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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1992)
The Battalion tr 14,1!! Wednesday, October 14,1992 Page 5 seni ^ Mills isCiraj Velcl Rice'U Meeli* For nw* 0. TS WF Ns »6t k onsFirf ■RCintf HIP: J> r iselin9« il I Famifc 7:30 F nfons# Hie Slid) 502 all Eric i‘ MITTEt weeke® i4 R# e inW* l2Rud«e : nalion0* Kii i ffn Massacre: One Year Later Survivors look back on worst shooting in U.S. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS KILLEEN — John Marr can still see the bodies. Now associate manager of Luby's in Killeen, Marr points to the front interior of the newly remodeled store. "There was a woman at a table up there, still sitting, dead," says Marr. His meter changes little while retelling the story of the nation's worst mass shooting, matching the calm rhythm adopted by other survivors. It is quick and even, with few stopping places. Their lives changed one year ago on Oct. 16, 1991, when George Hennard smashed his pickup through the cafeteria's front and emptied a Clock 9mm into the lives of 162 people. "There are a couple of faces you don't see anymore and you miss them," continues Marr, 29, speaking of both the 23 dead and a few former regular customers of the popular lunchtime retreat. But in Killeen, where half of the town's residents are military personnel, Marr knows there will always be newcomers and for Killeen's residents, there is always hope. There are no new answers to the puzzle behind the ex-merchant seaman who veered his truck from the Texas 190 access road and charged through glass and brick. Hennard's reasons are buried with him. His house in Belton has been sold and his parents are unreachable. This Friday, church bells will ring at noon and Luby's will close down in the afternoon. An evening candlelight ceremony organized by a core group of survivors will be held to mark what many refer to as only "the inci dent." Some, like 71-year-old Hazel Holley sneer at such a euphemism. "An incident is what happens everyday," says Holley, who broke her arm escaping from Luby's through a broken window that day. "This was a massacre." Despite her strong feelings about the shooting, Holley, who refuses to say Hen nard's name, says she feel no ire against Hen nard. "I have never felt any anger toward that man, only pity. My sympathy goes to his family," she says. Marr is not as charitable. "I'm glad he's dead,” Marr said calmly. "I tend to think people get what they deserve and he got what he deserved." The replays of the day have decreased in the mind of chiropractor Suzanna Gratia, whose father A1 was gunned down as he tried to stop Hennard. Gratia's mother Ursu la, whom she thought was with her as she es caped through the back door, was found lat er next to her father. "I had a real hard time right at first," Gra tia said, "because I wondered had I spent five more seconds could I have gotten my Mom out. Well as it turned out, and what the cops told me later, I guess she didn't want to "People don't realize that that many people die in a week in Houston and nobody bats an eye. I think people learned about resilience. Little kids were giving money. People came out of the woodwork to try to help." - John Marr, Luby's manager in Killeen get out." When Hennard closed in, Ursula Gratia, who crawled to her husband, raised her head, looked at the gunman, bowed it again and was shot pointblank in the skull. But Gratia, whose gun was in her car parked at Luby's that day, says today she is busy and coming to terms with what oc curred that day. "It's very easy for me to get very angry at myself for not having a gun with me," said Gratia. "But I also know that you can drive yourself nuts with that." The remaining witnesses are surprisingly patient with friends and strangers, after a year of being asked to recite their tales. "I've done a lot of talking," said Sam Wink, 48, a Killeen Independent School Dis trict employee who was lunching with six others when Hennard's truck stopped about eight feet in front of them. "I've tried to put it behind me. I just want to go on with my life." And what many want most is for outsiders to hear the story of how Killeen, came togeth er. "People don't realize that that many peo ple die in a week in Houston and nobody bats an eye," said Marr. "I think people learned about resilience. Little kids were giv ing money. People came out of the wood work to try to help." Luby's billboard, "Good Food From Good People" is the first to greet visitors to Killeen, a town of 63,000 nestled against the shoulder of Fort Hood, the nation's largest Army in stallation. Few people relocate voluntarily to Killeen. Most retired here after duty turns at Fort Hood or are divorced or widowed from someone who was stationed at the base. "When I got out of the service, I was too poor to leave, so I stayed," jokes Wink. As towns go, Austin — Killeen's neighbor 60 miles southeast — was the one that got the looks. Killeen is flat and plain. Pawn shops, car dealerships and fast-food restaurants pepper the main downtown streets that stop at Fort Hood's door. But those who stay are very close. "Killeen is a large town with a small town atmosphere," said Wink, who was born in Big Spring, grew up in Albany (Texas) and came to Fort Hood with the Army. "People come and go and come back again. You just kind of like the atmosphere," Today, the window Hennard drove through is gone. The dark brick exterior has been repainted in cheerful eggshell. Inside, the blood-soaked interior is a memory. As the town braces for the renewed inter est on the anniversary of the shooting, many long for Hennard's ghost to release its grip off of Killeen. In the meantime, they will continue to watch as morbid tourists veer east of Inter state 30 for nothing more than a snapshot of Luby's. "We have to laugh,"Marr says. "What else can we do?" Foot soldiers to get new computer THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HOUSTON — A Houston com puter company is beginning work on a prototype portable computer designed to bring the low-tech foot soldier into the high-tech age. Texas Microsystems, Inc. said Tuesday it hoped the pocket-size prototype, dubbed the "Soldier's Computer," would be complete next fall with working units in the field by 1995. "It would replace typically a lot of reference materials soldiers car ry with them," said Bill Taylor, the Annapolis, Md.-based region al manager for the Houston com pany. "We talked with a comman der in the 82nd Airborne who car ried pounds of books in his jacket when he jumped into Panama and flew into Saudi Arabia with Desert Storm. Our goal in build ing this is targeted at that type of situation." Texas Micro officials said the first prototype would weigh two to three pounds, be built to with stand the pounding of the foot Houston company to design portable, pocket-size computer for U.S. military soldier, have its own high-resolu tion display and provide up to 24 hours of continuous battery life. The evolution of software and hardware technology should al low the size of the computer to much each of the computers would cost when they get to the field. Texas Microsystems is handling the project under a $500,000 con tract from the Army's Communi- "Hopefully it will provide a tremendous amount of information, more than could be put on paper. It's going to replace notes, checklists, manuals, things like that." - Bill Taylor, regional manager shrink to about one pound and be the size of a cigarette pack even while it acquires greater power. "Hopefully it will provide a tremendous amount of informa tion, more than could be put on paper," Taylor said. "It's going to replace notes, checklists, manuals, things like that." He said it's uncertain yet how cations & Electronics Command. Taylor said the company, which specializes in building computers for harsh environments like oil field use, is spending at least that much of its own money. The firm hopes its experience with the military applications can be profitable in the civilian world. "It's a whole new arena," Tay lor said. "There's a tremendous need for a system like this out there, not only in the military but also for police, firemen, even doctors as a handy reference. Civil engineers could use it to have all the tables and handbooks and everything they carry around in back of their car or truck. Everything could be condensed." Eventually, officials see the computer as helping troops aim weapons, provide better commu nications, conduct training, main tain equipment and administer medical treatment. The project was conceived about two years ago. The Houston firm won the Army contract over more than a dozen other compa nies. "We won't be leaping from low-tech to Robosoldier overnight," Michael Stewart, Texas Micro president, said. "But the Soldier's Computer will be come an important tactical tool for the infantry as soon as it's de ployed." U.J0UE; in 9 f0 [f srsatE^ Fori# 25. TO# ji. in ^ jark# 15 RD^ iitions 1142 S'* iore Eieptf 1 in lo lyOcttW' Rachel s ♦♦ £ ♦♦ ♦♦ ♦♦ FEES ] TT JTL [MEN GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN FOR THE jeting** TnewP* imein^ nation» ; inform NOW!!! WHEN: MONDAY - FRIDAY ji 9:00am - 5:00pm ji sirt#' jonaWf! WHERE: AR PHOTOGRAPHY | 707 TEXAS AYE. ; NEXT TO TACO CABANA E obhsi P i5S s ofitw-. S 0° . Tiered QUESTIONS? CALL 845-2682 The Texas A&.M University Student Publications Board is accepting applications for Editor, The Battalion Spring 1993 The spring editor will serve from January 11, 1993, through May 7, 1993. Qualifications for editor of The Battalion are: 2.0 overall and major GPR at the time of taking office and during the term of office; At least one year experience in a responsible editorial position on The Battalion or comparable student newspaper, OR At least one year editorial experience on a commercial newspaper, OR At least 12 hours journalism, including JOUR 203 and 303 (Media Writing I and II) or equivalent. The 12 hours must include completion of or enrollment in JOUR 301 (Mass Comm Law) or equivalent. Application forms should be picked up and returned to the Student Publications Manager's office, room 230 Reed McDonald Building. Deadline for submitting application: 5 p.m. Thursday, October 29, 1992. Applicants will be inter viewed during the Student Publications Board Meeting be ginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, November 4, 1992, in room 301A Reed McDonald. Tingle vision) (t)2S |D28 & * ound1 • Hundreds of frames at these prices * Clear plastic lenses Open to Public fopticoil l TnariJ College Station ^ , r. . . . 900 Harvey Road Dr s Rx or lens duplicated (2 biks. w. of Call 693-5358 for more details Post oak Mall) Jeree Vercher's Silver Station Is At Home In Post Oak Mall Meet Us at the Fountain! Southwestern Gifts dr Jewelry Turquoise • Sterling Silver Charms 10% off Chains & Texas A&M Jewelry through October f Ulcer Studies 1 Do you have stomach pain? indigestion? Heartburn? Perhaps we could help! If you have an ulcer (duodenal or gastric) and participate in this pharmaceutical company-sponsored clinical research trial, you will receive free medical treatment, the chance of healing your ulcer, up to $700 and the satisfaction of contributing to a nationwide ulcer trial. If you or someone you know might benefitfrom these studies, contact: Tonsillitis Study Individuals at least 13 years old needed to participate in a sore throat (strep throat, tonsillitis) research study involving an investigational oral antibiotic in capsule form. $100 incentive paid to those chosen to participate upon completion of the study. Asthma Study Individuals, age 18-55, with asthma wanted to participate in a clinical research study for approximately 9 weeks with an investigational medication in capsule form. Individuals must be using inhaled steroid medication to qualify. $300 incentive paid to those completing the study. Tension Headache? Individuals with severe Tension Headaches wanted to participate in a 4-hour headache relief research study with an investigational medica tion in tablet form. Flexible hours. $75 incentive for individuals who are chosen and complete the study. Daily, till 6:30, call 776-0400. ADULT SKIN INFECTION STUDY Individuals age 13 and older wanted to participate in a research study for bacterial skin infections such as infected wounds, earlobes, infected burns, boils, infected hair follicles, impetigo, infected ingrown toenails and others. Investigational oral antibiotic in capsule form. $100 incentive for those chosen who complete the study. CHILDREN S SKIN INFECTION STUDY Children, age six months to 12 years, wanted to participate in a research study for bacterial skin infections such as: infected wounds, bug bites, earlobes, burns, boils, hair follicles, ingrown toenails, impetigo and others. Investigational oral antibiotic in liquid form. $150 incentive for those chosen who complete the study. Sinus Infection Study Individuals age 13 and older with a sinus infection to participate in a clinical research study for 3 to 5 weeks with an investigational antibiotic in capsule form. Minimum incentive of $150 paid to those who complete the study. — BioLogica research group, inc. 776-0400 NUTRITION AND FITNESS SEMINAR If you are trying to change your body, you should see a difference every four weeks. If you don't, more than likely you are spending wasted hours exercising and/or dieting. Whether you work in an office or are a full time athlete, everyone reaches a plateau when trying to lose fat or gain muscle, or both. So what do you do? There is only one alternative and that is to create a healthy lifestyle which will enable you to obtain your ultimate fitness objective. Neal Spruce, world renowned Nutrition Expert will arrive from Los Angeles to conduct the seminar at Gold's Gym in College Station on Thursday, October 15. Neal has appeared on several talk shows including Jenny Jones and Good Morning America. He has written articles for virtually every fitness magazine (including Shape, Flex, and Muscle and Fitness) and has lectured all over the world. Neal currently works with movie and T.V. celebrities, top fashion models, professional athletes, and pro bodybuilders. ABOUT THE SEMINAR At the Nutrition and Fitness Seminar, you will receive all the information you need to reach whatever goal you desire. The seminar will provide factual information including: 1. How the human body works in response to nutrition and exercise. 2. How to gain muscle while losing body fat. 3. How to lose weight without rebounding. 4. Reasons why conventional diets fail. Every workout should make a difference. However, a certain knowledge of nutrition and exercise is required for each individual to be able to continually make the desired alterations in appearance and body composition. Each person is unique in regards to age, weight, height, sex, activity level, body composition (% fat, % muscle), rate of metabolism and rate of oxidation. At the seminar you will receive all of the information that you need to reach your personal fitness goals in the fastest way possible. ALLOWING YOU TO SEE A CHANGE EVERY 3-4 WEEKS. YOU WILL NEVER HIT ANOTHER PLATEAU! Therefore, more than anywhere else in the world, you need to be at this seminar. DATE: Thursday, October 15 TIME: 8:00 p.m. PLACE: Gold's Gym ADMISSION: $2.00 in advance (thru 10/14/92) $5.00 at the door 2408 A Texas Ave. S. (in the Kroger Shopping Center) Please call for reservations, 764-8000