Families, friends honor Khobar Towers victims

by Dennis Ryan
Pentagram staff writer

When terrorists set off a tanker truck loaded with explosives in front of Khobar Towers on June 25, 1996, they not only killed 19 American servicemen but they changed the lives of the survivors and their loved ones forever.

Photo by Dennis Ryan. James and Sandra Wetmore fight back tears at the No Greater Love ceremony in remembrance of the victims of the Khobar Towers bombing.

Paul Blais was at Arlington National Cemetery last Monday to be a part of a ceremony of remembrance held by the No Greater Love organization in section 59. Blais suffered brain damage that left him walking with a limp and with difficulty speaking. But it did not prevent him from writing a book "Tragedy to Triumph" about his ordeal.

"I received a traumatic brain injury," Blais said. "I remember little bits and pieces but not the total picture. I'm doing good. I'm working on a second book. Hopefully the books will prevent this from happening again."

The fact that 14 indictments were handed down last week for murder and conspiracy brought out a large crowd of photographers and reporters. Over 50 relatives and loved ones gathered near the No Greater Love Memorial Tree and Stone honoring victims of terrorism.

The plaintive airs of "Morning has Broken" sung by Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Paul Eschliman, accompanied by Master Sgt. Ron Henley on the keyboard opened the event.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles F. Wald, the commander of the Ninth Air Force and U.S. Central Command, spoke about the bombing and the airmen's sacrifice.

"I along with all Americans am deeply saddened," Wald said. "They died defending the very principles of freedom and democracy."

The slain service members were assigned to Dhahran Air Base to assist in patrolling the air over southern Iraq and deter Iraqi aggression in Operation Southern Watch.

"We made a promise in 1997 that we will not forget," FBI director Louis Freeh said. "The case last week offers only a beginning. I'm not a politician. I'm not a diplomat. I'm a policeman and that's the way I conducted this case."

Carmella LaSpada of NGL addressed the audience before the wreath of remembrance was laid at Brian McVeigh's and Michael Heiser's gravestones.

"America is the grand experiment in freedom," LaSpada said. "We must fight this evil, terrorism."

The plaintive tones of a triangle echoed as each name was read and glasses were removed and eyes were rubbed, first, just one or two, but as the litany of names grew so did the reaction of the people. Sons put arms around fathers, parents huddled closer together, and faces grew longer and sadder fighting for control until the whole audience was covered in the sadness of lives lost young.

Christopher Adams.
Daniel Cafourek.
Millard Campbell.
Earl Cartrette, Jr.
Patrick Fennig.
Leland Haun.
Michael Heiser.
Kevin Johnson.
Ronald King.
Kendall Kitson, Jr.
Christopher Lester.
Brent Marthaler.
Brian McVeigh.
Peter Morgera.
Thanh Nguyen.
Joseph Rimkus.
Jeremy Taylor.
Justin Wood
Joshua Woody.

The ceremony was over but not the healing.

Milagritos Perez Dalis, 23, lost her father Leland Haun in the bombing and her grief was not mitigated by the ceremony.

"I wanted more family involvement," Dalis said. "We've heard I'm sorry and we've heard songs before. All I wanted to do is say how I feel. I'm not interested in cameras and the whole shebang. I turned around after the ceremony and asked if anyone would like to hear what the families had to say and the reporter said 'no thank you, we're good.'

"Hey, my dad liked steak. He would have done anything for anyone. He could draw anything, but he loved to fly too much."