18.+Oral+History+Research

Oral History Topic Summary

**Interview subject** - Nancy Phillips (Catherine's gma)
 * Topic ** - 1983 Beirut Barracks Bombing

Research: In October 23, 1983 in Beirut Lebanon the deadliest attack on Americans oversees since WWII took place. Two suicide bombers drove 12,000 lbs of TNT into the Beirut International Airport, where two marine divisions were stationed. At 6:20 AM a yellow mercedes-benz truck drove to the airport and crashed through the barbed wire, the front gate, and then drove into the front lobby of the marine headquarters. The force of the explosion lifted the entire 4 story building, which then fell on itself. There was also a massive shock wave and balls of flaming gas shot in all directions. The bombing was categorized by the US as an act of terrorism because it was an act of terror directed against off duty servicemen. The bombing was an extremely destructive act and killed many.

The death toll was shocking. The attack was the largest death toll for many armed services, including the marines since Iwo Jima and the military since the first day of the Tet Offense during the Vietnam War. 241 American service men, 220 marines (including Catherine's Uncle), 18 navy man, and 3 army soldiers were killed. These deaths ruined lives of many Americans, including Catherine's grandma, mom and family.

The bombing led to the withdrawal of the international peacekeeping force from Lebanon. The US response is to stay. This was agreed upon by President Reagan, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, French President Mitterand, an the US Vice President George Bush. There were also attacks made by France and the US in response to the bombing.

Back home the Americans were freaking out! Americans were scared if bombs were going to be set off on American soil, Richard Helms, former CIA Director, even said "It would be surprising if a wave of terrorism didn't hit the US." There indeed were bombs set off in America; Two bombs went off in a Navy recruiting center on NY's Long Island. The building had been evacuated because of telephone warnings from a group called the United Freedom Front. This was a time of worry in the US, people were dreading the bombs and didn't know when they were going to go off.

[]
 * In October 23, 1983 in Beirut Lebanon 12,000 lbs of TNT were driven into the Beirut international airport, where two marine divisions were stationed
 * the suicide bombers donated each of the truck bombs
 * death toll: 241 americans service men, 220 marines (one was Catherine's uncle), 18 navy people, 3 army soldiers
 * This was the largest death toll in a day for the marines since Iwo Jima- deadliest day for the military since the first day of the Tet Offensive (during the Vietnam War)-deadliest attack on americans oversees since WWII
 * at 6:20 AM a yellow mercedes-benz truck drove to the airport- it crashed through barbed wire, through the front gate, and drove into the front lobby of the marine headquarters
 * led to the withdrawal of the international peacekeeping force from Lebanon
 * the force of the explosion lifted the entire 4 story building-the building then fell on itself. A massive shock wave and ball of flaming gas were shot in all directions
 * the explosive was a gas-enhanced device- a very lethal weapon
 * some believe that the motivation for the bombing was the hatred generated among Lebanese Muslims because the US was siding with the Maronite Catholics in their domination of Lebanon. The Lebanese Muslims saw the MNF "not as a peacekeeping force, but as another faction in the Lebanese war."
 * others believe that Islamic Republic of Iran was heavily involved and that America's support for Iraq in the Iran Iraq War and its extending of $2.5 billion in trade credit to Iraq while stopping the shipments of arms to Iran. A few weeks before the bombing Iran warned that providing arms to Iran's enemies would provoke retaliatory punishment
 * Response: US will stay. Agreed upon by President Ronald Reagan, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, French President Francois Mitterand, and the US Vice President George H.W. Bush. Also, there were attacks made by France and the US.
 * Ostrovsky conspiracy theory: the former Mossad agent Victor Ostrovsky has accused Mossad of knowing of the plans for the bombing, but not telling the US government
 * the bombing was catergorised by the US as an act of terrorism because it was an act of terror directed against off-duty servicemen. On the other hand, academic Oded Lowenheim believes that the US Marines were allied with the Maronite Christians in Lebanon and were actively engaging in battles, so they had a non-combatant status.

here is a sketch map of the route taken by the suicide bomber the USMC barracks in Beirut (where the bombing took place) Recuse and Clean-up crews search for casualties

ABC-Clio [|http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=4&entryid=1078353&searchtext=1983+beirut+barracks+bombing&type=simple&option=all] The after shot of the shattered barracks from the bombing that killed 241 American troops.