A Tribute to the Victims of the U.S. Embassy Bombing in Beirut: The Man Behind the Gas Mask

By: Ziad O. Abu-Faraj, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Engineering

First Published: April 18, 2023

KEYWORDS

ABC News, AFP, Andrews Air Force Base, Bombing, Explosion, Events, First Responder, Gas Mask, Je Maintiendrai, President Ronald Reagan, The National Archives Catalog, The Washington Post, Unit Crest, U.S. Army 169th Maintenance Battalion, U.S. Embassy in Beirut, U.S. Marine, Victims

SYNOPSIS

This article takes the reader down memory lane and describes some explicit events experienced by a young highschooler who was at the scene as a first responder in the tragic U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut that took place on April 18, 1983. The article unveils the enigmatic identity of a rescuer standing next to a U.S. Marine security guard, and whose face was concealed for four decades behind a gas mask. This picture was recently found in Bettmann archive picture history stock photos. The article ends with a self-reflection that with time evolved into unconditional services, built on both values and virtues, to humankind in general and both the disabled and the young generation in particular. It concludes with a tribute to all the innocent victims who fell to the barbaric act of that day.?

INTRODUCTION

Today marks the 40th commemoration of the tragic U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut that took place on April 18, 1983, Figure 1. The perpetrator was a suicide bomber driving a van packed with 2,000 pounds of explosives. The blast collapsed the entire central facade of the horseshoe-shaped building, leaving the wreckage of balconies and offices in piled layers of rubble, Figure 2. The explosion killed 17 Americans, 32 Lebanese, and 14 visitors and bystanders. The victims were mostly embassy staff members, but also included several U.S. soldiers and one U.S. Marine security guard.

Figure 1. The cover of The Washington Post as it appeared on the morning of April 19, 1983. Source: The Washington Post.

Figure 2. An aerial view of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut after the bombing of April 18, 1983. Source: Getty Images.

NARRATIVE

The morning of Monday April 18, 1983, was a regular day. At the time, I was an 18-year-old senior “freshman” student—herein after referred to as the “the young man”—at the International College in Beirut, Lebanon, Figure 3. At 1:03 pm, we were attending a math class and suddenly a shock wave erupted and one of the glass tiles of the class’ windows broke. As a volunteering first responder in the civil defense, my altruistic duties urged me to react accordingly; so, I asked my teacher if I could leave the classroom to head towards the site of the explosion which was unidentified at the time. My instructor responded without hesitation “you need to get the permission from the school’s administration,” which I did in a matter of seconds.

Figure 3. The Math B “freshman” class at the International College, Beirut, Lebanon. The picture shows a blurred view of my fellow classmates and myself “the young man” in the red circle. Source: Personal Collection.

I remember that when I left the school gate, my instincts guided me through the neighboring American University of Beirut. People were startled, but no one seemed to know what has just happened. So, I kept running instinctively across the campus from the IC gate to the medical gate on the eastern side of the university. Suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle got connected when I encountered a squad of French army soldiers running north towards the American Embassy in Ain El Mreisseh, a couple of a hundred meters away.

Upon arriving at the scene, fire and heavy smoke were prevailing, Figure 4. I decided to enter the ground floor of the eastern wing of the embassy as it was on fire. I suddenly encountered a U.S. soldier who was on fire and covered with rubble. The man has suffered from serious burns and was taking his last breath—there was nothing I could do! Sadly, he passed away a few seconds later. A Red Cross ambulance took care of transferring the corps to the American University Hospital, Figure 5. I remember that the soldier was wearing a U.S. Army Unit Crest with the French words “Je Maintiendrai” meaning “I Will Maintain,” Figure 6. Recently, I learned that he belonged to the U.S. Army 169th Maintenance Battalion.

Figure 4. The prevailing scene right after the explosion. Source: ABC News.

Figure 5. Excerpt from a video footage showing the body of the dead U.S. soldier covered with a blanket on a military stretcher before being transferred to the hospital. Source: ABC News.

Figure 6. A U.S. Army 169th Maintenance Battalion Unit Crest.

As the fire fighters were taking care of putting out the fires on the ground floor, and as the ground floor scene seemed to be clear of any victims, I decided to go up the east wing to look for victims whether dead or alive. I was climbing the stairs floor by floor deciding to take a bottom-up approach from the first floor to the sixth floor. The interior of the building was covered in both fire smoke as well as smoke from gas bombs that were detonating spontaneously. At the entrance of the first floor, I encountered a U.S. Embassy Security Guard carrying in his arms a military pump-action shotgun and wearing a gas mask. Obviously, the guard was on the highest alertness trying to safeguard valuable embassy’s effects. In an assertive voice, I asked the guard “Sir, I need to have a gas mask so that I may search the building for victims,” without any reluctance the guard handed me his own mask. So, I proceeded on my mission clearing one floor at a time while shouting “anyone here?” Luckily, no victims were found. So, I left the east wing and decided to go to the central part of the building where there was high need for more rescuers. At this time, a group of U.S. Marines tightened the security around the devastated U.S. Embassy, Figure 7.

Figure 7. A group of U.S. Marines tightens the security around the devastated U.S. Embassy minutes after the blast. Source: AFP, Getty Images.

As time elapsed, more victims were uncovered. Sadly, there were no more survivors. This time, the bodies of victims were uncovered synergistically between first responders and operators of Poclain and Caterpillar excavators. Figure 8 shows “the young man” carrying one of the uncovered bodies to the ambulance. This image was extracted from a footage captured by an ABC News crew in situ. The same scene repeated itself many times during that day.

Figure 8. Excerpt from a video footage showing “the young man” on the left-hand side of the picture while carrying the corps of a dead victim. Source: ABC News.

Around midnight, I was called upon to join a team of rescuers and escort the corpse of a high-level diplomat to the morgue of the American University Hospital. I responded to the call and I joined a small team of fellow rescuers in an ambulance and an escorting private vehicle that transported the daughter of the deceased and a private agent from the U.S. Embassy to the American University Hospital. Apparently, the victim was found dead hours after the explosion while leaning on his stomach with the arms fully extended. This could explain why the body was in rigor mortis with the inability to fold the arms. Rigor mortis is a temporary condition which is manifested by stiffening of the joints and muscles of a body a few hours after death, usually lasting from one to four days after which muscles relax again. I remember, that while in the elevator and heading to the morgue, the daughter of the victim asked that we remove and hand her the wedding band of her father.

On April 23, 1983, a ceremony was held at Andrews Air Force Base, Prince George's County, Maryland, to honor the victims of the bombing of the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, Figure 9. The ceremony followed the return to the United States of the bodies of the 16 Americans who were killed in the bombing. During the ceremony, U.S. President Ronald Reagan said [1]: “There can be no sadder duty for one who holds the office I hold than to pay tribute to Americans who have given their lives in the service of their country… These gallant Americans understood the danger they faced, and yet they went willingly to Beirut. And the dastardly deed, the act of unparalleled cowardice that took their lives, was an attack on all of us, on our way of life and on the values we hold dear. We would indeed fail them if we let that act deter us from carrying on their mission of brotherhood and peace.”

____________________

[1] Ronald Reagan. Remarks at a Ceremony Honoring the Victims of the Bombing of the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum. The US National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland, United States. April 23, 1983. Available online: https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/remarks-ceremony-honoring-victims-bombing-united-states-embassy-beirut-lebanon

Figure 9. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan honoring the victims of the bombing of the United States Embassy in Beirut. Source: The National Archives Catalog.

COMMENTARY

April 18, 1983 was a major turning point in the life of the high-schooler or “the young man.” Forty years have subsequently passed and carried with it a plethora of impacts at the personal level, some of which were good while some others were bad. I am aware that one of the definite outcomes of the 1983 bombing was the choice of “Biomedical Engineering” and “Higher Education” as life-time careers. Certainly, these humanitarian professions have carried with them unconditional services, built on both values and virtues, to humankind in general and both the disabled and the young generation in particular.

Conclusively, growing up in life, I developed the belief that ‘Life is not meant for one to be a bystander, but rather to be an active member of it and leave a benevolent fingerprint for future generations.’ It is for certain that the victims of the April 18, 1983 bombing of the United States Embassy in Beirut did unknowingly leave a benevolent fingerprint for future generations!

In this sense, I bow my head to all the victims of the April 18, 1983 bombing of the United States Embassy in Beirut; particularly, to the soul of the soldier who was wearing a U.S. Army Unit Crest with the French words “Je Maintiendrai.”

Signed:

The man behind the gas mask [2]

Ziad O. Abu-Faraj, Ph.D.

____________________

[2] The cover picture was inadvertently discovered on July 19, 2022 while searching the web for archived pictures of the 1983 bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. URL: https://www.gettyimages.no/photos/beirut-bombing?page=4&sort=oldest

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A special salutation goes to the members of the Civil Defense group in Ras Beirut: those who are still alive and those who bid us farewell. ?

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Ziad O. Abu-Faraj, Ph.D. is a Full-Professor of Biomedical Engineering. He received the B.E. degree in Electrical Engineering from the American University of Beirut-Lebanon in 1988. Specializing in Organ Investigation, Biomedical Instrumentation, and Biomechanics/Biomaterials, he obtained the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University-USA in 1991 and 1995, respectively. During 1995-1997, he served a Post-Doctorate Research Fellowship in Pediatric Motion Analysis at Shriners Hospital for Children-Chicago.

Professor Abu-Faraj is the Editor of a comprehensive two-volume research handbook in Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering entitled “Handbook of Research on Biomedical Engineering Education and Advanced Bioengineering Learning: Interdisciplinary Concepts,” published by IGI-Global, Hershey, PA, USA in 2012 [1]. He is the lead author of a reputable number of research articles in several areas of Biomedical Engineering. His research interests are in: Humanities and Social Sciences: Sustainable Development, Science Technology and Innovation, and Fourth Industrial Revolution [2]; Biomedical Science and Biomedical Engineering Education [3-14]; Kinesiology and Orthopaedic Biomechanics: Physical Activity, Exercise Physiology, Human Movement Analysis, Postural Stability, Measurement of Human Performance, and Plantar Pressure Analysis [15-35]; Rehabilitation Science and Engineering [36-42]; Neuroscience and Neural Engineering [43-46]; Biomedical Instrumentation and Control: Portable Microprocessor-Based Data Acquisition Systems, Biosensors, and Biocontrol Systems [13, 47-60]; Biometrics [61]; Biomedical Informatics and Biomedical Computing: Biosignals and Systems, Biostatistical Analysis, and Modeling of Physiological Systems [13, 62-64]; Electroencephalography [63-65]; Ergonomics and Engineering Design [66], Epidemiology: COVID-19 [67-69]; and Public Safety [70].

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1]??????Abu-Faraj ZO – Editor. Handbook of Research on Biomedical Engineering Education & Advanced Bioengineering Learning: Interdisciplinary Concepts. Hershey, PA, USA: IGI Global, Two-Volume Set; 2012. 1123 pp. ISBN: 1466601221 9781466601222. https://www.igiglobal.com/book/handbook-research-biomedical-engineering-education/58270

[2]??????Abu-Faraj ZO. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges (SWOC) of health technologies in Arab countries.?ESCWA Technology Center Report: Regional Forum on “National Knowledge and Technology Development and Transfer Systems.” ESCWA, United Nations House, Beirut, Lebanon. November 27-29, 2017. 51 pp.

[3]??????Abu-Faraj ZO.?Project Alexander the Great: An analytical comprehensive study on the global spread of bioengineering/biomedical engineering education.?In: Laskovski AN (Editor). Biomedical Engineering, Trends in Materials Science. Vienna, Austria, European Union: Intech Open Access Publisher. January 2011:549-564. DOI: 10.5772/13501. Available online: https://www.intechweb.org/books/show/title/biomedical-engineering-trends-in-materials-science

[4]??????Abu-Faraj Z.O. (2008). Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering Education and Career Development: Literature Review, Definitions, and Constructive Recommendations. International Journal of Engineering Education, vol. 24, no. 5, pp 990-1011.

[5]??????Abu-Faraj Z.O. (2012). Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering Education. In: Abu-Faraj ZO (Editor). Handbook of Research on Biomedical Engineering Education & Advanced Bioengineering Learning: Interdisciplinary Concepts. Hershey, PA, USA: IGI Global, pp. 1-59.

[6]??????Abu-Faraj ZO.?A premier comprehensive curriculum in biomedical engineering within the Middle East and Northern African region.?Proceedings of the 27th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Shanghai, People Republic of China. September 1-4, 2005. 4 pp. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2005.1616418

[7]??????Abu-Faraj ZO.?A recommended model of an undergraduate biomedical engineering curriculum for the MEDA region.?Proceedings of the International Medical Informatics and Biomedical Engineering Symposium, Amman, Jordan. March 20-22, 2006:14-20.

[8]??????Abu-Faraj ZO. Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering Education. In: Abu-Faraj ZO (Editor). Handbook of Research on Biomedical Engineering Education & Advanced Bioengineering Learning: Interdisciplinary Concepts. Hershey, PA, USA: IGI Global. February 2012:1-59. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-0122-2.ch001

[9]??????Abu-Faraj ZO.?Career development in bioengineering/biomedical engineering: A student's roadmap.?Proceedings of the 30th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. August 20-24, 2008:1564-1567. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2008.4649469

[10]???Abu-Faraj ZO.?Project Alexander the Great: A study on the world proliferation of biomedical engineering education.?Proceedings of the 30th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. August 20-24, 2008:2873-2876. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2008.4649802

[11]???Abu-Faraj ZO.?The student and the internationalization of higher education.?Proceedings of the 32nd Conference of the Arab ACRAO, Beirut, Lebanon. March 25-29, 2012: 3 pp.

[12]???Abu-Faraj ZO. Biomedical engineering education in the Middle East and North Africa.?Proceedings of the 2nd Middle East Conference on Biomedical Engineering, Doha, Qatar. February 17-20, 2014:317-320. DOI: 10.1109/MECBME.2014.6783268

[13]???Z.O. Abu-Faraj et al. An Educational Biomechatronics Model of the Walk-Along Theory of Skeletal Muscle Contraction LinkedIn Pulse. January 2, 2021. Available online: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/educational-biomechatronics-model-walk-along-theory-muscle-abu-faraj

[14]???Z.O. Abu-Faraj. Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering Education in the MENA Region: Implementation of Curriculum Philosophies. LinkedIn Pulse, 18 pp. August 16, 2021. Available online: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/ziadabufaraj_abet-accreditation-bioengineering-activity-6833080036917084160-gmR4

[15]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Abou Assi FA, Jaber RK, Khalife HA. Characterization of postural stability in a simulated environment of an earthquake using in-shoe plantar pressure measurement. In: Proceedings of the 31st Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, pp. 5243-5246, September 2-6, 2009, Minneapolis, MN, USA. PMID: 19964865

[16]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Harris GF, Smith PA, Hassani S. Human gait and clinical movement analysis. In: Wiley Encyclopedia of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Second Edition, New York, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. December 15, 2015. 34 pp. DOI: 10.1002/047134608X.W6606.pub2

[17]???Chang AH, Abu-Faraj ZU, Harris GF, Shereff MJ, Nery J.?Multistep measurement of plantar pressure alterations with the use of metatarsal pads.?Foot & Ankle International. 1994;15(12):654-660. PMID: 7894637

[18]???Smith PA, Abu-Faraj ZO, Wertsch JJ, Abler JH, Harris GF.?System and study of planovalgus foot deformity in children with cerebral palsy.?Biomedical Engineering - Applications, Basis & Communications.?1996;9(3):158-163.

[19]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Hamdan TF, Wehbi MR, Khalil GA, Hamdan HM.?The study of postural stability in an earthquake-simulated environment yields a retained cognitive learning outcome!?Journal of Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Engineering. 2008;2(1):14-21.?ISSN: 1793-4532. Available online: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/bmerc/contents/JBPE/index.htm

[20]???Smith PA, Harris GF, Abu-Faraj ZU.?Biomechanical evaluation of the planovalgus foot in cerebral palsy.?In: Harris GF and Smith PA; Editors.?Human Motion Analysis: Current Applications and Emerging Horizons, First Edition, IEEE Press, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; 1996. pp. 370-386. ISBN: 0-7803-1111-6

[21]???Abu-Faraj ZU, Harris GF, Chang AH, Shereff MJ, Nery J.?Quantitative evaluation of plantar pressure alterations with metatarsal and scaphoid pads.?In: Harris GF and Smith PA; Editors.?Human Motion Analysis: Current Applications and Emerging Horizons, First Edition, IEEE Press, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA. 1996. Chapter 20, pp. 387-406, 1996. ISBN: 0780311116 9780780311114

[22]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Harris GF, Smith PA, Hassani S.?Human motion analysis.?In: Webster JG, Editor.?Wiley Encyclopedia of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, First Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, USA. 1999;9:254-276. DOI: 10.1002/047134608X.W6606

[23]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Harris GF, Smith PA.?Plantar pressure-based quantitative assessment of subtalar arthrodesis in the rehabilitation of planovalgus foot deformity.?In: Harris GF and Smith PA; Editors.?Foot and Ankle Motion Analysis: Clinical Treatment and Technology, First Edition, CRC Press - Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, Florida, USA. 2008. pp. 105-129. ISBN: 9780849339714 - CAT# 3971

[24]???Abu-Faraj ZU, De La Fuente EK, Marx K, Montgomery S, Riedel S, Harris G.?Assessment of pull-to-stand joint reactions in human subjects: Biomechanical analysis. Proceedings of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, Paris, France. October 29 - November 1, 1992;14(4):1164-1165.

[25]???Harris GF, Smith PA, Abler J, Abu-Faraj Z, Millar EA.?Biomechanical evaluation of the planovalgus foot in cerebral palsy: a microprocessor-based insole system.?Proceedings of the 8th Annual East Coast Clinical Gait Laboratory Conference, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. 1993. pp. 125-126.

[26]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Sampath G, Smith PA, Harris GF.?A clinical system for the analysis of three-dimensional pediatric foot and ankle motion.?Proceedings of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, Chicago, IL, USA.?October 30-November 2, 1997;19:1831-1834. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.1997.757087

[27]???Sampath G, Abu-Faraj ZO, Smith PA, Harris GF.?Clinical validation of a system for the analysis of pediatric foot and ankle kinematics during gait.?Proceedings of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, Hong Kong. October 29-November 1, 1998;20:2418-2421. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.1998.744918

[28]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Harris GF, Smith PA.?Quantitative assessment of the effects of subtalar arthrodesis on the planovalgus foot using three-dimensional motion analysis and plantar pressure measurements.?Proceedings of the 8th Annual Meeting of the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society, Wilmington, DE, USA. May 7-10, 2003. pp. 145-146.

[29]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Akar HA, Assaf EH, Al-Qadiri MN, Youssef EG.?Evaluation of fall and fall recovery in a simulated seismic environment: A pilot study.?Proceedings of the 32nd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina. August 31-September 4, 2010. pp. 3954-3957. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2010.5627696

[30]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Faraj YT, Mohtar KH, Rammal MM. Characterization of plantar pressures in visually impaired individuals: A pilot study.?Proceedings of the 6th International IEEE EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, San Diego, CA, USA. November 6-8, 2013. pp. 1549-1553. DOI: 10.1109/NER.2013.6696242

[31]???Mattar R, Diab J, Wehbe S, Merhej C, and Abu-Faraj ZO. Normative plantar pressure distribution in asymptomatic adult subjects: A pilot study. Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Advances in Biomedical Engineering, Hadat-Beirut, Lebanon. September 16-18, 2015. pp. 230-233.

[32]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Abdul-Al MM, and Al-Deeb RA. Leg length discrepancy: A study on in-shoe plantar pressure distribution. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on BioMedical Engineering and Informatics (BMEI 2015), Shenyang, China. October 14-16, 2015. pp. 381-385. DOI: 10.1109/BMEI.2015.7401534

[33]???Abu-Faraj ZU, Harris GF, Chang AH, Shereff MJ, Nery J. Plantar pressure distribution with the use of metatarsal pads: A quantitative study.?Gait & Posture. 1994;2(1):62. DOI: 10.1016/0966-6362(94)90078-7

[34]???Abu-Faraj ZU, Wertsch JJ, Wervey RA, Abler JH, Harris GF.?Plantar pressure during stair climbing and descending.?Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 1995;76(1):1074. DOI: 10.1016/S0003-9993(95)81318-7

[35]???Sampath G, Abu-Faraj ZO, Smith PA, Harris GF.?Preliminary clinical application of an active marker based pediatric foot and ankle motion analysis system. Gait & Posture. 1998;7(2):176. DOI: 10.1016/S0966-6362(98)90263-6

[36]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Bou Sleiman HC, Al Katergi WM, Heneine JLD, Mashaalany MJ. A rehabilitative eye-tracking based brain-computer interface for the completely locked-in patient. In: Wickramasinghe N. and E. Geisler; Editors. Encyclopedia of Healthcare Information Systems, First Edition, Hershey, PA, USA: IGI Global; 2008. Vol. III, pp. 1153-1160. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-889-5.ch144

[37]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Harris GF, Smith PA. (2001). Surgical rehabilitation of the planovalgus foot in cerebral palsy. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. 2001;9(2):202-214. DOI: 10.1109/7333.928580

[38]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Harris GF, Chang AH, Shereff MJ.?Evaluation of a rehabilitative pedorthic: Plantar pressure alterations with scaphoid pad application.?IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering. 1996;4(4):328-336. PMID: 8973959

[39]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Hassani S, Harris GF.?Gait analysis: A rehabilitative interdiscipline.?In: Kumar S, Editor.?Perspectives in Rehabilitation Ergonomics, First Edition, Taylor & Francis Ltd. Publishers, London, UK; 1997, Chapter 7, pp. 166-195. ISBN: 0 7484 0673 5

[40]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Mashaalany MJ, Bou Sleiman HC, Heneine JLD, and Al Katergi WM.?Design and development of a low-cost eye tracking system for the rehabilitation of the completely locked-in patient.?Proceedings of the 28th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, New York City, NY, USA.?August 30-September 3, 2006. pp. 4905-4908. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2006.260280

[41]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Jabbour E, Ibrahim P, Ghaoui A. Design and development of a prototype rehabilitative shoes and spectacles for the blind.?Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on BioMedical Engineering and Informatics, Chongqing, People Republic of China. October 16-18, 2012. pp. 683-687. DOI: 10.1109/BMEI.2012.6513135

[42]???Boustany G, Itani AED, Youssef R, Chami O, and Abu-Faraj ZO. Design and development of a rehabilitative eye-tracking based home automation system. Proceedings of the Third Middle East Conference on Biomedical Engineering (MECBME’16), Beirut, Lebanon. October 6-7, 2016. pp. 30-33. DOI: 10.1109/MECBME.2016.7745401

[43]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Abou Rjeily DM, Bou Nasreddine RW, Andari MA, and Taok HH.?A prototype retinal prosthesis for visual stimulation.?Proceedings of the 29th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Lyon, France. August 23-26, 2007. pp. 5774-5777. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2007.4353659

[44]???Parks TJ, Wertsch JJ, Abu-Faraj ZU.?Repeatability of transcarpal median and ulnar short segment latencies: considerations in delta determination. Muscle and Nerve. 1994;17(9):1083. DOI: 10.1002/mus.880170920

[45]???Parks TJ, Roberts MM, Abu-Faraj ZU, Wertsch JJ.?Premotor potentials in the normal elderly. Muscle and Nerve. 1994;17(9):1083. DOI: 10.1002/mus.880170920

[46]???Ackman JD, Abu-Faraj Z, Chambers C, Phillips B, Davids J, Hood J.?Botulinum toxin treatment of dynamic deformities in an ambulatory spastic cerebral palsy population: A multi-center study.?Gait & Posture. 1998;7(2):167. DOI: 10.1016/S0966-6362(98)90245-4

[47]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Harris GF, Abler JH, Wertsch JJ. A Holter-type, microprocessor-based, rehabilitation instrument for acquisition and storage of plantar pressure data. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development. 1997;34:187-194.

[48]???Abu-Faraj ZO.?A Holter type system for recording plantar pressures: Development and clinical applications.?Ph.D. Dissertation, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA, 1995, 150 p., Publication Number: AAT 9600843.

[49]???Harris GF, Abu-Faraj ZU, Wertsch JJ, Abler JH, Vengsarkar AS.?A Holter type system for study of plantar foot pressures.?Journal of Biomedical Engineering. 1994;1:233-239.?Also in Biomedical Engineering - Applications, Basis & Communications. 1995;7(4):409-415.

[50]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Harris GF, Abler JH, Smith PA, Wertsch JJ.?A Holter-type microprocessor-based rehabilitation instrument for acquisition and storage of plantar pressure data in children with cerebral palsy.?IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering. 1996;4(1):33-38, March 1996. DOI: 10.1109/86.486055

[51]???Abu-Faraj ZU, De La Fuente EK, Marx K, Montgomery S, Riedel S, Harris G.?Assessment of pull-to-stand joint reactions in human subjects: Design and instrumentation of an integrated system.?Proceedings of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, Paris, France.?October 29 - November 1, 1992;14(4):1162-1163. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.1992.5761972

[52]???Sampath G, Abu-Faraj ZO, Smith PA, Harris GF.?Design and development of an active marker based system for analysis of 3-D pediatric foot and ankle motion.?Proceedings of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, Hong Kong.?October 29-November 1, 1998;20:2415-2417. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.1998.744916

[53]???Abu-Faraj ZU, Harris GF, Wertsch JJ, Woodbury WM, Vengsarkar AS.?A data-acquisition system for monitoring skin surface temperature during nerve conduction studies.?Proceedings of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, San Diego, CA, USA. October 28-31, 1993;15(2):1030-1031. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.1993.978990

[54]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Hamdan TF, Wehbi MR, Khalil GA, and Hamdan HM.?Design and development of an earthquake-simulated environment for the study of postural stability.?Proceedings of the International Conference on Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Republic of Singapore. December 11-14, 2006. pp. 188-193. ID: 9705574

[55]???Abu-Faraj ZU, Harris GF, Wertsch JJ, Abler JH, Vengsarkar AS.?Holter system development for recording plantar pressures: Design and instrumentation. Proceedings of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, Baltimore, MD, USA. November 3-6, 1994;16:934-935. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.1994.415220

[56]???Vengsarkar AS, Abler JH, Abu-Faraj ZU, Harris GF, Wertsch JJ.?Holter system development for recording plantar pressures: software development. Proceedings of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, Baltimore, MD, USA. November 3-6, 1994;16:936-937.?DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.1994.415221

[57]???Wervey RA, Abler JH, Abu-Faraj ZU, Harris GF, Wertsch JJ.?Data preview software for interactive review of Holter type plantar pressure data.?Proceedings of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, Montréal, Canada. September 20-23, 1995;17:2 pp. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.1995.579681

[58]???Harris GF, Smith PA, Abu-Faraj ZO, Hassani S.?Pediatric gait analysis: Instrumentation requirements and clinical data interpretation.?Proceedings of the International Conference on Biomedical Engineering (BME '96), Hong Kong. June 3-5, 1996. pp. L9-L11.

[59]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Al Chamaa W, Al Hadchiti A, Sraj Y, and Tannous J. Design and development of a heart attack detection steering wheel. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on BioMedical Engineering and Informatics (BMEI 2018), Beijing, China. October 13-15, 2018. 6 pp. DOI: 10.1109/CISP-BMEI.2018.8633210

[60]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Sampath G, Smith PA, Hassani S, Harris GF. A clinical system for analysis of pediatric foot and ankle motion.?Abstract: Gait & Posture. 1997;5(2):149. DOI: 10.1016/S0966-6362(97)83368-1

[61]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Atie A, Chebaklo K, Khoukaz E.?Fingerprint identification software for forensic applications.?Proceedings of the 7th IEEE International Conference on Electronics, Circuits and Systems, Kaslik, Lebanon. December 17-20, 2000. 4 pp. DOI: 10.1109/ICECS.2000.911541

[62]???Abu-Faraj ZO, Barakat SS, Chaleby MH, Zaklit JD.?A SIM card-based ubiquitous medical record bracelet/pendant system: A pilot study.?Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on BioMedical Engineering and Informatics, Shanghai, People Republic of China. October 15-17, 2011. pp. 1914-1918. DOI: 10.1109/BMEI.2011.6098724

[63]???Abu-Faraj Z. Characterization of the Electroencephalogram as a Chaotic Time Series. Master Thesis Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA, 1991, 115 pp.

[64]???Abu-Faraj Z, Ropella K, Myklebust J, Goldstein M. Characterization of the electroencephalogram as a chaotic time series. Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Orlando, FL, USA. October 31-Novemer 3, 1991;13(5):2228-2229. DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.1991.684975

[65]???Abu-Faraj ZO. Is the term paradoxical sleep a misnomer? LinkedIn Pulse. June 17, 2020. Available online: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/term-paradoxical-sleep-misnomer-prof-ziad-abu-faraj

[66]???Z.O. Abu-Faraj. Comfort in the Skies: Design Tips for Passenger Seat’s Touch Screen Support. LinkedIn Pulse, March 31, 2022. Available online: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/comfort-skies-design-tips-passenger-seats-touch-screen-abu-faraj

[67]???Abu-Faraj ZO. Covid-19 pandemic: Lessons to learn from China. LinkedIn Pulse. March 18, 2020:1-9. Available online: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/covid-19-pandemic-lessons-learn-from-china-prof-ziad-abu-faraj/

[68]???Abu-Faraj ZO. Understanding COVID-19 and some effective means for combating it! LinkedIn. March 29, 2020:1-15. Available online: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/understanding-covid-19-some-effective-means-combat-abu-faraj/

[69]???Abu-Faraj ZO. Was COVID-19 used as a Litmus paper for testing 5G capabilities? LinkedIn Pulse. May 29, 2020. Available online: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/covid-19-used-litmus-paper-testing-5g-capabilities-abu-faraj-1f/

[70]???Abu-Faraj ZO. Shattered glass is allegedly blamable for most of the victims of Beirut’s blast. LinkedIn Pulse. August 26, 2020. Available online: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/shattered-glass-allegedly-blamable-most-victims-blast-abu-faraj