"9:02 to 4:09": My Journey Beyond the Bombings

by David Hamel

A newlywed couple were in the midst of unsuccessful fertility treatments at a nearby center during the time of the Oklahoma City bombing which occurred at 9:02 am on April 19, 1995. The personal heartbreak and simultaneous loss of 15 children at the day care center in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and its aftermath set a sorrowful resonating tone of great sadness, acceptance, and getting on with life for the veteran marathon runner and his wife. But the initial impact of the second aircraft at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 at 9:02:59 am assured that it would not be so. That is until the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, 2013. The clock at the finish line during the first explosion reminded him of his first marathon time of 4:09 in 1990. That "Hey You!" moment coupled with the death of an 8-year-old boy near the finish line and a very close date of the Oklahoma City bombing reignited long dormant reactions and emotions of 1995, and earlier life events. Thus began a passionate journey to reclaim the Boston and Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon finish lines in 2014 and 2016. This is the story of an Air Force Sergeant and his wife, of teddy bears and babies that weren't to be ... and of letting go!

"It felt like we all had added our own page to local history, letting it be known that we also stood our ground here much like much like we did at nearby Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts on April 19, 1775. It was a continuation of the American spirit and resolve that no Oklahoma City, 9-11, or Boston bombers could ever truly destroy."
- David Hamel

157 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2025

About the author

David Hamel is a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant having served over 30 years on active duty in aircraft maintenance and as a Director of the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute in Montgomery, Alabama. He is a past Alabama State Commander of the Korea Defense Veterans of America and past Eastern District Commander of AMVETS, North Carolina. He has performed 175 Prisoner of War-Missing In Action (POW-MIA) table presentations and has served as the state POW-MIA Chairman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Departments of Alabama and North Carolina, and is a past National Aide-de-Camp. Dave is also an Eagle Scout.
Completing his 31 years of marathon running, Dave has finished 131 marathons in all 50 states, and has two finishes in the coveted Boston Marathon. Known as “Scrappy” in the Fort Bragg hockey community, he cross-trains playing aggressive ice hockey.
Dave is a motivational speaker on fitness and self-preservation, and Air Force history and heritage. He has Masters Degrees in Human Resources Development, and Computer Resources and Information Management.
He resides in Spring Lake, North Carolina with his wife Gloria, of 31 years.

Reviews

[Debra Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stayed with me most was Davis’s balance of storytelling and philosophy. His reflections on failure, survival, and reinvention were powerful, but never self-pitying. The chapter describing his struggle to reconcile the demands of everyday life with the pull of artistic expression was something I think anyone artist or not can relate to. This is a book that lingers after the last page.

[Linda R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Hamel’s story gripped me from the first page. 9:02 to 4:09 isn’t just a memoir it’s a testimony of faith, resilience, and the unbreakable human spirit. His honesty in sharing such painful personal experiences, from Oklahoma City to Boston, brought me to tears more than once. This book reminded me that healing doesn’t mean forgetting it means finding purpose in the pain.

[Willie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Few books capture the raw mix of pain and perseverance like this one. David Hamel shares not only the heartbreak of loss but also the long road to inner peace. His writing is sincere, humble, and full of faith. It’s a book that leaves you both emotional and motivated, a must-read for anyone who’s ever faced grief or needed a reason to keep going.”

[Elizabeth Straw · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This book is both heartbreaking and inspiring. David takes you through tragedy and triumph, showing how loss, faith, and endurance can coexist. The way he ties his marathons to his emotional journey is beautiful, you feel like you’re running beside him every mile. A powerful reminder that life’s hardest moments can lead to the most meaningful victories.”