Victims Refuse To Knuckle Under

Many think of them as victims. But the Oklahomans whose lives were changed by a single act of terror are anything but defeated. Dan Rather reports.

"People have had to gather strength that they never thought was possible. I was one of them," says Delores Watson, whose grandson, P.J. Allen, was injured in the blast.

In 1995, P.J. was a year old. The blast left him severely burned over half his body, his lungs nearly destroyed by inhaling fire. Today, P.J. is like any other 7-year-old boy, though he still has to breathe through a tube in his throat.

"He’s pretty resilient," says Watson. P.J. says he wants to be a basketball player when he grows up.

Royia Sims Grizzell was nearly killed that day, working in a building across the street. She was so badly cut by flying glass the paramedics were shocked to find she had a pulse.

"When you see my original picture and you see me now you would never know that was me," she says. "I was just shredded from head to toe."

But over six years she’s made a remarkable recovery. The bombing shattered her marriage. Now remarried, Sims lives in Tennessee, and is busy with volunteer activities.

"Over the last six years I’ve learned a lot of things, and number one was patience," she says. "I’ve also learned not to make plans for the future. You can have goals and things that you want but you never know what avenue life is gonna take you down."

One-year-old Joseph Webber was another of the lucky ones. He was rescued by one of the day’s heroes: Detective Don Hull.

"When we first uncovered him he was just gray and lifeless, wasn’t moving, and it was just a matter of 'let's get him out of here quick'" Hull says. Today, Joseph is a healthy seven-year-old.

"That I was able to have that ability to bring somebody out alive - for me, I hang onto that," says Hull.

Hull, who has two young daughters of his own, was profoundly affected by his experience. "You feel like you’re healing and everything’s fine and then something kind of jumps up and brings it all back," he says. "It affects you very deep. It makes you appreciate, particularly, family and friends, more than you’d ever know."

Then there are the Denny children, Brandon and Rebecca. Both were badly injured, particularly Brandon.

Their father, Jim Denny, waited as his three-year-old son spent 71 days in intensive care, undergoing four brain surgeries. Brandon lived, and he is now well enough to play football with his father.

Brandon has limited use of his right hand, and some learning disabilities. But watching him and Rebecca, one would never imagine what they’ve been through.

"You don't know what you have in you until something like this happens," says Jim Denny. "We found out we're strong, and we plan on staying that way. As far as the future goes, I plan on reaching out to a lot of people." Denny says he will run for the Oklahoma governorship.

What happened i Oklahoma City the morning of April 19th, 1995 profoundly altered thousands of peoples' lives. But it did not break their spirit.

"The ironic thing is that as much as McVeigh wished to cause chaos and turn one another against each other, he did the exact opposite," says Hull. "It brought everybody together. Tight."

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