Sam Irwin Cherman was born on July 29, 1964 in Queens, Queens County, New York. He served in the "Golf" Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (2/8) of the 22nd Marine Expedition Unit (MAU), United States Marine Corps as a Corporal. Sam was a member of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon in 1982 and 1983. On the evening of December 4, 1893, a reinforced squad of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, led by Sgt Manuel A. Cox, came under attack while manning an observation post known as Checkpoint 7, south of Beirut International Airport (BIA), near the suburb known as Ash Shuwayfat. 2/8 had arrived in Beirut weeks earlier as part of the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) to relieve 1/8, having been delayed due to their participation in Operation Urgent Fury (invasion of Grenada).

The fighting positions at Checkpoint 7 were on top of two small 2 story buildings; the usable space of the rooftop locations measuring roughly 9'x12' each. The firefight lasted from approximately 1930 that evening until shortly after 2200. During the course of the action Sgt Cox controlled organic fires from 2/8's assets, including small arms, mortars, artillery, 105mm tank main guns, as well as TOW and Dragon ATGMs.

As the firefight progressed other Marines in Cox's squad rushed upstairs to assist their buddies and gain better fields of fire. Shortly after 2200 either a 120mm mortar round or a 122 rocket impacted on the position. Nine Marines were killed (including Sam Irwin Cherman), and two others on the roof were wounded.

He is now buried in the Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York, USA. His headstone shows his rank as a Lance Corporal.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com