54 years ago today a fire broke out in one of the operational buildings, killing twelve United States military personnel.
Most of the deaths occurred because the men were unable to escape through a locked exit and were overcome by the smoke.
Although the official investigation listed faulty electrical circuitry as the cause of the fire, some eyewitness accounts attributed it to failure in a recently-installed incinerator, used for destruction of classified material, which had been improperly vented through the wall and subsequently caused the wall to ignite.
Below are the names of the 12 men who lost their life during the tunnel fire:
CTSA Roger “W” Alex
CTSA William E. Briley
CTSN Wilford D. Cordell
CTSN Dennis e. Etzwieler
CT3 Archie R. Garofalo
CTSA John D. House
LCPL Richard E. McKown
LTjg Ernest D. Moody
SGT Paul C. Rodrigues
CT3 Wayne E. Tower
CTSN James K. Whitman
CT3 Gregory S. Williams
Sayonara is not goodbye, but the promise of meeting again.
24 September 2019 at 11:30
RIP Rod, you were a good man.
LikeLike
24 September 2019 at 12:43
RIP Brothers. You are not forgotten. God Bless.
LikeLike
24 September 2019 at 13:37
Was with Dennis and Bill and always hated the way they passed away…both good guys….
LikeLike
24 September 2019 at 13:45
Remembering Scott “Red” Williams, my buddy along with all of the brave men that tragic day. RIP
LikeLike
24 September 2019 at 14:26
When I got back from TAD, my 4-person cube was nearly empty. Red Williams was gone and both the other guys were just getting back from the hospital. Not a great Christmas.
LikeLike
24 September 2019 at 18:30
Thank you for your service, men!
LikeLike
24 September 2019 at 19:14
May you all R.I.P. Your names and contributions will not be forgotten. God go with you!
LikeLike
24 September 2019 at 22:24
I was coming on Eve watch after the Mid blaze. Wilford Cordell CTSN and I worked in the same space on 2nd floor above where the fire started. RIP to all.
LikeLike
27 September 2019 at 03:09
I Recall This Event Vividly!! “I Was On Leave Or Would Have Been Working That Horrible Morning”!! I Was Asleep In Barracks When I Was Wakened & Told “THE T. WAS ON FIRE”!! “I Worked On The Same Watch With All These Friends 1 Was ARCHIE GAROFALO & GREG WILLIAMS”!!! We Had Lot Of GREAT TIMES TOGETHER”!!! “I PRAY THAT “‘GOD HAS BEEN KIND TO THEM ALL”!!!! “R.I.P.”!!!
LikeLike