1995 Detachment Commander: GySgt. Ken Gillis
Watchstanders: Steven Brissette, Antonio Jacinto Ferreira,

1994 Detachment Commander: GySgt. Ken Gillis
Watchstanders: Steven Brissette, Antonio Jacinto Ferreira,

1991 Detachment Commander: GySgt. Mark C. Donaldson,
Watchstanders:

1990 Detachment Commander: GySgt. Mark C. Donaldson
Watchstanders:

1989 Detachment Commander: GySgt. Mark C. Donaldson
Watchstanders: Tom Lanier,

1986 Detachment Commander: GySgt. Rosario
Watchstanders: Brian Mullery,
*NCOICs of MSG Detachments now titled Detachment Commanders.

1985 NCOIC: GySgt. Rosario
Watchstanders: John G. Hart, Brian Mullery,

1984 NCOIC: GySgt. Rosario
Watchstanders: John G. Hart, Ray A. Smith,

1983 NCOIC: GySgt. Howard R. Wilson,
Watchstanders: Dale A. Knox, Ray A. Smith, James J. Thiede, James Todd,

1982 NCOIC: GySgt. Howard R. Wilson,
Watchstanders: Sgt. Gregory M. Bilyeu, Dale A. Knox, James J. Thiede, James Todd,

1981 NCOIC: SSgt. Gerald Talian / GySgt. Howard R. Wilson A/: Sgt. Terry Davis
Watchstanders: Sgt. Gregory M. Bilyeu, Sgt. Gerry Miller, Sgt. Frank Patti, James J. Thiede,
Comments: (Greg Bilyeu / 27JAN2011)
In 1981, the Embassy was literally down town in an old six-story building right on the street. The Marine House was in the suburb of Restello, a 20 minute (at least) drive from the Embassy. Restello, a suburb of Lisbon, a very RICH suburb. We lived in a mansion that was leased to the Embassy by an owner who apparently had been living in exile since the 1974 revolution. Apparently things were okay for him to come back so the lease was up and we had to move but it was a fantastic place and we held Bar-B-Que’s in the summer for the Embassy staff and guests. Later, in 1981, The Marine House moved further out to Estoril, another 20-25 minutes further out. Made getting to React Drills real interesting! When I arrived in February 1981 there was a lot of turnover going on. I cannot recall the NCOIC at the time but he rotated out and was replaced by GySgt Wilson. The A/NCOIC at the time was Sgt Terry Davis and he rotated stateside in May 1981. Lisbon had a big NATO presence. There was an NATO aviation repair/rework facility so as you might guess there were a lot of Military Attaches stationed there. We also got frequent port calls from US and foreign Naval Vessels. While I was there the USS Eisenhower came in as well as the USGC tall ship the Eagle. The MSG Det toured both ships as guests.

1980 NCOIC: SSgt. Gerald Talian A/: Sgt. Tony Sodano
Watchstanders: Sgt. David Bjorn, Sgt. Raul Garcia, Sgt. Kenneth Ishmael, Sgt. Terry Miller, Sgt. Andrew Marincic, Sgt. Willie Smith,
Comments (Kenneth Ishmael / 25JUL2014): The Marine House was the mansion in Restello above Belem. The Embassy was downtown in an old 6 story office bldg. I was rotating out when Patti and Terry arrived. Portugal was not yet a member of the European Union (EU) and was still reeling from its colonial losses in Moszambie and Angola. A very politically unstable period with numerous communist party demonstrations and government strikes and work slowdowns. Otherwise a really great post. Portugal was the quiet unknown city capital that no one visited on their whirlwind European vacation.

1979 NCOIC: SSgt. Gerald Talian A/: Sgt. Tony Sodano
Watchstanders: Sgt. Raul Garcia, Sgt. Kenneth Ishmael, Sgt. Andrew Marincic, Sgt. Willie Smith,

1978 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Michael D. Banaszek,

1977 NCOIC: SSgt. Thomas Downey
Watchstanders: Michael D. Banaszek, Paul J. Dussault, Sgt. George W. Hardy,

1976 NCOIC: SSgt. Thomas Downey
Watchstanders: Paul J. Dussault, Sgt. George W. Hardy, Randy H. Wilcox,

1975 NCOIC: SSgt. Thomas Downey
Watchstanders: Paul J. Dussault, Sgt. George W. Hardy, Randy H. Wilcox,
(Wikipedia) In 1975, Angola, Mozambique, São Tomé and Principe, and Cape Verde were granted independence. East Timor was forcibly taken over by Indonesia and did not achieve independence until 2002. January to November of 1975 was the period of greatest leftist ascendancy domestically—most banks and industries were nationalized, a massive agrarian reform was begun in the Alentejo, and the MFA-dominated government tried to ignore the elections of Apr., 1975, which strongly favored moderate parties, and instead relied on Communist support. Leftist predominance vanished after a failed coup attempt by radical military units in November, but many features of the revolutionary period of 1974-75 were incorporated into the constitution of 1976.

1974 NCOIC: SSgt. Thomas Downey
Watchstanders: Paul J. Dussault, Sgt. John Harden, Sgt. George W. Hardy, Mark W. Murawski,
(Wikipedia) By early 1974 dissatisfaction with the seemingly endless wars in Africa, together with political suppression and economic difficulties, resulted in growing unrest within Portugal. On Apr. 25 an organized group of officers toppled the government in the Captains' Revolution , encountering a minimum of resistance from loyal forces and enthusiastic acceptance from the people. The officers who initiated the revolution constituted the Armed Forces Movement (MFA). Gen. António de Spínola , who did not play an active role in the coup but had publicly criticized the Caetano government, was appointed head of the ruling military junta. The secret police force was abolished; all political prisoners were released; full civil liberties, including freedom of the press and of all political parties, were restored; and overtures were made to the guerrilla groups in the African territories for a peaceful settlement of the conflicts. In September, Spínola was forced to resign and the government became dominated by leftists.

1973 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Mark W. Murawski,

1972 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Phillip Marks,

1971 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Phillip Marks,

1969 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Jim Greenwood,

1968 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Jim Greenwood,

1964 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: LCpl. Blaese, Zane Everett

1963 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: LCpl. Blaese, Zane Everett,

1962 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: LCpl. Blaese, Fred R. Price, Joe A. Prather,

1961 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Fred R. Price, Joe A. Prather,

1960 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Richard V. Keller, Fred R. Price,

1959 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Richard V. Keller,

1958 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Richard V. Keller,

1957 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Richard V. Keller,

1955 NCOIC:
Watchstanders: Roger T. Rains,

1951 NCOIC: John R. Boswell
Watchstanders: Adelbert Adams, Albert Adams, Lawrence Deets, Holloway, Lambert and Peter O'Connor.

1950 NCOIC: John R. Boswell
Watchstanders: Adelbert Adams, Albert Adams, Lawrence Deets, Holloway, Lambert, Lawrence R. Lukecart and Peter O'Connor.

1949 NCOIC: John R. Boswell
Watchstanders: Adelbert Adams, Albert Adams, Lawrence Deets, Holloway, Lambert, Lawrence R. Lukecart and Peter O'Connor.

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