The One Real Hero

Vernon Hunter, Jr.

Last week, I wrote about a distraught man, Andrew Joseph Stack, who set his home on fire and then got in a small aircraft and crashed into the Internal Revenue Service building in Austin, TX. At first, it seemed like a 9-11 style tragedy but, all praises to God, it wasn't. I said that I understood the man's frustration with the I.R.S. (I mean, who doesn't?), but I want it known here that I in no way agree with how he chose to take out his frustration. He was, as I wrote "murderously wrong". The entire building did not collapse but it now appears to have been one fatality. Even one life lost in a tragedy of this proportion is one life too many.

According to Austin fire officials, Vernon Hunter, Jr. was the one fatality in the Austin, TX plane crash that set ablaze the seven-story I.R.S. building last week. The pilot, Joe Stack, was found dead and the incident renewed fears of domestic terrorism and gaps in security for private aircraft. The victim, Vern Hunter, was an Internal Revenue Service employee, Vietnam veteran (two tours of duty), husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. "He was a very spiritual man, kind of the life of the neighborhood," said Darren McDaniel, who has lived two houses from Hunter since 1996. "We were all sort of like his kids." He was described as a man who offered Gatorade to the trash collectors on a hot summer day.

The family of Vernon Hunter, Jr. made this statement:

"This afternoon, the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office positively identified the remains of the person unaccounted for in the aerial attack on the Echelon building in Austin, TX on Thursday, February 18th, 2010. Regrettably, they are the remains of Mr. Vernon Hunter, Jr. of Cedar Park, TX. His wife, Valerie Hunter, has lost a devoted, loving, and doting partner, friend, and spouse. His children, Donald, Ken, and Christine have lost a father who absolutely adored them. He was their constant and loyal friend. His seven grandchildren, Don Jr., Jolene, Lutisia, Sienna, Quinn, Savannah, Athena, and one great-grandchild, Anastasia, will no longer have the love and affection of a grandfather who lived and breathed for them.

The Greater Mt. Zion church family of Austin, TX, under the leadership of Gaylon Clark, is saddened beyond words at the loss of Vern’s presence among us. Vern also has three step-children: Justin, Crystin, and Tara Jackson. His three children and grandchildren are from his first marriage to Hallie Hunter, of El Paso, TX. We are grieving today as one family.

We are not the only family in mourning today. Our hearts go out to the wife and family of Andrew Joseph Stack. We are not angry with them because they did not do this. We forgive Joe for his actions which took Vern’s “pound of flesh” with him. Joe had to be in a great deal of pain and distress so, the family and friends of Vernon Hunter, and the entire "Body of Christ" at The Greater Mt. Zion Church, pray for their peace and comfort this day, in the name of Jesus. We are also praying for any and every person whose life has been impacted by this terrible tragedy."

I felt it not only fair, but neccesary to devote a post to this man. The media and all of the crime shows are going to focus on Joe Stack until someone else does something atrocious. And, this good man, Vern Hunter, who lead a normal life, went to work everyday, and supported his family will all but be forgotten, except by the people who loved and worked with him.

The daughter of the dead suicide pilot described her father as a "hero" but I just don't see it that way. The only hero here is the victim who lost his life in this terrible incident, Vernon Hunter, Jr.