OBITUARY: OHIO NATIONAL GUARD COMMANDER CHARLES FASSINGER IS DEAD
Alan Canfora extends his condolences to the family of Charles Fassinger who died November 22, 2008, at his home in Tennessee. Mr. Fassinger was being treated for leukemia but died in his sleep unexpectedly at home, according to his daughter Susan Crawford.
On May 4, 1970, Lt.-Col. Charles Fassinger was the highest-ranking uniformed officer on Blanket Hill at Kent State University when a different officer shouted the verbal command ordering Troop G shooters to fire 67 gunshots into a crowd of unarmed student anti-war protesters.
In recent years, Mr. Fassinger was the most visible spokesperson representing the guardsmen. Fassinger visited the campus & spoke casually with KSU students, professors and May 4 Task Force students.
Fassinger extended his hand to Alan Canfora on the KSU campus in April of 2007. On May 15, 2008, Canfora & Fassinger appreared together onstage at an educational forum in Columbus, Ohio, sponsored by the Ohio Historical Society. Again, we had the opportunity to meet privately and speak cordially.
As I said to Mr. Fassinger at that time, I personally welcome the opportunity to meet any of the 1970 Kent State guardsmen, publicly or privately, to discuss truths of our tragedy of May 4, 1970. Here in Kent, Ohio, we do not seek vengeance or retribution at this late date, we only seek the truth.
Hence, my own personal heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family of Charles Fassinger at this time.
--Alan Canfora, November 23, 2008.
SEE ALSO:
*** see also, re: Canfora/Fassinger at forum in Columbus, May 15, 2008, includes photo:
http://www.columbusmessenger.com/NC/0/3158.html
*** see also, re: Fassinger visits May 4 Task Force students and Canfora at KSU, April 5, 2007:
http://media.www.kentnewsnet.com/media/storage/paper867/news/2007/04/16/News/National.Guardsman.Meets.With.May.4.Task.Force.For.First.Time-2842966.shtml
*** close-up photos of Lt. Col. Fassinger at moment of May 4, 1970 gunfire at KSU:
http://picasaweb.google.com/hruffner/KentStateUniversityMay141970#4955334785724973074
http://picasaweb.google.com/hruffner/KentStateUniversityMay141970#5063130042337517634
*** added May 4, 1970, photos, Lt. Col. Charles Fassinger:
http://picasaweb.google.com/hruffner/KentStateUniversityMay141970#4955331772860530706
http://picasaweb.google.com/hruffner/KentStateUniversityMay141970#4955331842016280594
*** for use of these photos, contact photographer Howard Ruffner:
hruffner@gmail.com
/