View Full Version : Vintage weapons, US Embassy El Salvador
MontanaMarine
11-06-19, 21:45
Back in my younger days I spent some time as a Marine Security Guard at the Embassy in San Salvador, El Salvador. I was there from Oct 1983-Jan 1985.
Here are some pics of myself back then, along with some of the weapons we used.
M16A1,
https://i.imgur.com/RAoZ6mk.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/AyhDPYO.jpg
XM177,
https://i.imgur.com/sJgj9V5.jpg
M60 machinegun, there's also a S&W Model 10 in my holster.
https://i.imgur.com/VG3Qzgo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eDJ5y7H.jpg
There's an UZI and MP5K,
https://i.imgur.com/AUDI8ru.jpg
Great pics! Thanks for sharing! I also spent some time in El Salvador when I was in the Army. (and much younger also) I did 3 short deployments there, of about 3-4 months each. (one was closer to 2 months) I was pretty much exclusively down on the southern part of the country. (Pacific side) We did some things. lol... That's about all I can say about that. lol.. I was mostly near a village called El Cuco. I don't have many pics, but I do have one of that little village.
59521
MontanaMarine
11-07-19, 00:31
That's pretty cool. El Salvador is a beautiful country, and mostly nice people. Too bad they can't seem to get the security situation under control. Maybe it's better these days I don't really know, but seems a lot of Salvadorans seem to be coming this way.
Interesting! I wasn't aware the US military ever used Thermold mags.
Interesting! I wasn't aware the US military ever used Thermold mags.
I was about to ask if those really were Thermolds or some freaky photo anomaly.
MontanaMarine
11-07-19, 11:42
Yep, they were Thermold magazines.
A lot of the stuff (including firearms/ammo) that Marines use at embassies is supplied by the State Department. So we tend to end up with stuff generally not seen in the FMF.
Yep, they were Thermold magazines.
A lot of the stuff (including firearms/ammo) that Marines use at embassies is supplied by the State Department. So we tend to end up with stuff generally not seen in the FMF.
I've been told that the Marines who guard embassy buildings take their orders from the Dept. of State, and not from the military chain of command?
MontanaMarine
11-07-19, 15:49
I've been told that the Marines who guard embassy buildings take their orders from the Dept. of State, and not from the military chain of command?
That's how it was in my day. Actually a split chain of command.
Operational chain of command went from the DetCmdr to the RSO, to the Ambassador.
Administrative chain of command (promotion, disciplinary action, pay, transfers, etc.) went from DetCmdr to Co CO in Panama, to Bn CO in Quantico.
That's why the Marines in Iran didn't start killing the embassy intruders. Ambo ordered them not to shoot and surrendered the embassy.
While I was in El Sal, President Reagan sent out a State Department wide communication. The message was very clear. He didn't want any embassy to fall without a 'spirited defense'. Of course as Marines we loved that. Our Ambassador was on board with that line of thinking too.
I wasn't in El Salvador until about 13 years after you. I'm fairly certain the first time I was deployed there was 1998. We did a lot of watching, with some occasional engagements. Like you said... most of the people there were nice. However, there were a few nasties to deal with. I've got a few pictures somewhere, but nothing cool. Most of mine were confiscated. Most of the rolls that weren't, were heat damaged. I remember going to a mall one weekend in San Miguel and there was actually a gun store inside the mall. you could literally buy anything you wanted, including machine guns.
Yep, they were Thermold magazines.
A lot of the stuff (including firearms/ammo) that Marines use at embassies is supplied by the State Department. So we tend to end up with stuff generally not seen in the FMF.
Did you get the Thermold stripper clips and guides too?
MontanaMarine
11-07-19, 17:30
Did you get the Thermold stripper clips and guides too?
No, I've never seen those.
No, I've never seen those.
The clips aren't here nor there versus USGI (haven't tried them as kindling), but the guides are slick and can be used with loose rounds like a funnel, then just shove them in to the magazine.
https://thermoldmagazines.com/mc-sc-m-16-ar15/
Grab them off gun show tables' junk piles for a few bucks every time I see them.
kaltesherz
11-07-19, 22:37
The clips aren't here nor there versus USGI (haven't tried them as kindling), but the guides are slick and can be used with loose rounds like a funnel, then just shove them in to the magazine.
https://thermoldmagazines.com/mc-sc-m-16-ar15/
Grab them off gun show tables' junk piles for a few bucks every time I see them.
I have a few that the Canadian Army gave me when we trained with them- still have 'em but never even tried them.
Ready.Fire.Aim
11-08-19, 21:57
Interesting the Embassy armory had both MP5K and UZI.
Were they intended for concealed carry during diplomatic protection details?
MontanaMarine
11-08-19, 23:55
Used mostly by the Ambo's security detail. The State Dept (Diplomatic Security) detail had their own tools, but our Gunny was able to let us get our hands on them now and then.
Gunny's are like that !
Happy Birthday Marines !
Very cool pics.. you dressed casual:)
Great post and pictures, thanks for sharing.
Rubio Negro
03-25-20, 14:24
That's how it was in my day. Actually a split chain of command.
Operational chain of command went from the DetCmdr to the RSO, to the Ambassador.
Administrative chain of command (promotion, disciplinary action, pay, transfers, etc.) went from DetCmdr to Co CO in Panama, to Bn CO in Quantico.
This is still the case, though some of the current nomenclature is different.
Thanks, I really enjoyed the pictures.
tallestsniper
07-07-20, 06:52
Do you happen to remember the serial number number range of the M16A1? I recently acquired a 55 gallon drum of demilled M16A1 receivers ranging from 9mil2hundred thousand to 9mil5hundred thousand. They were definately used in conflict, battle worn and still smelling of action.
I'm fairly certain the first time I was deployed there was 1998. We did a lot of watching, with some occasional engagements.
I flew in to El Salvador often from late 1996 to about late 2000. I’m a retired Deportation Officer and we used to have to escort deportees back there on deport flights. I never knew then we had GI(s) deployed there and definitely never knew of any engagements involving US military personnel. This kind of surprises me as Salvador is so small. Seems like it’s not the place to keep a secret very long simply because folks will either see or hear of anything happening.
I do remember all too well the 45 minute ride from the airport in to the centrum of San Salvador. I recall the big billboard/sign you passed just outside the airport area that warned of San Salvador’s water supply testing positive for cholera. On that drive through the valleys we would often see their military moving some of their bigger guns around. I knew there had been war there in the 80(s) but thought that had subsided by the mid to late 90(s).
MontanaMarine
07-09-20, 12:49
Do you happen to remember the serial number number range of the M16A1? I recently acquired a 55 gallon drum of demilled M16A1 receivers ranging from 9mil2hundred thousand to 9mil5hundred thousand. They were definately used in conflict, battle worn and still smelling of action.
No I sure don't.
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