MCMAUGH-ROBERT

KILLED  IN  BOMBING  OF U.S. EMBASSY

On April 18, 1983, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, was partially destroyed by a suicide bombing that killed 63 people, 17 Americans, 32 Lebanese, and 14 visitors and passers-by.  It was the deadliest attack on a U.S. diplomatic mission up to that time and was considered the beginning of Islamist attacks on U.S. targets.

LCPL Robert Vincent McMaugh was unfortunately killed in the attack.  He was a 1980 graduate of Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia, and joined the Marines a few months later.  After an assignment doing aircraft recovery in California, he volunteered to become a Marine Security Guard, and after appropriate training he was sent to Beirut, his first such post.  LCPL McMaugh was standing his post inside the front entrance to the Embassy and was instantly killed by the explosion.  He was the only Marine to be killed, the seventh Marine Security Guard worldwide to die in the line of duty, and was posthumously advanced to the rank of Corporal. 

The Embassy Security Officer later spoke about McMaugh saying, “They are assigned to serve apart from the main body of the Corps often in remote and dangerous locations.  To be effective, they must recognize a role in supporting diplomacy yet still maintain physical toughness, discipline, and attention to detail.  Corporal McMaugh combined those qualities with an engaging personality—an ability to carry out his security responsibilities in a manner that spoke to his professionalism and concern for the welfare of the embassy staff.  He was equally comfortable discussing the latest movie, sports results, or local political developments.  Women thought Corporal McMaugh was a charmer—poised, confident, and just fun to be around.”

A classmate at MSG School recalled that McMaugh once jokingly remarked that if he were to be killed on post, he wanted a hall named after him.  This prophecy came true as the American Legion Post 10 in Manassas, Virginia, has been named in his honor and a painted portrait of him in uniform is in the main hall.  A friend remarked, “A man is not dead until he is forgotten.  Through the dedication of his family, friends, colleagues, and fellow Marines he has not been forgotten.”

CPL McMaugh is buried at Arlington National Cemetery where his grave marker carries the inscription:  CORPORAL  –  USMC  -  MARINE SECURITY GUARD  –  AMERICAN EMBASSY BEIRUT  –  PURPLE HEART.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)