A date we should remember

October 23, 1983

The Marine Barracks in Beirut was attacked at approximately 6:20 a.m.

A yellow Mercedes delivery truck drove up to the Marine barracks at Beirut International Airport, and rammed through the barbed-wire fence. It passed the sentries (the Marine sentries did not have loaded weapons), and smashed into the the lobby of Marine headquarters. The resulting crash and explosion killed 241 American Military personnel (18 Navy, 3 Army, and 220 Marines). 60 were injured.

The French Paratrooper barracks were attacked in the same fasion at almost the same time when a truck loaded with explosives detonated in the underground parking garage, levelling the headquarters. The French lost 58 paratroopers; 15 were injured.

Three Lebanese were also killed - two at the Marine barracks, and one at the French barracks.

Read more here:

Iraq War Today
The Beirut Memorial Online
BlackFive
Wikipedia
U.S. Marine Corps Website

1 Comment

1. Q: What did a crude chalk drawing of a top hat on a building or sidewalk signify to a wandering hobo during the Depression era?

   A:A gentleman lives here

   Q:How about a drawing of a cross?

   A:Religious talk will get you a free meal

   If I am not mistaken, this is considered an early form of “tagging”

   Comment by The Wizard — October 24, 2005 @ 5:55 pm | Edit This

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