 A rumor grew that the scene where the Marines call in an air strike  over a commercial phone line was based on an actual event. The rumor  was investigated by the US Department of Defense and proven false.  In the book "Night Stalkers" by Michael Durant, published in  December, 2006, a story is related where U.S. Navy Seals trapped at  the Governors House on the island call the airport terminal on  local phone lines to request air support. They had known in advance  that their commander would probably be located there and took a  chance that someone would answer the phone. It paid off. This  incident later grew into the one depicted in the movie.