On this date (October 23d) in 1983 the Marine barracks in Beruit were bombed, by a suicide truck bomber, in Beruit Lebanon. This resulted in 241 service personnel, of which 220 were Marines, being killed. Truly a sad day in American, and Marine Corps history.

Concur, it was a sad day.

I remember it. I was sophomore in high school.

Another, remember exactly where I was and what I was doing, day.

A classmate of mine's father was killed in the bombing (Marine).

It was sobering in that pre-9-11 world to see the area by their fireplace with his photo, flag, and medals.

You are not forgotten:
220 Marines
18 Sailors
3 Soldiers

Semper Fi

A good friend and a great Marine was sent in to take over the command there about 2 weeks after the bombing.

It was a sad day and time.



.

Never forgotten Devil dogs...

I was in the Navy in ‘83. We were off the coast on a cruise.

Best friend in High School older brother was a Marine wounded in the bombing, he was never the same afterwards.

There was also a second bombing nearby and the French lost another 55 or so.
Just shows that even with the world's strongest military, we need to pick our spots carefully.
Most likely Iran was behind this and certainly sympathised with the bombers.
Another "thanks Jimmy" moment. Even good intentions have unpleasant consequences.

When I was in High School I read the book written by Eric Hammel called "The Root". I would recommend it to anybody wishing to understand what those Marines put up with during that conflict.
Per the book, the Marines were in a constant state of combat and saw a lot of action in which the media did not really give their due for. Also, they were put under some of the worst rules of engagement that could have been written.
Richard Marchinko, the famous Navy Seal, wrote in his book "Rogue Warrior" that when he toured the area before the bombing that the only rule that was left out for the Marines was "Bend over and Kiss your Butt goodbye".

Gone but not forgotten. Semper Fi

I was there Feb-May 1983. I was with Echo 2/6. Were were stationed around the airport. The barracks was the HQ for many people.

I was home and discharged (Sept 83) when the barracks was bombed. Had I been there when it happened, I would have known several Marines that would have been killed or injured.

Semper Fi

There was two suicide attacks resulting in mass casualties, besides the USMC barracks attack, the French paratroopers barracks was also attacked near simultaneously, resulting in 58-killed.

Weinburger vigorously vetoed a joint-US/French mission to hammer IRGC positions in the nearby Baaka Valley, his reasoning was we couldn't be sure it was the Iranians. George Schultz was pissed and Reagan ended up siding with his SECDEF. Keep in mind, the US Embassy had been bombed (OKC/Khobar Towers-style, whole front opened up) only 5-months earlier with 60+ dead from that. Cap Weinburger provided a lot of bad advice.

I was out of town Wednesday but I try to make it every year. Weather was not the best last year and this year it was great. Sorry I wasn’t there for it. But from what I heard from the boys it was another excellent ceremony.

Here are some pics from when I was at there in 2015.

Semper Fi.

It was and remains an outrage. ..
Semper Fi

Marines 72-76

I handled the funeral for one of the Corpsman who was killed. His wife was in the process of divorcing him when he died. She got his burial money and skipped town without paying us. Sad times.

quote:

I handled the funeral for one of the Corpsman who was killed. His wife was in the process of divorcing him when he died. She got his burial money and skipped town without paying us.

She sounds like a real class act.