Khobar Towers Memorial

The Eglin Air Force Base Honor Guard presents the colors at the Khobar Towers Memorial Ceremony on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., June 24. The ceremony marked the 20th anniversary of the Khobar Towers terrorist attack, honored the 19 Airmen who lost their lives and paid tribute to the families and survivors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stormy Archer)

Khobar Towers Memorial

Dari Bradley, aunt of Airman 1st Class Joseph Rimkus, touches a portrait of him on the Khobar Towers Memorial wall June 24, after the a memorial ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Rimkus was a weapons load crewmember from the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron who lost his life as a result of the Khobar Towers bombing June 25, 1996. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stormy Archer)

Khobar Towers: Sacrifice of fallen heroes never forgotten

Published June 27, 2016
By Senior Airman Stormy Archer
33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 33rd Fighter Wing hosted a ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Khobar Towers terrorist attack, June 24, at the Nomad Memorial Grounds, here.

The ceremony honored the 12 Nomads who lost their lives on June 25, 1996, and paid tribute to the families and survivors.

"This attack shook our nation to its core," Col. Lance Pilch, the 33rd Fighter Wing commander, said. "The effect of this terrorism ripples through us even today as we reflect on who these Airmen could have been, were they still alive today."

The bombing at Khobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, was the first terrorist attack of its kind and resulted in more than 500 civilian and military casualties. The 33rd FW suffered 105 wounded personnel and accounted for 12 of the 19 Airmen killed on that day.

"Twenty years, in some respects, seems like an eternity, but there are times when it seems like 20 days because our memory of that tragic night is still so clear," said retired Col. Doug Cochran, 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron commander at the time of the attack. "The sting of loss fades somewhat over time, but the memories of our fallen heroes and their sacrifice remains vivid."

The ceremony consisted of a wreath laying, recitation of the names of the victims, playing of Taps, the first flyover in a Missing Man formation for the F-35A.

"The memory of these heroes taken and those who live on ignite in us a firm resolve to honor their sacrifice," Pilch said. "These Airmen did not falter to answer the call to serve our nation and their legacy lives on in their brothers and sisters-in-arms. Today's Nomads who carry the torch forward still fight and still serve our nation with fire from the clouds."