McVeigh Timothy

American terrorist convicted of committing the largest act of terrorism on American soil on 19 April 1995. The ammonium nitrate bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building claimed 168 victims between the ages of four months old to 73 years old. McVeighs stubborn refusal to express any remorse has tormented the families of his victims. His psychiatrist feels that he was committed to the ideal that he must object to a federal government that had become excessively oppressive and deceitful. In Smiths opinion, McVeigh is not mentally ill, because he does not suffer from any "cognitive defects or psychiatric illnesses." He was able to rationally make the decision to bomb the building and "fully understood the consequences," Smith said. "He had an underlying depression, but he was not anti-social." "It became easier to act because he had nothing," Smith said. "He needed an enemy. This whole project was his antidepressant. He intellectualizes to avoid emotion, to avoid pain." Empathy was not part of his agenda. McVeigh grew up in Pendleton, a small upstate New York town. He had a happy childhood swimming in his familys pool, hiking and playing with the neighborhood kids. He enjoyed organizing casino games for local kids on the block. His father and mother divorced when he was ten-years-old. He grew closer to his dad, helping him cultivate his vegetable garden. His mom moved to Florida with his younger sister Jennifer, and she married a coast guard. With a normal and healthy pattern, in Starpoint High School, McVeigh participated in track and field and was a member of the honor society. He worked at a local fast food chain and dated high school girlfriends. In his senior year, he grew interested in computers. After graduation in 1986, he enrolled in the local business college, but soon became bored with his computer classes. In 1987, he moved to Buffalo, New York and took a job as a security guard. Looking for excitement, he signed up for the U.S. Army on 24 May 1988. McVeigh took to military life and the comradeship with his fellow troops at Fort Benning, Georgia, becoming a straight-arrow soldier. He was promoted to corporal and then to sergeant. During the Persian Gulf War, McVeigh was sent to Iraq as a gunner on a Bradley fighting vehicle. On returning to the States, he sensed a major shift in the U.S. Army. The post-cold-war army downsizing changed his life as he watched his companions leave military service. In March 1991, he dropped out of the Special Forces qualification course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Allowing himself to get out of shape cut his chances for reaching the upper echelon of military duty. Discharged from the army, McVeigh tried to adjust to civilian life. In 1993, he arrived in Waco to watch the standoff between the Branch Davidians and federal agents. He wandered around the country as a militant drifter visiting guns shows and selling guns and ammunition from his car. His political views became more racist and far-right as he kept company with political militia groups harboring anger against the U.S. government. On 19 April 1994, McVeigh returned to Waco and declared himself a "non resident alien." He claimed the U.S. Army had implanted a computer chip in his derriere during his active duty. In 1993 and early 1994, McVeigh spent time with his army buddy, Terry Nichols. The two were intrigued by making homemade bombs and setting them off on a Michigan farm. McVeigh never went o Read less