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Nephew tried to overtake hijackers
By JIM ROSS
© St. Petersburg Times, SUGARMILL WOODS -- Todd Beamer is an American hero. But to Jack and Jean Fawley of Sugarmill Woods, he also was something else: a beloved nephew. Beamer, 32, was among the small group of brave passengers who attacked their hijackers Sept. 11. Authorities believe that attack caused the aircraft to crash in an empty field outside Pittsburgh. The crash killed everyone on board. But authorities shudder to think how many more would have died if the suicide hijackers had reached their intended target -- probably the U.S. Capitol or White House. Most people would like to think that, if put in the same desperate situation, they or their loved ones would perform much like Beamer and his co-passengers. But the Fawleys can honestly say the account of their nephew's bravery came as no surprise to them. They figured that would be the case well before investigators learned details from people who received calls from passengers aboard the hijacked plane. "I can't imagine Todd not doing something," Fawley recalled his wife saying moments after they learned that their nephew was aboard United Airlines Flight 93. "We almost had the instantaneous thought, knowing Todd, knowing his character." The Fawleys' instincts were correct. Their nephew, who was married and had two children and one on the way, lived in Cranbury, N.J. His flight was headed from Newark to San Francisco. Authorities said hijackers commandeered the plane and began flying east. Some people, including Beamer, made calls from the plane. Beamer spoke to a GTE Airfone operator for about 15 minutes and told her that he and a group of men who had been herded to rear of the plane planned to jump a hijacker who was guarding them and who claimed to have a bomb. The operator later told authorities that Beamer and others onboard the plane somehow had learned that another plane already had hit the World Trade Center. Beamer told the operator that he knew he was going to die but that he and the other passengers weren't going down without a fight. "He would be willing to react to something like that," Fawley said. "As it turned out, evidently, there were three or four others who had collaborated together. They were going to do something." Fawley said his nephew -- the son of Mrs. Fawley's sister, Peggy Beamer of Maryland -- stood about 6 feet 1 and weighed about 200 pounds. "Along with being an aggressive athlete, he had a good understanding of people and compassion for others. People would seek him out for his counsel," Fawley said. Beamer was an account manager for a computer company and was flying on business. The other passengers who joined the attack team also were big men and good athletes, authorities have reported. The Fawleys have lived in Sugarmill for 12 years. Fawley was a minister at First Christian Church in Homosassa Springs for nine years and then began ministering at the Christian Church in the Wildwood near Weeki Wachee. He no longer holds a position at that church but he and his wife worship there. Before coming to Citrus County, Fawley was a minister at Parkway Christian Church in Sarasota. The Fawleys attended a service for their nephew Sunday and returned to Citrus County late Monday. They continue to grieve, of course, but they also are proud. "Todd was really a tremendous individual," Fawley said. "I always said he was the all-American boy." Here are other Citrus County connections to the tragedy: Mike Gardner, 48, of Beverly Hills, said his family still has not heard from his nephew, Harvey, who worked at one of the World Trade Center towers. Mike Gardner's mother -- the missing man's grandmother -- is Florence Gardner. She lives in Hernando. Alex Wenckus, 74, a retiree who lives in Homosassa, lost a nephew. John Wenckus, 46, was a passenger aboard American Airlines Flight 11, one of the planes that struck the World Trade Center. He lived in California and was returning home from a golf vacation with his father. "It's sad," Wenckus said. "The kid worked hard to do something, (only) to get wiped out by a few creeps." - This story includes information from the Washington Post. Share your storiesAmericans everywhere are joined in sorrow over the events of Sept. 11. The Citrus Times would like to help you share your stories about missing or lost loved ones, about the bravery and compassion shown by rescuers, about military reservists and others who are preparing for war, or about any other ways in which the terrorist actions have affected your life. Readers are invited to contact the Times with your stories. Call 860-7301; e-mail Citrus@sptimes.com; fax to 860-7320.
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