Beirut Barracks bombing remembered

Jeff Nashton, a central New Yorker is in Washington DC on October 23rd, 2008 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Beirut Barracks bombing. 241 American soldiers were killed. Jeff was one of the survivors... This song was written back then.

Here is a recent letter written to Jeff by the songwriter from Texas:

Hi there,

Hope everything is going well. The title of the song is "The Ballad of "Semper Fi". I wrote it after hearing President Reagan describe the horror of the bombing and the valor of the young men who were the victims. He referred to General Kelly's video describing the moment he pinned a medal on Jeff in the Hospital. He said he was blind, with nearly every bone broken and had more tubes coming in and out of his body than he had ever seen in one man. The General said "he still had the strength to scribble this note" and he showed it to the camera. "It says Semper Fi, and to a Marine that means always faithful. It's enough to bring tears to a grown mans eyes." My own son wasn't too much younger than those men in Beirut and that hit me in the heart

I was so moved I went to my piano and wrote the song in a matter of minutes. At the time it felt like that boys spirit had flown in my window to help me. In the song the Marine dies but I was so delighted to later hear he had survived.

May God bless him and all the young men that stand on the vanguard of out freedom and defend us against our enemies. May there be a special place in heaven for their souls.


Frank Patterson

Category:

Music

Tags:

• beirut
• barracks
• bombing
• terrorism
• jeff
• nashton
• semper
• fi

[fmpmgmt1]

The song is "The Ballad of Semper Fi" written and recorded by Frank Patterson. Check April, 94 issue of US Magazine for the story. You can contact Mr. Patterson's publisher at fmpmgmt@msn.com. All royalties go to US Marine Corp chikdrens fund for the benefit of the children of the deceased marines . God bless them!

[dogtagsdc]

The song is "Semper Fi" written and sung by Eric Horner / Eric Horner Ministries. His wife's husband was also KIA in the bombing.

[tenderheart59ej]

Where may i get a cope of this song My brother died in the beruit bombing in 1983 have been trying to get this song for a while tenderheart59@comcast.net

[johnluke1169]

Let us not put ourselves into tactically disadvantaged positions again. Let us remember how we went to help bring forth a peace and how we were betrayed.

[DMJaber]

Poor american troops who died by being sent on a blind march for the sake of Israel.

I feel sorry for the USA, the reason you're in war is Israel. You don't mess with Lebanon..

[njjroberts]

@njjroberts by other ways i mean peaceful. no disrespect to anyone who died here. 

[njjroberts]

if saudia arabia built a massive base in my country id be pretty pissed, however cause i dont live in the 12th centuary no more id try get rid of them tru other means, truck bombs are kinda lazy, suppose it did the job, why were america there btw?

[noose4]

beautiful video, i was in boot camp on Parrris Island when the barracks were blown up, thanks for putting this tribute up.

[peterm3964]

God loves dead soldiers .

God has a HARD ON for MARINES .

We are jolly green giants walking the earth .... with guns .and in exchange for all this power we keep heaven stocked with fresh souls

M.I.C.K.E.Y..M.O.U.S.E.

[KultureJamCollective]

This is what we get for meddling in something we had no right getting involved in.