• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

US Military

  • Branches
    • Army
    • Navy
    • Air Force
    • Marine Corps
    • Coast Guard
    • National Guard
    • Air National Guard
    • Find A Recruiter
  • Find A Recruiter
  • Military Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • VA Loans
    • Military Scholarships
    • Military Friendly Colleges
    • Money
  • Jobs
    • Military Pay Chart
    • Veteran Jobs
    • Civilian Jobs
  • VA Loan Rates
  • Military News
    • Top News
    • Benefits
    • Careers
    • Education
    • Featured Columnists
      • Larry Fowler
      • Scott Ostrow
      • Kim Lengling
      • Dr. Sasha Toperich
      • Rick Stewart
  • USM Shop
  • GI Bill
  • VA Loans
  • Military Scholarships
  • Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities in America

Marine Security Guard?s Story of Seoul During Beginning of Korean War

October 15, 2015 By admin

SEOUL, Republic of Korea – October 15, 2015 —
On Oct. 6 2015, at U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea, one of the last living ‘plank holders’ of the original Marine Security Guard Program from 1949, U.S. Marine Corps Warrant Officer George V. Lampman (Ret) met with MSG Detachment Seoul to share his experiences from standing watch at the embassy on the morning North Korea attacked the Republic of Korea–the beginning of the Korean War.

Lampman made the trip despite the passing of his wife, Sook Ei Lampman, last week. He spoke at length with Marines, while carrying the ashes of his wife along with him and his family during the more than three-hour engagement with the Marines. This is his story.

Twenty Marines arrived in Seoul, Korea with no military uniforms or identification to set up a Marine Security Guard Detachment, Jan. 10, 1949. The Marines set up the security posture quickly and were accepted in the embassy community. By November, they held their first Marine Corps Ball, celebrating with more than 200 guests. Duties became routine and time passed by quickly until the events of June 25, 1950.

At 8:45 a.m. that morning, the Marines were notified that North Korea had crossed the 38th Parallel at 4 a.m. in force. The Marines were recalled and the trip back to the embassy included being shot at by Soviet-built aircraft.

The Marines were sent to the main railroad station to pick up embassy staffers arriving from Pusan and alert embassy families in outlying residence through crowded streets and aircraft strafing overhead. By midnight, the decision was made to evacuate all dependents.

By the afternoon, the Marines began burning classified material. Due to the amount of material to be destroyed, not only were the embassy basement furnaces used but the Marines also set up a homemade cage to burn documents in the parking lot.

The next morning, the Marines were tasked with destroying all embassy vehicles by shooting rounds into their engine blocks. Due to the size of the motor pool, it took several hours to destroy them all.

American dependents and nonessential employees assembled at the embassy for evacuation. The Marines escorted and controlled the bus convoy to Inchon. The group of 682 women and children boarded the only available ship and sent to Japan. Late that afternoon, the Marines escorted another bus convoy of American Embassy employees to the airfield for evacuation.

On the 27th, the Marines again escorted the bus convoy of the remaining nonessential personnel the airfield. Once they returned, the Marines finished burning all classified, destroyed switchboards, and code machines. The Marines were instructed to take all the currency on hand, pick out the best jeeps, and head south to Pusan.

At the last minute, the Marines were told one more plane was heading to the airfield. The Marines trip included crossing the Han River Bridge, which would be blown up later that night. The runway was full of people wanting to be on the plane. The plane was boarded by 110 people and too heavy to take off. As the plane headed down the runway, a stream of gear was push out the back to lighten the load, as the sound of machine-gun fire surrounded the airfield perimeter.

Starting in the morning of the incursion and continuing for more than 60 hours, Marines cleared the embassy and got all personnel out safely risking life and limb to get the job done.

Filed Under: daniel articles, Marines, Top News

[related_posts_by_tax format="thumbnails" limit_posts="100" image_size="sidebar-thumbnail" public_only="true" posts_per_page="6"]

Primary Sidebar

USMilitary.com Career Guide

Sign up to receive USMilitary.com email updates and to hear what's going on with all military branches!

Featured Columnists

Larry Fowler

Larry Fowler is the publisher of USMilitary.com Network one of America's premier privately owned

Autobiography Compares Christian Living With Navy SEAL Training (BUD/S).

Scott Ostrow

Lt Col (Dr.) Scott A. Ostrow retired from the Air Force in September 2005 and has been teaching

Must Read: The Truth About The ASVAB Test Prep From The Man Who Wrote The Book

Kim Lengling

Kim Lengling is a Air Force Veteran whose passion is to help support veterans and their

The Moving Wall: Women Who Paid The Ultimate Price For Their Country

Dr. Sasha Toperich

Dr. Sasha Toperich is the Senior Executive Vice President at Transatlantic Leadership

Sarraj’s Dangerous Dance With Power

Rick Stewart

Rick Stewart is a former United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)

Announcing American Patriots Unsung Magazine

Nathan B. Nelson

Capt (ret) Nathan B. Nelson is the Director of Military Affairs for the 1st Congressional district

Three Critical Considerations for Every Veteran Prior to Leaving Active Duty

Laquan Daniels

Laquan Daniel is a military recruiting expert with over 17 years of specialized experience in the

Important News For Military Transitioning Veterans

Veteran Buzz

Hire Military Veterans

Which Companies Are Most Likely to Hire Military Veterans?

July 30, 2018 By Ben Ehinger

High-Paying Jobs for Military Veterans

5 High-Paying Jobs for Military Veterans

July 2, 2018 By Ben Ehinger

High Paying Jobs Not Requiring a Degree

June 28, 2018 By Ben Ehinger

Footer

  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Write For US
  • Link to Us

Recent

  • Autobiography Compares Christian Living With Navy SEAL Training (BUD/S).
  • Apache Attack Helicopter Pilot: To Maintain a Watchful Eye, “Above the Best”
  • Peering Into The Future: NATO 2030 Initiative Announced
  • What Military Branch Sees the Most Combat?
  • From Belarus “With Love”, Yet Again

Search

© Copyright 2021 USMillitary
Web Design by Goebel Media Group


THIS IS A PRIVATE WEBSITE THAT IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, U.S. ARMED FORCES, OR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE NOT REVIEWED THIS INFORMATION. THIS SITE IS NOT CONNECTED WITH ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

​Tips
Discounts
News

​

​

Join the USMilitary.com Newsletter Today!

By subscribing you agree to our terms & conditions

x