Boston Marathon (Page 11)

I'm dedicating the rare all in one swim/bike/run brick my coach has me doing today to those affected by this catastrophic event.

Everyone is right: we have to focus on the good in humanity in order to overcome the evil.  I was disgusted earlier and not doing a very good job of that but reading all of the words of positivity here and over social media has reminded me.

Just wait until they see the show of solidarity among the runners and supporters next April.....

I haven't read through most of this thread since yesterday (so this may have already been mentioned), but I wanted to update my previous post with some facts that came out today:

Good to hear that you're safe, Brian - Philly's got yer' back!

An experience like this is no doubt going to be a defining moment in your life.  I grew up in the 80's in a city where urban terrorism was unfortunately a way of life - bombs in malls, railway stations, government offices, trash cans, etc., and always seeing soldiers/police with semi-automatic weapons in shopping malls, movie theaters, airports, etc.  Had to walk through a metal detector just to go into a shopping mall.  My "defining moment" was one Saturday night going out with a bunch of high school friends to a popular nightspot.  We got carded (18 drinking age), one of the guys got stopped, so we went around the corner to another place.  A couple of hours later, a car bomb exploded outside the place we were supposed to be - many dead and injured.  My life changed forever that night.  But on the positive side, I landed up leaving there, and eventually making Philly my home.  But you never forget a close call like that, so when an incident like Boston happens, a lot comes back to you.

Awesome blog on this very thought: link

I know the feeling you describe.  I was on the 91st floor of the Sears tower working on a network install that morning.  Not a good feeling at all, and it was the final straw that made me move out of Chicago.

Black powder in Crock Pots stuffed in Duffel Bags. Mike, between you and me, we make a good team...

I hear there were no more unexploded IEDs...

Wanted to tip my hat to the servicemen as well.  Saw some footage where men in fatigues were getting into the rubble along side the police.  So thanks.  I'm sure they were there to watch the race just like everyone else and got involved.  Not sure if it was duty or compassion, but good stuff, none the less.

But that leads to a question.  I'm thinking as a civilian, you would not be allowed to stay and offer aid.  Police and FD would usher you out. Understandable as they need to try to keep "civilians" safe.  But do servicemen (and women, not to forget them) have carte blanche to stick around?

Maybe in the moment they would have take assistance from anyone.  But from of the footage, it looked like only uniforms were there.   I'm thinking if I tried to help, they wouldn't let me even if I wanted to.  Maybe if I was a doctor or paramedic?  Does a uniform allow one to stay in an emergency and everyone else has to be evacuated?

I don't think that there's any hard and fast rule on that.

I think it's a "play it by ear" type of situation... if someone can help, you let them help.  A civilian may have to offer up info like "I know advanced first aid" or whatever, but if you can't help without being directed, then you help the most by staying out of the way.  A servicemember helping take down fencing and stuff... or anything else, is helpful, because if nothing else they haven't been paralyzed by the situation and they're doing something that directly effects the ability of others to offer helps.

And that's all I really saw them do in the footage.  Rip down fencing/rubble.  Again, something I could/would do, but probably would be told to vacate the area.

That's a good point Chris, when everyone was trying to figure out what just happened, those troops rushed over and started working. It's a case of "observe, orient, decide, act" the OODA Loop.

I've been out for 6 years, but if something happened, I don't think I'd vacate until they were literally pulling me out or firemen in gear were there to help.

Like someone above said, in those situations service members would be treated like police, firemen, other first responders. The first thing we're taught is to secure the area, assess, and start treating/triage. Based on the interviews I've seen on TV, the police and security were securing the scene within minutes, getting runners and other bystanders/victims out of the area. This is to keep them from further harm and to allow first responders and people who helped those around them, to work. Granted, there is no "show ID now" situation when an incident has just occurred, but many who were running to the scene were medical aid tent workers: Dr's, nurses, etc. Also, many military members are CLS trained: combat lifesaver (I know most Army & Marines are at least). 

I wouldn't say "carte blanche" to describe it and I can guarantee they don't want to stick around just to watch the carnage, but it is a duty to help. Rather, "we know these people are trained to protect and help." Again, they are TRAINED do to that. They aren't going to get in the way, they will take direction and ensure the safety of the victims and the other responders. They are just as noticeable as policemen.  

I'm sure some police officers can chime in here, but if I was in my Army uniform and a disaster occurred, no police would be kicked away or out. Just like they wouldn't keep soldiers away. Now, in later footage, you see many in white and blue jackets, volunteers from the medical tent.

Does that help? 

AUTHORITIES ID POSSIBLE SUSPECT!

http://bostonglobe.com/2013/04/17/boston-medical-center-reports-five-year-old-boy-critical-condition-victims-treated-from-boston-marathon-bombings/UiktKly60y4m8UVHeNu8NP/story.html

I hope the that the first article is correct.

BUT, that's what I hate about the media.  The say they have video/pictures of a suspect of a man with a black bag...  Then they post a picture of a man with a black bag at the fence of the race...  So I'm studying it to see any identifiable things.  Just to find out it was someone praying at the fence after the fact.  If that's not a "trick" to get viewers/readers attention, I don't know what is.

I get that.  I'm just saying the online article was misleading.  The headline was something about a man with a black bag...  Then they show a picture of a man with a black bag - but it was someone praying and NOT the suspect.  Convenient to get your attention.

Doesn't matter.  They may have seen that was misleading so they switched out the picture with one with a sign on the fence.  Maybe it was an accident.

BTW, ESPN radio is reporting they arrested someone as well.

I think they were slamming the news in, because the link itself (as you can see from my previous post) still indicated the lead article was about the victims. 

Anyway, we have AP, Reuters, CNN and FOX all saying an arrest has been made, but NBC News is saying FBI told them they have identified (possibly only by face) someone they want to talk to from two separate surveillance videos...no name or any other info...

Someone may have already posted this but I don't have time to comb through the thread -

http://imgur.com/a/sUrnA

Just shows how hard it would be to piece everything together.  Hopefully they got their guy today.  

Yep, every time I click the link, it's a new story.  Now it's someone is in custody.  10 minutes ago it was they had a suspect.  when you posted it, it must have been about the victims.