Congressman Pence took to the House floor in remembrance of the 241 servicemembers who lost their lives in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 241 American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice on October 23, 1983, 41 years ago, in Beirut, Lebanon.
For my family, and so many families, this day is deeply emotional.
When I enlisted in 1979 as a young man, I wanted to serve and be a part of something bigger. That led me to the United States Marine Corps.
Like every Marine, I took an oath to God, to country, and to the Corps.
Semper Fidelis is not just a slogan or creed. For every Marine, it’s a way of life.
Only those who have earned the Eagle, Globe and Anchor can fully understand the faith and loyalty instilled in us in the Marine Corps.
Semper Fidelis is part of the very fabric of every Marine, past and present.
I served as a First Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines.
In 1983, my battalion was ordered to Beirut, Lebanon in support of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit.
I vividly remember the evenings we sat on the roof of the Marine barracks with the American flag flying over our heads.
The nearby barrage of small arms gunfire and mortar rounds made it very clear that we were in harm’s way.
On that terrible day, 41 years ago, a terrorist affiliated with Hezbollah and Hamas, financed by Iran, drove a truck bomb into the barracks we called home.
241 American servicemen were killed, 220 of which were my fellow Marines.
241 sons, brothers, fathers, and friends – the heroes who never returned home.
241 came in peace.
And 241 lives were stolen from us by an act of pure evil.
It was the deadliest day for the Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima.
It is by the grace of God that I was able to come home to my wife, Denise, who was expecting our first child, Nicole.
My battalion had shipped out 10 days before the bombing.
But Mr. Speaker, today is not about me.
Today is about the 241 Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines who laid down their lives to protect our freedoms.
And today is about every veteran who nobly wore the uniform of our Armed Forces.
On this somber day, I look out at the flag flying above the U.S. Capitol, and I feel the same reverence I felt standing below the stars and stripes on the roof of the Beirut barracks in 1983.
Though I will never know exactly why I was spared when so many were not, I understand that our first duty is to remember and be faithful.
Every year it does not get any easier to think of my fellow Marines who never made it back home.
In the last few months, we have seen some level of justice, with the military termination of two of those responsible for stealing 241 futures with no regard for decency or humanity.
However, while this is a moment I and so many have waited for, the families of the fallen deserve more.
It is my mission to ensure we all remember the tragedy of this day and the lives we lost.
We must always remain faithful, and never forget the ultimate sacrifice these fine Marines made on our behalf for freedom. Semper Fi.
