I would like to share some memories of my own, and see if anyone of your readers served in Beirut, especially between August 1982 and February 1984. I was with Bravo Co. 1/8, 24th MAU, incountry May to November 1983. I have good memories and bad, as anyone who has been in combat has. Some of the good ones usually involve the crazy things that we did to keep our sanity, ie practical jokes on each other, or just silly things, like the night we took a close hit at the University, a shell landed outside the area we chose to sleep in, the room was full of choking dust, our ears were ringing, and as they cleared, we could hear the steady snoring of one of the Marines. I still carry the bad memories, and will keep them to myself, we all know about them. Combat, though tragic in many ways, can bring about the most hilarious things. One night we were taking fire, every one was geared up and in thier positions, when this 2nd Lt came running up with his helmet and flakjacket on over white skivies, did he ever stand out like a sore thumb. But a memorable time was the day all hell broke loose, a Sunday, we were at the University position, and Sunday was traditional Barbecue day. The Company Gunny and 1st Sgt were at the grill, both Vietnam Vets, calmly donned flak jackets and brain buckets, and continued to grill. (at that time most of the incomming rounds appeared not to be directed at us, but soon it was clearly meant to ruin our day). War is hell, and you make the best of a bad situation, SNAFU is the word. Most people outside of the military don't realise that unlike the wars of the past, time out doesn't exist for Christmas and New Years, it continues as routine.
To all my Brother and Sister Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard that are out in harms way, I wish you a safe New Year and a speedy return home. Stay Frosty and be proud, because we are proud of you and stand behind you if not beside you, SEMPER FI. Robert Brady
Robert, I was with Lima 3/8 and we occupied the University as well. Our skipper was Capt. Chuck Johnson who was the Devildog who jumped up on the Israeli tank and drew his .45. Do you recall a small female dog with mixed white and light brown markings? My buddy Tim Wheeler and I rescued her from that post down by the old stone railroad trestle. Two Lebanese soldiers we were standing post with one day had placed her up in one of the voids left by a shell hole and were throwing rocks at her. Tim body slammed the jerk throwing the last rock and I ran up and grabbed her out of the hole. We took her in and fed her MREs and raised her for the remaining time that we were there. Just curious if you guys kept her around? Semper Fi bud.
Mike Kunkel Corporal, 0331, Lima 3/8 Weapons platoon