PART EIGHT -- CASUALTY HANDLING

I. (U) INTRODUCTION

At approximately 0622 local Beirut time on 23 October 1983, an explosion of enormous magnitude destroyed the BLT Headquarters building. This catastrophic event resulted in 241 deaths and approximately 112 wounded in action (WIA). The only medical officer ashore was killed and a majority of the hospital corpsmen billeted at the building were either killed or wounded. The battalion aid station was destroyed.

Within minutes of the explosion, the CTF 61/62 Mass Casualty Plan was implemented. The remaining medical assets of the MAU Service Support Group (MSSG) were organized into two triage teams. Additional medical support was mobilized from afloat units and rapidly transported ashore. As wounded were recovered from the rubble they were immediately treated. Many were initially taken to local civilian hospitals or to the Italian military field hospital while U.S. forces were recovering from the first shock and were regrouping.

The majority of the wounded were trans[ported by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima, LPH (Amphibious Helicopter Platform) which served as the primary casualty receiving and treatment ship. Necessary resuscitation and surgery were accomplished. After appropriate stabilization, and as air evacuation aircraft arrived, the wounded were transferred to the airport runway area for evacuation to definitive medical care facilities.

Within 30 minutes of the explosion, the British offered the use of the Royal Air Force hospital at Akrotiri, Cyprus. The offer was accepted. The support of the RAF proved to be invaluable. Aeromedical evacuation aircraft of the USAF, USN and RAF were directed to BIA. Casualties were evacuated to Cyprus, Germany and Italy, where there had been virtually a total mobilization of all major medical treatment facilities. Following definitive medical treatment at these overseas facilities, patients were returned to hospitals in the United States as their conditions permitted.

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II. ON-SCENE MEDICAL CARE

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III. AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION/CASUALTY DISTRIBUTION

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IV. DEFINITIVE MEDICAL CARE.

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V. ISRAELI OFFER OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

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VI. IDENTIFICATION OF THE DEAD

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Table of Contents
PART NINE


Transcribed for HTML by Patrick Clancey, HyperWar Foundation
22 October 2001