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27 Years Ago - Yesterday
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 3:27 pm
by tacticool
On October 23, 1983 at 6:22 a.m., a large delivery truck drove to the Beirut International Airport where the Marine Barracks was located.
After turning onto an access road leading to the compound, the driver rushed through a barbed-wire fence, passed between two sentry posts, crashed through the gate, and slammed into the lobby of the barracks.
The driver detonated explosives with the power equal to more than 12,000 pounds of TNT. The explosion crumbled the four-story building, crushing service members to death while they were sleeping.
The terrorist attack killed 220 Marines and 21 other U.S. service members who were stationed there to help keep the peace in a nation torn by war.
It was the bloodiest day in the Corps' history since World War II, when Marines fought to secure Iwo Jima.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/terror.htm
Re: 27 Years Ago - Yesterday
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 3:38 pm
by Beiruty
I was too young at that time. Shortly after Beirut invasion by the Israeli forces, I was somewhere outside Beirut. Sometime in 1984 and and after US Marines left Beirut, I was able to find (not sure from where exactly) US marines field book. I t was really helpful in gettime interested in learning English!
Where I lived in Beriut, French Marines were deployed.
Re: 27 Years Ago - Yesterday
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:47 pm
by williamkevin
Those were dark days for me.....
Re: 27 Years Ago - Yesterday
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 9:13 pm
by C-dub
I remember. I was only weeks out of boot and starting my A-school.
Re: 27 Years Ago - Yesterday
Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 12:59 am
by Spluloacle
I was 2 and never knew about this. :(
Re: 27 Years Ago - Yesterday
Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:37 am
by The Annoyed Man
My next door neighbor back in the 1980s was a Navy surgical technician aboard the Tarawa in the Med at the time, and they took aboard wounded survivors of the blast for surgery.
Re: 27 Years Ago - Yesterday
Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 9:57 am
by Purplehood
I was attending the Marine Corps Staff Non-commissioned Officers Academy in Quantico, VA when it happened. They assigned the entire class of somewhere around 200 students to Burial Escort duty, but was excused since I had my family with me.
Re: 27 Years Ago - Yesterday
Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:41 am
by pedalman
I had already separated from active duty in 1982. This incident brought the nagging feeling that I would be called back from inactive reserve status. Thankfully, I was not called back.
Re: 27 Years Ago - Yesterday
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 8:07 am
by jamisjockey
I don't remember the exact day, but....I remember when it happened. I was 10. Pretty sure we were @ El Toro then.
I grew up in the Marine Corps. Dad is retied 21 years. He lost a friend, and knew several other people who were there.
Even when I joined in the '90's, there were constant reminders of Beiruit.
History may have forgotten, but the Marines have not.
Re: 27 Years Ago - Yesterday
Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 8:44 am
by 10Shooter
I don't remember the exact day either, but....I do remember when it happened. I was 22.
I enlisted into the USAF 2 months later, was on delay enlist for 6 months.