John Gordon Mein

John Gordon Mein (September 10, 1913 – August 28, 1968) was the first United States ambassador to be assassinated while serving in office.[1]

John Gordon Mein
United States Ambassador to Guatemala
In office
September 22, 1965  August 28, 1968
PresidentLyndon B. Johnson
Preceded byJohn O. Bell
Succeeded byNathaniel Davis
Personal details
BornSeptember 10, 1913
DiedAugust 28, 1968(1968-08-28) (aged 54)
Guatemala City, Guatemala
ProfessionDiplomat

Mein served as the United States Ambassador to Guatemala during the Guatemalan Civil War. He was shot by rebels belonging to the Rebel Armed Forces (FAR) one block from the U.S. consulate on Avenida Reforma in Guatemala City on August 28, 1968. U.S. officials believed that FAR intended to kidnap him in order to negotiate an exchange, but instead they shot him when he attempted to escape.[2] The rebels had killed two U.S. military aides prior to the assassination of Mein.[3]

He is buried at Rock Creek Cemetery, in Washington, D.C.

See also

References

  1. "Eight Bullets in Guatemala". Life: 52A. September 6, 1968.
  2. "Information Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Vaky) to Secretary of State Rusk". Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968. U.S. Dept. of State, Office of the Historian. XXXI, South and Central America. August 29, 1968.
  3. "The Assassination of Ambassador John Gordon Mein, Guatemala, 1968". Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. 2013-08-26. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
John O. Bell
United States Ambassador to Guatemala
September 22, 1965 – August 28, 1968
Succeeded by
Nathaniel Davis
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