Post One Podcast

with James Curry

About
Marine Embassy Guards serve in some of the most remote and politically volatile places on earth, often alone, unseen, and far from home. Post One is a storytelling podcast that brings their experiences to life. Each episode features candid conversations with Marines who stood watch at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, saving lives, safeguarding secrets, and navigating cultures most Americans will never see. From tense standoffs and high-stakes evacuations to quiet moments of connection, these are the unfiltered stories of Marines serving on the front lines of American diplomacy.

Hosted by James Curry | James@PostOnePodcast.com

Episode 12: Abandoned in Panama: The MSG Detachment Nobody Came to Save
In December 1989, the United States launched Operation Just Cause — a full-scale invasion of Panama. Nobody told Staff Sergeant Mike Pellow, the detachment commander at the U.S. Embassy, it was coming. His FAST team, the one that was supposed to reinforce him if things went bad, didn't show. What followed was hours of RPG attacks on an embassy held by seven Marines armed with shotguns and revolvers.

The embassy didn't fall. And for decades, most people never heard about it. The MSGs were barely recognized for their work. Years later, Mike is still fighting to make it right.

Episode 11: Burying Ghosts: A Marine's Account of the 1984 U.S. Embassy Bombing in Beirut
Marine veteran Richard Leydet reflects on his time as a Marine Security Guard during one of the most volatile periods in Beirut’s history. From surviving the embassy bombing to returning decades later, Rich offers a deeply personal look at the cost of service, the bonds forged under fire, and the long road toward healing.

Through candid conversation, he unpacks the realities of guarding U.S. embassies in war zones, the mental toll of trauma, and how Marines make sense of chaos long after the battle ends. His story is one of resilience, brotherhood, and reflection—showing that even after the smoke clears, the mission to understand and overcome continues.

Episode 10: The Detachment Commander: Leadership, Paperwork, and Reporting to the Commandant
Retired Master Sergeant Josh Schenkler breaks down the demanding role of the Marine Security Guard Detachment Commander — a billet unlike any other in the Corps. He discusses the selection and training process, leadership expectations, and the balance between administrative and operational duties. Schenkler also reflects on peer evaluations, family life at post, and the vital partnership between commanders and their A-Slash. The episode closes with his unforgettable experience reporting post to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Episode 09: On Our Own: An Attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tehran
On Valentine’s Day, 1979, the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was overrun. Former Marine Security Guard Henry Lojkuc believed he was about to be executed.
In this episode, Henry describes being outnumbered, cut off, and forced to rely only on fellow Marines. He speaks candidly about leadership failures, why he believes the Regional Security Officer was looking out for themselves, and how that day shaped him long after he left Iran.

Episode 8: Sex, Espionage, and the U.S. Marines: The Clayton Lonetree Story
This conversation dives into the complex story of Clayton Lonetree, a Marine Security Guard whose romance with a KGB asset spiraled into one of the Cold War’s most debated espionage cases. Author Rodney Barker—whose book Dancing with the Devil: Sex, Espionage and the U.S. Marines: The Clayton Lonetree Story remains the definitive account—unpacks the human side of the scandal: loneliness, identity, and the seduction of feeling like “the exception.” We trace the relationship with Violetta and “Uncle Sasha,” the slow-burn tradecraft, Lonetree’s Vienna confession, and the bruising interagency investigation that followed. Along the way, Barker separates myth from fact (including the detachment-wide rumors) and situates the case alongside bigger intelligence failures of the era—offering practical lessons for today’s Marines about recruitment, social engineering, and safeguarding embassies without paranoia.

Episode 7: Counterintelligence: The MSG’s Role on the Frontlines
In this episode, Former State Department Counterintelligence expert and RSO Robert Booth draws on decades of experience in diplomatic security to reveal the hidden world inside U.S. embassies. He explains how Marine Security Guards serve as the frontline eyes and ears for counterintelligence, why foreign spy services actively target them, and what makes them both an asset and a vulnerability. Booth walks through real-world cases — including the Clayton Lonetree espionage scandal and the Aldrich Ames betrayal — and breaks down how social media and platforms like LinkedIn have reshaped the modern espionage landscape.

Episode 6: Command Decision: Leading MSGs Through 9/11, the Bar Debate, and an Uncertain Future
In this second half of our two-part conversation, retired Colonel Steven Hasty reflects on his time as Commanding Officer of the Marine Security Guard Battalion — a role he took on just weeks before 9/11. Overnight, the program’s priorities shifted as the world changed, and Hasty had to steer the battalion through uncertainty, manpower shortages, and new demands on security worldwide.

He addresses the persistent rumors that MSG might one day be turned over to another service, and why, in his view, that’s never going to happen. He shares his feelings about the loss of the Marine Bars that once anchored the social life of isolated posts, and weighs in on the debate over putting PFCs directly onto the program.

Episode 5: By Boat to Freedom: Evacuation of the U.S. Consulate in Can Tho
In April 1975, as South Vietnam collapsed, the Marines at the U.S. Consulate in Can Tho faced a mission no one had trained for: evacuating by boat. Retired Colonel Steven Hasty — the only Marine to have served as an enlisted watch stander, detachment commander, and later as the Commanding Officer of the MSG Battalion — recounts how he and his MSGs, alongside Consul General Francis Terry McNamara, led nearly 300 people down the Bissau River to freedom.

In this first of a two-part series, Colonel Hasty takes us inside those final days — from life as a detachment commander in a war-torn city, to the chaos of planning an evacuation without helicopters, and the remarkable boat journey that carried them to safety.

Episode 4: Surviving San Salvador: The Deadliest Attack in MSG History
On June 19, 1985, gunmen disguised as Salvadoran soldiers opened fire in a crowded restaurant district of San Salvador targeting U.S. Marines. In minutes, twelve people were dead, including four Marine Security Guards—the deadliest attack in MSG history.

In this episode, we hear from Anton Koszuth, a Marine Security Guard who survived that night. Anton recounts the chaos of the ambush, the split-second decisions he made to move civilians to safety, and the stark reality of relying only on a hand-held radio to call Post One. He reflects on the bonds between Marines, the weight of losing friends in an instant, and how the experience has shaped his life ever since.

Episode 3: Terrorists at the Door: U.S. Consulate in Jeddah Attacked
Dr. Greg Matos shares his harrowing experience as a Marine Embassy Guard during a terrorist attack on the American consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2004. He discusses the events leading up to the attack, the decisions he had to make under extreme pressure, and the long-term impact of that day on his life and career. The conversation also touches on the importance of communication and relationships within the Marine Corps, the challenges of mental health support for veterans, and the evolving role of Marine Security Guards.

gregmatos.com / Instagram: @drgregmatos / Dr. Greg Matos on Facebook

Episode 2: Full Hulk Mode: Detachment Commander Tackled and Life as an MSG
Former Marine Security Guard and former Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent Matthew Kearse joins the show to explain why he believes MSG duty is the best in the military. He shares a wild story of a detachment commander being subdued by two RSOs, breaks down the often-complicated relationship between RSOs and the Marines and explains what happens when that trust collapses. Matt also reflects on why many Marines struggle on MSG duty and how he successfully transitioned from the Marine Corps to the State Department.

Episode 1: Not Done Yet: The Bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi
Former Marine Security Guard Daniel Briehl recounts his firsthand experience during the August 7, 1998 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. He describes surviving the blast, falling down an elevator shaft, leaving the hospital, and hitchhiking back to the embassy to continue helping in the aftermath.

The episode captures the realities of pre-9/11 embassy security, the loss of a fellow Marine, and how the attack permanently shaped his understanding of duty and the Marine Security Guard mission.

© 2026 James Curry