How can I find out if any Navy Crosses were awarded for actions in the 1983 Beirut bombing?

Sgt Andrew Pouliot — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 19:41:06 -0400

In 2015 while at a church function with my grandfather, I was introduced to a man I'll call Mr. X, who served in the Marines 1981-1991. As a young LCpl, he had been with 8th Marines in Beirut in 1983. A family friend and former Marine Cpl named Dave told me that Mr. X had been awarded the Navy Cross for actions in Beirut on the day of the barracks bombing that ultimately killed 241 US Marines. When I pressed for details out of curiosity, Dave told me Mr. X didn't like to talk about it.
Mr. X is very involved in veterans' organizations where I live. He's also a Patriot Rider. Over the next few years I would come to know him as quiet, humble, and friendly. At one point he told me a little of his story surrounding the Navy Cross, how he was on a foot patrol with his squad when they heard the blast and saw the smoke where the Marine Barracks had been. He told me the squad made their way back to the barracks in a running gun battle, and it sounded like he had saved a few lives in the process.
One day in 2019 I was doing research online for valor awards and found a page that showed Service Cross and MOH recipients from all US conflicts. I was seeing Silver Stars and Navy Crosses in Panama, MOHs in Vietnam and Somalia, and plenty of everything from both World Wars, but one conflict I didn't see was Lebanon. I started researching on the Internet about awards and I failed to find any official evidence of a Navy Cross being awarded in Lebanon. Mr. X's name matched his FB profile in a Google search but showed nothing else. I read through news stories of the Oct 23, 1983 bombing and found one article that stated several Bronze and Silver Stars were under consideration for troops who were there, but nothing of the second-highest Valor award being awarded to a Marine LCpl. Since then I've tried looking it up and surreptotiously reaching out on a few FB pages to see if Mr. X is telling the truth, to no avail. I haven't made a request through the National Archives for his service record and have hit a brick wall when speaking with older Marine vets who know him. Dave even told me when I pulled him aside, "You know, I thought the same thing when I first met him, I did research and asked around and couldn't find anything ... but now it doesn't bother me. We're all good Catholics and I wouldn't hold it against him if he were lying ... and besides, sometimes awards are classified, maybe he was doing secret stuff when he got it". I have a hard time trying to figure out what a LCpl in a rifle platoon would be doing that warrants such activity. I got the impression that nobody wanted to even consider this good man could be lying.

Were any Navy Crosses awarded in Lebanon? How could I find this information?

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 4 at 2021 7:53 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 19:53:13 -0400

The easiest thing to do is check the USMC datbase for valor awards. It reflects everyone who was given a Valor medal and when and what for.

Here is the Navy Cross DB

https://valor.defense.gov/recipients/marine-corps-navy-cross-recipients/

Marine Corps - Navy Cross Recipients - U.S. Military Awards for Valor - Top 3

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 4 at 2021 7:57 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 19:57:41 -0400

Have you contacted the Beirut Vets group for assistance? I imagine they can help vet this individual

https://www.beirutveterans.org/final-muster

https://www.beirutveterans.org/final-muster

Final Muster | Beirut Veterans of America

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 4 at 2021 8:03 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 20:03:02 -0400

Very unlikely considering the Navy Cross requires heroism in action against the enemy. The Beirut bombing was a reaction after the fact. There were rescues, but there was no subsequent enemy activity.
So there was no opportunity for anyone to earn valor awards.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Oct 4 at 2021 8:43 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 20:43:48 -0400

Sgt Andrew Pouliot Was it not Thomas Jefferson who is quoted as saying: “The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts as are only injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
~ Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President. Does it matter to you? Does the individual actually wear a Navy Cross or replica insignia?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2021 3:56 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 15:56:32 -0400

You've gotten some good recommendations and comments here. I agree. Reaching out to the VSOs he belongs to and getting them to confirm his service would be a good move, but 214s can easily be manipulated and they have been in the past by posers. Has he used the Navy Cross to gain anything? If you're still in touch with him, put me in touch with him. I do freelance work and profile veterans for mags like VFW and other outlets and I'd be happy to interview him and share his story. If it is legit, it's a great story. If it is a lie, well then you will have your answer real quick. I always ask for verification from veterans who claim awards (unless they are widely known for their heroics). It's just good reporting and you don't want to feed the Stolen Valor beast.

Response by MSG Greg Kelly made Oct 6 at 2021 7:25 AM

MSG Greg Kelly — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 07:25:36 -0400

Duane Allen Hoffman, 1983 1984, Martin L. Brandtner USMC, Joseph P. Donovan USMC,
John L. Canley upgraded to MOH

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Oct 6 at 2021 3:41 PM

MSG Thomas Currie — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 15:41:11 -0400

Just one comment: If there ever was a "classified" award, the person who received it would not be able to tell anyone that he had received that award. Every story I have ever heard about a "classified" award was complete BS.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2021 8:45 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 20:45:27 -0400

Go with this DoD link. As you can see by the list, Lebanon is NOT listed for issuance of the NC.

https://valor.defense.gov/recipients/marine-corps-navy-cross-recipients/

Marine Corps - Navy Cross Recipients - U.S. Military Awards for Valor - Top 3

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Oct 8 at 2021 12:16 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 00:16:15 -0400

The only medals issued to any Marines in Beirut , Lebanon were Purple Hearts which the Commandant of the Marine Corps decided all those wounded or killed would receive. The bombing was from a suicide vehicle and NOT any ground action. Rewards also are NOT classified. Only one person, Marine Lance Corporal even saw the suicide bomber who looked right at Him and sped into the compound with His explosive laden truck The US Military People were not even allowed to have their weapons loaded. They did receive sniper fire after them bombing. There were some US Military people that did suffer from gunshot wounds. Although People in this bombing were put in for other medals including Silver stars and bronze stars ALL of the request were disapproved and NONE were issued. No one was even nominated for a Navy Cross let alone issued one.

There were 273 Killed of which 220 were Marines. In addition there were 151 Wounded that did survive.

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 8 at 2021 8:11 AM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 08:11:30 -0400

https://valor.defense.gov/Recipients/Marine-Corps-Navy-Cross-Recipients/

There are no Marine recipients of the Navy Cross for action during the Beirut Bombing listed in the DoD website listing all recipients of the Navy Cross.

Marine Corps - Navy Cross Recipients - U.S. Military Awards for Valor - Top 3