On Oct. 23, 1983, the United States awoke to hear about a terrible terrorist attack in Beirut,

Lebanon. that killed 220 U.S. Marines, 18 U.S. Navy Sailors, and two civilians.

Across town, a similar attack killed 58 French military personnel. These attacks were

carried out by suicide bombers in explosive laden vehicles.

This incident was the deadliest single day death toll for the Marines since the World War II battle of Iwo Jima.

The Marines were there to act as a buffer between two warring factions in Lebanon.

As depressing as this news was, it wasn’t until six months later that now CDR

George Burns, U.S. Coast Guard (ret), a Fredonia resident, discovered a friend and shipmate of his had been killed in that blast. Then Ensign Burns, and his shipmate LT James F. Surch from Lompoc, Calif., attended Surface Warfare School together in Coronado, Calif., and then served together aboard the USS Juneau (LPD10) homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Burns states, “When I heard that Jim had been lost, the shock and depression from that day returned.”

Over the years, Burns said, the memory of Surch was a regular recurring thought. LT Surch’s personality, the nature of his transfer to the Marines and the manner of his death were all unsettled memories. Many years later Burns learned that other fellow officers had the same feelings.

Burns states, “Everyone had the same memory of Jim. He looked out for the little guy and was like a big brother. He wasn’t the most polished Naval Academy grad, but that grounded, practical demeanor garnered respect from the enlisted men and the junior officers.”

CDR Burns contacted another fellow JUNEAU shipmate, then LT(jg) Jack Bethel, and they discussed ways to remember and honor Surch. Bethel, who is a writer, considered writing a book.

Burns contacted his friend Sean Patrick McGraw from Nashville, Tenn., and proposed a song and video project. Over the course of several months McGraw was able to create music and lyrics, guided in context by Burns and Bethel. That song and video are now available on YouTube.

Sean states: “I am very privileged to participate in projects such as this one that commemorate a mission with the best of intentions and honor our servicemen and their sacrifice toward making the world a better, safer place.”

The song title is “In Surch of Jim” and is available on YouTube.