 The international peacekeeping forces, however were viewed as enemies and were frequently attacked with artillery and mortar.On October 23, 1983, a large truck loaded with 2,500 pounds of TNT crashed through the main gate of the U.S. Marine Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon killing 241 servicemen (mostly made up of U.S. Marines) and wounding 81.Marines of Hispanic descent accounted for 16 of the deaths.