Military Families Reflect on bin Laden's Death

Excitement, pride and relief were among emotions reported by Snellville residents as they heard about the death of Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida responsible for the attacks on September 11, 2001.

“We found out the news this morning about bin Laden’s death and we were very excited and proud of our country,” said Bob Pate, a retired US Air Force fighter pilot, on Monday.

Pate, who had 24 years of service, and his wife, Kari, a retired US Air Force ANG ground control intercept controller with 20 years of service, raised the American flag on their front porch “to celebrate and show our patriotism,” Pate said.

“The news to us means that after all these years, the USA stuck to our guns with our commitment to seek justice for all the 2,966 U.S. citizens that died in the attack on 11 September 2001,” he added, “plus all the military personnel who have lost their lives deployed overseas battling the war again terrorism.”

Seventeen-year-old Kaytlin Butler of Snellville, a senior at Brookwood High School, whose father is an active duty Army staff sergeant stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, was seven when the September 11th attacks occurred.

“We’ve finally accomplished what we set out to accomplish, but in the meantime, we have countless military and civilian deaths and have our foot in multiple locations in the Middle East,” she said.

With plans to major in Arabic and international relations at the University of Georgia this fall, Kaytlin said she was “disappointed in the reactions at Times Square and in front of the White House ... Even when Hitler died, there weren’t people celebrating and chanting. It was a global sigh of relief, not an elaborate celebration.”

She noted that students at Brookwood High School were very excited about bin Laden’s death.

“We have to recognize that there are evil people in the world and they must be dealt with, but it’s not a task that we have to relish,” she said. Kaytlin said that she’s “as patriotic as everyone and was equally as angry and afraid following 9/11.”

She believes that the celebrations don’t “give an image of America that we want to portray on an international level, especially given the precarious situation of our security and in light of a possible retaliation.”

Former Marine Wendell Mackey of Snellville, said his son AJ called him Sunday night while he was watching new reports about bin Laden's death on CNN. Mackey's sons, AJ and Jared are both students and football players at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Mackey said his son said,"'They’re going crazy up here (at West Point). They’re dancing and singing and throwing milk bombs out the window.'"

Mackey advised his son to stay inside, but noted that “they have a right to be happy. I can understand the euphoria.” He also heard from his son, Chase, a military medic in San Antonio, Texas, who texted him the news.

“They’re starting to understand what they’re fighting for,” he said.

Shari Niemann of Snellville, the mother of a 20-year-old Marine deployed to Afghanistan two weeks ago, said she “feels like it’s good news for us when someone who has been stirring up hatred and anger is no longer able to do that.”

However, she said she’s “kind of uncomfortable with all the dancing and cheering about someone dying,” but “you have to be relieved that he’s no longer a threat.”

She also noted that she’s concerned that there will be a “backlash against the military personnel that are over there.” Her son, Wayne, a machine gunner in the infantry who serves on the front lines went into the military after graduating from high school. He’ll celebrate his 21st birthday while deployed.

Bob Pate, also known by his military call sign, Woody, summed up his thoughts with gratitude to military personnel.

Bin Laden was the mastermind, and we proved to the terrorist world that America does not back down," he said. "Kari and I are proud to have been part of the military that defends America’s freedom. We believe in a strong military and a strong America.

"A big thank you to all the men and women currently on active duty that keep these traditions true.”