Guatemala City in Guatemala Department, — Central America
Memorial to United States Officials in Guatemala
In honor of officials of the United States who while on active duty lost their lives under heroic or tragic circumstances.
SSG Robert J. Traxel, U.S.A. 2012 · Ambassador John Gordon Mein 1968 · Beverly L. Clarke 1860 · Lt. Cdr. Ernest A. Munro, Navy, 1968 · Colonel John D. Weber, Army, 1968 · Colonel Robert D. Mundinger, Army, 1972 · Chief Warrant Officer Robert W. Prescott, Army, 1984 · Spec. Fernando Beltran, U.S.A. 2014
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Military • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical year for this entry is 2012.
Location. 14° 36.417′ N, 90° 30.899′ W. Marker is in Guatemala City, Guatemala (Guatemala Department). Memorial is on Avenida La Reforma just north of 8a Calle, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Guatemala City, Guatemala 01010, Guatemala. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (within shouting distance of this marker); The Ceiba, Guatemala's National Tree (about 180 meters away, measured in a direct line); La Reforma Avenue (about 210 meters away); José María Reina Barrios (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Israel and Guatemala Monument (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Fire at the Spanish Embassy in Guatemala (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Miguel Garcia Granados (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); The Tower of the Reformer (approx. 0.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Guatemala City.
Regarding Memorial to United States Officials in Guatemala. John Gordon Mein, mentioned on the marker, was the U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala. Mein was appointed ambassador in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was the first U.S. ambassador to be assassinated while serving in office. Mein was gunned down by Guatemalan rebels in August 1968 after leaving a State Department lunch. His car was stopped in the middle of a road where soon after he was shot trying to flee. Previously the United States military and naval attachés, John D. Weber and Ernest Munro, had been assassinated in January 1968.
Many of the other deaths were caused by accidents or plane crashes.
Beverly L. Clarke was also a US Ambassador in Guatemala,
but apparently died from illness in 1860. Interestingly, although he passed away before the Civil War, his daughter was married to Colonel Mosby and his son George W. Clarke served on the staff of Gen. John Hunt Morgan and was killed at the Battle of Cynthiana.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 280 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 28, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.