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Marine Barracks Bombing in Beirut – 36 Years Ago

by Steve Balm••12

Today marks 36 years since the US Marine Barracks headquarters building was bombed in Beirut Lebanon.

At 0622 on October 23, 1983 a suicide truck loaded with equivalent of 12,000 pounds of explosives destroyed headquarters building of BLT 1/8 at Beirut International Airport.  Almost simultaneous suicide attack destroyed building occupied by French paratroopers. U.S. casualties: 241 killed, and around 100 wounded.  French casualties: 58 killed.  Marine replacement airlifts,via 13 C-141 aircraft, begin the same day.

The U.S. casualties consisted of 220 Marines, 18 sailors, and 3 soldiers.  Many of their faces can be seen here at the following link:

http://www.beirut-memorial.org/memory/brtnames.html

A Remembrance ceremony is held every year at the Beirut Memorial in Jacksonville North Carolina just outside Camp Lejeune.  It will be livecast here at 1030:

https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/21880

The special ceremony honors the fallen service members and survivors who served in Lebanon from 1958 to 1984 and in Grenada. Lt. Gen. Brian D. Beaudreault, II Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, Lt. Col. Anthony C. Johnston, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment commanding officer, and retired Gen. Alfred M. Gray, Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, will deliver remarks.

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12 thoughts on “Marine Barracks Bombing in Beirut – 36 Years Ago”

  1. A mug is raised in Honor of these Warriors. We know that this day holds that Special Significance for many of our Compatriots on this site. May the Spirits of these Warriors know that we will never forget.

  4. I’ve been to a few Remembrance Ceremonies, the survivor stories and their pain is palpable.

    If you haven’t seen the “Six Seconds to Live” video and Gen. Kelly’s remarks (2014 I think) … worth a watch, those guys prevented another Beirut style bombing.

  8. Thank You, Steve Balm, for reminding us about this.

    Never Forget.

    Rest In Peace. Salute To All.

  11. THE APPALLING ATTACK ON TROOPS STATIONED IN BEIRUT, LEBANON, ON OCTOBER 23, 1983. THIS HORRIFIC ATTACK TOOK THE LIVES OF 241 U.S. TROOPS.

    And we used to think it can’t happen here, but it did.

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