Veterans Day is a time for reflection, gratitude, and remembrance. For those of us who served in the Eastern Mediterranean during the early 1980s, it is also a day to pause and honor the brothers we lost and the families who still bear that sorrow. As I look back on my time in the United States Navy, my deployment off the coast of Beirut in 1983 remains one of the most defining chapters of my life. Below are a few personal thoughts on what that service meant to me then, and why I carry both a heavy heart and an enduring sense of pride today.
Today, on Veterans Day, I find myself looking back on my time in the United States Navy—specifically my deployment off the coast of Beirut in 1983 aboard the USS Austin (LPD-4).
Over forty years have passed since we sailed those waters, yet the memories remain just as vivid. Serving aboard an amphibious transport dock during the Multinational Force peacekeeping mission meant living with a constant sense of purpose, alertness, and camaraderie. Watching the Marines go ashore while our crew worked tirelessly around the clock to support the mission taught me the true meaning of teamwork, resilience, and duty.
1983 was a heavy, defining year for everyone stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean. The sights, the tension on the horizon, and the heartbreak of October 23rd stay with you forever. My profound grief for the Sailors and Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice that day never fades, and my deepest sympathy remains with the families who have carried the weight of their loss ever since. Those experiences shaped who I am today, reminding me daily of the cost of freedom and the unbreakable bond shared between
the Sailors and Marines who stood the watch together.
Decades later, one thing has never changed: my deep, unwavering pride in having worn the uniform. To my shipmates from the USS Austin (LPD-4), to the Marines we carried, and to all who served in Beirut—I am honored to have stood beside you. Fair winds and following seas to all my fellow veterans today and always. ⚓🇺🇸
Thank you for reading, and thank you to every veteran and military family for your service and sacrifice. Standing the watch in remembrance. Proud to have served.
#USNavy #NavyVeteran #USSAustin #LPD4 #Beirut1983 #BeirutVeterans #VeteransDay #HonorAndPride #NeverForgotten
