Beirut Barracks Memorial
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
The Beirut Barracks Memorial is dedicated to the 241 American servicemen who were killed in the bombing of a Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. It occurred during the Lebanese Civil War after two suicide bombers drove truck bombs in the barracks detonating them. There were 299 total casualties from the explosions because the barracks were holding a joint task force of French and American forces. It is located in section 59 of the cemetery.
Images
Picture of the Beirut Memorial
This is a picture of the monument with the words on it
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
On October 23rd, 1983 two suicide bombers drove trucks into Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. They blew up and killed 299 French and American servicemen, 241 were just American. This was the deadliest attack on US Marines since Iwo Jima. (1)
There was a lot of criticism about the Marine barracks having lax security at the time of the event and the commander of the barracks stated that it was a hard position to defend because it was on flat ground and people had to drive past it all the time in order to get to the airport. They traced the bombing back to a militant political group called Hezbollah which started in Lebanon in 1982. They also suspected Iranian and Syrian involvement. (1)
The attack happened at 6:22 am when the suicide bombers truck hit the compound containing 2000 pounds of explosives. The barracks were holding the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regimental Battalion Landing Team. The team was stationed over there in order to help coordinate Palestinian withdraw from the area. (2)
There was a lot of criticism about the Marine barracks having lax security at the time of the event and the commander of the barracks stated that it was a hard position to defend because it was on flat ground and people had to drive past it all the time in order to get to the airport. They traced the bombing back to a militant political group called Hezbollah which started in Lebanon in 1982. They also suspected Iranian and Syrian involvement. (1)
The attack happened at 6:22 am when the suicide bombers truck hit the compound containing 2000 pounds of explosives. The barracks were holding the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regimental Battalion Landing Team. The team was stationed over there in order to help coordinate Palestinian withdraw from the area. (2)
Sources
(1) "Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing Fast Facts," updated November 2, 2014, http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/world/meast/beirut-marine-barracks-bombing-fast-facts/
(2) "Beirut Barracks blown up," accessed on November 11th, 2014, http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/beirut-barracks-blown-up