40 years ago in Austin, Tx

[Lindercles 0]

On August 1, 1966 Charles Whitman climbed the University of Texas Main Tower and opened fire. By the end of the day 16 people were dead. Today Austin, along with the rest of America, remembers one of the most tragic instances of Amercan vs. American terrorism.

A quote from this article reads:

Quote

By now, Americans are virtually unshockable. When we hear of the latest workplace shooting, the latest school shooting, the latest loner who snapped and took others with him to his final rest, we are saddened, certainly, but not shocked. It has happened so often that we’ve long since lost count of the shooters and the victims, long since forgotten which towns bear the indelible marks of random violence. So it is difficult for us to understand the horror to which Americans were introduced by Charles Whitman on August 1, 1966. Until Whitman undertook his shooting spree in Austin, Texas, public space felt safe and most citizens were utterly convinced they were comfortably removed from brutality and terror. After August 1, 1966, things would never be the same.

You can find an article with some links and an interesting pictorial here.

I wasn't even alive when it happened, but just thinking about it gets me all choked up.

Edited to attach photo of the Tower through the shot out window of a local jewelry store.

[stitch 0]

Yeah, there is a movie about that, but I can't remember the title.

"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"

[bloody_trauma 2]

NOTE TO SELF... bring weapon home with you when you return from iraq try not forget the ammo



____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fly it like you stole it

[micro 0]

So much loss, so much tragedy, so much blood spilled.

I miss Lee.
And JP.
And Chris. And...

[Rebecca 0]

My mom was there, attending UT at the time. It was unlike anything they'd known or conceived of... shattering confusion, panic, death from above.

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?

[AggieDave 6]

Don't forget about the numerous heros that day. The guy pulling the wounded out of the line of fire. The officers that stormed the tower to end the shootings.

Here's a wikipedia link for Charles Whitmen, who was the sniper. The article has some good information about the shooting and such as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Whitman

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Lindercles 0]

You can also find some interesting information here, including the full length of the letter he wrote after killing his mother and wife, before he went to the tower. It reveals a lot about his personality and the condition he suffered from.

[wmw999 2,589]

There's an article in Texas Monthly about it too (of course). It's a series of short memory vignette interviews by a lot of people who were there that day; victims, relatives, bystanders, and the deputy who finished it off. Really good.

Unfortunately you have to subscribe to get the online version, or I'd link it.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)