Last Friday was October 23rd, the anniversary of the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. A buddy and myself went to the ceremony at the memorial in Jacksonville, NC. We usually go every year but unfortunately this year was a little more reserved because of covid. They had the memorial roped off and we had to watch from afar. So the pics this year are not the greatest.

It was a nice ceremony though. We got to meet and talk to lots of veterans who were there. One gentleman struck up a conversation with us, asked us if we were Marines, to which we said yes. He handed us a star cut from a flag. He was waiting for the ceremony to be over so he could approach the monument and say hello to his friend who perished there. He himself was a retired Navy Master Chief, a corpsman. “Ahh, Doc!” we both said with affection. He smiled. During our conversation we learned he started out in Vietnam in the early 70’s. Went “green side” first and then did some years on the “blue side” before coming back green. When he heard we both used to be tanks his eyes lit up. His last tour was with 2nd Tanks going over the border into Kuwait in the Gulf War. A little before our time but it was good to be able to share his memories. As we spoke another gentleman walked by. He was a little older and Doc asked if he was in Beirut. “No”, he said. But he hit the beach in Grenada a few days after and always tries to come to the ceremony. Awesome to meet guys like that.





We also got a chance to stop by the Vietnam Memorial. No ropes there. They have a nice display with a reflecting pool, surrounded by glass plates with the names of the lost. I was able to get a good picture of the “hometown hero”, Ritchie Fitts. Abington Massachusetts. My mom went to high school with him. Unfortunately he was lost over Laos in 1968. I wore his MIA bracelet when I was younger. In 1991 they finally found his remains and I gave the bracelet to his mom to be buried with him.

We also stopped by the Montford Point memorial. This is a memorial to all of the dark green Marines who trained at Lejeune during WWII. Very nice.

I wish I could have gotten more pics of the Beirut ceremony. Perhaps next year.

Semper Fi.

The ceremony.





The Vietnam memorial.











Montford Point

SEMPER FI my brothers eventhough I wore a different service branch uniform we would jump into the same foxhole and chew the same dirt when the SHTF. God bless our troops be they past/present/future. .................... drill sgt.

I joined the Marine Corps about 3 years aftet the bombing, but I served with a lot of the guys that were there that day. It is truly a sad day in American, and Marine Corps history.

Semper Fi

quote:

Originally posted by smithbc:
...It is truly a sad day in American, and Marine Corps history.

Semper Fi

I frequently think that myself when topics around this come up.

Semper Fi

I was in Beirut prior to the barracks bombing. I was with Echo Co, 2/6 Weapons Platoon. We were there from Feb-May 1983. I was there for the bombing of the US Embassy, but home and discharged when the Marine Barracks was bombed.

I really need to get down to the memorial. Several of my Marine buddies want to visit the site too. Unfortunately, my best friend who was in Beirut with me has been diagnosed with liver cancer. The prognosis is not good. We always talk about driving down there from PA.

mbinky,

Thank you for this post as well as your service.