Photo By Tech. Sgt. Chandler Baker | President Bill Clinton shakes 1st Lt Michael Harner’s hand during a visit with the...... read more read more
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June 25, 1996 at 10:15 p.m. A large truck pulls into a parking lot across the fence line from the military housing complex known as Khobar Towers in near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Col. Michael Harner, then a lieutenant, had just returned to his quarters from a run.
Standing on the balcony, he looks out and sees the truck. Returning to his room, he shuts the sliding glass door and draws the curtains. He sits with the room’s phone in his hands, debating on whether to call security police and report the truck. Seconds later, bright light floods the room and the building shakes violently. Harner had only been on active duty for two years and this was his first deployment, but it changed his life forever.
“Khobar Towers was the number two terrorist target in the world at that time,” said Harner, 377th Mission Support Group commander. “Back then, it meant something totally different than it does today because when you heard of terrorist attacks, it was nothing like now when you hear of the attacks that happen around the world. The last time there was a major terrorist attack on a military installation was Beirut in 1983.”
After the explosion, Harner called out for help but could not hear a sound. Covered in blood, he made his way around his room, attempting to turn on light switches to no avail. After collapsing in the stairwell of his building, he was discovered by explosives ordnance disposal Airmen and carried out of the building on a door being used as a makeshift skid.
Harner’s recovery was highlighted by meeting President Bill Clinton at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, days after returning to his home station of Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. Even before the Air Force started using the Comprehensive Airman Fitness program, Harner had all four pillars aligned with himself.
“I was the only Airman from Whiteman that was medevaced back to the states,” Harner said. “The support network coming back to the states helped provide faster recovery. My recovery stems from my faith as a Christian. My family supported me, too. I struggled with crowds and loud noises. I returned stateside two days before the 4th of July and I had no desire to be anywhere close to fireworks.
Harner said at that time, the military didn’t quite understand the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“I’ll be the first to admit that I had PTSD when I came back,” Harner said. “I would wake up every night with the same nightmares. But having the support network of family and having the physical, spiritual, mental, and social resiliency really aided in my recovery.”
Harner recently spoke with members of Team Kirtland about his experience. During the presentation, he showed photos of Khobar Towers after the explosion and of his recovery.
“I took this stance where if I were to talk about what happened and if it would help someone else in a similar situation to cope or relate, that’s the stance I took going into it,” Harner said. “At the time in the hospital in Saudi Arabia, I told my wife over the phone, ‘I’m done, that’s it. Been there, got the T-shirt, I do not want to be in the military anymore.’ Then I got back, had several good friends and mentors, and realized you shouldn’t make rash decisions based on an emotional event.”
Harner leaves a piece of advice to all Airmen going through tough times.
“You’re not weak for asking for help,” Harner said. “Just because you had an experience that someone may not fully be able to relate to does not mean that there aren’t people out there who want to help. Don’t go at it alone.”
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2017 13:45 |
| Story ID: | 237912 |
| Location: | KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO, US |
| Hometown: | STEVENSVILLE, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 370 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Surviving Khobar Towers: An Airman’s Story, by TSgt Chandler Baker, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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