Description

1919 (Jul 1?) Plain envelope roughly opened right side to Sergt., 100th Co., 9th Regt., U.S.M.C., New York & forwarded in manuscript 196 Co., 2nd Mch. Gun Batt., Guantanamo Bay, Cuba bearing Washington 3c tied single ring A.E.F. SAN(Francisco ?) / MILITARY duplex & with violet unframed Returned to Marine Corps / Headquarters, Washinton D.C. overlaid by pointing finger RETURNED TO SENDER & with Fullerton /Cal (1 Aug) arrival datestamp …

A fascinating AEF item, during the 1898 Spanish-American war the US Navy used Guantanamo Bay to shelter from the hurricane winds & in 1903 leased it from Cuba as a coaling station & Naval Base & to this day remain together with the dark secrets it holds.