Photo By Martin Egnash | Lt. Col. Bryan Crittendon, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 26 chaplain and former Marine...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - In 1983, the Marine Barracks in Beirut was attacked by a suicide bomber. Two hundred forty one Marines, soldiers and Sailors lost their lives in the attack. To educate Marines about this fateful day, Marine Corps Air Station New River hosted a professional military education (PME) event, Oct. 18, about the bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut.
During the PME, the speakers, who were in Beirut at the time, shared stories with the audience about what it was like from their perspectives.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Ron Bower, who came to work as the assistant director of instruction at Marine Corps Service Support Schools on the day of the Beirut Bombing, described the background of the attack, including the various armed groups involved in the conflict.
Lt. Cmdr. Bryan Crittendon, the Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 26 chaplain, who was a Marine officer from 1979-85 and was deployed to Beirut during the winter and spring of 1983, described what the scene was like prior to the attack.
“The Marines came in peace,” said Crittendon. “It was a fairly stable environment until the attacks started happening. And then we became the target.”
Retired Gunnery Sgt. Dan Joy, who served on the ground during the time of the attack, described what it was like from his point of view.
“It was a confusing place to be,” said Joy. “I get emotional talking about it, but it’s important that the Marines who lost their lives aren’t forgotten.”
After describing what happened, the speakers told the audience about the Beirut Memorial, here in Jacksonville, N.C.
“After the bombing, the citizens of Jacksonville expressed an outpouring of grief for the Marines who lost their lives,” said Bower. “Their donations, along with many others, helped make the Beirut Memorial the largest non-funded military memorial in the United States.”
Col. Timothy M. Salmon, air station commanding officer, commented on the PME.
“What makes this PME special is each of our speakers’ personal experiences and stories,” said Salmon. “I hope you walk away from this knowing a little more about our history.”
| Date Taken: | 10.28.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 10.28.2013 09:26 |
| Story ID: | 115824 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 144 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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