President John F. Kennedy Spouse(s) Julie Mak Preceded by n/a Children Holly Mak | Succeeded by Parker T. Hart Name Dayton Mak Nationality American Role Diplomat | |
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Born July 10, 1917 (age 106)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota ( 1917-07-10 ) Books American Ambassadors in a Troubled World: Interviews with Senior Diplomats Education University of Arizona, Naval War College, University of Pennsylvania | ||
Dayton S. Mak (born July 10, 1917) is a former U.S. diplomat who served posts in England, Libya, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Germany. He was the first U.S. ambassador of Kuwait. Mak was also former Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, for Near East South Asia Affairs.
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Biography
Mak was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on July 10, 1917 but was raised in Iowa. Mak served in the United States Army during World War II between 1941 and 1945. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and one Bronze Star. In 1946, Mak joined the Foreign Service, serving as Vice Consul in Hamburg, Germany, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Jidda, Saudi Arabia, and Tripoli, Libya. In 1962, Mak became the first U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait and was responsible for establishing the embassy. In 1969, Mak became the director of INR for near-east south Asia Affairs. Mak officially retired from the Foreign Service in 1970. Mak was close friends with Francis Meloy, US Ambassador who was assassinated in Beirut, Lebanon. Meloy was best man at Mak's wedding.
Publications
American Ambassadors in a Troubled World: Interviews with American Diplomats (1992, interviews, with Charles Stuart Kennedy)