Troop 60 History
(1965-Present)

In August 1964, a young energetic U.S. Marine, Lance Corporal Robert J. Hall, wrote a letter to the National Council, Boy Scouts of America requesting permission and information to establish an American Boy Scout Troop in New Delhi, India. On August 24, 1964, Corporal Hall received encouragement to begin from the National Council, pending the approval of the Bharat Scouts and Guides. At this point, the members of the Marine Security Guard, led by their iconic Gunnery Sergeant William Oliver and Cpl Hall, began to compile lists of boys interested in Scouting.

When Cpl Hall was reassigned, Sergeant Joe Fallon and Cpl Kenneth Stemmel stepped up to take his place and carry the idea and ideal to reality. Many problems were encountered, and, as the Marines came to a problem area, they sought advice and counsel of Lieutenant Colonel Winfield Williams, who had for many years been associated with Scouting. Opportunity after opportunity hit the dust; when it settled, the only item lacking was a Sponsoring Institution. Col Williams suggested that Mr. Gerold of Pan American World Airways be contacted and invited to fill this requirement. Meanwhile, two American Scouts, Eagle Rex Lambert and Tenderfoot John Williams represented the USA at the 4th All-India Jamboree in Allahabad, South India.

Mr. Gerold jumped at the idea of promoting American Scouting in India and our fledging Troop was all but a reality. Now only two items remained: a Troop committee and leaders, and approval of the Application for Charter. The end was in sight on May 17, 1965 when the following were elected or appointed to the following duties:

Chairman Troop Committee: Wendell Wallace
Administration: Edward McAuley and Johnson Douglas
Outdoors: William Decker and Don Lichty
Institutional Rep: Winfield Williams
Scoutmaster: Daniel Fisher
Assistant Scoutmaster: Kenneth Stimmel, Jon Fallon, Thomas Gafford

Ten short days later, the Application for Troop Charter with a list of 39 boys composed as follows: two Eagles; one Life; one First Class; four Second Class and 31 Tenderfoots, was transmitted to the National Council for approval.

Even before the formal approval, the boys began to meet. On May 8, 1965, Bill Decker had the first outdoor activity set up. He and the Scoutmaster took the Troop on a Hare and Hound race just off Kitchner Road; some 45 boys took part in this activity. Later the same month, on 22-23 May, Don Lichty and the Scoutmaster, backed up by some fine transportation arrangements laid on by Bill Young, took 24 boys on an overnight campout, the new Troop's first. On Flag Day, June 14, 1965, Troop 1, Boy Scouts of America, New Delhi, India became official; it had been effective as of 1 May 1965.

U.S. Scouting in India has continued to this day, with the American Embassy School as Troop 60's Chartered Organization. When the national program became coed in 2019, we welcomed girls to our Troop — first as Lone Scouts, and then with the formations of Troop 60B (for boys) and 60G (for girls) in 2023. That same year, Troop 60 also helped get Mumbai's BSA Troop 74 established, chartered by the American School of Bombay.

As of May 1, 2025, Troop 60 has recorded 44 Eagle Scouts, and expects to have at least two more by the end of the calendar year.