Customer Reviews

The Root: The Marines in Beirut, August 1982-February 1984

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an updated review. My last review gave the book 4.5 of 5 stars for a critical typo. Mr. Hammel was kind enough to point out that the typo had long since been fixed.

Here is my review:

A hard look at our duty in The Root from the Grunt's perspective. Very comprehensive, leaves nothing out.

It provides an eye-opening view of Beruit and what we experienced there. Often a contray view of what the media communicated to Americans during that time.

Get the book. Read it. Cry. Be proud that you are an American.

I am proud to have served with the 8th Comm Bn.(81-84) during this difficult time. As Admiral Chester Nimitz said "Uncommon valor was a common virtue," speaking of Marines and their actions on Mount Suribachi; this book shows that the Marines of our time still display the same courage and seflessness of Marines past.

Semper Fi!

On Sunday morning, October 23, 1983, a suicide fanatic drove a 5-ton truck loaded with explosives through the chain-link fence surrounding the U.S. Marines' compound at the airport in Beirut, Lebanon, and sped toward the 4-story concrete barracks. Six seconds later, the truck crashed into the lobby of the barracks and detonated its deadly cargo. The building was demolished; 241 Americans were killed and another 100 were injured in the blast. This is the story of those Marines.

The book is well written and frequently draws on first-hand accounts of members of the 1,800-man 24th Marine Amphibious Unit. They were part of a multinational military force that was intended to stabilize Beirut so as to permit the Lebanese government to carry out its responsibilities in the face of an all-out conflict between the Israeli army and a number of Syrian-backed militia units. In other words, the Marines were supposed to be part of a neutral buffer between the Israelis and the militiamen. At the same time, the Marines were helping to train the armed forces of the Lebanon government. In August 1983, Israel withdrew its forces from Lebanon. The surrounding militia now viewed the Marines as a partisan ally of the government and Marine outposts east of the airport began to come under heavy rifle, grenade and mortar fire. Top military and state department leaders in Washington tightly restricted the Marines' response to the increasing hostile fire. The Marines were placed in an untenable military position for diplomatic reasons that have never been articulated by anyone.

While the book benefits from the input of more than 200 witnesses to the tragedy, the author was handicapped by the refusal of the department of defense, the state department and the White House to provide any records of the Beirut bombing. We can only guess why the Marines' requests for better means of defending themselves were denied. We can only guess why VIPs and reporters touring Beirut did not notice the increasing hostilities. Did higher authorities tell the Marines what to say and what not to say? Even so, elected officials and professional reporters should be expected to exercise some judgment on their own. We are told that government records may become available by the year 2014. That is a long time to wait.

In summary it is an interesting and exciting book. It is also encouraging in that it presents the courage and tenacity of U.S. Marines given a very difficult assignment.

A chronicle of all that can go wrong when misguided policies and intentions expose our troops to dangers and horrific results that could well have been avoided or, at the very least, mitigated. The Marines in Beirut were forced to abandon every precept of defensive theory ~ billeted in a single, exposed structure, for instance ~ to satisfy the political "don't make it look like we're there to DO something" heebeejeebees of the Administration. You will weep like a baby at the heroics; not just of the rescues after the bombing, but of the incredible difficulties the Marines faced just walking the streets among the warring factions. The Rules of Engagement did not allow them to return fire (which is happening at this moment in another Middle East conflict) without utilizing a torturous chain of command process, most times resulting in denying them permission to defend themselves. As you can imagine, it became open season on Marines. And, if you care about our troops at all, you will be seething with anger at their impotence and treatment by the Administration, the DOD and State Department.

This is a magnificent book. These are lessons that have yet to be learned. The only ones who suffer for such political restrictions are the people we should be cherishing and protecting with all the power at our command, if we need send them in harm's way.

Semper Fi.

This book is straight to the bone. It tells of the days before and after the bombing of the barracks. I read this book and had tears in my eyes from the frustration of our government's handcuffing of the perimeter guards by not having loaded weapons. I, being a former Marine (84-88), had to read it. It is a tribute to the many Marines and sailors who gave their lives to this country. Read the book and stand and salute the brave men who fell so far from home!!

I have seen the book but haven't read it yet but I do know of one error in it. At the American Embassy the vehicle that got shot up after the bombing in April,'83 wasn't at the hands of the Amtrac Marines, it was at the hands of Pvt James Metro & L/Cpl K.D. Williams of 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines. How do I know? I was their Squad leader there and I was bringing up the relief Guard force the next morning. I was told by my fellow squadleader, Sgt Allen, what had transpired the night before in our turnover. I have recently seen Jim on a visit down to North Carolina and he showed me the book. I told him he should get a hold of the author and get the story straight as I can vouch for him. I'll have to get the book and see for myself if the facts are corrected.

Good account of the big picture of the events leading up to the "bomb blast". I wish it covered the operations afterwards more, but good none the less.

A hard look at our duty in The Root from the Grunt's perspective. Very comprehensive, leaves nothing out.

It provides an eye-opening view of Beruit and what we experienced there. Often a contray view of what the media communicated to Americans during that time.

Get the book. Read it. Cry. Be proud that you are an American.

I am proud to have served with the 8th Comm Bn.(81-84) during this difficult time. As Admiral Chester Nimitz said "Uncommon valor was a common virtue," speaking of Marines and their actions on Mount Suribachi; this book shows that the Marines of our time still display the same courage and seflessness of Marines past.

This book would have receieved 5 of 5 stars if he got the year of the bombing right. My copy shows a photo of the devastated BLT HQ. Underneath, "October 23, 1984." Should be 1983. Attention to detail!

Semper Fi

This wonderful account tells the story of the peacekeeping Americans who came to Beirut to help aid the peace efforts of the international community. Instead the Americans only found bloodshed as fascist terrorists bombed their barracks and their embassy, all this because the Americans dared to try to prevent the genocide taking place against the christians of lebanon. This book explains how the terrorists bombed the americans so the americans would leave and the terrorists could go back to committing genocide while no one watched. A wonderful account, a great anecdote that shows how the war on terror should not be fought.

A very good book that tells it like it is. I know, I was there. Mr. Hammel's book should be required reading in every high school in America.

I bought this book used...scared to death on what condition it was going to come in...It was in Better than perfect condition when it got to me!!

Thanks!!!