Arms of the Mail Guard Marines
The 1920s saw a surge in brazen armed thefts of the U.S. Mail, which became too common for mail personnel to handle.
For over 250 years, the United States Marine Corps has defended the nation's liberty from various enemies worldwide, from the "Halls of Montezuma" to the "Shores of Tripoli" and in notable campaigns like Belleau Wood, Guadalcanal, and Kabul.
In the 1920s, the Marines took on a lesser-known role closer to home, as a series of violent robberies of the U.S. Mail resulted in deaths, injuries, and significant financial losses.
In response, the postmaster general requested firearms from the War Department to arm outside postal employees, receiving mostly World War I-era Model 1917 .45-cal. guns.
The situation had reached a point that the postmaster general requested some guns from the War Dept. to arm “all outside postal employees.”
The Marines' involvement marked a unique chapter in their history, as they worked to protect the U.S. Mail and its employees from armed threats.
Author's summary: Marines defended US Mail from armed thefts in the 1920s.