In Kingsport, Tennessee, an event was recently held to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the tragic Beirut bombing, organized by Miles Burdine, the president and CEO of the Kingsport Chamber. This solemn occasion brought together community members and veterans to reflect on the impact of that fateful day.

Among those in attendance was Kenny Hicks, a local veteran who was present in Beirut during the bombing. His memories of that day remain vivid. Hicks recalled the initial sounds that alerted him to the impending disaster. “We heard what sounded like rifle shots from roughly a mile away,” he recounted. “Shortly after, we witnessed a massive explosion.” At first, Hicks thought the airport might have been targeted by mortar fire. However, the grim reality soon became clear when a chilling message came over the radio: “Hey, battalion’s gone! It’s been destroyed!”

As the devastating news sunk in, Hicks was confronted with the harsh truth of the situation. “That was the worst day for me,” he shared, reflecting on the moment he learned of the loss. “We realized that with that explosion, the likelihood of survival was almost nonexistent. Although there were survivors, the chances of anyone making it through were incredibly slim.”

For Hicks, marking the anniversary of the bombing holds significant personal importance. “It’s a big deal to remember,” he emphasized, underscoring the enduring impact of the event on those who lived through it and the importance of honoring the lives lost on that day.

“To me, that was the worst day once I heard that we’d lost the tag because with that explosion, nobody lived,” he said. “We had survivors, but we knew that the chances of anybody living were slim to none.”

Hicks said it is a “big deal” to him to remember the anniversary of the bombing.

“You serve your country and then as time goes on, we forget history, and we try to keep the memory of Beirut alive because it wasn’t a war that,” he said. “I guess nobody wanted it.”

Burdine was also in Beirut when the bombing occurred.