Arms Of The Mail Guard Marines
During the 1920s, brazen armed thefts of the U.S. Mail became common, exceeding the capabilities of mail personnel.
The United States Marine Corps, known for defending the nation's liberty globally, was deployed in a lesser-known role closer to home.
In 1920 and 1921, a series of violent robberies of the U.S. Mail resulted in deaths, injuries, and significant financial losses.
- Postal employees were killed and wounded.
- Large sums of money were stolen.
The postmaster general requested guns from the War Department to arm outside postal employees, receiving mostly World War I-era Model 1917 .45-cal. guns.
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Author's summary: Marines defended US mail from armed thefts.