tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post1387792911856932239..comments2024-03-28T22:25:23.698-05:00Comments on Western Fictioneers: The Day Things Changed--The Poe School Bombing by Gordon L. RottmanWestern Fictioneershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01683314579075461026noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-3234401495608986402021-05-23T19:35:54.224-05:002021-05-23T19:35:54.224-05:00I lived in the Poe neighborhood for many years in ...I lived in the Poe neighborhood for many years in the 70's, and Poe was where I voted. The first time I heard about this was reading Stephen Jones' 1999 speech about his time as Timothy McVeigh's court appointed attorney. Jones mentioned that as a young man, he was in the first emergency crew to arrive at the Poe bombing scene. https://floridatls.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1999-Stephen-Jones.pdfPatrick Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16084623422878802599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-45842905689872837972021-05-21T16:48:44.819-05:002021-05-21T16:48:44.819-05:00Oh, I wish you would write a book about it. I’d b...Oh, I wish you would write a book about it. I’d be happy to help. Started Poe in the mid ‘60s.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14610126041704952293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-33946322055429869232021-05-20T21:27:10.048-05:002021-05-20T21:27:10.048-05:00I was in 6th grade at Hollibrook Elem. in the Spri...I was in 6th grade at Hollibrook Elem. in the Spring Branch School District and never heard a thing about this. thank You very much for writing your article. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14170580276420102698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-22427807538561583442015-11-16T14:27:44.208-06:002015-11-16T14:27:44.208-06:00I'm glad you wrote this down. My mom is one of...I'm glad you wrote this down. My mom is one of the badly injured girls you mentioned, Leah. She's alive, well, and sane, by the way. :) I am always interested in the stories of the kids who were uninjured and who were more aware of the aftermath, and some of those stories are truly horrifying. My mom's experience is different in that she was hospitalized and recovering through most of that, though her recollection of the event itself is also horrifying. In an odd twist, I also went to Poe for a bit, so that was always... interesting. I don't know that I would have had the emotional fortitude to send my kids there, were I in her position.Katherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10041679881136679389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-52214691922650220492015-09-06T14:29:20.817-05:002015-09-06T14:29:20.817-05:00I had only been in Texas for a month and lived on ...I had only been in Texas for a month and lived on Bartlett St., very close to Poe. I had just enrolled in the 7th grade and I recall this horrific incident well. It is a fact that we sometimes fail to realize how tragedy affects children. I can honestly tell you I experienced extreme fear of going to school and my school's bomb threats added to the concern for my own security. To have witnessed such a dreadful event must have been a terrifying experience. I too hope you consider writing your story. Mrs. Johnson sounds like a extraordinary woman and one who needs to be remembered. Your book can do that. Thank you for sharing your memories with us. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-34096453451342749862015-08-10T14:22:34.110-05:002015-08-10T14:22:34.110-05:00I, too was at Poe during the bomb. I was in 1st. ...I, too was at Poe during the bomb. I was in 1st. grade and we were lined up to go to recess at the back door. There is much more to tell about that day for me and if you decide to write a book I would love to share what happened to me when the bomb went off. I encourage, encourage and encourage you to write the book. You are an excellent writer and I feel the story needs to be told.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09247820006635036579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-53987016251443083262015-08-03T21:25:09.674-05:002015-08-03T21:25:09.674-05:00I grew up in Houston & don't think I ever ...I grew up in Houston & don't think I ever heard about this. Thank you for the 1st-hand account. Goes to show you , if someone is intent on harming others, they'll find a way. So happy you were able to re-connect with Mrs. Johnson. There are so many heros in our teachers & most never know or receive credit.<br />And thank you, sir, for your service in Vietnam. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-77919832807560359612015-02-10T09:34:52.332-06:002015-02-10T09:34:52.332-06:00Thanks for providing us with this wonderfully desc...Thanks for providing us with this wonderfully descriptive and clear account of that confused and surreal day, Gordon. I have a friend, Robert Taylor, who would love to get in touch with you to learn more about what transpired that day. suenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15560750753972088751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-31289159033559332222014-05-24T09:55:11.650-05:002014-05-24T09:55:11.650-05:00A wrenching read. Thank you!A wrenching read. Thank you!Kerryn Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16017011768158276736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-14776032215037213652014-05-20T08:12:15.317-05:002014-05-20T08:12:15.317-05:00Wow! What a moving personal story. Thank you for ...Wow! What a moving personal story. Thank you for sharing this with us. I can understand how depressing writing the book would be, but it would be a good thing for the public to have available. I'd never heard of this. Our school had bomb threats, and the worry of tornados and such, but we never really took them seriously. This was a horrible thing to have happened, especially to children, and I'm sorry you had to experience it.Livia J Washburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05958199886826207363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-54614622841889000732014-05-19T21:57:41.757-05:002014-05-19T21:57:41.757-05:00It wasn't unsettling to me, just sad, but also...It wasn't unsettling to me, just sad, but also inspiring. The folks who did what they had to do, and I agree that your teacher needed to be remembered. An amazing person. DorisRenaissance Womenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045401344374224512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-72210052102576869522014-05-19T21:18:54.901-05:002014-05-19T21:18:54.901-05:00Traumatic events affect different people different...Traumatic events affect different people differently. I've seen people go through the same event react totally different from each other ranging from panic to complete control side-by-side. You just never know. Gordohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17411491669023091364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-10572253809037809472014-05-19T18:13:33.717-05:002014-05-19T18:13:33.717-05:00Thanks for sharing this very personal story. Often...Thanks for sharing this very personal story. Often, we are affected more by tragedies than we realize. I've heard that, when the event occurs at a young age, the victim can become hyper-vigilant for life.Vonn McKeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02271500340284234767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-51309453143119060162014-05-19T13:56:22.388-05:002014-05-19T13:56:22.388-05:00Thanks Meg. Even though it didn't have a serio...Thanks Meg. Even though it didn't have a serious effect on me, its still very vividly in my mind.<br />GordoGordohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17411491669023091364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-83496087106208762462014-05-19T13:47:35.008-05:002014-05-19T13:47:35.008-05:00Just... wow. Incredible story. So sad, but also he...Just... wow. Incredible story. So sad, but also heroic reading. I can't say I've lived through such a tragedy, but retelling stories is one good way of keeping the past alive.Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10734148270217773194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-22874724519493154582014-05-19T12:46:35.750-05:002014-05-19T12:46:35.750-05:00I think it was on the national news for one or two...I think it was on the national news for one or two days. You would think that something like that would have been a bigger deal then. Today it would have gotten vastly more time.Gordohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17411491669023091364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-40180739012292544152014-05-19T12:44:15.906-05:002014-05-19T12:44:15.906-05:00I'm seriously considering it Keith.
GordoI'm seriously considering it Keith.<br /><br />GordoGordohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17411491669023091364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-51135761734398050782014-05-19T12:41:31.073-05:002014-05-19T12:41:31.073-05:00This is an important part of history and how fast ...This is an important part of history and how fast life can change for us all. I was in school during those years but didn't remember this at all. We were a lot less informed back then. Whether that's good or bad is up to others to decide.Rain Trueaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07994628226501093880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-86089028817477596602014-05-19T12:39:47.389-05:002014-05-19T12:39:47.389-05:00A very interesting post about what was clearly a h...A very interesting post about what was clearly a harrowing experience to have lived through. Pat Johnson seems to have been a remarkable person and an inspiration. <br /><br />I think you should write that book, Gordo.<br /><br />KeithKeith Souterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15206349930107528691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-48250681439319717262014-05-19T12:16:18.398-05:002014-05-19T12:16:18.398-05:00Thanks for having me on Cheryl and thanks too for ...Thanks for having me on Cheryl and thanks too for your words.<br />I'm thinking hard about that book.Gordohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17411491669023091364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-6233499780069467112014-05-19T11:56:26.182-05:002014-05-19T11:56:26.182-05:00Gordo, thanks so much for sharing this part of you...Gordo, thanks so much for sharing this part of your life with us. I did not know anything about the Poe bombing---you shed some light on it for the rest of us, and gave us a look at it through "firsthand" eyes. I hope you will eventually write your book about it. We tend to think of school bombings as a relatively recent thing, but this shows us it's not the case--so many people either don't remember or didn't know about this. <br /><br />My daughter, 27, tells me that so many of the kids she works with in the acting business here don't remember the Murrah Building bombing, even though it happened right here in our city--they weren't born yet, and no time is spent on these things in school. <br /><br />Wonderful post. I am so glad you included the pictures, too.<br />CherylCheryl Piersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18116526340220274282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-28711312904047950482014-05-19T11:00:56.802-05:002014-05-19T11:00:56.802-05:00I don't think the telling of a tragic story is...I don't think the telling of a tragic story is well served by getting all bogged down with emotional issues.<br />At first they did not find his remains on the site and assumed that he may be around. It was Pat Johnson who verified he was standing there when the bomb detonated. Later, all they positively identified on him was a big toe.Gordohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17411491669023091364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-18893256349915258532014-05-19T10:09:55.596-05:002014-05-19T10:09:55.596-05:00What an incredible story. Somehow your matter-of-f...What an incredible story. Somehow your matter-of-fact presentation conveys so much more of the horror than the full press core brings to contemporary tragedy. <br /><br />One question -- you said first that the bomber was disintegrated, but later that they couldn't find his body. I assume that was because he was at blast central, and not because there was any question about what happened to him?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-13826919915675364412014-05-19T10:05:04.855-05:002014-05-19T10:05:04.855-05:00Thanks Doris. Yeah, a sad story. Don't mean to...Thanks Doris. Yeah, a sad story. Don't mean to unsettle anyone. Just thought it of interest, especially to contrast how things have changed.Gordohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17411491669023091364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-44981874361011878802014-05-19T09:58:16.854-05:002014-05-19T09:58:16.854-05:00I tried to post a comment earlier, but it didn'...I tried to post a comment earlier, but it didn't show up. Trying again.<br /><br />Like you say, life happens. Sometimes there is nothing we can do but move on. Your memories, the story it brings to mind how innocent we all were yet so strong. Thank you for sharing that event in your life. DorisRenaissance Womenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045401344374224512noreply@blogger.com