43rd anniversary

At approximately 0622 on Sunday, 23 Oct. 1983, the Battalion Landing Team headquarters building in the Marine Amphibious Unit compound at Beirut International Airport was destroyed by a terrorist bomb. The catastrophic attack took the lives of 241 Marines, sailors and soldiers and wounded more than 100 others. The bombing was carried out by one lone terrorist driving a yellow Mercedes Benz stake-bed truck that accelerated through the public parking lot south of the BLT headquarters building, where it exploded. The truck drove over the barbed and concertina wire obstacle, passed between two Marine guard posts without being engaged by fire, entered an open gate, passed around one sewer pipe barrier and between two others, flattened the Sergeant of the Guard’s sandbagged booth at the building’s entrance, penetrated the lobby of the building and detonated while the majority of the occupants slept. The force of the explosion [12,000 pounds] ripped the building from its foundation. The building then imploded upon itself. Almost all the occupants were crushed or trapped inside the wreckage.

This site is dedicated to the 273 KIA while serving as peacekeepers. To the 241 killed on 23 October 1983. To the survivors. To the Beirut veterans who, after coming home, struggled with PTSD and took their own lives. And to all their families. Semper Fidelis.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. — Matthew 5

Funeral service for General Al Gray, 29th Commandant. 29 July 2024.Second copy of General Gray’s funeral film.

2023, on the ground

Made for the families

Beirut40th: Gold Star families. Kenny Chesney, “Who You’d Be Today.” Made with George.Beirut40th: Beirut veterans and Gold Star families. Joe Diffie, “Ships That Don’t Come In.”Beirut30th. “My Thanksgiving Prayer.” Song donated by Steve Schalchlin.

Beirut, on film

President Ronald Reagan, Beirut barracks bombing speech. Hat tip: Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff.Marine Corps Heritage Foundation: Beirut RememberedJim Webb’s Emmy-winning documentary on BeirutUSMC: In Memory of the Beirut BombingUS Navy: Remembering the Beirut BombingMarine Corps Association: Beirut BombingBeirut Bombing 1983 — Forgotten HistoryUSA Today: Beirut bombing 25 years laterMike Jacobs reports from Beirut after the 1983 barracks bombingRecording kept from the original pageRecording kept from the original page

Military spirit

Arlington — Trace AdkinsSome Gave All — Billy Ray CyrusAmerican Soldier — Toby KeithSemper Fi — Trace AdkinsIf You’re Going Through Hell — Rodney AtkinsShips That Don’t Come In — Joe DiffieThe Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home — Justin MooreWho You’d Be Today — Kenny ChesneyRecording kept from the original pageRecording kept from the original pageRecording kept from the original pageRecording kept from the original pageRecording kept from the original pageRecording kept from the original pageRecording kept from the original page

The family films were made with George, who did the work free of charge. A few clips came over from the old page with no title attached. They are the ones marked “Recording kept from the original page.”