"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.”

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I didn’t expect the structure of this book to affect me as much as the story itself. Moving between moments of public tragedy and David Hamel’s private grief made the experience feel intimate and heavy in the best way. The chapters dealing with Oklahoma City set an emotional foundation that later makes the Boston Marathon section almost unbearable to read but also deeply meaningful. By the final pages, when reflection replaces urgency, I felt a quiet sense of closure rather than triumph, which felt honest and earned.”

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This is one of those books I had to put down several times not because it was slow, but because it was emotionally dense. David doesn’t rush healing, and that shows in how long the grief lingers on the page. His connection between running and remembrance slowly evolves throughout the book, and by the end it feels less like a coping mechanism and more like a form of prayer. The ending stayed with me long after I finished.”

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I picked this up thinking it would mainly focus on marathon running and major historical events, but it turned out to be much more internal than I expected. The sections where David wrestles with faith, doubt, and anger were the most impactful for me. Nothing is neatly resolved, and that realism made the final chapters especially his reflections on time and loss feel genuine rather than inspirational.”

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What struck me most was the restraint in the writing. David Hamel doesn’t sensationalize tragedy, even when discussing events as emotionally charged as the Oklahoma City and Boston bombings. Instead, he focuses on how those moments reshaped his inner world. Watching his emotional state change gradually across the book from shock, to questioning, to quiet acceptance felt authentic. This is a reflective memoir, not a dramatic one, and that’s why it works.”

[Angelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I read this slowly, a few chapters at a time, because each section carries weight. The symbolism behind the title became clearer as the book progressed, especially toward the final reflections. I appreciated how David returned to earlier moments near the end, but with a different emotional lens. It made the closing feel circular rather than final, which matched the themes of memory and endurance.”

[Mikel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“As someone who remembers the Boston Marathon bombing vividly, I was cautious about reading this. What I found was a deeply personal account that never tries to speak for anyone else. David stays rooted in his own experience his losses, his faith, and his long-distance runs that become moments of reckoning rather than escape. The book ends on a note of peace, not because everything is fixed, but because he’s learned how to carry what can’t be changed.”

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This book doesn’t rush you toward hope it makes you sit with discomfort first. The middle chapters were especially heavy for me, where grief feels unresolved and repetitive, which I think is exactly the point. When David finally reaches a place of emotional steadiness near the end, it feels earned. The closing pages felt calm, reflective, and grounded, like finishing a long run and finally catching your breath.”

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I finished this book feeling quiet rather than emotional, which surprised me. The earlier chapters are raw and painful, but the final sections focus more on understanding time, memory, and faith than on loss itself. David Hamel’s journey doesn’t end with answers it ends with perspective. That subtle shift made the book feel honest and deeply human.”