CHESAPEAKE
Barbara Rockwell has a soft way about her. Light brown hair swirls around her face, adorned by oval-framed glasses and gold elephant earrings.
Her voice is comforting and doesn't become loud or sound angry when she takes delight in a certain man's death.
"The fact that he got blown up in a car," Rockwell said, pausing, "I don't know who did it, but I'd like to thank him."
The man against whom she has held this grudge for more than 24 years was a Hezbollah commander named Imad Mughniyeh. The reason she held it is that her son, Marine Cpl. Michael Caleb Sauls, along with 240 other U.S. servicemen, was killed in a barracks bombing that Mughniyeh directed on Oct. 23, 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon.
Her son was 20.
The phone in Rockwell's Virginia Beach house woke her that morning. It was her neighbors, saying they were coming over for coffee. She thought that was weird. They turned on the TV, and that's how she found out.
"Michael would be 43," Rockwell said Friday morning. "It would have been nice to see what his children would have been like, or what he would have done. He could have done anything."
In a backroom of the Southeastern Virginia Training Center, where she works with people with disabilities, Rockwell held a framed photo of Michael. He was about to board a Jeep in front of the building that served as the barracks. Even then, pockmarks dotted the outside walls. Rubble and pulverized concrete covered the sidewalk. Michael wore a camo helmet with this shirt sleeves rolled above his elbows and a whole-faced, tooth-showing smile.
That's why, when she read the news story Thursday morning that Mughniyeh had been assassinated in a car bombing, Rockwell didn't feel bad about feeling good.
"It just seemed like a special day, didn't it?" she said. "Do I feel a little vindicated that he was blown up? Oh, yeah. I hope he heard the ticking before he was blown up."
Michael's grandfather was a Marine during the 1930s, and his father was a Marine in the '60s. Michael was the oldest of Rockwell's three sons: Andrew Sauls is now 42 and lives in South Carolina, and Donald Rockwell is 28 and owns the Boar's Nest Bar Bistro in Norfolk.
It was Andrew who called his mother Thursday morning.
"Mom, did you know?"
She hurriedly flipped through the newspaper pages, caught a glimpse of something about Beirut, then came to the story with Mughniyeh's assassination.
"Oh, my God," Rockwell said, "he's finally dead."
Rockwell knows some people might think that it's been more than two decades, so she must be over her son's death.
She's not, and she doesn't apologize.
"You're never over it," she said.
Lon Wagner, (757) 446-2341, lon.lagner@pilotonline.com
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Using the Flood to support unforgiveness?
The flood was 4400 years ago, long before Christ died to provide an avenue for redemption. Besides, as pointed out in Genesis 6: 1-6, there were inhuman creatures on the earth. What a completely incorrect analogy. Regardless of that, if she held onto anger and unforgiveness for 20 years, terrorism won.
Sad but glad
I too am thrilled to see that a terrorist is demolished by terrorist actions. What a better way for a terrorist to die than by the actions of the insane idiots that he trained. Mrs. Rockwell has every reason to rejoice over the brutal death of the scum that killed her son. She was proud of her Marine, and his service to the country. As we all are. SWD, you should support the men and women that die to protect the very freedom that gives you the right to demean their vengence. I am concerned that there are people like you, less than sane, that wander around this country in support of terrorists. I for one will forgive the fact that you are not a true American, and bless the hallowed ground that Marine Cpl. Michael Caleb Sauls rests in knowing that he died protecting me, us, and America.
Don't blame her
That scumbag killed her son and now he's dead. She has every right in the world to be rejoicing right now. Maybe she forgives everyone else for everything, even SWD for blowing second hand smoke in her face. Leave her alone. We're all happy for you Barbara!!
All my love goes out to you Barbara.
Barbara Rockwell your son is an American hero. Forever cherish his memories. May he rest in peace.
It's not hate.. it's justice.
I don't think it is so much about hate as it is that justice for her son and all of the others that were killed has now been served. This terrorist continued to be responsible for killing people and it should be a huge relief to the free world that this terrorist is now dead. She should feel no regrets aboout that. Let's also remember that this terrorist killed these marines in 1983, over 20 years ago. Terrorists will never stop trying to kill Americans or Israelis. Notice how Syria has given this terrorist a state funeral with all of the glories of a martyr. Syria and Iran ARE state sponsors of Islamic terrorist groups and this is very evident. This is a real war against terrorism and the second we try to deny it, we will fall victim to another 9/11. If we don't take terrorism seriously, America will end up having to live like the Israelis do. The House needs to get off their behinds and pass the anti-terrorist legislation!
To the comment below: Who
To the comment below:
Who knows man. Maybe she already has forgiven the killer, but still wanted the guy dead. This way God will deal with him and other moms won't have to go through what she went through on account of him. Maybe now that this guy is "removed" she will be able sort out some old feelings and forgive the enemy.
Maybe it's more complicated than you or I know at all. Pray for her anyway.
"I can't imagine carrying
"I can't imagine carrying that amount of anger around for that long and staying sane"
Then you must not have never had a son or daughter killed in battle or murdered in the streets, if you have then you would feel the same way. I would have a hard time trying to forgive someone who took my child's life in the way he did. 40 souls were taken by this evil man who thinks he was doing it for his god. I can forgive many people for many things but killing my child is not one of them. When you bring up how god would want you to forgive and it would help you to be in peace. What god do when people on earth made him mad? Did he forgive them or did he make it rain for 40 days and 40 nights causing men,women,children and animals to die in a flood ? Think of any other situations where he made man and woman suffer instead of forgiving them ? This monster is dead, if you want to forgive him you can, but remember if you want to pray for him and sins, you have to do an Islamic prayer or the prayer won't reach him.
I pray that all the Islamic terrorist are killed and drop them in a open pit.
Cheers?
Maybe. Honestly, I can't say that I'm upset at all by the fact that this terrorist, or any for that matter, got "removed" from service to the planet. However, I'm more concerned about Ms. Rockwell in this case.
Holding that much anger, contempt, ill-will, and lack of forgiveness is incredibly damaging to one's soul. The Bible is clear about a number of things, and one of those is forgiveness. Forgiving those around you releases YOU from the grip of evil that can control your life - and Satan's cracking up about it. Satan wants you to hang onto that hate, but God teaches that by forgiving others you will be forgiven.
I can't imagine carrying that amount of anger around for that long and staying sane.
Good Riddance Terriorist Scumbag
I applaud whoever killed this animal.
My biggest regret is got too old to stay in the military. I long for the opportunity to be next to my brothers in arms helping send some of these scumbags to see their maker - my they all rot in hell.
Good job to whomever took
Good job to whomever took this subhuman out. I pray they are working on taking out other terrorists, 24-7, 365. This guy was not a militant, he was a subhuman butcher who has no respect for life.
Animal
I am glad this animal is dead, I hope his 72 virgins all have beards like him, all with bombs strapped to themselves, so they can keep blowing each other away for all eterninty!
God Bless Mrs. Rockwell
Words can't describe how I feel what she must go through every day. I pray that this tidbit of justice gives her a sense of peace.
On another note, Michelle Malkin favorably mentioned this article on her website this morning.
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/02/16/i-hope-he-heard-the-ticking-before-he-was-blown-up/
Mrs. Rockwell's son
You have nothing to be ashamed of Mrs. Rockwell in your feelings about the death of your son. This animal responsible for your sons death has
gone on to his reward, eternal damnation in Hell. If this sorry piece of
human waste does not spend eternity in hell, none of us will. God bless you.
Mughniyeh
To whoever bombed Mughniyeh - - Thanks.
You should have bombed his funeral too.
About time.
To those of us who were a part of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force Beruit it was a good day but it should of happened before the end of October 1983.
Death of militant
Militant? No.
Terrorist. Plain and simple. Terrorist.
I hope he is enjoying his 72 Virginians and burning in Hell for all eternity.
Semper Fi
Time doesn't stop the emptiness one feels when you lose a loved one, I don't think it ever stops. 10/23/83 was and is a day I will not forget. Having this terrorist's life end as it did doesn't make me happy, it makes me feel relieved knowing that he can't ever harm someone again. I lost several friends in that barrack's, all good men, good Marines that should be here today. Beruit was the beginning of what we are fighting against now. Remember and pray for those that are in harms way, they are protecting us all, every minute of every day.SEMPER FI