25 Years Ago

[OCBob]

On October 23, 1983 a truck loaded with 12,000 lbs of explosives crashed through the perimeter at the Beirut Airport and took aim at the building housing the Marines of 1/8 and their support personnel from the Navy and the Army. The brave servicemen inside never stood a chance, as the sentries were not permitted to keep their weapons locked and loaded. The cowards that perpetrated this act took the lives of 241 Americans and wounded 60 more. Never forget the sacrifice that these brave men made for you and for the world as a whole. They were there to maintain peace and to improve the lives of the Lebanese people.

So on this day 25 years later, take a moment to remember these men. Say a prayer, raise a glass in toast, fly your flag at half mast, do whatever it is that you are comfortable with to honor them and their memory.

I will be in Atlanta next week, and will make sure to take the time to visit the resting place of LCpl Benjamin Fuller. I never had the chance to meet Ben, but he was a Brother to a Brother of mine, and I am sure that we would have been fast and loyal friends.

Semper Fidelis

Marines

Cpl Terry Abbott, New Richmond, Ohio
LCpl Clemon Alexander, Monticello, Florida
PFC John Allman, Carlsbad, New Mexico
Cpl M. Arnold, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
PFC Charles Bailey, Berlin, Maryland
LCpl Nicholas Baker, Alexandria, Virginia
LCpl Johansen Banks, Detroit, Michigan
LCpl Richard Barrett, Tappahanock, Virginia
1st Sgt D.L. Battle, Hubert, North Carolina
LCpl James Baynard, Richmond, Virginia
GySgt Alvin Belmer, Jacksonville, North Carolina
PFC Stephen Bland, Midway Park, North Carolina
Cpl Richard Blankenship, Hubert, North Carolina
PFC John Blocker, Yulee, Florida
Cpat Joseph Boccia, Jr, Northport, New York
Cpl Leon Bohannon, Jacksonville, North Carolina
SSgt John Bohnet, Memphis, Tennessee
Cpl John Bonk, Jr., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
LCpl Jeffrey Boulos, Islip, New York
Cpl David Bousum, Fife Lake, Michigan
1stLt John Boyett, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
LCpl Anthony Brown, Detroit, Michigan
LCpl David Brown, Conroe, Texas
LCpl Bobby Buchanan, Jr., Midway Park, North Carolina
Cpl John Buckmaster, Vandalia, Ohio
PFC William Burley, Linden, New Jersey
Cpl Paul Callahan, Lorain, Ohio
Cpl M.E. Camara, Jacksonville, North Carolina
PFC Bradley Campus, Lynn, Massachusetts
LCpl Johnnie Ceasar, El Campo, Texas
LCpl Randy Clark, Minong, Wisconsin
PFC Marc Cole, Ludlow Falls, Ohio
PFC Juan Comas, Hialeah, Florida
Sgt Robert Conley, Orlando, Florida
Cpl Charles Cook, Advance, North Carolina
LCpl Curtis Cooper, North Wales, Pennsylvania
LCpl Johnny Copeland, Burlington, North Carolina
Cpl Bret Corcoran, Katonah, New York
LCpl David Cosner, Elkins, West Virginia
Sgt Kevin Coulman, Seminary, New York
LCpl Brett Croft, Lakeland, Florida
LCpl Rick Crudale, Warwick, Rhode Island
LCpl Kevin Custard, Virginia, Minnesota
LCpl Russell Cyzick, Star City, West Virginia
Maj Andrew Davis, Jacksonville, North Carolina
PFC Sidney Decker, Clarkston, Kentucky
PFC Michael Devlin, Westwood, Massachusetts
LCpl R. Dibenedetto, Mansfield Center, Connecticut
Pvt Nathaniel Dorsey, Baltimore, Maryland
SgtMaj F.B. Douglass, Cataumet, Massachusetts
Cpl Timothy Dunnigan, Princeton, West Virginia
MSgt Roy Edwards, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
LCpl Jesse Ellison, Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin
PFC Danny Estes, Gary, Indiana
PFC Sean Estler, Kendall Park, New Jersey
PFC Richard Fluegel, Erie, Pennsylvania
Cpl Steven Forrester, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Cpl Michael Fulcher, Madison Heights, Virginia
LCpl Benjamin Fuller, Duluth, Georgia
LCpl Michael Fulton, Ft. Worth, Texas
Cpl William Gaines, Jr., Port Charlotte, Florida
LCpl Sean Gallagher, North Andover, Massachusetts
LCpl David Gander, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
LCpl George Gangur, Cleveland, Ohio
SSgt Leland Gann, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
LCpl Randall Garcia, Modesto, California
SSgt Ronald Garcia, Jacksonville, North Carolina
LCpl David Gay, Jacksonville, North Carolina
SSgt Harold Ghumm, Jacksonville, North Carolina
LCpl Warner Gibbs, Portsmouth, Virginia
Cpl Timothy Giblin, N. Providence, Rhode Island
LCpl Richard Gordon, Somerville, Massachusetts
LCpl Harold Gratton, Conoes, New York
Sgt Robert Greaser, Lansdale, Pennsylvania
LCpl D.M. Green, Baltimore, Maryland
LCpl Thomas Hairston, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sgt Freddie Haltiwanger, Jr., Little Mountain, South Carolina
LCpl Virgil Hamilton, McDowell, Kentucky
Sgt Gilbert Hanton, Washington, D.C.
LCpl William Hart, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Capt Michael Haskell, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
PFC Michael Hastings, Seaford, Delaware
Capt Paul Hein, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
LCpl Douglas Held, Jacksonville, North Carolina
PFC Mark Helms, Dwight, Nebraska
LCpl Ferrandy Henderson, Tampa, Florida
GySgt Matilde Hernandez, Jr., Midway Park, North Carolina
Cpl Stanley Hester, Raleigh, North Carolina
GySgt D.W. Hildreth, Sneads Ferry, North Carolina
SSgt Richard Holberton, Beaufort, South Carolina
LCpl Bruce Hollingshead, Fairborne, Ohio
PFC Melvin Holmes, Chicago, Illinois
Cpl Bruce Howard, Strong, Maine
Cpl Terry Hudson, Prichard, Alabama
LCpl Lyndon Hue, Des Allemands, Louisiana
2nd Lt Maurice Hukill, Jacsonville, North Carolina
LCpl Edward Iacovino, Jr., Warwick, Rhode Island
PFC John Ingalls, Interlaken, New York
WO1 Paul Innocenzi, Trenton, New Jersey
LCpl James Jackowski, S. Salem, New York
LCpl Jeffrey James, Baltimore, Maryland
LCpl Nathaniel Jenkins, Daytona Beach, Florida
LCpl Steven Johnes, Brooklyn, New York
Cpl Edward Johnston, Struthers, Ohio
PFC Thomas Julian, Middletown, Rhode Island
Sgt Thomas Keown, Louisville, Kentucky
GySgt E. Kimm, Atlantic, Iowa
LCpl Walter Kingsley, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
LCpl James Knipple, Alexandria, Virginia
LCpl F.H. Kreischer III, Indialantic, Florida
LCpl Thomas Lamb, Coon Rapids, Minnesota
LCpl J.J. Langon, Lakehurst, New Jersey
Sgt Michael Lariviere, Perry, Florida
Cpl Steven Lariviere, Chicopee, Massachusetts
MSgt Richard Lemnah, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Cpl David Lewis, Garfield Heights, Ohio
Sgt Val Lewis, Atlanta, Georgia
2nd Lt Donald Losey, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
LCpl Paul Lyon, Jr., Milton, Florida
LCpl John McCall, Rochester, New York
Cpl James McDonough, Newcastle, Pennsylvania
PFC Timothy McMahon, Austin, Texas
Cpl Robert McMaugh, Manassas, Virginia
LCpl Timoth McNeely, Mooresville, North Carolina
Maj John Macroglou, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Cpl Samuel Maitland, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Marine, Name withheld at next of kin's request, Wisconsin
Marine, Name withheld at next of kin's request, Wisconsin
SSgt Charlie Martin, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
PFC Jack Martin, Oveido, Florida
Cpl David Massa, Warren, Rhode Island
Pvt Joseph Mattacchione, Sanford, North Carolina
PFC Louis Melendez, Puerto Rico
Cpl M. Mercer, Vale, North Carolina
LCpl Ronald Meurer, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Cpl Joseph Moore, St. Louis, Missouri
LCpl Richard Morrow, Clairton, Pennsylvania
LCpl John Muffler, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cpl Alex Munoz, Bloomfield, New Mexico
Cpl Harry Myers, Whittler, North Carolina
1stLt David Nairn, Jacksonville, North Carolina
LCpl Luis Nava, Gardena, California
Capt Michael J. Ohler, Huntington, New York
Cpl John Olson, Sabin, Minnesota
PFC Robert Olson, Lawtons, New York
SSgt Alexander M. Ortega, Rochester, New York
CWO3 Richard Ortiz, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma
PFC J.B. Owen, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Cpl Joseph Owens, Chesterfield, Virginia
Cpl Ray Page, Erwin, North Carolina
LCpl Ulysses Parker, Baltimore, Maryland
LCpl Mark Payne, Binghamton, New York
GySgt John Pearson, Jacksonville, North Carolina
PFC Thomas Perron, Whitinsville, Massachusetts
Sgt John Phillips, Jr., Wilmette, Illinois
1stLt Clyde Plymel, Merritt, Florida
Sgt William Pollard, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Sgt Rafael Pomalestorres, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cpl Victor Prevatt, Columbus, Georgia
PFC James Price, Attala, Alabama
SSgt Patrick Prindeville, Gainsville, Florida
PFC Eric Pulliam, East St. Louis, Illinois
LCpl David Randolph, Siloam Springs, Arizona
GySgt Charles Ray, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Cpl David L. Reagan, Virginia Beach, Virginia
PFC R.A. Relvas, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
PFC Terrence Rich, Brooklyn, New York
LCpl Warren Richardson, Brooklyn, New York
Cpl Paul Rivers, Brooklyn, New York
Sgt Juan Rodriquez, Miami, Florida
LCpl Louis Rotondo, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
LCpl B. Sanpedro, Hialeah, Florida
LCpl Michael Sauls, Waterboro, South Carolina
1stLt Charles Schnorf, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
PFC Scott Schultz, Keeseville, New York
Capt Peter Scialabba, Morehead City, North Carolina
Cpl Gary Scott, Rankin, Illinois
Cpl Ronald Shallo, Hudson, New York
LCpl Thomas Shipp, Jacksonville, North Carolina
PFC Jerryl Shropshire, Macon, Georgia
LCpl James Silvia, Portsmouth, Rhode Island
LCpl Stanley Sliwinski, Niles, Ohio
LCpl Kirk Smith, Miami, Florida
Ssgt Thomas Smith, Middletown, Connecticut
Capt Vincent Smith, Jacksonville, North Carolina
LCpl Edward Soares, Tiverton, Rhode Island
Sgt Alan Solfert, Nashua, New Hampshire
1stLt William Sommerhof, Springfield, Illinois
LCpl Michael Spaulding, Akron, Ohio
LCpl John Spearing, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
LCpl Stephen Spencer, Portsmouth, Rhode Island
PFC Bill Stelpflug, Auburn, Alabama
PFC Horace Stephens, Capitol Heights, Maryland
PFC Craig Stockton, Rochester, New York
LCpl Jeffrey Stokes, Waynesboro, Georgia
LCpl Thomas Stowe, Jacksonville, North Carolina
LCpl Eric Sturghill, Chicago, Illinois
LCpl Devon Sundar, Stanford, Connecticut
Cpl Dennis Thompson, Bronx, New York
SSgt Thomas Thorstad, Chesterton, Indiana
PFC Stephen Tingley, Ellington, Connecticut
LCpl John Tishmack, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cpl Henry Townsend, Montgomery, Alabama
Pvt L.D. Trahan, Lafayette, Louisiana
Cpl Pedro J. Valle, Puerto Rico
PFC Donald Vallone, Jr., Palmdale, California
LCpl Eric Walker, Chicago, Illinois
LCpl Leonard Walker, Dothan, Alabama
Cpl Eric Washington, Alexandria, Virginia
Cpl Obrian Weekes, Brooklyn, New York
1st Sgt Tandy Wells, Jacksonville, North Carolina
LCpl Steven Wentworth, Reading, Pennsylvania
Sgt Allen Wesley, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
GySgt Lloyd West, Jacksonville, North Carolina
SSgt John Weyl, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Cpl Burton Wherland, Jacksonville, North Carolina
LCpl Dwayne Wigglesworth, Naugatuck, Connecticut
LCpl Rodney Williams, Opa Locka, Florida
GySgt Scipio Williams, Charleston, South Carolina
LCpl Johnny A. Williamson, Asheboro, North Carolina
Capt Walter Wint, Jr., Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Capt William Winter, Fripp Island, South Carolina
Cpl John Wolfe, Phoenix, Arizona
1stLt Donald Woollett, Barthesville, Oklahoma
PFC Craig Wyche, Jamaica, New York
Cpl Jeffrey Young, Morristown, New Jersey
1stLt William Zimmerman, Grand Haven, Michigan

Navy

HMI Ronny K. Bates, Aiken, SC
HN Jesse W. Beamon, Haines City, FL
HN Jimmy R. Cain, Birmingham, AL
HM Bryan L. Earle, Painesville, OH
HM3 William D. Elliot, Jr., Lancaster, PA
HM3 James E. Faulk, Panama City, FL
HM3 William B. Foster, Richmond, VA
ETC Michael W. Gorchinski, Evansville, IN
HM3 Robert S. Holland, Gilbertsville, KY
Lt John R. Hudson, Riverdale, GA
HM2 Michael H. Johnson, Detraoit, MI
HM2 Marlon E. Kees, Martinsburg, WV
HM2 George N. McVicker II, Wabash, IN
HM3 Joseph Milano, Farmington, NY
HMC George W. Piercy, Mt. Savage, MD
HM3 Diomeded J. Quirante, Calcoocan City, PR
Lt James F. Surch, Jr., Lompoc, CA
HM3 David E. Worley, Baltimore, MD

Army

SP4 Marcus E. Coleman, Dallas, TX
Sgt Daniel S. Kluck, Owensboro, KY
SFC James G. Yarber, Vacaville, CA

 

[GriffsSRT]

Great Post!

 

[OCBob]

I know this post is a couple of days early, but I wanted folks to have the chance to see it before the anniversary date.

This event truly changed my life. I was back at Camp Lejeune when it happened, having left Beirut just prior to this. I was honored to have the opportunity to attend the memorial service at Lejeune, with General Al Gray and President Reagan as speakers. General Gray has always been a hero of mine, and I will never forget the things he said to us that day.

I know that time does not heal all wounds, and I am sure that this day will be tough on many families and friends left behind. So keep them in your thoughts as well if you will.

Semper Fidelis

 

[5_0_BAIT]

OCBob Thanks for the post. I grew up in a military family and always have our soldiers and the price of freedom in mind every day. Prayers always for all the men and women that have given the ultimate sacrifice and for those who fight for our freedoms every day. If you don't like the war or the military in general say so, because that is the ultimate honor to them, because without their efforts you would be stoned or hung for doing so.roud: :adore: :adore: :shot:

 

[Prof]

Thank you for the reminder.

Roy

 

[Silverback]

:congrats: :congrats: :congrats: :rock:

 

[OCBob]

TTT..

 

[Django]

God holds them in His loving arms and we honor their service.........

D

 

[OCBob]

I just had to bump this again today

 

[ViperJeff]

I will never forget the Men and Women that Serve us everyday, past, present and future.

God Bless

 

[black pearl]

Remember our great men and women that served and sacrificed all:rock: :congrats:

 

[mysrt10]

even though i'm currently serving, my thoughts go out to those over seas. i know they are in a daily struggle to maintain their health and sanity. i'm greatful i dont have to be there. they are the brave souls!