From Stephen Weygandt: Weygandt, Steven P. Rank: CPL / USMC (at time) [later a SGT] Lebanon Unit: BLT 3/8, 24th MAU Currently Living: Albany, OR USA Military: 0151/0341 81/88 MCRD San Diego Platoon 2071 Nov 81 Out: MarBrks-Keflavik, Iceland | Camp Lejeune, 1stBn, 8thMar & 3rdBn, 8thMar | 24thMAU, American Embassy, Beirut Association: In Lebanon from 14 Feb 84 - 26 Aug 84. Lost former roommate, fellow Marine, and good friend, LCPL Lyndon Hue (we called him Max). Comments: I applaud your efforts with regard to this tribute [i.e. the Beirut Memorial On Line]. I had little direct involvement with the event of 23 Oct 83, however I received email from you [i.e. Webmaster, BMOL] requesting permission to post my information. If I meet your criteria for involvement, you may list me if you wish. My story with regard to this event is as follows In winter 1982 I was stationed at Marine Barracks, Keflavik, Iceland. My roommate and I were near completion of our tour there and received orders to report to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines. We both held MOS's in the admin field so we would naturally go to Headquarters and Service Company. My roommate, LCpl Lyndon Hue (we called him Max) reported as scheduled while I, however, extended my tour in Iceland an extra three months since I was engaged to a Navy gal I had met there. By the time I reported for duty at Camp Lejeune in May, 1stBn, 8thMar had long since left for Beirut on deployment. I was reassigned to 3rdBn, 8th Mar. I was at Camp Lejeune on Oct.23, 1983 preparing for deployment to Beirut. I'll never forget the shock and horror we all felt that tragic day. I read the casualty lists as soon as they were posted and my worst fears had been confirmed. My former roommate, fellow Marine, and good friend, Max Hue, was listed among the dead. I attended the memorial service at Camp Lejeune as part of the contingent from my unit. It was a cold, miserable, rainy day which fit the mood of the assemblage as we listened to President Ronald Reagan give his memorial speech. Three months later I was on a ship bound for Beirut. I remember seeing the city scape of Beirut for the first time from the deck of our ship. A smoky haze hung over the city, buildings were pock marked with artillery hits, small arms fire could be heard on occasion and every once in awhile an artillery round would explode in the hills above the city. It was a sobering experience. I felt fear and yet anger and eagerness to perform my duty. As it turned out, not one Sailor or Marine from the 24th MAU of 1984 lost his life during our tour in Beirut (thank God). But I will never forget the sacrifice of the men that lost their lives in the performance of their duty to our country. I am proud to have served with them. God must have had other plans for me because it was sheer luck that I wasn't in that building that morning. I sometimes wonder if another Marine filled the billet that I should have been in and therefore lost his life. I'll never know. Fate has a funny way of working things out sometimes. I visited Jacksonville again while still in the Reserves just prior to my final discharge in 1988. I visited the memorial near the Camp Johnson gate. I looked at the names on the wall and realized how easily it could have been my name up there too. We owe it to them not to forget, and to strive for peace and understanding between nations. This event remains a milestone in my life. I will remember it and the men we lost for the rest of my life. Years later, I visited the memorial near the Camp Johnson gate. I looked at the names on the wall and realized how easily it could have been my name up there too. We owe it to them not to forget, and to strive for peace and understanding between nations. This event remains a milestone in my life. I will remember it and the men we lost for the rest of my life. E-Mail: Please use private e-mail within the database record (NOTE: E-mail sent to the above address is returned, so it may be invalid or out-of-date)