Embassy Guard Saigon Vietnam

• Critical Role in Saigon: The U.S. Embassy Guard in Saigon (Marine Security Guards) was responsible for protecting the embassy and American personnel during the Vietnam War, especially as tensions escalated in the city. • Tet Offensive Heroics: During the Tet Offensive on January 31, 1968, Viet Cong sappers attacked the embassy compound. A handful of Marines fought off the attackers in a fierce firefight, preventing the enemy from breaching the main chancery building. • First Casualties: Among the first Americans killed during the Tet Offensive in Saigon were Embassy Guards, including Corporal Charles L. Daniel and Lance Corporal Darwin Judge. • Iconic Helicopter Evacuation: In April 1975, Embassy Guards were instrumental during Operation Frequent Wind, the final evacuation of Americans and allies from Saigon, famously depicted by the rooftop helicopter lifts. • Last to Leave: The last two U.S. servicemen killed in Vietnam, Marine Security Guards Corporal Charles McMahon and Lance Corporal Darwin Judge, died protecting the embassy during the final days of Saigon. • Symbolic Stand: Their steadfast defense became a symbol of American resolve, as the Marines held their posts until orders were given to evacuate, even as North Vietnamese forces closed in. • Unusual Weaponry: During the embassy attack in 1968, some Marines reportedly used pistols, shotguns, and even hand-to-hand combat due to the close-quarters nature of the fighting. • International Attention: The image of the embassy under siege and the rooftop evacuations was broadcast worldwide, becoming one of the most enduring images of the Vietnam War. • Memorials: The names of the Marines who died defending the embassy are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and other memorials dedicated to embassy security personnel. • Legacy: The actions of the Embassy Guards in Saigon have been studied in military academies and are credited with shaping modern embassy security protocols and evacuation procedures.