I Lost My Childhood Friend ON That Day

[Bonnie]

His name was Tom Stowe he was the son of a preacher, a marine, and my friend. He was a good bit older than I was but he was the big brother that took me to concerts, and protected me from the big bad world. I will never forget the moment I found out he had died. He enlisted at the minute he turned 18, very soon after that he married his girlfriend, then left to be stationed in Lebanon. While he was away he found out he was going to have a baby. His wife couldn't wait till he came back home on leave to finally meet his new daughter, he never came home. The day of the funeral came a care package from Lebanon with gifts for his wife and new daughter. That military funeral was the saddest day I can remember.

Ronald Reagan then president retaliated by pulling out of Lebanon. For all those who wonder why terrorists are un-afraid of us remember this tragedy and all the others that went unanswered, and be thankful we have a president that has the conviction to fight back instead of capitulating and cowering to them.

Beirut Barracks Attack Remembered
Oct. 23, 1983 Suicide Bombing Killed 241 Americans

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/23/world/main579638.shtml

(CBS/AP) Quiet commemorations were planned Thursday for the 20th anniversary of the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut — the deadliest terrorist attack on Americans prior to Sept. 11.

A truck full of explosives ripped through the Marine barracks on October 23rd, 1983, killing 241 U.S. Marines, sailors and soldiers.

Services were being held at the national Beirut memorial at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Observances include a candlelight vigil and a wreath-laying ceremony, with the names of the Beirut victims read by family members and other veterans.

The Marines were in Lebanon as part of an international peacekeeping force trying to stabilize the country, which had been torn by a civil war between Christians — with their ally Israel — and Muslims.

A U.S. contingent entered Lebanon in July 1982 to oversee the departure of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which Israel had invaded to displace. That American detachment left in September 1982, but U.S. forces returned later that month when violence resumed.

In April 1983, the U.S. embassy in Beirut was struck by a 400-pound suicide truck bomb, which killed 63 people, including 17 Americans, and wiped out the CIA's Middle East bureau.

On Oct. 23, 1983, terrorists hijacked a water delivery truck on its way to the Beirut International Airport Marine barracks and sent another truck, loaded with explosives, in its place.

Ismalal Ascari, an Iranian, drove the 19-ton truck over the barbed wire fence around the barracks, past two guard posts, and into the center of the compound, according to a federal court order issued earlier this year in a case brought by relatives of the victims.

"The resulting explosion was the largest non-nuclear explosion that had ever been detonated on the face of the Earth," the court order read. It was equal in force to between 15,000 and 21,000 pounds of TNT.

"The force of its impact ripped locked doors from their doorjambs at the nearest building, which was 256 feet away," read the ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth. "Trees located 370 feet away were shredded and completely exfoliated."

All the windows at the airport control tower, half a mile away, shattered. A crater eight feet deep was carved into the earth, and 15 feet of rubble was all that remained of the four-story Marine barracks.

"The force of the explosion ripped the building from its foundation. The building then imploded upon itself," read a Defense Department report on the attack. "Almost all the occupants were crushed or trapped inside the wreckage."

A U.S. investigation blamed lax security for allowing the bomber to get into the Marines' compound.

Lamberth ruled in May than Iran was responsible for the attack because of its support for Hezbollah. "It is beyond question that Hezbollah and its agents received massive material and technical support from the Iranian government," Lamberth wrote.

U.S. troops left Lebanon in February 1984.

 

[Annie]

His name was Tom Stowe he was the son of a preacher, a marine, and my friend. He was a good bit older than I was but he was the big brother that took me to concerts, and protected me from the big bad world. I will never forget the moment I found out he had died. He enlisted at the minute he turned 18, very soon after that he married his girlfriend, then left to be stationed in Lebanon. While he was away he found out he was going to have a baby. His wife couldn't wait till he came back home on leave to finally meet his new daughter, he never came home. The day of the funeral came a care package from Lebanon with gifts for his wife and new daughter. That military funeral was the saddest day I can remember.

Ronald Reagan then president retaliated by pulling out of Lebanon. For all those who wonder why terrorists are un-afraid of us remember this tragedy and all the others that went unanswered, and be thankful we have a president that has the conviction to fight back instead of capitulating and cowering to them.

Bonnie, I'm sorry for your loss. That had to be the lowlight of the Reagan presidency, and it WAS very low. We are still paying a price for it, along with many, many other bad decisions by those in power, of both parties.

 

[Bonnie]

Bonnie, I'm sorry for your loss. That had to be the lowlight of the Reagan presidency, and it WAS very low. We are still paying a price for it, along with many, many other bad decisions by those in power, of both parties.

Your so right!!
I have to say that I loved Reagan, but even he in that moment and that bad decision has in some way led us to where we are now. Iran does not see us as a serious threat, and if we elect Democrats in a few months whose only desire is to impeach Bush, and withdraw from all war on terror we are cooked.

 

[Annie]

Your so right!!
I have to say that I loved Reagan, but even he in that moment and that bad decision has in some way led us to where we are now. Iran does not see us as a serious threat, and if we elect Democrats in a few months whose only desire is to impeach Bush, and withdraw from all war on terror we are cooked.

When I'm really down, I think that the majority of Americans do not see what difference it makes. The religious part would bother them, but they seem to think, 'anything' is better than war. They would learn differently, but then it would be too late.

 

[Bonnie]

When I'm really down, I think that the majority of Americans do not see what difference it makes. The religious part would bother them, but they seem to think, 'anything' is better than war. They would learn differently, but then it would be too late.

Yes!!
Too late

 

[sealybobo]

Your so right!!
I have to say that I loved Reagan, but even he in that moment and that bad decision has in some way led us to where we are now. Iran does not see us as a serious threat, and if we elect Democrats in a few months whose only desire is to impeach Bush, and withdraw from all war on terror we are cooked.

They made a movie out of it a year later. Charlie Wilson's War.

 

[sealybobo]

His name was Tom Stowe he was the son of a preacher, a marine, and my friend. He was a good bit older than I was but he was the big brother that took me to concerts, and protected me from the big bad world. I will never forget the moment I found out he had died. He enlisted at the minute he turned 18, very soon after that he married his girlfriend, then left to be stationed in Lebanon. While he was away he found out he was going to have a baby. His wife couldn't wait till he came back home on leave to finally meet his new daughter, he never came home. The day of the funeral came a care package from Lebanon with gifts for his wife and new daughter. That military funeral was the saddest day I can remember.

Ronald Reagan then president retaliated by pulling out of Lebanon. For all those who wonder why terrorists are un-afraid of us remember this tragedy and all the others that went unanswered, and be thankful we have a president that has the conviction to fight back instead of capitulating and cowering to them.

The reason I came to this thread is I lost a childhood friend today. I always thought I'd be the first to go. Out of all of us. Maybe 20 guys? Go figure.