Marines are generally
very well versed in the long and colorful history of our Marine Corps.
We know of our roots and the events and battles through the years that
have brought us to the present day. However, there are several areas
of our history where we tend to be less aware of the facts involved. The
use of Marines to guard the U.S. mails during the 1920s, I think, is one
All Marines know
that Marines were called upon during that era to act as mail guards; but
few are aware of the specific facts of that involvement. Most books dealing
with Marine Corps history touch only briefly upon this subject. This might
lead the reader to believe that this was only a minor incident, but that
is far from the truth.
The facts are
that after a series of mail robberies resulting in murder, mayhem, and
losses in the millions of dollars, beginning in 1921 (thru 1922), and again
in 1926 (thru 1927), the Marine Corps was requested by the Post Office
Department to assist in the protection of the U.S. mails, guarding mail
trains and trucks, post offices, etc. Though the overall duration of the
Marines' involvement spanned only a few months, thousands of Marines were
detailed, and it encompassed the entire length and breadth of the United
States as well.
regarding this is on record at the Marine Corps Historical Center, Washington,
It is my
feeling that this topic of Marine Corps history is deserving of more
attention. Therefore the following is presented here as information
provided by the Marine Corps Historical Center.
In a memo to the officer
in charge of the historical section, dated November 6, 1930, it is stated,
"In 1921 the robbery of the U.S. Mails necessitated the detailing of marines
to guard mail trains, post offices etc. In November 1921 a force of approximately
53 officers and 2200 enlisted men were dispatched throughout the country
and performed this duty until March 1922 when they were withdrawn. Maximum
strength 54 officers 2208 enlisted. (Nov 30, 1921)
The marines were again
detailed to guard the mails in October 1926. The number of officers and
men on mail guard duty reached its maximum of 68 officers and 2452 enlisted
on December 20, 1926. Due to the demand for marines for expeditionary duty,
a gradual withdrawal of marines was begun on January 10, 1927, and completed
on February 19, 1927."
And, in a 'circular
letter', "Subject: Miscellaneous Instructions, dated 13 December 1921,
from The Major General Commandant....
1. In cases where
trains carrying Marines guarding mails cross the Canadian Boundry enroute
to another point in the United States, the Marines, upon crossing the boundry,
shall place their arms in a registered mail-sack and turn over the sack
to Canadian Post Office Officials (who accompany the train) until such
time as the train re-crosses into the United States. Under no circumstances
shall Marines exercise a military function in Canadian teritory.
2. Shotguns preferably
will be carried with filled magazine and empty chamber, in order to avoid
3. Pistols may
be carried loaded, cocked and locked. The holster should be fastened to
the leg and the flap tucked or tied back, so as not to interfere with drawing.
The Marine (if not carrying other arms) should carry his hand on the pistol
should be made for each mail-coach to carry a supply of ordinary railroad
flares, which should be ignited and thrown out of the car if an attack
is made on it. Also, in case of attack on a car, interior lights should
be put out. On trains lighted with electricity the guard should be prepared
to turn out all lights.
5. The Marines
should be continually reminded that they will use their firearms to wound
or kill onlywhen
necesarry to prevent robbery or theft of the mails. The use of firearms
except for this purpose must be avoded.
6. Where it is
decided to convene a summary court-martial and a shortage of officers exists,
a request may be made on the local Recruiting Officer for one or more officers
to report for this temporary duty. When they report, the Commanding Officer
may order them as members of the Court-Martial. In such cases, the officer
or officers requested should be junior to the officer ordering the court.
7. Cases have
arisen where men have been transferred to barracks without punishment for
the offense which caused their transfer. Except in cases serious enough
to warrant trial by General Court-Martial, men should be tried, before
transfer, by a Deck Court or Summary Court-Martial, as it will be impracticable
to bring them to trial after transfer. Men committing offenses warranting
a general court-martial should be held at their station until a decision
in the premises has been received from Headquarters.
8. The official
title of the Detachments is --U.S. Marine Corps Detached Guard
Company ( Place ). For instance, "U.S. MARINE CORPS DETACHED GUARD COMPANY,
WASHINGTON, D.C.". Hereafter no other title will be used.
Officers must take steps to provide a suitable Christmas and New Years
for their commands. No doubt much can be done for their entertainment by
enlisting the good offices of local welfare organizations.
10. Precious orders
regarding transfer, for discharge of men from U.S. Marine Corps Detached
Guard Companies to nearest Recruiting Office or Barracks, are rescinded.
Hereafter Commanding Officers of U.S. Marine Corps Detached Guard Companies
will discharge their men in the same manner as any other Commanding Officer.
directive HQMC memo dated 22 July 1960, titled "Notes On Organization Of
The Mail Guard, 1926-1927, states...
United States was divided into two zones, eastern and western. The dividing
line ran through Williston, North Dakota, Green River, Wyoming, Denver,
Colorado, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, all points named
being the Western Mail Guard.
Eastern Mail Guard came from the Expeditionary Force stationed at Quantico,
reinforced by two companies from Parris Island. Brigadier General Logan
Feland was designated as commanding general of the Eastern Mail Guard,
with headquarters at Quantico. The Eastern Mail Guard zone was divided
into three areas: Fifth Regiment area ( CP, New York), Tenth Regiment Area(
CP, Chicago ), and the Southern Area ( CP, Atlanta ).... "
is from the "Marine Corps Historical Reference Series Number 9"
the end of 1926, the men of the 4th Regiment had an opportunity for
something more exciting than garrison routine. A recrudescence of
robberies of the United States mails, featured by a particularly brazen
and bloody attack on a mailtruck at Elizabeth, New Jersey, on 14
October 1926, led to arequest by the Post Office Department for the
services of theMarine Corps to bring the situation under control.
been called upon once before to guard the mails, when a
situation had developed in the fall of 1921, and they
quickly put a stop to the robberies. There had been
no incidents after the Marines had entered the picture
that occasion, and after they had been withdrawn in the
of 1922, the Post Office Department, having provided
with civilian armed guards, had been able to carry on
for some four years.
In 1926, when the Marines were called on the second time,
country was divided into an eastern and a western
zone, with Brigadier General Logan Feland commanding
the east and Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler in the
Most of the personnel for the eastern zone came from the
expeditionary force at Quantico, Virginia.
westernmail-guard zone was manned by the west-coast
San Diego - that is to say, by the 4th Regiment.
Although it was a change from life at the base, mail-guard
on this occasion proved to be scarcely more exciting. No
occurred after the Marines began guarding trucks,
cars, and various strategic points in the handling of
mail.<47> These quiet conditions, however, made the
of the Marines feasible sooner than would normally
been the case, when a need for their services on
duty outside the United States arose at the
of the new year.
The early withdrawal was considered necessary because of
in Nicaragua and China, where American interests
endangered by civil strife. The east-coast expeditionary
reinforced, was sent to Nicaragua, where, under the
of General Feland, it was designated the 2d Brigade.
the west-coast expeditionary force (4th Regiment),
by various other units, was to become the 3d Brigade
China, commanded by General Butler."
is from the Marine Corps Monograph, "San Diego Recruit Depot"
robbery brought a new and entirely different role for the 4th Marines as
the year 1926 progressed. In Elizabeth, New Jersey, on14 October 1926,
the brutal robbery and killing of a U. S. Mailtruck driver forced President
Calvin Coolidge to turn to the Marine Corps for assistance in the civil
community. By Presidential Order, 2,500 Marines proceeded on duty to guard
the mail. The Commandant, anticipating the Presidential Order, on 18 October
had directed the Commanding General, Headquarters, Department of the Pacific,
located in San Francisco, ...You will organize a force from the 4th Regiment,
to be known as the Western Mail Guards, under the command of Brigadier-General
Smedley D. Butler...
Smedley D. Butler, known as "Ol' Gimlet Eye" to fellow Marines, brought
a long record of combat leadership and two Congressional Medals of Honor
to the Mail Guards. Veteran of both World War I and the guerrilla wars
of Central America, Butler's easy-going manner hid his cold, methodical
approach to the task given to the Marines. As the primary source of personnel
for the Western Mail Guard, the 4th Marines initially would be spread throughout
eleven states. Part of a twelfth state, Texas would be added on 22 October
fully armed Marines soon became sobering influences throughout Post Offices,
mail trains, and mail trucks in those areas. While Marines carried out
their mail guard assignment, only one attempted robbery was recorded. That
particular robbery involved an unguarded mail train carrying no mail at
the time. Meanwhile, in San Diego, the base stood relatively empty with
a reduced level of caretaker personnel awaiting the return of the 4th Regiment.
When normal operations returned to the U. S. Mail system as a result of
the Marine guards, the need for continued assignment of such forces became
less and less justified. The return of the 4th Marines to San Diego began
on 10 January 1927 and by 18 February all personnel had been returned to
their home bases as the Mail Guard Force disbanded.
In 1927, American
interests and lives in China and Nicaragua had once again been endangered
by internal unrest and civil war. The Marines received the call to conduct
expeditionary protective operations in these two countries to protect Americans
and their property."
is more that can be written here, and I may add more later, but this will
suffice to provide some food for thought regarding the Marines as Mail
Guards during the 1920s.
following is from a letter to The Major General Commandant, Headquarters
U.S, Marine Corps, from the Office of the Postamaster General, dated February
15, 1922, which states in part...
gives me extreme pleasure at this time to submit to you this letter of
commendation of the marines who have been performing, during the past three
months, the duty of protecting United States mail in railway terminals,
post offices, railroad junctions and federal reserve centers. The protection
of the mails has been splendidly effective through the loyalty, cooperation,
bravery and fearless manner in which the marines have handled the situation
the twelve months ending with April 9, 1921, there have been thirty-six
major mail robberies, with a loss of $6,300,000 stolen from the mail. In
April 9 an order went out to the postal service to arm all outside postal
employees and through the cooperation of the War Department, guns and ammunition
were placed at the disposal of the Post Office department....from April
9, 1921 to October 9, 1921, there had been a total stolen of something
like $300,000. In this effort postal employees were injured and killed
and some robbers were slain, but the followed a series of robberies and
depradations at points at which the Post Office Department had not as yet
been able to eqip fully and with which it was unable to cope.
on November 8, 1921, the Postamaster General submitted a request to the
Secretary of the Navy for the use of marines to take over this arduous
and difficult duty. This request was immediately complied with and a force
of ,,,,were dispatched by the U.S. Marine Corps instantly, in the characteristic
of Marine Corps efficiency. These marines were detailed to ride on mail
trucks, and on trains...at outlying points...post offices and stations
where special protection was vita. They have performed their arduous and
difficult duty in a most excellent manner and they have my most earnest
praise and appreciation for their invaluable service to the public...
I desire to express my personal appreciation to the officers of the Marine
Corps connected with this work of guarding United States mail, as well
as to the Marine Corps and the Navy Department, for the responsive, expeditious
and effective manner of carrying out these duries.