I was hoping to catch up with some of my fellow Marine’s that I spent a part of my life with that I’ll never forget! Fom a working port in Hifia, to the train ride to Tel Aviv, then Jerusalem. Then of course the no duty store for the ride back with Johnny Walker. We did have fun, but it never took the true pain away! Making Grape hooch down in the well deck of the USS Nassau (Being a Marine I never thought I’d say she was a GOOD ship). Never did we forget the REAL reason we were there! God bless our Hero’s that gave all! And are still giving!
24 MAU in Beirut
Yeah hitting some exotic ports of call and raising hell! Thank you US Navy!
I was with the last Marines in Beirut we were assigned a mission to build shelving units for the new embassy building. I too was aboard the Nassau. Israel ?? was a wonderful place to be !! Semper Fi Beirut Veterans
I was in Beirut on 23/Oct/1983.
In 83 I was a safe sloppy civilian. My stomach hurt for a week. Arizona has Beirut day. Thanks to the Governor. We meet at the America Legion.
I met a guy who turned out to have been a young sailor who said his ship rocked sideways. He was ordered to take his 5 even younger sailors ashore to help the Marines. I was with the 1/9 in Vietnam but that sailor’s story just locks my jaws.
Peace Brother
Bob
my time there was truly memorable ….i was in the 22nd MEU ….we went to grenada first ….but i too went to that israeli port ….spent 2 weekends there ….some things you will never forget ….semper fidelis my brothers …………….
I spent a few days on the Nassau as well but most of my sea duty that trip was on the LaMoure County. I remember my time in Israel as well. Was just telling my daughter some stories from there just yesterday 🙂
Semper Fi brothers!
22 MAU 2nd LSB Red Patch. I do remember the Johnnie Walker … I also remember the wall of 55 gallon drums that were the perimeter. The Tower with the M60 machine gun. Watching the rockets and tracers as the nights pasted. The Sea Bees, Beach Masters, and of course the BLT that were the MAU. AK 47 firing up early every morning. . Lcpl Deiz Albertini who was covered in Mo gas that burst into flames and burned him from head to toe at the beach and almost killed him. Doc Shellnut and I administered all the Morphine we had and emptied a water buffalo on him to try and stop the pain. Yes sir… I remember Beirut. Every Single Day
I LOVE Beirut
1 Btn 9th attach to 24 meu last some people glad to be there. MADD DOG OOOORAH
I was in Beirut in 83′. We were the first Marines to arrive there as part of the Multi National Peace Keeping Force. I have a lot of memories of that place. Lost a lot of brothers in the bombing there. I will never forget the time I spent there.
Sempre Fi
To all my brothers 1/8second plt bravo company, semper-fi, still brothers today. Love to all
Ooh Rah, Bravo 1/8, WPNS Plt, 60mm mortars, “Turd Hoppers”, my 3rd year with Bravo 1/8. I knew so many of the ones we lost, Brothers for life, family forever.
SEMPER FI
Beirut 1983. Multinational Peace Keeping Force. Loss so many Brothers. Once A Marine. Always A Marine. Semper Fidelis
Semper FI….Camp Lejeune
2nd Battalion 10th Marines …oohrah
USS Tarawa (LHA1), Combat Cargo. Was offshore September/October ’83. Spent some time ashore before out chopping. Lost a lot of good friends and classmates on that fateful October day. The sting never goes away…
Semper Fi!
USS Aylwin FF 1081. Over there in 1982. FC2 Tom Smith. Never will forget
I was with 3/8. On the Nassau until the Ponce met us then moved to that ship. The Med Float was a memorable one. Stop in some great ports for some R&R.
Michael Beck, I was on the Nassau and then the Ponce as well. I was an 0331 with Lima 3/8 weapons platoon. That was my second tour. We went ashore along the Corneish (sp) and stood guard in the sand-bag bunkers. Semper Fi
Mike Kunkel. 0331
Lima 3/8
Kunk
Email me at rjall@kmtel.com
Hey Marine, I was with Lima 3/8 as Battalion radio operator. to Capt. Charles “Bronson” Johnson. He was the Marine that jumped up on the Israeli tank and told them they were not coming through our area. Best Marine I ever worked for. Semper Fi Marine!!
John,
You were in weapons platoon, correct? Remember me, Wheeler, Dellerson, Mercado, Foss, Danny Wilson, Mike Ranish, etc?
I remember that! We had a good chuckle and C6F was impressed but concerned.
With 22nd Mau. Mssg22. Last Marines in Beirut. Had great time in Israel rental cars from Haifa to Jerusalem. Ooh Rah brothers
I was with 3/8. On the Nassau until the Ponce met us then moved to that ship. The Med Float was a memorable on. Would like to meet with my brothers from 3/8 Lima Co. Went to Norway, Israel, Turkey, Egypt. Had fun on the Med float.
Richard,
I was with 3/8 as well. Lima co. Weapons platoon.
Mike Kunkel
Mike look me up on Facebook.
Richard, I don’t have a Facebook account, but I’ll ask Grit to send you my email address. I have tons of photos I could share with you. We might know some of the same people. My first tour I was with Captain Chuck Johnson who is famous for jumping up on the Israeli tank with his .45 drawn.
That’s the first tour. I joined 3/8 after that. I remember on the Ponce my Plt was next to Weapons Plt. We have some fun days. If they won’t share the email I can
sent you mine on here.
Richard, yes, that was my first tour. Second tour, if I’m correct, we loaded on the Nassau in Motörhead City, but the tailgate fell off when they were loading Amtrak’s in the well deck. Then we had to transfer to the Ponce.
Lol. Meant to say Morehead City.
My husband was a proud Marine, Vietnam era. Thank you ALL for your service and sacrifice. Semper Fi
24th MAU, ’82-’83, Maint. Plt., MSSG-24. Some of the finest memories of my time in the Crotch. Damn fine Marines.
I was on the intel staff for ComSixthFleet, so we went over for briefings and debriefings periodically, especially when the MaUs turned over. I remember the tracers at night and that surreal looking Ferris wheel. Most of my time ashore there was either in the BLT, the radio shack area near the northeast tarmac, or over at Black Beach with our special people.
Fortunately for me, my last time ashore there was that Friday night three weeks before the BLT blew, which is where I had slept that Friday night, my last time there.
On the Sunday morning of the 23rd, I was getting ready to turn over the mid watch when I took the secure voice, was later to understand that I had been the first American outside of Beirut to learn about it. We were up for a few days straight. There has not been a night or early morning since then that I have not thought about it.
Was on the Nassau (24th MEU) and with the last Marines who left in August 1984. Called ourselves the “Cruise that Never Was,” because, essentially, no one knew any Marines were still in Lebanon. Was in Beirut also in 1982-1983 (24th MEU) on the Inchon (aka “inch worm), because it kept going dead in the water. During the MEU workup, the ship went dead 10 times in 8 days. When a ship is silent–something is wrong. That crew was great. They did the best they could. In 1984, those weeks in Haifa were a gas. Also, was on the Ponce when the other ships left. Flew with HMM 263. The best thing about the Nassau was the trip above the artic circle. Then, of course, fate stepped in, and we went to Beirut in the heat of summer. Enjoyed our time working with BLT 3/8, and the members of the Force Service Group and MEU staff. Miss my friends who were in the building.
Ronald, I was on both of those cruises with you. I was in Lima 3/8 weapons platoon. Was an 0331. Yes, lol, I think the Inchon was old by then. Keel laid in 1968 I believe. She was a good ship but worn out. Our bunks were just under the flight deck up near the bow. We could walk out a hatch on to a side platform and walk right up onto the flight deck. Hot as Hades in there at night. Lol
Semper Fi to all who share the experience that few can conceive. I think of those times with every action I take. If only more knew and lived the code of the brotherhood of Marines.
That’s what makes us Marines. Our first responsibility is to never forget. Second.. Share the memories of our Brothers. We are the only ones that have that Honor. We’re all getting close to 40 years, so spread the news .. Let’s see if we can make it to Lejune in October.
June 83 to Dec 83 and on, in, and over the BLT on 10/23. 2nd Radbn DF intel. Semper Fi…
No. Thank you Sandra for your service
I vividly recall that fateful day when the marine barracks in Beirut was suicide bombed. When the news flashed across the TV in the rec room there was complete silence as we watched the images on TV. Then immediate rage and anger! Some of the chairs and cue sticks were destroyed and the motivation to immediately go to Beirut and avenge our fallen Marines was off the charts! I’ve never wanted to kill as I did that fateful day. That feeling was felt by everyone as our rec room took some damage. Marines never forget our fallen Brothers. Semper Fi.
Charlie Battery 1/10, BLT 1/8, 24th MAU. May – Nov. 83. Came over on the USS Austin LPD 4. Was 300 yds. away on 23OCT83 at 0622. I will never forget!
I was a young Sergeant in Golf Co 2/8. We landed in Grenada, then were in Beirut from Nov 83 to Feb 84.
Our platoon (2nd Platoon, Golf, 2/8) was at the NE end of the airport right across from Cafe Dańiel (in Hooterville).
Grenada and Beirut influenced everything I did for the rest of my Marine Corps career.
We lost some damn good Marines while we were there, but we took a lot of bad guys down too. We hurt them bad.
04 Dec 83, 09 Dec 83 and 30 Jan 84 are days that will stand out in my mind forever.
Semper Fidelis to all of my Beirut Brothers.
BVA motto:
“The First Duty is to Remember”
While assigned to the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, I had to occasion to entertain a few Marines at the Marine House in ’84. They had come to Tel Aviv for liberty. As I had the evening duty, I could not partake in the sharing of libations with my Marine guests. It was nice to shoot the breeze and catch up on all things Corps.
Semper Fi !