2018 -- H 8238

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LC005547

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND MEMORIALIZING THE “RHODE ISLAND NINE”, THE NINE RHODE

ISLAND MARINES, SERGEANT TIMOTHY GIBLIN, OF NORTH PROVIDENCE,

CORPORAL RICK R. CRUDALE, OF WARWICK, CORPORAL EDWARD S. IACOVINO,

JR., OF WARWICK, CORPORAL DAVID C. MASSA, OF WARREN, CORPORAL THOMAS

A. SHIPP, OF WOONSOCKET, CORPORAL EDWARD SOARES, JR., OF TIVERTON,

CORPORAL JAMES F. SILVIA, OF MIDDLETOWN, CORPORAL STEPHEN E. SPENCER,

OF PORTSMOUTH, AND LANCE CORPORAL THOMAS A. JULIAN, OF PORTSMOUTH,

WHO TRAGICALLY PERISHED IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION ON OCTOBER 23, 1983,

IN A TERRORIST ATTACK IN BEIRUT, LEBANON

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Azzinaro, McLaughlin, Abney, and Vella-
Wilkinson

     Date Introduced: May 24, 2018

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, During the Lebanese Civil War, various Marine Amphibious Units were

sent by then President Reagan to Beirut in an attempt to keep the peace in that volatile region.

The 24th Marine Amphibious Unit of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, served two tours of duty in

Beirut, Lebanon, first from October through February of 1983, and later from May through

November of 1983; and

     WHEREAS, On the tragic day of October 23, 1983, a yellow Mercedes stake-bed truck

carrying compressed gas-enhanced explosives, crashed into the Marine barracks with the driver

detonating a suicide bomb, killing 241 United States service personnel, including 220 United

States Marines, 18 sailors, and three soldiers. FBI forensics experts later calculated that this bomb

carried the equivalent of 12,000 pounds of TNT, the largest non-nuclear explosion to date. A

second suicide bomb attack killed 58 French Peacekeepers and six civilians; and

     WHEREAS, The terrorist attack in Beirut, Lebanon, resulted in the largest group of

casualties the United States Marines have suffered since the Battle of Iowa Jima during World

War II. Of the 241 United States personnel that perished in the attack, Rhode Island suffered the

most losses with nine Marines killed. It was the worst day for Rhode Island service personnel

since the United States Civil War. Many experts consider this attack to be some of the first

casualties in the Global War on Terror; and

     WHEREAS, Each and every year, on October 23rd, an annual Beirut Memorial Service is

held in the upstairs meeting room of the Portsmouth Historical Society to honor and memorialize

the Rhode Island Nine and the additional 232 United States personnel who were killed in Beirut

while in service to our nation. On these solemn occasions, we remember the heroic sacrifice these

brave young men made, we comfort their families, and we recall their lives before this tragedy

occurred; and

     WHEREAS, The young Marines who perished on that fateful day were full of promise

and potential. One Marine, Corporal Rick Crudale, a Field Radio Operator, had been on the cover

of Time Magazine just twenty days before the fateful attack. He left behind his wife, Heidi

Petrozzi. Sergeant Timothy Giblin, an Administrative Clerk in the Marines, left behind his wife,

Valerie, and his daughter, Tiffany. His brother, Donald, was also stationed in Beirut at this time

and accompanied his brother's body back to the United States. Corporal David Massa was

planning on attending college after he had fulfilled his military obligations. Corporal Edward

Soares, Jr., was a member of the ROTC in high school and was planning on marrying Lisa

Jusseaume in early 1984. Corporal James Silvia played football and ran track in high school. He

was a cook in the Marines and was planning on attending culinary school in the future. Corporal

Stephen Spencer, brother-in-law of Corporal Silvia, was a native of Florida who had moved to

Rhode Island after marrying Lynn Silvia. He had been shipped to Beirut the day after he was

married. Lance Corporal Thomas Julian was an Intelligence specialist in the Marines. He was a

life Scout in the Boy Scouts. Corporal Thomas Shipp served the Marines as a Mortarman. All

these special young men were so full of life and their loss has left an unfillable void in the hearts

of their families and all who knew and loved them. May we never forget the ultimate sacrifice

they made on behalf of our nation and may we never forget the immense grief their loved ones

have lived with since the tragic day of October 23, 1983; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

honors and memorializes the "Rhode Island Nine", the nine Marines from Rhode Island who

perished in the terror attack in Beirut, Lebanon, on October 23, 1983; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House recognizes Mr. Michael Harris, our friend and colleague,

and the Assistant Recorder for the Rhode Island House of Representatives, who served our nation

with bravery as a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. Mr. Harris was in the

barracks that was attacked on the tragic day of October 23, 1983, and has never forgotten the

fellow Marines who perished in this terror attack. Mr. Harris has diligently kept a memorial book

of the "Rhode Island Nine" and this information is vital to the remembrance of this tragedy; and

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be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Adjutant General, Major

General Christopher P. Callahan, and to the United States Marine Corps Commandant, General

Robert Neller.

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