This work investigates the operational and political challenges faced by the United States Marine Corps during their deployment to Lebanon between 1982 and 1984. Benis M. Frank, a veteran historian of the Marine Corps, utilizes official records, after-action reports, and primary source documentation to construct a chronological account of the Multinational Force mission. The text examines the strategic objectives, the evolving security environment in Beirut, and the logistical realities of the peacekeeping operation.

Historians and military researchers frequently cite this volume as a foundational primary source for understanding the tactical realities of the Lebanon deployment. The prose is noted for its clinical, administrative density and its reliance on official military documentation.