Largest non-nuclear explosion on record hits Beirut Marines, 25 years ago Go! By Ed Marek, editor "We lost a lot of Marines that day." November 15, 2008 The first duty is to remember - The 25th Remembrance We honor service and sacrifice. Please click the "Donate" button and contribute $20 or more to help keep this station alive. Thanks. This is a wonderful graphic, posted by Nathalie on October 23, 2003 at turningwheels.blogspot.com, but I have not been able to find the exact source or credit. Immediately after the attack, the people of Jacksonville, North Carolina, the home of Camp Lejeune and the 1-8 Marines, tied up with the Jackson Beautification and Appearance Commission to find a way to memorialize those lost in the October 23, 1983 enemy attack against the US Marines in Beirut, Lebanon. 1 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
Bradford Pears planted at Camp Lejeune in memory of those killed in the Beirut bombing, 1983. Presented by MacKenzie Real Estate. An idea that gained popularity was to plant memorial trees on Lejeune Boulevard for each man killed. The community raised the funds and completed the project on March 24, 1984, just five months later. The trees planted were Bradford Pears. The Beirut Memorial, entrance to Camp Johnson, Quantico MCS, Jacksonville, North Carolina. Photo credit: Onslow County, NC Funds kept coming in. So the idea of erecting a marker to address the importance and history of the trees arose. Camp Lejeune then offered the Commission 4.5 acres of very visible land at the corner of Lejeune Boulevard and Montford Landing Road. With that, the idea of a significant memorial gained momentum, a serious fund-raising drive was launched, and a design competition was set in motion at the School of Design, North Carolina State University. A design was selected, contractors were hired, and the memorial was dedicated on October 23, 1986, just three years after the 2 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
enemy attack. That done, the Commission began to search for someone to design and build a bronze statue. A statue of a lone Marine keeping vigil over his fellow Marines was dedicated on October 22, 1988. In 1991, the Beirut families added a poem, The Other Wall, by Robert A. Gannon. It was cast in bronze and dedicated at the 1991 observance ceremony. Annually, an observance is held that includes the families of the deceased, military personnel and the civilian community. I commend the web site, The Beirut Memorial on-line to your attention. In 1992, Beirut veterans decided to establish a fraternal organization known as the Beirut Veterans of America. It was founded by Major Bob Jordan, USMC (Ret.). About 1,000 people gathered on October 23, 2008 at a Jacksonville, North Carolina memorial to mark the 25th anniversary of the bombing. General James T. Conway, the Commandant, USMC, attended. This memorial is a wall somewhat like the Vietnam Wall. To many Marines, it is known as "The other wall." It was completed on October 23, 1986. There are only four words inscribed on the Wall: "They came in peace." The memorial is made of white granite and a bronze statue. The steps you see in the wall represent the collapsed building. 3 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
Night photo of the bronze statue. Photo credit: LCpl M.E. Easter, USMC. Presented by Beirut Memorial "They came in peace" inscribed on the wall. Photo credit: Lt. Upton, USMC. Presented by Beirut Memorial 4 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
A man stops to touch the name of a fallen loved one at the Beirut Memorial on Camp Johnson, N.C. Photo credit: Cpl. Mauricio Campino, USMC. Presented by the US DoD. The name of each man killed is carved into the wall. Gifts left at the memorial in 2002. Photo credit: Mark Schallow, presented by beirut-documentary.org The following photos of the 25th remembrance ceremony were presented by The Globe. 5 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
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Mark Schallow, a retired Marine master sergeant, took a marvelous group of photos of the 25th Beirut Memorial 7 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
Observance held on October 23, 2008 at the Jacksonville, North Carolina Memorial. With his permission, I have selected a few to show here. I especially like the ones of the Beirut Vets and the memorial itself. Major Bob Jordan, USMC (Ret.). We introduced you to him earlier. Sgt Major Joe Houie, USMC (Ret.). While we did not have sergeant majors in the USAF, when we saw them in the Army and Marines, we called them "sir," even if we were officers! He looks like he still has his swagger and the admiration of the Pfc standing by him. 8 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
1st Sgt Kevin Howell, USMC (Ret.) When I was in the USAF, we called our first sergeants, "The Shirt." Sgt Major Mac McGee, USMC (Ret.) 9 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
Note the Marine sentry at the Memorial is wearing his chin strap. That is used for Honor Guards and Burial Services. The Wall. 10 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
General James T. Conway, Commandant, US Marine Corps, speaking for and representing all Marines at the Jacksonville Memorial. (From right to left) Lt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik, II Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general; Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway; Col John K. Love, 8th Marine Regiment commander; and Col. Richard P. Flatau Jr., Marine Corps base commander, salute at the 25th anniversary of the Beirut bombing, Oct. 23. Photo credit: Cpl. Thomas J. Griffith, USMC. Presented by The Globe. Section 59, Arlington National Cemetery, is where valor rests for some of those killed in this Beirut attack. A Remembrance Ceremony was held there on October 23, 2008 as well. Some photos follow. 11 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
A Lebanese Cedar tree was planted here on October 23, 1984. There is also a memorial stone. I understand there are 19 Marines and two Sailors killed in Beirut buried near one another near the tree and stone. 12 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
Marine Brigadier General James M. Lariviere speaks to a crowd of about 100 gathered Oct. 19, 2008, at Arlington National Cemetery for the White House Commission on Remembrance s 25th annual tribute to those killed in the Oct. 23, 1983, terrorist attacks on a Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. Photo credit: Fred W. Baker III, DoD. Marines Corps Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Orban, rear, waits to perform Taps, and Lance Cpl. Lee Patrick waits to place a remembrance wreath at the Arlington National Cemetery. Photo credit: Fred W. Baker III, DoD. 13 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
Former Marine Ken Curry, left, and Bill Short, a former sailor, fight back tears during the White House Commission on Remembrance s 25th annual tribute October 19, 2008, at Arlington National Cemetery. Photo credit: Fred W. Baker III, DoD. About 100 friends and family members, along with a handful of survivors, gathered Oct. 19, 2008, at Arlington National Cemetery for the tribute. Photo credit: Fred W. Baker III, DoD 14 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
Deborah Peterson places flowers at the grave of her brother, Marine Cpl. James Chandonnet Knipple, at Arlington National Cemetery. Peterson, her two sisters, and a handful of other family members gathered for the annual tribute. Photo credit: Fred W. Baker III, DoD Marines and Sailors aboard the USS San Antonio (LPD-17), part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Gorup now in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (Iraq-Afghan-Horn of Africa), held a 25th anniversary memorial for their comrades killed in Beirut. The skipper was particularly proud because several of his junior Marines thought of the idea and organized the ceremonies. My understanding is that Cpl. Christopher Hrbek was one of those. Lt. Colonel John Glitz, USMC, commander, Combat Logistics Battalion 26, reminded his Marines of this: "We are not invulnerable. You are all just like them -- young, full of life, had goals and aspirations. Their lives were taken in an instant, and so we dedicate ourselves to training and remember what it is to be a Marine." I wish to comment here that there is an important effort in train trying to get the USPS to approve a stamp honoring those lost in the Beirut bomb attack. 15 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM
Mrs. Judith Young, who lost a son in the bombing attack, and to whom I will introduce you more in the next section, is a founder and advocate, along with Mrs. Joan Muffler. I commend their Beirut Stamp Initiative to you, and recommend you visit the web site to see how you can weigh in. Introduction Historical background 24th MAU arrives in Beirut, 1-8 Marines embarked In their own words, the Marines and Sailors who were there Photos of the devastation The first duty is to remember - The 25th Remembrance Those who were there provide us some advice 16 of 16 8/31/10 2:59 PM