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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 2000)
Bonfire Memorial Special The Battalion I n the year that has passed since the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse, the lives of Aggies have changed, including that of John Comstock, a sophomore biomedical science major and one of the 27 injured in the collapse. Comstock was the last to be pulled alive from the stack of logs that was to have been Bonfire 1999. Suttering trom multiple injuries that left him in critical condition, Com stock remained conscious in the stack for seven hours while rescue workers and engineers attempted to tree him. Even while describing the expe- nence, Comstock maintains his sense of humor. For those seven hours a lot ru through your head,” he said thought from the ridiculous to t serious. First I was just shocked ■ didn t know what the hell had ji happened. Then somebody grabb my hand, and I kind of stayed cal after that. I was thinking, ‘My rig hand is trapped. Had to be my rig hand, couldn't have been my let or, 1 guess I got out of those tv management tests tomorrow.’ ” Comstock s heroic reputath stems in part from his ability to n the events of Nov. 18, 1999. in pt spective while maintaining a po; live-outlook on life and from f drive and determination to recove I guess the will to live was just me, Comstock said. “People in 1C said, Ton can just look at him ai tell that he doesn’t want to die.' ” Recovery began when Comstoi regained consciousness sometin between Christmas and New Yeat \\ ISP the College Stati< Medical Center, where he stayed f 83 days. “The weirdest thing was ... they had put me to steep when I got to the hospital, because I was awake when they pulled me out,” Comstock said When Comstock awoke, his left leg was amputated above the knee and he had scars around his torso and nen/e damage from the waist down. "It s almost impossible to name how many surgeries [I had] because they work on you for eight hours then wrap you in plastic and let the doctors get some rest to work on you tomorrow,” Comstock said. I m actually all in one piece now,” he added with a laugh. Even though he is back “in one piece, Comstock said, some things still pose challenges to his daily routine. "It’s very difficult living life in a take classes at Richland Community [wheelchair],” he said. “The acces- College here.” sibility of everything really dimin- He said he misses A&M and is ishes compared to walking around.” looking forward to coming back Another challenge he faces is next fall, painful physical therapy. A major Although he said he is excited part of therapy is strengthening mus- about his return to A&M, Com- cles that are not used frequently and stock said it is difficult for him to then stretching them, Comstock said, anticipate. "Scars grow like weeds - they “It’s strange because I don't know basically stick to anything,” Com- who knows me when I’m on cam- stock said. "I’ve got to stretch out a pus,” he said. “I can’t even imagine lot and try to break the scar tissue what it’ll be like when I come back.” up so that I have mobility.” Comstock will attend the Bonfire Comstock said he has learned remembrance ceremony Saturday, and that pain is a necessary part of recov-- he said he does not know what to expect, ery. He said laughter and his per- “I don’t know how hard this sonal bond with his therapists help weekend is going to hit me,” he him get through the tough times. said. “I don’t know if I’m ready for They-love me, and that’s why it or. not. I always think about the 12 they inflict pain upon me,” he said, people who died.” They want to see me walk just as The Bonfire collapse may have much as I do. You get kind of used changed his outlook on life, but to it after a year. Now it’s to the Comstock said his love for A&M point where I m pretty comfortable and Bonfire remains unchanged, with how well I m progressing. I'm With a strong desire to recover and starting to^make leaps and bounds a deep love for Bonfire, Comstock in therapy.” anticipates watching the next Bon- When asked if walking is one of fire with his friends, his goals, Comstock replied with an “I want to see Bonfire again, as emphatic "of course." soon as possible,” Comstock said, "I m expecting that,” he said, and added proudly, “You can quote It s just a matter of time.” me on this, ‘Moses builds the hell!’ ” Comstock will be spending more But Comstock has not forgotten time in therapy in the upcoming the hours he already has invested in months so that he will be prepared to Bonfire. come back to A&M in the fall of “I want to light the next one that 2001. Previously, he had intended to goes up. I put my work in and didn't return to A&M in the spring of 2001. get to see the damn thing bum,” "I decided I need more therapy,” Comstock said, laughing, then more he said. "I can't be in College Station seriously, “I think next time they and get the same therapy, so I just light it, they ought to use 12 torches.” FILE PHOTO/The Battalion John Comstock, above with his mother (middle), was one of the 27 Aggies injured in from the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse. He is currently in rehabilitation. 27 Injured Nate Atkinson Dominic Braus Jennifer Calaway John Comstock William "Bill" Davis Clayton Frady Leslie Graham Lanny Joe Hayes Will Harlan Britt Henley Caleb Hill Chad Hutchinson Jody Jacobs Paul "Alex" Jones Brandon Allen Jozwiak John Kramer William Lyckman Amy McLeod Mandy Nakai Matthew Robbins Holly Rotenberry Lauren Scanlan Milton "Chip" Thiel Bruce Unger JJ. Washam Jeremy Woorley Derrek Woodley Injured students in search of answers, look back on events By Arati Bhattacharya The Battalion Considering themselves lucky amid the tragedy of Nov. 18, 1999, the 27 injured students of the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse look back on the tragedy with different per spectives and lessons learned. “I still can’t believe something we loved so much and dedicated all our time to could kill 12 peo ple,” said John Kramer, a junior history' major, who was injured in the collapse. Kramer said he remembers tak ing Bryan McClain to the Polo Fields that night. After the stack fell, he said, he searched for his buddies and tried to locate McClain. He did not learn of McCain’s death until the next morning. Chip Thiel, a senior agricultural economics major, said he remem bers talking to Chris Breen, Jeremy Frampton and Jerry Self on top of the fourth stack. He heard the structure shift as Breen yelled something. Thiel said the next thins he knew, he was jumping off the back of the stack and tumbling down to save his life. Thiel said he lost a lot that night— three friends and his membership in Company E-1 of the Corps of Cadets. “I miss Frampton a lot.” Thiel said. “He always made people laugh. But I just try to think about all the good times, about spending time with the people who enjoy doing the same things you do.” Fanny Hayes, a sophomore economics major, said he was convinced he was going to die the night Bonfire collapsed. “I didn’t even doubt death, I was so sure I was going to die,” he said. Hayes said he did not know he was going to be all right until his swing hit the ground and logs fell around him. His right foot was crushed in the accident, forcing him to be in a wheelchair for five weeks and on crutches until February. “I was trapped under the stack for an hour and a half,” Hayes said. “I tried not to look around and see what I didn’t want to. I knew dead bodies were around me.” Alex Jones, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said he was hoisted onto the first tier of the southwest side of the stack. He said he felt the structure fall beneath him first and then heard the sound of chaos. Jones was badly bruised on his back and legs, which took one month to heal. Jones said his emo tional wounds have yet to heal. “I was really lucky,” Jones said. “I could’ve easily been one of the 12 Aggies that died, but God kept me around for a reason.” Hayes said he would work on Bonfire again. “The Class of 2003 has a duty to do that,” Hayes said. “Things will be different, like construction and attitudes, but if we don’t embrace it, who else will under stand the spirit of Bonfire?” Jones said he would not work on Bonfire again. “It’s just something in my heart that would keep me from working it again,” he said. The injured students said they are trying to move on with their lives. Hayes said he does not regret his participation in Bonfire. “I think about it every day; it’s impossible not to,” Hayes said. “I don’t want to forget about it, though. It’s the best thing I’ve done at and for A&M.” Thiel, who will graduate in December and get married this summer, said he has no regrets about Bonfire. “The wounds never heal,” Thiel said. “You can’t forget the past, but you can’t keep it from moving for ward. I don't question why I made it, but I did. It makes you think about stuff, like what if it’s the last time I see my family or take your last breath. There are lotsof‘ifs.Tmnot a hero, just a reallylucky guy.” Nov. 18,1999 Aggie Bonfire collapses at 2:42 a.m., killing 11 Aggies and injuring 27 others Nov. 19 12th Bonfire victim, Tim Kerlee Jr., dies i Nov. 24 Memorial funds set up for victims I Nov. 26 Leo Linbeck Jr. is chosen as head of the Special Commission on 1999 Aggie Bonfire Collapse i— Dec. 6 TABC launches Bonfire c inquiry Dec. 8 Soil is ruled out as factor in Bonfire collapse Dec. 20 Last of memorial items left at Polo Fields are gathered Jan. 18 Students return for spring semester I Dec. 7' Nov. 21 I Nov. 25 Dec. 4 Dec. 10 Bowen names Thousands Alcohol Silver Taps Bonfire commission mourn victims in found in for Bonfire commission to study collapse candlelight vigil on Polo Fields victim's bodies victims is held picks consultants Jan. 18 Bonfire commission hires last firm for collapse investigation Feb. 5 Lovett, Keen perform at Bonfire Benefit Concert Jan. 11,2000 The Bryan-College Station Eagle reports Bowen will resign if' administration is found at fault for Bonfire collapse Jan. 20 John Comstock, last hospitalized Aggie, is upgraded to serious condition Feb. 9 Comstock begins rehabilitation Page 6