Marines Fade Away, But Base Has More Life Than Ever -- Miami Herald
Fifty years after the Marines swarmed Guantánamo in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Corps is represented here by truly just a few good men.
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba -- Fifty years ago this week as the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of war, thousands of U.S. Marines flooded this outpost on Cuba’s eastern tip.
A Marine historian, Beth Crumley, said from Quantico, Va., on Monday that between the insertion of a Battalion Landing Team and reinforcements, the number of Marines here swelled to perhaps 5,000 – not including “aviation assets who were flying in the area off carriers.”
Now, thanks to technology and détente, the Marines’ detachment guarding Guantánamo’s 17.4-mile perimeter are truly just a few good men.
They number about 120.
Read more ....
My Comment: Only about 120 US marines guarding the base .... you would think there were hundreds .... if not at least a thousand. A must read post on the Marines who guard Guantanamo is here.