Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 28, 1991 TAG: 9102280004
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: GREENSBURG, PA. LENGTH: Medium
Ten of the victims were members of the 14th Quartermaster Detachment, a water-purification unit based in Greensburg, said Maj. Gen. James Baylor. One belonged to the 326th Quartermaster Detachment, based in New Castle, he said.
The 14th had left the United States just a week and a day before the Scud missile hit Monday near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. All together, 28 Americans died and 89 were wounded, Baylor said.
The toll was higher than all the other Scud attacks on Israel, Saudi Arabia and other sites combined, according to official casualty figures.
About 500 pupils and teachers sang, prayed and lit candles at a memorial service at Greensburg Central Catholic High School, across the street from the reserve center. Two students played taps.
"We all saw them leave and now some of them aren't coming back," said Mike Keenan, 16. "We're all upset. Actually, we're all in awe."
The bodies of the 11 soldiers were flown Tuesday to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, said Baylor, commander of the 99th Army Reserve Command of Oakdale, a Pittsburgh suburb.
An Army sergeant came to the home of Spec. 4 Christine Mayes, 22, of Rochester Mills on Wednesday morning and notified her parents.
Spec. Beverly Clark, 23, of Armagh also died in the attack, said her aunt, Debbie Ludwig of Homer City.
Mayes had called home Sunday to say she had arrived in Saudi Arabia, said her mother, Darlene.
The day her detachment left Fort Lee, Va., on Feb. 17, Christine Mayes was engaged to David Fairbanks of Punxsutawney, Pa., her mother said.
"She told him to keep the ring because she was afraid she was going to lose it," Darlene Mayes said. "She was doing what she wanted to do. I was proud of her. I don't hold this against anybody."
by CNB