In Kingsport, Tennessee, the president and CEO of the Kingsport Chamber, Miles Burdine, held a solemn event to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the tragic Beirut bombing. The gathering served as a poignant reminder of the day that continues to resonate deeply within the community.

Among those reflecting on the somber occasion was Kenny Hicks, a local veteran who was present in Beirut during the attack. He vividly recalls the initial sounds, mistaking them for distant gunfire.

“We heard what seemed like rifle shots coming from about a mile away,” Hicks recounted. “Moments later, we witnessed a massive explosion. Initially, I thought it might have been mortar fire targeting the airport. But then, over the radio, the chilling news came through: ‘Hey, battalion’s gone! It’s been destroyed!'”

The gravity of the situation quickly became apparent to Hicks and those around him.

“That day stands out as the worst,” Hicks reflected. “The moment we realized the enormity of the loss, it was devastating. With that explosion, the hope of survival was virtually nonexistent. Although there were survivors, we knew the odds were against them.”

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.