Category: Beirut bombings

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Higgins, William R.
Marines Colonel

William R. Higgins, age 44, from Danville, Kentucky, Boyle County

Service era: Beirut bombings

Date of death: Friday, July 6, 1990
Death details: Captured in 1988 while on a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. He was held hostage and then murdered. U.N. sources in Lebanon said they believe that Higgins died of torture in December 1988 after an escape attempt. His remains were given to U.S. diplomat in December 1991 after officials identified the remains, which were dumped on a roadside around that time in Beirut.

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, findagrave.com, Associated Press (1988)

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Hendrickson, John
Marines

John Hendrickson.

Service era: Beirut bombings

Date of death: Friday, April 13, 1990

Source: White House Commission on Rememberance

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Stethem, Robert D.
Navy Steel worker 2nd class

Robert D. Stethem from Waldorf, Maryland.

Service era: Beirut bombings

Date of death: Saturday, June 15, 1985
Death details: Was returning from an assignment in the Middle East when the commercial jet he was aboard was hijacked by terrorists. He was shot to death after being tortured
Cemetery: Arlington National; USS Stethem named in his honor

Source: White House Commission on Rememberance, U.S. Navy

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Hasenfus, Michael
Army Corporal

Michael Hasenfus, age 21, from Dedham, Massachusetts.

Parents: Charles J. and Marion E. (Metcalf)

School: Needham High (1981)

Service era: Beirut bombings

Date of death: Saturday, October 20, 1984. Died in an accident in Beirut

Cemetery: Brookdale

Source: White House Commission on Rememberance, Boston Herald (1984), Deedham High Yearbook 

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Wagner, Michael Navy petty officer

Michael Wagner, age 30, from Zebulon, North Carolina.

Service era: Beirut bombings

Parent: Donald Wagner

Date of death: Thursday, September 20, 1984

Death details: Among 23 people killed when two terrorists in a van loaded with explosives drove past concrete barriers and through a barrage of gunfire at the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon.

Source: White House Commission on Rememberance, UPI (1984), Greensboro News & Record

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Welch, Kenneth
Army Warrant officer 2nd class

Kenneth Welch, age 33, from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Service era: Beirut bombings

Parent: Betty

Date of death: Thursday, September 20, 1984

Death details: Among 23 people killed when two terrorists in a van loaded with explosives drove past concrete barriers and through a barrage of gunfire at the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon.

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, kennethwelch.com, UPI (1984) 

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Dramis, George Louis
Marines Lance corporal

George L. Dramis, age 19, from Cape May Court, New Jersey.

Service era: Beirut bombings

Date of death: Monday, January 30, 1984

Death details: During one of the heaviest mortar attacks at the airport he was killed by a bullet to the chest from a sniper.

Source: White House Commission on Rememberance, Facebook

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Hernandez, Rodolfo
Marines

Rodolfo Hernandez from El Paso, Texas, El Paso county.

Service era: Beirut bombings

Date of death: Monday, January 30, 1984

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance

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Gargano, Edward J.
Marines Corporal

Edward J. Gargano, age 21, from Quincy, Massachusetts.

Service era: Beirut bombings

Parent: Mary Gargano

Date of death: Sunday, January 8, 1984

Source: White House Commission on Rememberance, Miami Herald (1984)