The Second Deployment
Jack Carr’s new nonfiction book, Targeted Beirut, helps to resolve memories and refresh history.
Regarding work or travel experiences, many individuals find that the second time around offers significant advantages due to increased clarity, skill development, and a deeper appreciation for the journey. These factors contribute to a more enriching experience overall compared to the first attempt. My first deployment as a junior officer in the Navy was a UNITAS cruise around South America and West Africa. I believe we spent more time in port than underway—more of a “party cruise.” We could explore several remarkable nations like Chile, Uruguay, and a two-week stay in Rio de Janeiro!
In 1983, we once again planned to deploy my ship, USS Portland (LSD-37), to the Mediterranean, where we would visit many wonderful spots in Spain, Italy, and Greece. Instead, because of an embassy bombing in Beirut that April, we spent 7 long months off the coast of Lebanon, providing support to the Multi-National Peacekeeping Force. We ended up having one week in Antalya, Turkey, and a week in Athens, Greece, but my second deployment would be very different. It took me many years to understand how people would view this period of history. I feel a bit of naivety now, or perhaps I’ve realized that age allows you to better understand history.
I was listening to a recent podcast with Joe Rogan and Chamath Palihapitiya, discussing the impact of artificial intelligence and machine learning on our society. What impact will AI/ML have on our children’s education and the future of work?
Chamath said, “Don’t tell me what happened in the War of 1812.” You can find the answer by using a search engine or ChatGPT. But why did it happen? What were the motivations? What were the effects of the individuals involved?
Why did the bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, happen?
I am a big Jack Carr fan and love his series of fictional stories involving James Reece. I learn more about the defense industry with his timely and relevant words.
His first non-fiction book clarifies the events that occurred less than 2 miles ashore in 1983, which I struggled to understand as a young man.
In the summer and fall of 1983, the situation for US Marines in Beirut, Lebanon, was precarious and volatile. The Marines had deployed to Lebanon in August 1982 as part of a multinational peacekeeping force, which included troops from France, Italy, and Great Britain. Their mission was to oversee the withdrawal of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from Beirut and help stabilize the country after years of civil conflict.
By early 1983, the situation appeared to have stabilized somewhat, but this proved to be a false sense of security. On April 18, 1983, a car bomb destroyed the US embassy in West Beirut, killing dozens of American and Lebanese civilians. This attack signaled a shift in tactics by militant groups in the region and foreshadowed the tragedy to come.
Throughout the summer and fall, US Marines faced constant threats from sniper fire, unexploded ordnance, and terrorist attacks. Despite its intended stability, the peacekeeping mission had become dangerous. Between May and October 1983, the Marines received over 100 intelligence reports warning of potential terrorist attacks, though these lacked specifics on timing and methods.
The situation culminated in the devastating bombing of the Marine barracks on October 23, 1983. On that early Sunday morning, a truck carrying explosives crashed through the gates of the US Marine compound at Beirut International Airport, causing the detonation and death of 241 American service members. This attack, along with the simultaneous bombing of a French paratrooper barracks, marked the deadliest day for the US Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
Early Evolution of Hezbollah and Factions in Lebanon
The early 1980s saw the emergence of Hezbollah as a significant force in Lebanon. Although not yet established, the organization that would become Hezbollah was developing at this time under the influence of Iran’s Islamic Revolution and with the support of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. A group calling itself Islamic Jihad, later associated with Hezbollah, claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Marine barracks.
The conflict in Lebanon during this period was complex, involving many factions: the Lebanese government forces, various Christian militias such as the Phalangists and Druze militias, Shia Muslim groups such as the nascent Hezbollah, Palestinian factions, the PLO, Syrian forces, and Israeli forces. These groups engaged in a multi-sided civil war, characterized by shifting alliances and objectives. Existing foreign forces, including the US Marines, added another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation. Regional powers like Syria, Israel, and Iran, each supporting different factions and pursuing their own strategic interests in Lebanon, further complicated the conflict.
As a junior officer in my early years, I recall the following distant memories:
I had the pleasure of getting to know Lt. John Hudson, a brilliant doctor and amazing human being. He was from Georgia and had a wonderful personality. I remember his wife visiting him in Athens during our short liberty period.
We retrieved a deceased body from the ocean, which had been drifting for several days. We also saw a dead cow floating in the waters off Beirut.
My special warfare friends caught a person swimming out to our ship with a floatation bag. This resulted in us dropping percussion grenades every hour.
I served as the flight deck officer on the LSD, facilitating hundreds of H46 and H53 takeoffs and landings to assist the marines ashore.
As we stocked our well deck with ammunition, we realized we were no longer impartial in this endeavor.
The nightly fighting in the hills above Beirut was visible from the sea. During the day, people would drive their cars to work as usual, but as soon as the sunset, a few flares would appear in the sky, signaling the start of the bombardment.
The day of the bombing changed my life. Our crew did not sleep for 2-3 days straight as we helped recover the dead bodies trapped under the ruins of what was the Battalion Landing Team’s HQ.
We left Beirut in late November with an empty marine berthing, aware that those marines were now deceased.
Later that year, I discovered that Don Woollett, one of my US Naval Academy classmates, was among the Marines who lost their lives. He is the only USNA 80 classmate to die in a military conflict.
Reading Jack Carr’s book made me realize many things about Beirut that I was not aware of, despite my naivete.
There are several crucial considerations to contemplate when determining whether young men should experience guilt for their lack of knowledge about history or wars. Feeling some sense of responsibility to learn about the past can be constructive, but excessive guilt is often not helpful. Understanding history is more important than feeling guilty about not knowing it already. Many young people today did not participate in or cause past wars and atrocities. We should encourage young people to think and question official narratives about war and history.
The key is to encourage historical awareness, critical thinking, and social responsibility in young people without imposing a sense of undue personal guilt for past events they did not cause. Learning about history and working to create a more peaceful future is more important than feeling guilty about prior ignorance or naivety.
Read “Targeted Beirut.”
History is important. October 23rd is a day to remember.