Kerry Peter Hein
Newsday
October 10, 2001
Resent bin Laden's justification for terror
By Barbara J. Durkin
STAFF WRITER
Kerry Peter
Hein
It doesn't matter what Osama bin Laden says, Kerry Peter Hein will always be a hero to his mother.
The medevac pilot, who grew up in Sound Beach, was shot down during
a medical rescue mission in Kuwait
during the Gulf War.
"He was willing to risk his life to save other people," said Patricia
Hein, whose 28-year-old son was the
only Long Islander to die during service in that war. "I'm happy my son did
want to help people at that level."
Still, it was a blow to hear bin Laden, suspected of masterminding
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the
United States, link the devastation to America's presence in the "holy land"
during the Gulf War a decade ago.
"It did make me angry and very sad," said Hein of Coram. "On some
level maybe it's true and it is hurtful.
But I really can't believe that. His agenda goes way deeper than that. I
think before that happened, bin Laden
had a twisted agenda."
Bin Laden has decried the American presence in Saudi Arabia during
that time, as the country is considered
the homeland of Islam and the two holy pilgrimage cities of Mecca and Medina
are there.
"We were there because we were asked to go there and protect people," said Hein, 57.
Gulf War veteran Michael Kilbride dismissed bin Laden's assertion
that Americans brought on this
recent terrorism because of their role in the gulf as the rantings of a
fanatic.
"I think that's ridiculous," said Oyster Bay resident Kilbride, who
is a counselor with the Nassau County
Veterans Services Agency. Rather than rethinking their stint in light of
what's happened, Kilbride said,
"Everyone I've ever talked to in the Persian Gulf wants to go back in now."
In fact, at the U.S. Marines recruiting center in Garden City, interest
from veterans - including gulf vets
has tripled since the terrorist attacks, said Staff Sgt. Matthew Olivolo.
Usually only about five former
Marines a week inquire about rejoining compared to about 15 now.
Rick Walk, 46, who served as a machinist mate on the USS America during
the Gulf War, shrugged off
bin Laden's accusations.
"I really couldn't have any respect for anyone like that on such a
subject," the Hicksville resident said.
"He's just making up a childish justification. ... The way I personally feel
is I think they're just jealous
of our way of life and what we mean to the world in preservation of
freedom."
East Patchogue resident Jackie Olsen, who had two sons serve in the
Gulf War, is proud of their service
but said she always worried that the conflict would rear up again because
it appeared to end prematurely.
"If you're going to do something, you have to do it so it's better
in the future," said Olsen, who founded
Gulf War Vets of Long Island. "It seems all we did was delay.
Now it's the same thing again."
But her sons, like everyone else who served, "did what they had to do" during the Gulf War, she said.
"I'm proud of everyone who serves in the military," she said. "They make whatever sacrifices need to be made."
Kerry Peter Hein made the greatest sacrifice, one his mother has been
struggling to process for a decade.
But though anger was her first reaction when terrorists struck and bin Laden
pointed a finger of blame
toward those who served in the gulf, Hein is trying not to give in to that
emotion.
"I'm trying to stay controlled and not buy into the anger," she said.
"I want to be able to keep a clear head.
If you let anger totally control you, you can't think clearly."
She prefers to channel her energy into the daily prayer she makes to her son.
"I pray to my son he just blesses and brings peace to the world," she said.
Copyright © 2001, Newsday, Inc.