[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 168 (Wednesday, October 23, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8450-H8452]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 241 MARINES LOST IN BEIRUT, 
                                LEBANON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2019, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous materials on the topic of my Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to honor the 241 American 
heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice on this very day 36 years ago in 
Beirut, Lebanon.
  For my family and so many families, today is deeply emotional.
  When I enlisted in 1979 as a young man, I wanted to serve and be part 
of something bigger. That led me to the United States Marine Corps and, 
like every marine, I took an oath to God, country, and to the Corps.
  Semper fidelis is not just a slogan or a creed; it is a way of life 
that only those who have earned the eagle, globe, and anchor can fully 
understand. 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 head. The barrage of 
small arms gunfire and mortar rounds made it very clear that we were in 
harm's way every day.
  On this very day 36 years ago, a terrorist affiliated with Hezbollah 
and 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 never returned home. 
241 came in peace, and 241 lives were stolen from us by an act of 
absolute 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. My battalion had shipped out 
10 days before the bombing.

  Mr. Speaker, today is not about me. People may not recognize the 241 
names listed here, but they are the names of the 241 who answered the 
call of duty 36 years ago.
  Today is about those 241 soldiers, sailors, and marines who laid down 
their lives to protect our freedoms, and today is about every veteran 
who has nobly worn the uniform of our Armed Forces.
  On this somber day, I look out at the flag flying above the U.S. 
Capitol and 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.
  Mr. Speaker, three of my fellow marines, Representatives Gallagher, 
Carbajal, and Moulton, joined me to offer legislation to remember the 
faith and loyalty of the 241.
  Fellow marine, Representative Gallego, joined me to offer legislation 
to provide a sliver of justice for the Gold Star families who lost 
their loved ones. Our bill, the OORAH Act, passed both the House and 
Senate, and for that I am very grateful.
  But, Mr. Speaker, there is still work to be done here. Terrorists and 
those who support them financially must be held accountable for their 
terrible actions.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for participating in this Special 
Order to remember the sacrifice of those who answered the call of duty 
to defend our freedom in conflicts across the globe.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Baird), my 
fellow Hoosier and decorated Vietnam veteran.
  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

[[Page H8451]]

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleague in remembering the 
36th anniversary of the appalling terrorist attack on American troops 
stationed in Beirut, Lebanon, on October 23, 1983.
  This horrific attack took the lives of 241 U.S. troops and injured 
countless others. This incident marked the highest single-day death 
toll for the United States Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima.
  My friend and fellow Hoosier,   Greg Pence, was stationed in Beirut 
just 10 days before the terrorist attack and lost many fellow marines 
in the bombing.
  Here with us today, seated in the gallery, are a few of the Gold Star 
families who lost their loved ones and family members on that fateful 
day.
  Mr. Speaker, freedom truly is not free, and I thank them for their 
sacrifice and pay tribute to the brave servicemembers who paid the 
ultimate sacrifice to defend and protect the United States of America.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from West Virginia 
(Mrs. Miller), my friend and colleague.

                              {time}  1945

  Mrs. MILLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in honor of those who 
lost their lives in the Beirut terrorist attacks.
  The men and women of our Armed Forces are true American heroes. They 
demonstrate bravery, courage, and an unmatched sense of duty to us all. 
They fight each day to preserve our great Nation and defend us from 
enemies we can and cannot see.
  Our veterans have fought for our independence and liberty countless 
times throughout our history. They have fought off tyranny to defend 
freedom around the world. They have defended the innocent who cannot 
defend themselves. They have worked to preserve peace for all. Because 
of them, we are here in this Chamber today. And because of them, our 
Star-Spangled Banner waves proudly above.
  This is what the valiant men and women were doing in Beirut in 1983. 
They were part of an important peacekeeping mission when Lebanon was 
facing a violent civil war.
  In a single moment, 220 marines, 18 sailors, and 3 soldiers lost 
their lives, and 128 Americans were wounded.
  Two hundred and forty-one Americans gave their lives that day. This 
was the largest number of casualties lost in one day since the Tet 
Offensive in the Vietnam war. This event is one of the darkest in our 
history.
  As a wife, a mother, and a grandmother, I cannot imagine the pain 241 
families have endured since that fateful day 36 years ago.
  Today, I would like to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in 
Beirut, for their fearless service and for working toward the more 
peaceful world that we all want. They will never be forgotten.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Bergman), my friend, colleague, and fellow marine.
  Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, colleague, and fellow 
marine,   Greg Pence, for the honor to speak before this body tonight 
on such a--you don't call an occasion like this important, but I think 
we call it relevant.
  It is relevant because Marines, for a long time, since 1775, have 
fought to defend freedom, and we go to the fight to win, but we also go 
to the fight to help others.
  On Sunday, 23 October 1983, you have heard the story told already, 
how 220 marines, 18 sailors, and 3 soldiers lost their lives when a 
terrorist's truck bomb exploded at a barracks compound in Beirut, 
Lebanon.
  The same day, 58 of our French brothers in arms lost their lives in 
an additional attack by Hezbollah.
  In what would be the deadliest day for the Marine Corps since the 
battle of Iwo Jima, seven of the marines and sailors were Michiganders, 
including Lance Corporal David Bousum of Fife Lake, Michigan.
  I remember that day very vividly. At the time, I was a KC-130 pilot 
stationed at Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois, flying the KC-130 
refuelers. We used to fly all around the world, in and out of the 
Middle East doing our mission.
  Five days after the bombing was the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball 
for our unit and our greater Chicago marines. And that year, we had as 
our guest of honor then-Major General Al Gray, commander of the 2nd 
Marine Division, who a couple years after that became the commandant of 
the Marine Corps.
  The Marines are full of tradition and pageantry. And I will tell you 
what, the only thing we do more than celebrate, is grieve. And of the 
roughly 50 years of birthday balls that I have attended, that one was 
heavy with grief. We had lost our brothers through a heinous act, and a 
cowardly act. It took us a while to get over it at that time, but, in 
the end, you really never get over it. All you do is set your course 
for the future fight to make sure that that does not happen again.
  The loss of life will always have an impact on our entire armed 
services community and our Nation. Our mission, as the Marine Corps, is 
to be the most ready when the Nation is least ready, and we will always 
be that, whether it be in the 1770s or in the 2070s and beyond.
  Today, we honor the fallen, we honor their lives, their legacies, and 
their families.
  We will never forget the sacrifices made by Michigan's own that day. 
We lost the following warriors, marines, and sailors:
  Lance Corporal David Bousum from Fife Lake
  Lance Corporal Johansen Banks from Detroit
  Sergeant Anthony K. Brown from Detroit
  Hospital Corpsman 2 Michael H. Johnson from Detroit
  Sergeant Michael R. Massman from Port Huron
  Sergeant William H. Pollard from Flint
  First Lieutenant William A. Zimmerman from Grand Haven
  We will never forget.
  In the Marines' Hymn, the third stanza ends with: ``If the Army and 
the Navy ever look on Heaven's scenes, they will find the streets are 
guarded by United States Marines.''
  I would suggest to you that some of those marines are on duty today. 
We honor their service, we honor their sacrifice, and we honor our 
country by remembering. God bless you all and Semper Fidelis.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends, colleagues, and 
distinguished guests in the gallery for their participation in my 
Special Order.
  As a Beirut veteran, I am deeply moved by their remarks, and I know 
their words will comfort the Gold Star Families across this Nation.
  Today, on the 36th anniversary of this horrific attack, and every 
day, we must strive to ensure that all are remembered, and all are 
honored. We remember their loyalty, their selflessness, and their 
courage. We are humbled by their tremendous sacrifice.
  We must hold them closely in our hearts and hometowns. We must live 
in gratitude for the precious gift they have given to us here today.
  Most of all, we must uphold our promise to honor our fallen. We must 
remain always faithful.
  Mr. Speaker, I will always remain faithful. God bless America, and 
Semper Fi.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, in the morning of October 22, 1983, a 
suicide bomber drove a truck full of explosives into a Marine compound 
in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 241 U.S. service members. This was the 
deadliest attack against our U.S. Marines since Iwo Jima.
  These Marines were stationed in Beirut to assist with the Palestinian 
withdrawal during the Lebanese civil war--they were protecting those 
who were being persecuted and fought to keep peace in the area.
  There is a memorial at Camp Lejeune for those who lost their lives 
that day and it reads, ``They came in Peace.'' I do not think I could 
say it any better. Our service men and women go overseas to ensure war 
does not reach our shores. They selflessly put aside their fears, and 
without hesitation say bravely, ``I will serve, send me.''
  Some may know that my dear friend, Congressman Greg Pence, was 
serving that day in Beirut. I am thankful that my friend's life was 
spared on that day.
  For those who perished that day we will never forget your ultimate 
sacrifice to your country. Of those who passed away, eight were from 
Texas:
  Leland E. Gann, Matilde Hernandez Jr. and Timothy R McMahon from 
Austin; Rodolfo

[[Page H8452]]

Hernandez from El Paso; Michael S. Fulton from Ft. Worth; Marcus E. 
Coleman from Dallas; Johnnie D. Caesar from El Campo; and David W. 
Brown from Conroe.
  We must never forget this day and those who were murdered because of 
what the freedoms they believed in so fiercely they were willing to put 
their life on line.

                          ____________________