SFC Terry Lee Gilden
Dave Hardin reminds us that SFC Terry Lee Gilden who was the first Delta operator to be killed in action against an armed enemy on April 18, 1983 was killed 33 years ago this week. He was assigned to the personal security detail for the State Department in Beirut when a delivery van loaded with about 2,000 pounds of explosives crashed into the US Embassy there. 17 Americans died; among them a Marine guard and three Army soldiers. In total, 63 people were killed in the blast. The attack was blamed on Iranian-sponsored Hezbollah militiamen.
Category: Terror War
Hezbollah, aren’t they obamao’s new BFF ?
I believe you’re thinking of Hezbollah’s patrons, CH.
Terry was also working to develop counter-sniper teams to protect Marine positions. He had gone down stairs to the entrance to provide security for the Ambassador’s departure.
A well planned attack coordinated to happen at the moment the Ambassador was leaving the building. The Ambassador survived the blast. Marines from BLT 1/8 responded.
There were several small Army units in Beirut, a fact often forgotten.
Terry’s name does not appear on the Beirut Memorial Wall, one day that might be corrected for him and several others.
Semper Fi to my brother in arms. He is not forgotten.
Well said Mr. Hardin…well said indeed.
Delta was still pretty secret back then, wasn’t it? Could that have something to do with the omission?
There is plenty of speculation about events during Beirut. Yes, what is called Delta Force was fairly new back then. Particularly when it came to being deployed aboard ship. Lets just say they didn’t have sea legs yet and kept the chow line short.
An Army unit that specialized in what was then new radar to provide counter fire for incoming artillery/mortars was there as well. They left in Feb of 84 leaving us trying to determine where incoming was from with two stakes, a string, and a compass.
What started off to be a humanitarian effort to evacuate what was left of the PLO turned quickly into a shit storm.
There was no peace to keep. Israel, most of Lebanon, Syria, Iran and the Soviets did not want us there.
The amount of fighting was minimized in the press. After all we were there as “peacekeepers”.
Israel was being such a pain in the ass the Commandant of the Marine Corps wrote an official letter of protest to the POTUS.
There was and still is no way Israeli participation in events will ever be publicly reported. In my humble opinion, that is why much of the events that happened never became public.
Semper Fi.
Your opinion with regards to the Army Rangers. Watch or read Blackhawk down if not for delta kicking the ass of the all mighty Rangers to just fight. We would have in serious trouble
Sorry for the truth, lot off good soldiers Rangers were,nt up to it. Force Recon MC with Delta.
Once again I need to correct my typing. BLT 2/6 was there during the Embassy bombing, BLT 1/8 was there after them and during the bombing of 23 Oct.
Please explain to me why his name. Is not on the memorial I grew up with Terry in medical lake wa. One of my best friends and the ultimate hunting buddy
Read about SFC Gilden in CSM Eric Haney’s book. Another Delta operator (Rick Downing) assigned to the security detail only survived through simple luck as he was in the right area inside the embassy during the explosion. RIP warriors.
When this happened, there were no names in the newspaper. There were only photographs of the damage and the injured and dead being tended to, and the basic news report.
Unless you were there, the impact this had is impossible to understand.
To follow up on Dave’s comments above…Captain Charles Johnson, USMC stops Israeli tanks with a .45:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/02/03/marine-raises-gun-to-stop-advance-of-3-israeli-tanks/265c7928-71be-4d99-b401-8fe9851ecaab/
“In the incident at the checkpoint this morning, Stokes said Capt. Johnson walked along about 200 to 300 yards in front of the checkpoint to stop the tank unit when he saw it approaching the position.
The Israeli commander, Stokes said, insisted that he had the right to move through the area. But, Stokes said, Johnson told him, “The only way you can come is to go over me.” At that point, the Israeli commander got in his tank, revved up his engine and said, “I’m coming anyway.”
Johnson then unholstered his .45-caliber pistol, loaded a magazine, and raised the weapon at a 45 degree angle in the air. At this point, Stokes said, the tank commander turned off the road and moved slowly away from the checkpoint. But the Israeli commander then gave a signal to other tanks and they made a dash back up the road at battle speed.
It was at this point, Stokes said, that Johnson jumped on the commander’s tank and shouted, “You better stop those guys!” Stokes said Johnson did not aim his pistol at the Israelis, but yelled until they stopped.”
An on-line discussion of that incident and other Israeli vs Marine incidents:
http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?1355-Marine-Officer-Stops-Tanks-w-His-45!
And another on-line discussion with an editorial cartoon that came out:
http://apolyton.net/showthread.php/204320-Israel-in-Lebanon-1983
The Leatherneck.com discussion includes the text of CMC’s letter to the Israelis.
More at:
http://www.wrmea.org/1995-march/israel-charged-with-systematic-harassment-of-u.s.-marines.html
Great article. Thanks for that post.
RIP Trooper.
Your work is done and you are not forgotten…
This guys name should be on the wall soon, his wife just NOW got some stuff settled in court.