Yaounde, Cameroon
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Presidentual visits to Cameroon : None as of 2024
SECSTATE visits to Cameroon
List of US Ambasssadors to Cameroon
Boko Haram Terror Insurgency in Cameroon
MEGA Legacy Detachment History: Cameroon
COUNTRY INFORMATION
Recognized: 1960 / Relations established: 1960 / Embassy established: 1960
U.S. Embassy: Cameroon
Together We Served: Cameroon
Britannica: Cameroon
Google: Cameroon
CIA World Factbook: Cameroon
Wikipedia: Cameroon
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Phrase Book: French
Google News: Cameroon
ALPHA ROSTER - CAMEROON
TWS:
18 Anderson, John, Sgt 3
Barksdale, Carnell, Jr. (Blade), MSgt 32
03 Boehm, Rodney, Sgt
58 Buckley, Patrick (Buck), MSgt 63
Collins, Bobby (fuchs), SSgt 99
Dietsch, Vaughn (BUD), SgtMaj 3
04 Digman, Mike (DEADBOLT), Sgt
06 Fenno, Alexander, GySgt
70 Finch, Stephen (Finchman), MSgt 45
25 Groccia, David (Red Bull), Sgt
30 Joseph, Celeste, MSgt 86
03 Keefer, Geno (Geno), MSgt 1
Lowry, Morris, SSgt
13 Martin, Scott A., MSgt 10
03 Nogueras, William, Sgt
99 Orellano, 1stSgt (COBRA),1stSgt
Perdue, Chuck, SSgt 2
59 Rentfrow, Robert, Sgt 4
28 Stahlecker, Kyle, GySgt 1
Toledo, Jacquelyn, Sgt 1 Tone, Joseph (Cupcake The Warrior), SSgt
10 04 Walker, Eddie, Cpl
03 Webb, Edward, GySgt
MEGA:
Aupperlee, William-
Burnham, Dennis 75-76
Boville, Thomas 75-76
Brock, Eddie 90- 91
Buckley, Pat 84
Covarrubias, Alejandro 76-77
Donaghey, William N 01
Eich, Roger 73-74
Ewing, Gary 70-71
Feran, Scott M. 02-03
Ferlaino, Domenic 76-77
Finch, Steve
Gonzales, Alberto 95-96
Hess, Joe NCOIC 70-71
Kyle, Warren A/NCOIC 77-78
Keefer NCOIC 74-76
Jarvis, Kevin 76-78
Johnson , William O. 97-99
Kyle, Warren 76-77
Lowrey, Morris D. 92- 93
Loehwing, James arrived September 76-78
Marinko, Stephen (Steve) John 80-81
Perdue, Jr. Charles Donald 97- 98
Perna, Robert 70-71
Poffenroth (NCOIC) 73-74
Rentfrow, Robert 91- 92
Shiflet, Thomas NCOIC 76-78
Smith, Dan 73-74
Swehla, SSgt. 04
Wertjes, Jon M. 82-83
West, Charles 70-71
Winningham, Ralph 73-74
Zaborski, Dennis 73-74
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
2022
24 January: 8 people were killed in a crowd crush at the south entrance of Olembe Statium.
2016
Eseka, Cameroon Train Derailment (79 dead / 550 Injured)
2015
Cameroon bus attack (Koza, Cameroon)
2007
07 May: Kenya Airways Flight 507 Crash at Douala Airport
1999
Watchstanders: Johnson , William O.
1998
Watchstanders: Johnson , William O. , Perdue, Jr. Charles Donald
14 February: Yaoundé train explosion
1997
Watchstanders: Johnson , William O. , Perdue, Jr. Charles Donald
1996
Watchstanders: Gonzales, Alberto
1995
Watchstanders: Gonzales, Alberto
03 December: Cameroon Airlines Flight 3701 Crashed at Douala Airport
1993
Watchstanders: Lowrey, Morris D.
1992
Watchstanders: Lowrey, Morris D., Rentfrow, Robert
1991
Watchstanders: Brock, Eddie, Rentfrow, Robert
1986
21 August: Lake Nyos Eruption in northwestern Cameroon killed 1,746 people
1984
Watchstanders: Buckley, Pat
1983
Watchstanders: Wertjes, Jon M.
1982
Watchstanders: Wertjes, Jon M.
1981
Watchstanders: Marinko, Stephen (Steve) John
1980
Watchstanders: Marinko, Stephen (Steve) John
1977
NCOIC: GYSGT Thomas Shiflet,
Watchstanders: SGT Warren Kyle, A/NCOIC, SGT James Loehwing , SGT Kevin Jarvis, SGT Alejandro Covarrubias, SGT Domenic Ferlaino
May: MSGs to be recognized for rescue of U.S. AID Doctor & Family
Incident Report
(MCESG Award Pending)
Awarded 1977 BEST DETACHMENT IN AFRICA / Company “F” MSG BN
1976
NCOIC: GYSGT Keifer / GYSGT Thomas Shiflet
Watchstanders: SGT Albert Phelps SGT Dennis Burnham (later transferred to Vienna, Austria),
SGT Thomas Boville, CPL James Loehwing, Sgt Kevin Jarvis
1974
NCOIC: GySGT Keefer / SSgt Poffenroth
Watchstanders: SGT Roger Eich, SGT Dennis Zaborski, CPL Dan Smith, LCPL Ralph Winningham
1973
NCOIC: SSgt Poffenroth (NCOIC)
Watchstanders: Sgt Eich, Sgt Zaborski, Sgt Arnold, Cpl Smith, L/Cpl Winningham
Submitted by Roger Eich
The detachment had four watchstanders and the NCOIC until the SgtMajor of the Marine Corps and the OIC of the MSGBn visited and increased our numbers to a T/O of five watchstanders. It was pretty good duty, but we were not allowed to leave the city and that cut into options for travel and sightseeing.
The embassy was pretty basic and a plain building with no frills. The Marine House was located in the Bastos area of town which is where most of the diplomatic corps lived. While somewhat isolated, a year’s tour there went by pretty fast. The American Club was a most popular spot for off-duty Marines when they were not training. Running was tough in that city as there were few level spots and the 3 mile PFT run was a “killer.”
I have fond memories of the tour. Poffenroth was a hard-corps PT freak and we did some running with him there as NCOIC! I recall running up to Mont Febe about twice a month with him. When I was first in country, the initial run to Mont Febe was tough. I remember that I never stopped, but I was losing my cookies just as I hit the top of that hill. I recall that Poffenroth was just running by me telling me not to stop...or I'd never make it up in the future.
I think that they were just beginning to paint the house red with a Marine Corp symbol on it...nothing like a nice easy target! Of course, back then we didn't have the threats that may be part of the MSG tour today. Ben was our laundry fellow, and the others I think were different guys. I have a picture of all three...somewhere. I'll see if I can digitize it and forward it.
I also recall that the Marine House vehicle was a broken down jeep which we had to leave parked on a hill ... the starter didn't work so we had to always leave it parked in a downward spot so we could pop the clutch after it started rolling.
When I transferred to Paris, I remember arranging to get a NCO sword hand-delivered by someone who stopped by on his way back to the embassy in Yaounde. The detachment NCOIC did not have a sword and they wanted one for the ceremonies that year...I have a feeling you were there then...and I was the one who got that sword to you guys. Small world.
The Cannings (British family - Admin Officer) lived right behind us and I remember that he'd be out on his back porch listen to the BBC first thing every morning....loud! I think it was like a precursor to the thumping stereos that wake people up today. I dated his daughter, Feona.
I was in charge of the bar while there, and we got a new hand-carved bar that still might have been at the base of the stairway when you were there. The MC Ball was always held at the Ambassador's residence...and it was a pretty low key thing...nice, but very low keyed.
C. Robert Moore was the ambassador back then and he really did not like the idea of having Marines at the embassy...so we could only wear our uniforms at night while in the embassy. Day watch was always civilian attire. No weapons at all...never. Only time you got to touch the .38's was during training. (SSgt Poffenroth – returned to MSGBn as an instructor / Sgt Eich – transferred to Paris / Sgt Zaborski – returned to CONUS at left the Corps / Sgt Arnold – became ANCOIC in Yaounde / Cpl Smith – rotated by to CONUS and left the Corps / L/Cpl Winningham – Uncertain
1970 (DETACHMENT ACTIVATED)
Company Commander: LtCol John Donovan
NCOIC: SSGT Joe Hess
Watchstanders: SGT Robert Perna, CPL Charles West, CPL Gary Ewing
1960 (US RELATIONS ESTABLISHED - US EMBASSY OPENED)
