Beirut Bombing ~ 25 Years Ago
Beirut, Lebanon
October 23, 1983
THEY CAME IN PEACE ~ but the bombings of the Marine barracks in Lebanon on October 23, 1983 cost the lives of 220 Marines, 18 Sailors and 3 Soldiers. Many more were critically injured. The US Marines were posted in Lebanon in the summer of 1982. On March 34, 1983, the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit, stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, received orders to Beirut, Lebanon. Their mission from President Reagan: Help keep the peace in the war torn country.
The Marine Barracks before and after the bombings.
At 6:22 am, a Sunday morning, on October 23, 1983, a suicide bomber crashed a truck laded with explosives through barbed wire and concertina fence and penetrated into the central lobby of the United States Marines Headquarters building and detonated. The force ripped the building from its foundation and the building imploded upon itself. The occupants inside were crushed. A near simultaneous attack was made on a building housing French paratroopers and killing 58.
We were in Beirut because the Lebanese Government had asked for our help. They saw their country slipping into total anarchy; they saw the United States and her Marines and Sailors as their saviors. We truly did come in peace. We came to do what Marines have done since the beginning of this country: to protect the rights of the innocent and advance the interest of freedom.
Remarks by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to the Senate Armed Services Committee, October 31, 1983:
“In closing, Mr Chairman, let me say that the subject of increased terrorism against all Americans around the world may be one of the most serious problems which could be addressed by this Committee on a priority basis. This unprecedented, massive “kamikaze” attack was not against young Marines, Sailors and Soldiers - it was a vicious, surprise attack against the United States of America and all we stand for in the free world.
Let me say, with all of the emphasis I can, that there are skilled and professional terrorists out there right now who are examining our vulnerabilities and making devices which are designed to kill Americans, lots of Americans around the world, in further acts of mass murder by terrorism. Let there be no doubt about it.
I would hope that the Congress would use this incident of cruel and premeditated mass murder to help us determine ways which tell nations that they cannot export and support terrorists who kill innocent Americans with impunity.
The perpetrators and supports of this challenge to the rights of free men everywhere must be identified and punished. I will have little sleep until this happens.”
Thank you.
- General Paul X Kelley, USMC,
29th Commandant of the Marine Corps
Obviously, no one heeded the wise words of General Kelley. Looking back on the 25th anniversary of the event, I hope Americans will see it as the profoundly important event that it was. I remember the Beirut Bombing. I remember being horrified. I remember us packing up and coming home.
I hope you will find a moment of silence to remember all who were lost that day, their families and friends, and those injured and those who survived who still carry this momentous event with them each day.
For a wonderful slide show and documentary of the Beirut Story, go here.
For the Beirut Documentary, go here.
For the death of the Beirut Bomber, go here.
Please scroll down for an entry on the Beirut Memorial.
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:48 am
I was a young and unaware adult when this happened. It stopped me in my tracks then, and to this day when I read the story and learn about the Marines that were murdered it brings great sadness and intense anger at the same time. I pray we never forget this. This was the largest terrorist attack on Americans before 9/11.
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:47 am
I had just gotten out of the Navy the previous April. I had been stationed in Rota, Spain and many of those Marines passed through our base at one time or another. I remember them rolling down the tarmac in a C-130 to my squardon in the early morning hours while I had hanger watch. It was very impressive to see these guys exit the aircraft. It left quite an impression on me as an 18 year old. That was the beginning of their deployment to Beruit.
Rota often became part of their stop over and I would talk to many of these guys. They were a young bunch of Marines who had so much living to do.
A couple of years later or so just after getting out I was devestated when I heard what had happened as I watched the news. I will never forget where I was and what I was doing. It was wake-up call for me and a realization that I knew some of those who never came home.
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:02 am
More from the Religion of Peace…or is it Religion of Pieces?
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:04 pm
[…] Excerpt LINK […]
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I was there stationed on the USS.NEW JERSEY BB-62 served 11 months and 29 days off the coast of beirut, it was a horrible thing that happened , but what upsets me now is that its like everything is forgotten, the sacrifices that were made. I feel for everyone that served in that (peace keeping) time. And my deepest regrets for those fallen and to the loved ones that lost a loved one then.
corvan