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History, Reference, Research, and GrogTalk => Military (and other) History => Topic started by: bayonetbrant on January 28, 2014, 07:40:12 AM

Title: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 28, 2014, 07:40:12 AM
I was at a friend's apartment in Heidelberg, Germany, munching on Burger King with my dad and a friend, on our way to a Mötley Crüe concert that evening, when their son (my brother's former classmate) came into the living room and told us that the Space Shuttle Challenger just exploded on takeoff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster).
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 28, 2014, 07:45:12 AM
I was in San Antonio, Texas, in my junior year of high school, in World History class, when a teacher came in to our room to tell the other teacher that "there was an explosion on the Challenger." He made it sound as if there was some kind of minor accident on it and that everything was okay. I didn't see the actual coverage until I got to my last period class, ROTC, where they had a TV hooked up. I don't get to this day why that teacher said it quite that way.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 28, 2014, 07:55:14 AM
I was sitting in science class watching the launch on tv.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: Gusington on January 28, 2014, 08:37:36 AM
I was in 6th grade English class when the yenta mom came storming in screaming that the space shuttle had just exploded. The Wife was watching it on live tv.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: spelk on January 28, 2014, 08:46:09 AM
At Uni, sinking beers, and staring incredulously at the fact that the Shuttle had let us down.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: Barthheart on January 28, 2014, 08:49:35 AM
In a university history class when some joker came in and said the shuttle blew up.... only he wasn't a joker....  :-\
Title: .
Post by: eyebiter on January 28, 2014, 09:07:49 AM
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Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: Steelgrave on January 28, 2014, 11:25:19 AM
Walking into work in San Antonio, nearly late so it was one of the very rare times I hadn't turned on news yet. My first employee arriving after I opened up was tearful and asked me if I had heard the Challenger exploded. If she hadn't been so upset I would have thought she was pulling my leg.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: mirth on January 28, 2014, 11:37:37 AM
High school freshman. Think I was in a study hall. We may have been watching the launch live because it was a pretty big deal that Christa McAuliffe was on board.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: Staggerwing on January 28, 2014, 12:40:04 PM
I was working in the hospital ER that day, transporting a patient from the ER to his or her semi-private room for admission. We wheeled in the stretcher just as the patient in the other bed was watching the launch on the big tv on the wall.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: Centurion40 on January 28, 2014, 01:14:54 PM
On my way into the Acadia University Political Science Dept.'s Student Assistants office when another student assistant told me the news.  The dude had a poster of a shuttle blasting off in his cubicle, which made the day all the more poignant.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: Martok on January 28, 2014, 04:41:32 PM
I was in third-grade art class when they announced the explosion over the PA system. 

Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: OJsDad on January 28, 2014, 04:58:01 PM
I was a junior in HS.  Not sure what class I was in as they didn't announce it over the PA.  Just heard it being talked about in the hall. 
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: twitter3 on January 28, 2014, 05:20:09 PM
Freshmen in high school history class. We were studying the Civil War. A teacher came in and gave us the news. We went to the library and watched the tv coverage.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: steve58 on January 28, 2014, 05:35:56 PM
I was home from work, sick in bed with something or other.  A very sad day for the US space program and the families of those involved.  May they rest in peace. 

As we live somewhat close to the DC area, we've been able to go to Arlington National Cemetery and was able to visit the Shuttle Challenger Memorial.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/challengr.htm
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: Barthheart on January 28, 2014, 06:55:18 PM
Quote from: Martok on January 28, 2014, 04:41:32 PM
I was in third-grade art class when they announced the explosion over the PA system.

Jease.. and we give TCT a hard time about being a youngin'.....  :P
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 28, 2014, 07:22:15 PM
Quote from: Barthheart on January 28, 2014, 06:55:18 PM
Quote from: Martok on January 28, 2014, 04:41:32 PM
I was in third-grade art class when they announced the explosion over the PA system.

Jease.. and we give TCT a hard time about being a youngin'.....  :P

I dont think TCT was a sperm yet no less a fetus.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: TheCommandTent on January 28, 2014, 07:41:17 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 28, 2014, 07:22:15 PM
Quote from: Barthheart on January 28, 2014, 06:55:18 PM
Quote from: Martok on January 28, 2014, 04:41:32 PM
I was in third-grade art class when they announced the explosion over the PA system.

Jease.. and we give TCT a hard time about being a youngin'.....  :P

I dont think TCT was a sperm yet no less a fetus.

I was about 6 months in the oven at that point.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: bayonetbrant on January 28, 2014, 07:59:53 PM
Quote from: TheCommandTent on January 28, 2014, 07:41:17 PMI was about 6 months in the oven at the point.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk%2Fi%2Fkeep-calm-and-get-off-my-lawn-1.png&hash=bc188fd5aff2342b1074916e2206a55ff83d2344)
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 28, 2014, 08:06:32 PM
^^^  LOL  our resident fetus was a fetus.  ;D
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: MetalDog on January 28, 2014, 08:35:44 PM
I'm sure I was in school that day.  I'm pretty sure they sent us home early.  Now that I think about it, my step mom was on the couch in the tv rooom watching the coverage when I walked in from the bus stop.
Title: Re: Where were you - 28 Years Ago
Post by: skeptical.platypus on February 04, 2014, 07:26:15 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 28, 2014, 07:40:12 AM
I was at a friend's apartment in Heidelberg, Germany, munching on Burger King with my dad and a friend, on our way to a Mötley Crüe concert that evening, when their son (my brother's former classmate) came into the living room and told us that the Space Shuttle Challenger just exploded on takeoff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster).

It's a small world. I was on the same continent, studiously ignoring the tv which didn't speak my language, when my mother called out "I think something happened with the shuttle."

I can tell you, it was a little bizarre watching the videos, seeing the pictures, and knowing what happened (catastrophe), but no other details.

It was about as alone as any of us felt.

Surly grip indeed.