They Came in Peace

They came in peace. They were attacked. The Marines of 1st Battalion 8th Marines were in Lebanon to act as a buffer for those caught in the crossfire. They came in peace. They put themselves as the shield, rather than the spear we're so accustomed to seeing Marines act as. They were not here to be the hunter-killers famed for their prowess across the globe. These Marines upholding the lineage and tradition of all Marines, from Belleau Wood to Iwo Jima, the Chosen Reservoir, Hue City and Khe Sahn were there to act as a buffer, to ensure peace.They were out of their element per say, but then again Marines are always in their element as they are taught early on, on both east and west coasts that they are to improvise, adapt and overcome. So here they were in Lebanon, improvising, adapting, overcoming...they came in peace.These were the guidelines. These were not aggressive, they were there to keep the peace, a deterrent force, not an attacking force.

1. When on post, mobile or foot patrol, keep loaded magazine in weapon, bolt closed, weapon on safe, no round in the chamber.
2. Do not chamber a round unless instructed to do so by a commissioned officer unless you must act in immediate self-defense where deadly force is authorized.
3. Keep ammo for crew-served weapons readily available but not loaded in the weapon. Weapons will be on safe at all times.
4. Call local forces to assist in self-defense effort. Notify headquarters.
5. Use only minimum degree of force to accomplish any mission.
6. Stop the use of force when it is no longer needed to accomplish the mission.
7. If you receive effective hostile fire, direct your fire at the source. If possible, use friendly snipers.
8. Respect civilian property; do not attack it unless absolutely necessary to protect friendly forces.
9. Protect innocent civilians from harm.
10. Respect and protect recognized medical agencies such as Red Cross, Red Crescent, etc.

At 0622 hours on October 23, 1983, a Mercedez Benz truck...weighing 19 tons crashed through the perimeters set by the Marines. Crashing through multiple obstacles and guard shacks it came to a stop firmly in the lobby of the barracks of 1st Battalion 8th Marines where it's payload was detonated. The explosion was massive. It wrecked the entire barracks. Rubble and debris all around. The damage inflicted was due to the equivalent of roughly twenty-one thousand, yes twenty-one thousand pounds of TNT.They came in peace and were attacked while they slept. While we may not be perfect in executing our foreign policy, never forget the actions of the extremists. Those who would attack the Marines, who were acting as a buffer acting as peacekeepers, should never have rest.Let this be a lesson today as we continue to battle radical terrorism across this world. There is nothing they won't do, they have no line they won't cross.They came in peace. Remember them.