Timothy McVeigh: Difference between revisions

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'''Timothy James McVeigh''' (April 23, 1968 – June 11, 2001) was a former member of the United States Army and a security guard who was responsible for [[the Oklahoma City Bombing]]. The bombing - which up until [[9/11]] was the deadliest act of terrorism on American soil - killed 168 people and injured many more. The bombing was motivated out of vengeance for the US government's involvement in the Ruby Ridge and Waco massacres.

==Biography==

A shy and withdrawn young man McVeigh became interested in computers and was considered his high school's most promising computer programmer. Following graduation he enlisted in the Army where he served in Desert Storm and earned the Bronze Star. He stated he decapitated an Iraqi soldier with cannon fire on his first day in the war and celebrated. He said he was later shocked to be ordered to execute surrendering prisoners - which was, essentially, a [[war crime]] - and to see carnage on the road leaving Kuwait City after U.S. troops routed the Iraqi army.

=== Early life ===

A shy and withdrawn young man McVeigh became interested in computers and was considered his high school's most promising computer programmer.

=== Career in the US Army ===

Following graduation he enlisted in the Army where he served in Desert Storm and earned the Bronze Star. He stated he decapitated an Iraqi soldier with cannon fire on his first day in the war and celebrated. He said he was later shocked to be ordered to execute surrendering prisoners - which was, essentially, a [[war crime]] - and to see carnage on the road leaving Kuwait City after U.S. troops routed the Iraqi army.

In his spare time McVeigh studied explosive and sniper training materials. During his time in the army he was reprimanded for purchasing a [[White Power Movement|white power]] t-shirt at a [[Ku Klux Klan]] protest against African-American soldiers wearing similar [[Black Supremacy|black supremacy]] t-shirts. He was a top-scoring gunner with the 25mm cannon of the Bradley Fighting Vehicles used by his 1st Infantry Division and was eventually promoted to sergeant. After being promoted to sergeant, McVeigh earned a reputation of assigning undesirable work to black servicemen and frequently used racial slurs against them. McVeigh tried to join the special forces but washed out of training, and then decided to leave the Army.

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In the aftermath of the Ruby Ridge and Waco standoffs, McVeigh decided to take action against the government. He considered a campaign of assassination against government officials, but instead decided to target a Federal building.

=== The [[The Oklahoma City Bombing|Oklahoma City Bombing]] ===

McVeigh met [[Terry Nichols]] in April 1993. The two became friends due to their similar ideals and Nichols helped teach McVeigh on how to construct [[improvised explosive device]]s. His anti-government beliefs became even more radical and he began making plans to blow up a federal building. According to McVeigh's authorized biography, he ultimately decided that he would make the loudest statement against the government by bombing a federal building.

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Due to a law signed by President Clinton in 1997 to keep people convicted of certain crimes from being buried in military cemeteries McVeigh was ineligible for burial in a military cemetery despite having been honorably discharged. He was cremated and the ashes given to his lawyer who scattered them in an undisclosed location.

Many within the modern-day [[Alt-Right]] movement have praised McVeigh and defended his actions. He also partially inspired [[Eric Harris]] and [[Dylan Klebold]] to carry out the Columbine High School massacre.

==Gallery==

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March 12, 2000 Timothy McVeigh speaks

</gallery>

== Trivia ==

* He also partially inspired [[Eric Harris]] and [[Dylan Klebold]] to carry out the [[Columbine High School massacre]].

* Many modern-day [[Alt-Right]] movement praise McVeigh and defend his actions.

* In prison, he formed a frienship with eco-terrorist [[Ted Kaczynski]] and fellow terrorist [[Ramzi Yousef]], in which they would discuss religion and politics. This friendship lasted until he was eventually executed in 2001.

[[Category:List]]

[[Category:Male]]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 '''Timothy James McVeigh''' (April 23, 1968 – June 11, 2001) was a former member of the United States Army and a security guard who was responsible for [[the Oklahoma City Bombing]]. The bombing - which up until [[9/11]] was the deadliest act of terrorism on American soil - killed 168 people and injured many more. The bombing was motivated out of vengeance for the US government's involvement in the Ruby Ridge and Waco massacres.
 ==Biography==
-A shy and withdrawn young man McVeigh became interested in computers and was considered his high school's most promising computer programmer. Following graduation he enlisted in the Army where he served in Desert Storm and earned the Bronze Star. He stated he decapitated an Iraqi soldier with cannon fire on his first day in the war and celebrated. He said he was later shocked to be ordered to execute surrendering prisoners - which was, essentially, a [[war crime]] - and to see carnage on the road leaving Kuwait City after U.S. troops routed the Iraqi army.
+=== Early life ===
+A shy and withdrawn young man McVeigh became interested in computers and was considered his high school's most promising computer programmer.
+=== Career in the US Army ===
+Following graduation he enlisted in the Army where he served in Desert Storm and earned the Bronze Star. He stated he decapitated an Iraqi soldier with cannon fire on his first day in the war and celebrated. He said he was later shocked to be ordered to execute surrendering prisoners - which was, essentially, a [[war crime]] - and to see carnage on the road leaving Kuwait City after U.S. troops routed the Iraqi army.
 In his spare time McVeigh studied explosive and sniper training materials. During his time in the army he was reprimanded for purchasing a [[White Power Movement|white power]] t-shirt at a [[Ku Klux Klan]] protest against African-American soldiers wearing similar [[Black Supremacy|black supremacy]] t-shirts. He was a top-scoring gunner with the 25mm cannon of the Bradley Fighting Vehicles used by his 1st Infantry Division and was eventually promoted to sergeant. After being promoted to sergeant, McVeigh earned a reputation of assigning undesirable work to black servicemen and frequently used racial slurs against them. McVeigh tried to join the special forces but washed out of training, and then decided to leave the Army.
@@ Line 15: / Line 20: @@
 In the aftermath of the Ruby Ridge and Waco standoffs, McVeigh decided to take action against the government. He considered a campaign of assassination against government officials, but instead decided to target a Federal building.
+=== The [[The Oklahoma City Bombing|Oklahoma City Bombing]] ===
 McVeigh met [[Terry Nichols]] in April 1993. The two became friends due to their similar ideals and Nichols helped teach McVeigh on how to construct [[improvised explosive device]]s. His anti-government beliefs became even more radical and he began making plans to blow up a federal building. According to McVeigh's authorized biography, he ultimately decided that he would make the loudest statement against the government by bombing a federal building.
@@ Line 30: / Line 36: @@
 Due to a law signed by President Clinton in 1997 to keep people convicted of certain crimes from being buried in military cemeteries McVeigh was ineligible for burial in a military cemetery despite having been honorably discharged. He was cremated and the ashes given to his lawyer who scattered them in an undisclosed location.
-Many within the modern-day [[Alt-Right]] movement have praised McVeigh and defended his actions. He also partially inspired [[Eric Harris]] and [[Dylan Klebold]] to carry out the Columbine High School massacre.
 ==Gallery==
@@ Line 48: / Line 52: @@
 March 12, 2000 Timothy McVeigh speaks
 </gallery>
+== Trivia ==
+* He also partially inspired [[Eric Harris]] and [[Dylan Klebold]] to carry out the [[Columbine High School massacre]].
+* Many modern-day [[Alt-Right]] movement praise McVeigh and defend his actions.
+* In prison, he formed a frienship with eco-terrorist [[Ted Kaczynski]] and fellow terrorist [[Ramzi Yousef]], in which they would discuss religion and politics. This friendship lasted until he was eventually executed in 2001.
 [[Category:List]]
 [[Category:Male]]